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."
Answer To Love
The Marshall Tucker Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Does anybody here know the answer to love
I believe that I misunderstood
Does anybody here know the answer to love
Please tell me if you would
I thought love was supposed to make me happy
I thought love was supposed to make me glad
Mine's all sad
Does anybody here have an extra key
To a broken heart
Does anybody here have an introductory lesson
On how love is supposed to start
I thought love would make me happy
And I thought love would make me glad
Does anybody here know the answer to love
Mine's goin' bad
Mine's goin' bad
Does anybody here know how to wipe a tear
From a grown man's eye
Would anybody here try to help me out
So far all I've been told is lies
I thought love would make me happy
So far it's only made me blue
Does anybody here know the answer to love
Is it me or you
Is it me or you
Is it me or you
The Marshall Tucker Band's song Answer To Love expresses confusion and frustration regarding the concept of love. The singer, with a broken heart, questions whether love is meant to make one happy and content or instead leave one feeling sad and disillusioned. Toward the end of the song, he pleads for someone to show him how to cope when engulfed by heartbreak or how to wipe a tear from a grown man's eye. There is a sense of helplessness in the lyrics as the singer seeks answers to what seem like unanswerable questions. Ultimately, the song leaves the listener with a sense of ambiguity, questioning whether it is the singer or someone else who needs to figure out the answer to love.
Line by Line Meaning
Does anybody here know the answer to love
Asking if anyone knows what love truly is
I believe that I misunderstood
Realizing that what they thought was love may not have been
Does anybody here have an extra key to a broken heart
Seeking a way to fix their own heartache and emotional pain
To a broken heart
Reinforcing the notion that their heart is currently broken
Does anybody here have an introductory lesson on how love is supposed to start
Desiring guidance on how to properly begin a loving relationship
Mine's all sad
Acknowledging that their current experience with love is filled with sadness and pain
Does anybody here know how to wipe a tear from a grown man's eye
Asking for emotional support during a difficult time
Would anybody here try to help me out
Requesting assistance from others
So far all I've been told is lies
Expressing disappointment and distrust in past romantic experiences
So far it's only made me blue
Admitting that their search for love has only resulted in sadness and heartache
Does anybody here know the answer to love
Reiterating the initial question to emphasize the confusion and uncertainty surrounding love
Is it me or you
Wondering if the source of their love-related problems lies within themselves or their partners
Contributed by Kylie N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Dee Napier
on Desert Skies
Sucks so far...