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."
Cattle Drive
The Marshall Tucker Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fmaj7
Didn't know a rope from a horse
G6
But I wanted to be a cowboy
So I took the job of course
The foreman he said "Son you gonna ride
Fmaj7
At the end of my herd"
G6
All the wranglers sat around in a circle
Am
And nobody said a word
Fmaj7
'Cause there's a woman in my dreams
G6
That keeps me alive
Fmaj7
If I ever see her again
E Am
Lord I'll never ride drag on another cattle drive
Solo: Am Fmaj7 G6 Am Am Fmaj7 G6 Am
Am
There's a rumor goin' round
Fmaj7
That we're near a Kansas City town
G6
And when you're ridin drag on this cattle drive
Am
It takes 'bout a week for the word to get around
Fmaj7
'Cause there's a woman in my dreams
G6
That keeps me alive
Fmaj7
If I ever see her again
E Am
Lord I'll never ride drag on another cattle drive
Outro: Am Fmaj7 G6 Am
The Marshall Tucker Band's song "Cattle Drive" tells the story of a greenhorn who wants to be a cowboy and takes a job with a foreman. The foreman assigns the singer to ride at the end of the herd, a difficult and often overlooked position referred to as "riding drag." Despite the challenges, the singer holds out hope for a woman he dreams of and believes he will see again. He declares that if he ever does see her again, he would never ride drag on another cattle drive.
The song is steeped in cowboy mythology and adheres to many of the tropes seen in classic western movies and novels. The singer is a greenhorn who has to prove himself to the other cowboys, and he speaks wistfully of a lost love. The song also touches on the tough and dirty work of the cowboys who rode on cattle drives in the late 19th century and the camaraderie they had with each other.
The lyrics of "Cattle Drive" are simple and straightforward, but the longing for a lost love gives them a melancholy tinge. The use of the phrase "riding drag" and the details about the work of cowboys on a cattle drive add to the authenticity of the song and bring listeners into the world of the American west in the late 1800s.
Line by Line Meaning
Hired me on a greenhorn
I was inexperienced and naive when I got hired for this job.
Didn't know a rope from a horse
I had no idea how to handle the responsibilities that come with working as a cowboy.
But I wanted to be a cowboy
Despite my lack of experience, I had a strong desire to fulfill my dream of being a cowboy.
So I took the job of course
I accepted the job offer without thinking twice, eager to make a start in the profession I admired.
The foreman he said 'Son you gonna ride'
The foreman assigned me a task to ride and keep track of the cattle in the rear of the herd.
At the end of my herd
I was assigned to ride along the edge of the herd, which was the trailing end.
All the wranglers sat around in a circle
The other cowboys gathered together in a circle, though nobody spoke or offered any advice.
And nobody said a word
I was left alone to figure out my responsibilities without any guidance or input from the others.
'Cause there's a woman in my dreams
I am motivated by my love for a certain woman who I hope to someday find.
That keeps me alive
The thought of being with this woman is what makes life worth living for me.
If I ever see her again
I am hopeful that one day I will be reunited with the woman I love.
Lord I'll never ride drag on another cattle drive
If I am lucky enough to find this woman, I will never work such a difficult and thankless job again.
There's a rumor goin' round
Word is spreading amongst the cowboys that we are approaching a town called Kansas City.
That we're near a Kansas City town
We are getting closer to the town called Kansas City.
And when you're ridin drag on this cattle drive
When you are working in the rear of the herd on a cattle drive like this one.
It takes 'bout a week for the word to get around
News and rumors tend to travel slowly on this kind of journey, taking around a week to reach everyone involved.
Outro: Am Fmaj7 G6 Am
The final chords of the song, bringing it to a close.
Lyrics © Spirit Music Group
Written by: TOMMY CALDWELL, TOY CALDWELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Dee Napier
on Desert Skies
Sucks so far...