Born in Baytown, Texas, Fuller spent most of his youth in El Paso, Texas, where he idolized Buddy Holly, a fellow West Texan. He played clubs, bars, and recorded on independent record labels in Texas, with a constantly-changing line-up, during the early 1960s. The only constant band members were Bobby himself (on vocals and guitar), and his older brother, Randy, on bass. All of these independent releases were recorded in the Fullers' own home-cum-studio, with Bobby acting as the producer. He even built a primitive echo chamber in the backyard. The quality of the recordings, using a couple of microphones and a mixing board purchased from a local radio station, was so impressive that he even offered the use of his 'studio' to local acts for free so he could hone his production skills.
Bobby moved to Los Angeles in 1964 with his band The Bobby Fuller Four and was signed to Mustang Records by producer Bob Keane, noted for discovering Ritchie Valens and producing many surf music groups.
Just as "I Fought The Law" became a top ten hit, Bobby Fuller was found dead in a parked automobile near his Los Angeles home. The police considered the death an apparent suicide, however many people still believe Fuller was murdered. He was found with multiple wounds all over his body and covered in gasoline leading many to speculate that the perpetrators fled before they could set the car on fire. He is buried in the Forest Lawn - Hollywood Hills Cemetery in Los Angeles.
I fought the law
The Bobby Fuller Four Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
I needed money 'cause I had none (ahh)
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
I guess my race is run (ahh)
But she's the best girl I've ever had (ahh)
I fought the law and the law won (ahh)
I fought the law and the law won (ahh)
Robbin' people with a six-gun
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
I miss my baby and the good fun (ooh)
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
I left my baby and I feel so bad (ahh)
I guess my race is run (ahh)
But she's the best girl I've ever had (ahh)
I fought the law and the law won (ahh)
I fought the law and the law won (ahh)
The song "I Fought the Law" by The Bobby Fuller Four was released in 1966 and has since become a classic rock anthem. The lyrics tell the story of a man who has been caught by the law and is serving time for his crimes. The singer is breaking rocks in the hot sun and sings about fighting the law, but ultimately admits that "the law won."
The first verse introduces the reason for the singer's actions, which is his need for money. This leads him to commit a crime, represented by the phrase "robbin' people with a six-gun" in the second verse. The use of the past tense suggests that the singer has been caught and is now serving time for his actions.
The third verse is where the song takes a more personal turn, as the singer sings about missing his lover and feeling regret for leaving her. He acknowledges that his "race is run," meaning there is nothing he can do to change the situation. However, he also declares that she is the best girl he has ever had, highlighting the importance of his relationship with her.
Overall, "I Fought the Law" is a powerful and catchy rock song that tells a story of crime and regret. It captures the struggles of a man caught between his need for money and his love for his partner, and the consequences that come with his actions.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm breakin' rocks in the hot sun
I am toiling under the hot sun, breaking rocks
I fought the law and the law won
I challenged the authority of the law and painfully learned that I cannot win
I needed money 'cause I had none (ahh)
I was in desperate need of money as I had none left
I left my baby and I feel so bad (ahh)
I departed my lover, and it saddens me greatly
I guess my race is run (ahh)
I surmise that I cannot continue running anymore
But she's the best girl I've ever had (ahh)
Notwithstanding, my lover remains the best girl I have ever had
Robbin' people with a six-gun
I coerced people to hand over their belongings at gunpoint
I miss my baby and the good fun (ooh)
I'm yearning for my lover and the good times we shared together
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Sonny Curtis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@k.s.vids1
@@CoryAlphin Quick but unmistakable at 00:48!
Here she is, sometime in 2019 or 2020:
"Okay ladies, for the opening number, we're going to give you all matching cowboy hats, tight half shirts -- and these pearl-handled revolvers that go in and out of the holsters on your hips while you dance. Now, can you make that work?"
"Oh, yes."
6 Likes
REPLY
dancergazzarri
2 years ago
Ken Smith I am DeDe Mollner. I am the blond on the left of the band. I dropped my gun once. Haha
Ken Smith
2 years ago (edited)
@dancergazzarri WOOWW! You were GREAT! So many questions! They should do a video interview with you! What show was this? Whose idea was the outfit with the guns? Did they get those at a toy store? That was you in the longest shot of the whole video, :27 to :37? Wasn't it too warm with all that dancing? You all must have exercised like crazy. Did you dance in other music shows?
REPLY
dancergazzarri
2 years ago
Ken Smith we were the Gazzarri dancers on a show called Hollywood A go go. Gazzarri dancers.com
REPLY
Ken Smith
2 years ago (edited)
@dancergazzarri http://gazzarridancers.com Many answers! You can't help but wonder about what happened back then, looking at this video, where the dancers steal the show. I say the dancers are a reason why there are 15 million+ views for a very good but not so well-known record, and everyone wishes it had a sharper picture. Thanks! (Maybe they should put the link in the YouTube summary.)
REPLY
dancergazzarri
2 years ago
Ken Smith so glad so many people still watching. You might want to watch Mashed Potato video with Dee Dee Sharp. It my most famous video.
REPLY
Ken Smith
2 years ago
@dancergazzarri I looked. Dee Dee Sharp was the singer and all the comments are about you.
@jj9131
I'm breakin' rocks in the hot sun
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
I needed money 'cause I had none
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
Well, I left my baby and I feel so sad
I guess my race is run
But she's the best girl I've ever had
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
Robbin' people with a six-gun
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
I miss my baby and the good fun
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
Well, I left my baby and I feel so sad
I guess my race is run
But she's the best girl I've ever had
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
@myezecky7422
Not too many songs sound this fresh after 54 years.
@helenmurphy3143
a iconic
@antraxxslingshots
I have the feeling way way more songs of that aera always sound happy and cheerful, even if they deal with serious storys, so you have it way easier to cheer up to those songs and get in a better mood.
@hmackie6823
check out Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels...U know the songs but u may not have been aware who sings it.
@callmeclover6947
Because 1960s games they us this song
@Goofy-zl3tj
I’m so fresh
@ronniegoldy1255
I remember this song when i was 15 years old and here i am listening to it now and working on 70.
@jonnykraska7554
Was it bad in the 60s
@jonnykraska7554
@James Nutt true the racist in the south is bad
@jonnykraska7554
Was bad