Call him the next Duane Allman or Jimi Hendrix, but whatever you do, don’t call Marcus King a child prodigy. Sure, the guitar shredder’s talent shimmers with the same resonance as his heroes, but he’s been wielding an axe since he learned to talk – he started playing when he was 2.
King was born into music, gifted with steel-string DNA and two generations of men before him who nurtured the boy’s musical nature. King’s dad, the slyly talented Marvin King, has been a force in Upstate South Carolina’s music heritage for as long as anyone can remember. Marvin’s father and Marcus’s granddad, Bill, played a big part, too.
It was only natural, then, that the boy who got his first guitar (a Squier Strat) at age 7 would land his first paying gig a year later. When he was 11, he joined his father’s Marvin King & The Blues Revival to open for Muddy Waters’s onetime bassist Mac Arnold at The Handlebar, the storied venue in their Greenville, S.C., hometown. Around that time, he also played on his dad’s critically acclaimed album, Huge in Europe. And when he was 15, the Marcus King Band opened for the legendary Johnny Winter.
A particular MKB achievement came with the September 2014 release of Soul InSight. The album’s 12 original tunes, including three instrumentals, showcase a literal lifetime of virtuosity, along with vocals as clear and as soulful as Marvin Gaye’s and as nuanced as Amy Winehouse ’s.
Adding to all that, King knows jazz. That’s because he built on his Southern-rock foundation with lessons from one of the best instrumentalists around: Steve Watson, the formidable guitarist renowned for his performance on TV’s seminal Hill Street Blues theme song.
King still continues to grow, to experiment, to share his passions, although he’s not much of a talker. He lets his guitar do that, using it to tell the same story we all tell, to share emotions we all feel.
“I can say more truthfully in song what I can say in words,” he says. “Music breaks down the awkward barrier.” (For the record, whenever he hears the shopworn “teen angst,” Marcus recoils with the same allergic reaction that he has to “child prodigy.”)
Of the band, Jack Ryan plays drums with a musicianship that brings to mind Ginger Baker and Charlie Watts. Bassist Stephen Campbell drives MKB the same way that Garry W. Tallent keeps Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band on course. Through it all, King gives his mates plenty of breathing room to jam.
The result is a fusion of wildly eclectic genres, offering a live experience as mesmerizing as it is dance-inducing.
King himself lists an intriguing roster of favorites and influences: Duane Allman, of course, as well as Warren Haynes, Little Feat and Aretha Franklin, to name a few, and his band on any given night plays covers from Bob Marley to Lauryn Hill and from Les McCann to Black Sabbath.
That’s King – an engaged and engaging young man with a lifetime of experience, still coming into his own, still carrying his guitar with him, and promising us all a promising future.
RITA IS GONE
The Marcus King Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When did my house become less of home
She was so tired
But her eyes remained opened
So much to see
But her words remained unspoken
Weep not for me
For my mind wan't holdin' no peace
Nobody knew till it was to late
Rita is gone
She ain't coming back in your lifetime
She's gone
She won't wait for you in your next life
Gone, gone, gone, she's gone
Said I'm loneliest when I'm with you
At my best when I'm alone
But I need someone here beside me baby
Please don't stay gone too long
'Cause your love continues to help me baby
This heart's been breaking slowly
But this loneliness can kill me faster
Find it in yourself to stay
Rita is gone
She ain't coming back in your lifetime
She's gone
She won't wait for you in your next life
Lord, she's gone
She ain't coming back in your lifetime
She's gone
She won't wait for you in your next life
Gone, gone, gone, she's gone
Rita is gone
Gone, gone, gone, she's gone
Rita is gone
Gone, gone, gone, she's gone
Rita is gone
Gone, gone, gone, she's gone
Rita is gone
Gone, gone, gone, she's gone
The song "Rita is Gone" by The Marcus King Band tells a story of a woman who has lost the will to live, possibly due to the weight of her problems becoming too much for her to handle. The opening lines suggest that she was surrounded by people, but still felt alone, indicating that her feelings of isolation and hopelessness may have been exacerbated by those around her. The lyrics go on to describe her exhaustion, with her eyes open but her words remaining unspoken, suggesting that she may have been too overwhelmed to express her emotions. She ultimately passes away, leaving those close to her to mourn her loss.
The chorus serves as a stark reminder that Rita is truly gone - not just physically, but also in the sense that she will never be coming back. The singer seems to grapple with the idea of life without her, acknowledging that he is at his loneliest when he is with her, but also recognizing that her presence has been a source of comfort and stability. He pleads with her not to leave him alone for too long, as he is struggling with the weight of his own grief in the wake of her passing.
Line by Line Meaning
She was surrounded while she was alone
Despite being by herself, she felt like the world was closing in on her and overwhelming her.
When did my house become less of home
The singer questions when the place that was once comforting and welcoming became a source of discomfort and unease.
She was so tired
Rita was exhausted, both physically and emotionally.
But her eyes remained opened
Despite her fatigue, she was determined to stay aware and alert.
So much to see
There were many things in her life that she felt passionate about and wanted to experience.
But her words remained unspoken
Despite her desire to express herself, Rita held back and kept her thoughts and feelings to herself.
Weep not for me
Rita wants those around her to focus on the good in her life and not to mourn her passing.
For my mind won't holding no peace
Despite her outward composure, her mind was full of turmoil and didn't offer her any peace.
Rita carried so much weight
Rita had a lot of emotional baggage and responsibilities that she carried with her.
Nobody knew till it was to late
The people in Rita's life didn't realize the extent of her struggles until it was too late to help her.
Said I'm loneliest when I'm with you
The singer is expressing that the person they are with makes them feel more lonely than when they are alone.
At my best when I'm alone
The artist feels the most capable and confident when they are by themselves.
But I need someone here beside me baby
Despite their preference for being alone, the singer admits that they do crave companionship and love.
Please don't stay gone too long
The singer is pleading with their loved one to not stay away for an extended period of time.
Your love continues to help me baby
The love from their partner is a source of strength and comfort for the singer.
This heart's been breaking slowly
The artist's heart has been slowly deteriorating and breaking apart due to their struggles.
But this loneliness can kill me faster
Despite the pain in their heart, the loneliness can be an even more pressing and dangerous issue.
Find it in yourself to stay
The singer is asking their loved one to make the effort to be there for them and not to leave them alone.
Rita is gone
This line is a repetition of the chorus and represents the loss of Rita and the finality of her absence.
She ain't coming back in your lifetime
This line emphasizes the finality of Rita's absence and how it will be permanent for those she left behind.
She won't wait for you in your next life
This line emphasizes that there will be no chance to reunite with Rita in another lifetime or afterlife.
Lord, she's gone
Another repetition of the chorus that underscores the despair and sadness of the situation.
Gone, gone, gone, she's gone
A final repetition of the chorus that emphasizes the irrevocable loss and the pain it brings.
Contributed by Alice B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@elibubi004
She was surrounded while she was alone
When did my house become less of a home
She was so tired
But her eyes remained opened
So much to see
But her words remained unspoken
Weep not for me
For my mind wan't holdin' no peace
Rita carried so much weight
Nobody knew till it was to late
Rita is gone
She ain't coming back in your lifetime
She's gone
She won't wait for you in your next life
Gone, gone, gone, she's gone
Said I'm loneliest when I'm with you
At my best when I'm alone
But I need someone here beside me baby
Please don't stay gone too long
'Cause your love continues to help me baby
This heart's been breaking slowly
But this loneliness can kill me faster
Find it in yourself to stay
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@ethanhart6274
I hope everyone understands how much of a once in a lifetime talent this kid is.
@purpledahliamedium1968
soulful savant
@y0Fiqqy
the whole band is just utter utter talent man, i love this
@doomeex2419
Just unbeliveble
@alicantube
soooo true!
@peterlindberg4557
Oh, yes! We do.
@tucker2251
idk who the hell rita is, but thank God she's gone.
@Smeewa
I think she killed herself. Listen to the intro again. Sad song.
@witchsabbath13
Guys, Rita is the sister of Dexter, from the series called Dexter about a serial killer cop!