Daniels is a singer, guitarist, and fiddler, who began writing and performing in the 1950s. In 1964, Daniels co-wrote "It Hurts Me", a song which Elvis Presley recorded. He worked as a Nashville session musician, often for producer Bob Johnston, including playing on three Bob Dylan albums during 1969 and 1970, and recordings by Johnny Cash and Leonard Cohen. Daniels recorded his first solo album, Charlie Daniels, in 1971 (see 1971 in country music). His first hit, the novelty song "Uneasy Rider", was from his 1973 second album, Honey in the Rock, and reached #9 on the Billboard Hot 100.
In 1974, Daniels organized the first in a series of Volunteer Jam concerts based in or around Nashville, Tennessee often playing with members of Barefoot Jerry. Except for a three-year gap in the late 1980s, these jams have continued ever since.
In 1975, he had a top 30 hit as leader of the Charlie Daniels Band with the Southern rock self-identification anthem "The South's Gonna Do It Again". "Long Haired Country Boy" was also a minor hit in that year.
Daniels won the Grammy Award for Best Country Vocal Performance in 1979 for "The Devil Went Down to Georgia", which reached #3 on the charts. The following year, "Devil" became a major crossover success on rock radio stations, after its inclusion on the soundtrack for the hit movie Urban Cowboy. The song is by far Daniels' greatest success, still receiving regular airplay on U.S. classic rock and country stations, and is well-known even among audiences who eschew country music in general. A hard rock/heavy metal cover version of the song was also included in the video game Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock as the final guitar battle against the last boss (the devil). Daniels has openly stated his opposition to the metal cover and the devil winning occasionally in the game. [2]
Subsequent Daniels pop hits included "In America" (#11 in 1980), "The Legend of Wooley Swamp" (#31 in 1980), and "Still in Saigon" (#22 in 1982). In 1980, Daniels participated in the country music concept album, The Legend of Jesse James.
In the late 1980s and 1990s, several of Daniels' albums and singles were hits on the Country charts and the music continues to receive airplay on country stations today. Daniels also released several Gospel and Christian records.
In 2005, he has made a cameo appearance along with Larry the Cable Guy, Kid Rock, and Hank Williams, Jr. in Gretchen Wilson's music video for the song "All Jacked Up". In 2006, he appeared with Little Richard, Bootsy Collins, and other musicians as the backup band for Williams' opening sequence to Monday Night Football.
In November 2007, Daniels was invited by Martina McBride to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry. [3] He was inducted by Marty Stuart and Connie Smith during the January 19, 2008 edition of the Opry at the Ryman Auditorium. [4]
Daniels now resides in Mount Juliet, TN, where the city has named a park after him. Daniels continues to tour regularly. Daniels appeared in commercials for UPS in 2001 with other celebrities convincing NASCAR driver Dale Jarrett to race the UPS Truck.
Daniels describes himself as a born again Christian.
Charlie Daniels played fiddle on many of The Marshall Tucker Band's early albums. Charlie played on the bands albums: "A New Life", "Where We All Belong", "Searchin' For A Rainbow", "Long Hard Ride" and "Carolina Dreams". Charlie can also be heard on the bands live album recorded in Milwaukee,WI on July 11,1974.
In addition to the Marshall Tucker Band, Charlie also played fiddle on Hank Williams,Jr's 1975 album "Hank Williams Jr & Friends". Toy Caldwell can also be heard on this classic album.
'The Charlie Daniels Band' is also on Last.fm as 'Charlie Daniels Band'.
Georgia
The Charlie Daniels Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Full moon shining down along the border
But the gound is hard and the night is black
Over here by the railroad track
And I wish to the Lord that I was back in Georgia
Blue water in the indian sun,
Calling me when the day is done
Mama mama pray for your son
That the LA streets was paved with gold
Fame and fortune waiting to reward ya
But it didn't take long to understand
California ain't the promised land
But at least a man's a man in georgia
Blue skys in the mornin' there
And there's green trees and breathin' air
Rockabye in my easy chair
Well it seems every river in the Georgia moonlight
Flowing up where folks are free
Tthe sun comes up through the lonely pine trees
Over 'round the Kingsland ridge
I maybe here but my mind is still
About 90 miles north of Jacksonville
Well I may not make it, it's a long long road
But mama I've paid all the debts I owe
And if I don't you know they gonna find me tryin'
They took my songs and they took my soul
They made me hard and they made me old
Hell I just been born, but I feel just like I'm dying
(refrain)
The Charlie Daniels Band's "Georgia" is a song that explores the themes of homesickness, longing, and the struggle for identity. The opening lines of the song describe the contrast between the hard, dark night of the railroad tracks and the bright, burning lamps in Santa Fe. The singer wishes he were back in Georgia, where there are blue skies, green trees, and fresh air. He reflects on how he was once told that the streets of LA were paved with gold, but he has come to realize that California isn't the promised land. He longs for the familiar landscapes of his home state, and he asks his mother to pray for him.
The song continues with a description of the beauty of Georgia, where the rivers flow freely and the moonlight shines on the pine trees. The singer reflects on his own struggle to find his place in the world. He has been hardened by the people and experiences he has encountered along the way, and he feels as though he is dying despite being young. Yet, he remains committed to his path, even though he may not make it.
Overall, "Georgia" is a poignant reflection on the complexities of identity and the emotional pull of homeland. It recognizes the struggle that many people face as they seek to make a life for themselves outside of their birthplace.
Line by Line Meaning
Lamps in the windows burnin' bright, over in Santa Fe tonight
There are bright lamps lighting up windows in Santa Fe on this particular night.
Full moon shining down along the border
The full moon is illuminating the border.
But the ground is hard and the night is black
The ground is tough and the night is dark.
Over here by the railroad track
The artist is located near the railroad track.
And I wish to the Lord that I was back in Georgia
The artist longs to be back in Georgia.
Blue water in the indian sun,
There is blue water under the Indian sun.
Calling me when the day is done
The singer hears the blue water calling him at the end of each day.
Mama mama pray for your son
The artist requests his mother to pray for him.
All of my life I've been told
Throughout his life, the artist has been told.
That the LA streets was paved with gold
The streets of Los Angeles were believed to be paved with gold.
Fame and fortune waiting to reward ya
Fame and fortune were expected to reward people in Los Angeles.
But it didn't take long to understand
The artist quickly realized.
California ain't the promised land
California is not the promised land.
But at least a man's a man in Georgia
Men are genuine in Georgia.
Blue skies in the mornin' there
The skies are blue in the morning in Georgia.
And there's green trees and breathin' air
There are green trees and fresh air in Georgia.
Rockabye in my easy chair
The artist has a comfortable chair in which he can relax.
Well it seems every river in the Georgia moonlight
Every river appears different in the moonlight in Georgia.
Flowing up where folks are free
The rivers flow where people are free.
Tthe sun comes up through the lonely pine trees
The sun rises through the unaccompanied pine trees.
Over 'round the Kingsland ridge
The Kingsland ridge is located nearby.
I maybe here but my mind is still
Though the artist is physically present, his mind is elsewhere.
About 90 miles north of Jacksonville
The singer's mind is about 90 miles north of Jacksonville.
Well I may not make it, it's a long long road
The artist may not succeed due to the long and difficult path ahead.
But mama I've paid all the debts I owe
The singer informs his mother that he has paid off all his debts.
And if I don't you know they gonna find me tryin'
The singer will keep trying hard even if he fails.
They took my songs and they took my soul
The singer feels as if someone has taken away his songs and his essence.
They made me hard and they made me old
The artist has become tough and aged.
Hell I just been born, but I feel just like I'm dying
Although the artist is young, he feels as if he is dying.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHARLIE DANIELS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind