Born in Jacksonville, Florida, Derek Trucks took up the guitar at age 9, and it was quickly apparent that he was a child prodigy. He was playing with a band and touring within two years. His early repertoire was heavily blues-based, obviously inspired by The Allman Brothers Band, of which his uncle, drummer Butch Trucks, is a founding member. Older bluesmen like Howlin' Wolf, jazz musicians Miles Davis, Sun Ra, John Coltrane, Charlie Christian and later Wayne Shorter and many others, became an influence for Trucks a few years later. Eastern Music, mainly Indian Classical, also affected Trucks's musical development, primarily his slide guitar playing, which is often compared to that of Duane Allman but is also heavily influenced by sarod players like Ali Akbar Khan. In 2003, he was the youngest guitarist on Rolling Stone magazine's list of 100 Greatest Guitarists of All-Time, and has been hailed as one of the greatest slide guitarists since Duane Allman.
Trucks formed his first band at age 12, and played his first gigs with them as "Derek and the Dominators". Later, Atlanta's jazz and blues bassist Todd Smallie joined Trucks in 1994, and became the first member of what is now the current version of The Derek Trucks Band. When Trucks really set about assembling a lasting band, he was by his reckoning about 14 years old. Smallie, on bass, was the first to join him. As a result, Trucks feels that he's "kind of grown up with him." A year later in 1995, drummer Yonrico Scott completed the band's early rhythm section. The band released its self-titled debut album, The Derek Trucks Band, in 1997, and followed with Out of the Madness in 1999. Scott has been playing with Trucks for over 16 years as of 2008. According to Derek Trucks: "We've developed a kind of 'musical ESP'.. it's nice to have somebody that you don't have to look at...he's just right there with you."
Kofi Burbridge joined the band shortly thereafter, contributing to the band's sound as a multi-instrumentalist, with his versatility on keyboards, flute, and vocals. Like his brother, whom Trucks plays with in the Allman Brothers Band, bassist Oteil Burbridge, Kofi Burbridge's education was primarily rooted in classical and jazz music. In an interview upon the release of their 2002 album, Joyful Noise, Trucks laughingly commented, "Kofi Burbridge has been with us maybe 2-3 years, and he's one of the few musical geniuses that I've had the chance to work with, he's totally insane"... continuing, "I'm really anxious to see in the next few years to see where he takes this, because he's definitely a huge part of what's going on right now."
In 2002 the band's producers, Craig Street and John Snyder recommended singer Mike Mattison to the band. Mattison performed several shows with the band, and Trucks decided Mattison's soulful voice and calm stage presence completed the band's identity. Trucks said of Mattison, "He's got a huge range, so that helps us out a lot when we stretch into some of the different material we cover. It's like having three different vocalists onstage at times. It's a tough piece of the puzzle to find, you know -- a good singer who fits with what you're doing -- so we were very fortunate to hook up with Mike." Mattison had a previous band as well-- a vocal duo, called Scrapomatic, with Paul Olsen, a guitarist and vocalist, whom he still performs with at occasional gigs, including some opening sets for The Derek Trucks Band. The band's final member, Count M'Butu is the only band member that does not appear on every tour. M'Butu, the group's eldest member, plays a variety of African drums. Trucks mentions casually that he had known M'Butu for many years before he joined the Derek Trucks Band, as M'Butu was a regular musical fixture in Atlanta; one of the bastions of the Allman Brothers fan bases.
Trucks' guitar playing is unusual in a number of respects. He steadfastly avoids processing and effects, preferring to get the purest tone possible by connecting his guitar directly to his amplifier, a 1964 Fender Super Reverb. He modifies his tone with the controls on the guitar. He plays without the use of a plectrum (pick), using his fingers instead, plucking primarily with the thumb, index and middle fingers, but also using the ring finger on occasion. He developed his technique himself. His guitar is always tuned to 'Open E'. From the low to high string, (i.e., EBEG#Be) he slightly detunes his low E string (a technique he and Jimmy Herring developed while playing together). Open E is a normal tuning for slide players, as it allows them to form chords more easily, but over the years he has become a highly acclaimed straight lead player without switching to standard tuning (EADGBe).
In 2001, Trucks married singer/guitarist Susan Tedeschi. The couple have two children: Charles Kahlil Trucks (born March 8, 2002), and Sophia Naima Trucks (born August 9, 2004). Charles is named for saxophonist Charlie Parker and guitarist Charlie Christian; his middle name is taken from author Khalil Gibran. The name Sophia has mystic overtones (meaning "Wisdom" in Greek), and the unusual middle name comes from the John Coltrane ballad, which Coltrane named after his first wife, Naima.
In 1999, Derek Trucks joined his uncle, drummer Butch Trucks, as a member of The Allman Brothers Band, while continuing to lead his own band. With the Allman Brothers Band he has performed on 2000's Peakin' at the Beacon, 2003's Hittin' the Note, 2003's live DVD At the Beacon Theatre, and 2004's One Way Out.
As of early 2006, Trucks is an accompanying guitarist in Eric Clapton's 2006-2007 touring band. In early 2006, Trucks lost equipment, as an equipment trailer was stolen. Some of the gear was recovered on May 18, 2006, as reported in the Columbia Records Derek Trucks Forum. Gear that was reported as recovered from a field outside Atlanta, GA includes Derek's "1965 BFSR, the amp he's been playing since he was a young boy; Derek's 1968 SFSR (one of the backup amps),the DTB's Hammond B-3, two Leslies, a Hohner E-7 Clavinet, and a few other minor items."
Already Free
The Derek Trucks Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Am my father's child
Train that's bound for nowhere
Runnin' free and wild
I am my father's child
The world has passed me by
World has passed me by
I ain't got time to cry
The world has passed me by
The world has passed me, passed me by
I am already free
Am already free
Goin be like Christmas
When the devil come for me
Am already free
I'm already, already free
I'm already, already free
In The Derek Trucks Band's song "Already Free," the lyrics express a sense of personal identity and freedom, yet also acknowledge the limitations and struggles of life. The repetition of "I am my father's child" throughout the song is a reflection of a deep connection to a parental figure and perhaps a recognition of patterns and traits inherited from them. The train metaphor in "Train that's bound for nowhere, runnin' free and wild" could be interpreted as the singer's own path, which may not have a defined destination, but is full of movement and possibility.
The line "The world has passed me by, see the comin' shadow, I ain't got time to cry" alludes to the inevitability of change and aging, with a warning of possible negative consequences. The "comin' shadow" could be a metaphorical symbol of the singer's own mortality, but they refuse to dwell on regrets and instead choose to live each day to the fullest. Finally, the chorus repeats "I am already free" with a sense of confidence and assurance, despite the unknown future. They compare their feeling of freedom to the anticipation and joy of Christmas, even when faced with potential challenges such as the devil coming for them.
Overall, the lyrics of "Already Free" convey a mix of nostalgia, hope, and acceptance. Through their personal experiences, the singer emphasizes the importance of staying grounded in one's roots while also embracing change and freedom. It's a poignant reminder to enjoy the present moment, even when life's journey may be uncertain.
Line by Line Meaning
I am my father's child
I take after my father in my thoughts and actions, and his presence in my life has a major impact on me.
Train that's bound for nowhere
I am wandering aimlessly through life without a clear destination or purpose.
Runnin' free and wild
Although I lack direction, I am living life on my own terms and enjoying the freedom that comes with that.
The world has passed me by
I feel as though I have been left behind or forgotten by society, and do not fit into the current cultural landscape.
See the comin' shadow
I sense that something bad is on the horizon, and I do not have the luxury of wasting time on tears or self-pity.
I ain't got time to cry
Regardless of my struggles, I cannot afford to dwell on them or let them hold me back from achieving my goals.
I am already free
Despite feeling lost and marginalized, I am free from the constraints of society's expectations and am forging my own path.
Goin' be like Christmas
The arrival of the devil or any other negative force in my life will not phase me, as I feel prepared to face any challenge head-on and emerge victorious.
When the devil come for me
I am ready and willing to take on any obstacle or adversary in life, and will not let fear or doubt hold me back.
I'm already, already free
I am completely and utterly free from the burdens of society, and will not allow anything to take that away from me.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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