The Marshall Tucker Band is a Southern rock band. Originally from Spartanbu… Read Full Bio ↴The Marshall Tucker Band is a Southern rock band. Originally from Spartanburg, South Carolina, the band formed in 1971, and soon signed with Capricorn Records. In 1973 they released their first EP, simply titled 'The Marshall Tucker band.

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."

Down We Go
The Marshall Tucker Band Lyrics

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She said that she were leavin'
And that was yesterday
She packed her bags cryin'
And slowly she walked away

I ain't never seen a woman
Who could love me for a day
I ain't never seen nobody

Who could take my low down ways

She said that she was tired
And was going to carry on
But I will always think of her
And the memories that linger on

I ain't never seen a woman
Who could love me for a day
I ain't never seen nobody
Who could take my low down ways

I ain't never seen a woman
Who could love me for a day
I ain't never seen nobody
Who could take my low down ways

I ain't never seen nobody
Who could take my low down ways

Overall Meaning

The Marshall Tucker Band's song "Down We Go" is a tale of lost love and regret. The singer is reflecting on a recent breakup; his partner has left him, and he's struggling to come to terms with it. The first verse describes the physical act of her leaving - she packed her bags and slowly walked away, presumably after an argument or disagreement. The second verse reveals more about the nature of their relationship, with the singer admitting that he's never known a woman who could love him for more than a day. He has a tendency towards "low down ways" - potentially cheating or being unreliable - and it seems that this has driven yet another woman away.

In the third verse, the singer acknowledges that his former partner was tired of the relationship and chose to move on, despite his pain. However, he still holds on to the memories of their time together - suggesting that maybe he regrets his actions and wishes things could be different. The central message of the song seems to be that the singer is struggling to understand why he can't hold onto love, and why he keeps repeating the same mistakes. He's never found someone who can accept him for who he is, warts and all, and it's causing him a great deal of pain.

Overall, "Down We Go" is a poignant and heartfelt exploration of the complexities of human relationships, and the pain that can come with their breakdown. Through its honest lyrics and catchy guitar riffs, the song manages to evoke a sense of longing and heartbreak that anyone who's experienced a breakup can certainly relate to.

Line by Line Meaning

She said that she were leavin'
The woman I love told me that she was going away

And that was yesterday
This happened recently

She packed her bags cryin'
She was emotional about leaving

And slowly she walked away
She left reluctantly

I ain't never seen a woman
In my experience, I have never encountered a woman

Who could love me for a day
Who was capable of loving me for an extended period of time

I ain't never seen nobody
In my experience, I have never encountered anybody

Who could take my low down ways
Who was willing to tolerate my immoral behavior

She said that she was tired
She was exhausted and needed to move on from our relationship

And was going to carry on
She was going to continue with her life without me

But I will always think of her
I will never forget about her