Compared to Southern rock pioneers and label-mates The Allman Brothers Band, Marshall Tucker had a more country and western feel, with the flute being a key lead instrument in their sound. "Can't You See", "Fire on the Mountain", and "This Ol' Cowboy" are among their songs that received appreciable FM radio airplay, while "Heard It in a Love Song" made it to #14 as a single on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1977.
Original bassist Tommy Caldwell died in a car crash on April 28, 1980. His brother, guitarist Toy Caldwell, died of respiratory failure on February 25, 1993.
There was no band member named "Marshall Tucker". Originally, the band called itself The Toy Factory (named after lead-guitarist Toy Caldwell). But by the time the band released its first album they had become the Marshall Tucker Band. During a radio interview in Hempstead, NY in 1973, Tommy Caldwell explained the origins of the band's name:
"There's an old blind dude [in Spartanburg, SC] that tunes pianos, and his name is Marshall Tucker... We didn't name the band after him, but we just kind of liked that name and stuck with it."
02 Hillbilly Band
The Marshall Tucker Band Lyrics
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Gatta go listen to my favorite sound
It's a hillbilly fiddle and an ol' guitar
Cousin stanely on a corn liquor jar
Sometimes I stay up late at night
A little moonshine whiskey and everything's alright
You'll probably get stuck, ya don't know where ya are
You can have fun I'm tellin' you can
When you stomp your feet to a hillbilly band
Everynight just where I go
I grab me a lady and I dose E doe
Ain't nuthin' in this world I'd rather do
Then to guitar pick some country blues
I'm gonna do a little chicken pickin'
I'm gonna do a little chicken pickin'
You can have fun I'm tellin' you can
When you stomp your feet to a hillbilly band
The Marshall Tucker Band's song Hillbilly Band celebrates the joy and excitement of listening and dancing to a hillbilly band. The song opens with the urgency of getting back home before the sun goes down to listen to the favorite sound of a hillbilly fiddle and an old guitar. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the setting with Cousin Stanley playing on a corn liquor jar with feet stomping to the rhythm of the country guitar. The chorus of the song invites the listener to join in the celebration by having fun and stomping their feet to a hillbilly band.
The verses in the song reflect on the pleasure of staying up late at night and enjoying moonshine whiskey to the beat of a country guitar. The line, "You'll probably get stuck, ya don't know where ya are," suggests that the music is so powerful that it has the ability to transport the listener to another realm, where they can let loose and enjoy the moment. Additionally, the lyrics speak to the joy of letting go and dancing with a partner. The phrase "grab me a lady and I dose E doe" alludes to a dance step or movement that accompanies the upbeat rhythm of the hillbilly band.
Overall, Hillbilly Band is a celebratory song that captures the essence of the joy and excitement of listening and dancing to a hillbilly band.
Line by Line Meaning
Gatta get home before the sun goes down
I need to return home before sunset.
Gatta go listen to my favorite sound
I must go and hear my preferred music.
It's a hillbilly fiddle and an ol' guitar
Two instruments playing a type of country music.
Cousin stanely on a corn liquor jar
Cousin Stanley playing a musical instrument made out of corn liquor jar.
Sometimes I stay up late at night
On occasion, I remain awake in the evening.
A little moonshine whiskey and everything's alright
Alcohol, in moderation, can help me relax and enjoy myself.
You'll probably get stuck, ya don't know where ya are
You may become lost in the moment and not realize your surroundings.
As you stomp your feet to a country guitar
As you dance to the beat of a guitar playing country music.
You can have fun I'm tellin' you can
You can enjoy yourself, I assure you.
When you stomp your feet to a hillbilly band
When you dance to music played by a group playing hillbilly style country music.
Everynight just where I go
Each night I always go to the same place.
I grab me a lady and I dose E doe
I dance with a woman and do the doe-see-doe country dance.
Ain't nuthin' in this world I'd rather do
There is nothing else in the world that I would rather do.
Then to guitar pick some country blues
Than play the guitar to create country blues music.
I'm gonna do a little chicken pickin'
I am going to play a guitar technique called 'chicken picking.'
You can have fun I'm tellin' you can
You can enjoy yourself, I assure you.
When you stomp your feet to a hillbilly band
When you dance to music played by a group playing hillbilly style country music.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: TOY CALDWELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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