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."
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The Marshall Tucker Band Lyrics
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Long enough for my boots to get old
We've been together so long now
They both need re-soled
If I ever settle down, you'd be my kind
But it's a good time for me to head on down the line
Heard it in a love song
Heard it in a love song
Can't be wrong
I'm the kinda man likes to get away
Like to start dreamin' about tomorrow today
Never said that I love you, even though it's so
Where's that duffel bag of mine it's time to go?
Heard it in a love song
Heard it in a love song
Heard it in a love song
Can't be wrong
I'm gonna be leavin' at the break of dawn
Wish you could come
But I don't need no woman taggin' along
So I'll sneak out that door
Couldn't stand to see you cry
I'd stay another year, if I saw a tear drop in your eye
Heard it in a love song
Heard it in a love song
Heard it in a love song
Can't be wrong
I never had a damn thing
But what I had, I had to leave it behind.
You're the hardest thing
I ever tried to get off my mind
Always something greener
On the other side of that hill
I was born a wrangler and a rambler
And I guess, I always will
Heard it in a love song
Heard it in a love song
Heard it in a love song
Can't be wrong
The Marshall Tucker Band's "Heard It in a Love Song" is a contemplative song about a man's struggle between his wanderlust and his desire for commitment. The singer is a man who loves to travel and cannot commit to anyone, so he has not been with a woman for a long time. He loves his current partner, but he can't stay with her because he wants to keep moving. Throughout the song, he repeats "Heard it in a love song" as a reminder that he is not the only man who struggles with this dilemma.
Line by Line Meaning
I ain't never been with a woman
Long enough for my boots to get old
I have never been with a woman for a long enough period for my boots to show signs of age.
We've been together so long now
They both need re-soled
We have been in a relationship for so long that our shoes have worn out and need to be re-soled.
If I ever settle down, you'd be my kind
But it's a good time for me to head on down the line
If I ever decide to settle down, you are the type of person I would want to be with, but for now, it is a good time for me to move on.
Heard it in a love song
Heard it in a love song
Heard it in a love song
Can't be wrong
I have heard these things in love songs and they must be true.
I'm the kinda man likes to get away
Like to start dreamin' about tomorrow today
Never said that I love you, even though it's so
Where's that duffel bag of mine it's time to go?
I am the type of person who likes to get away and imagine the future, and although I love you, I have never expressed it. Now it is time for me to leave, and I am looking for my bag.
I'm gonna be leavin' at the break of dawn
Wish you could come
But I don't need no woman taggin' along
So I'll sneak out that door
I will be leaving early in the morning, and I wish you could come with me, but I do not want any woman to come along, so I will leave quietly.
Couldn't stand to see you cry
I'd stay another year, if I saw a tear drop in your eye
I cannot bear to see you cry. If I saw a tear in your eye, I would stay another year.
I never had a damn thing
But what I had, I had to leave it behind.
You're the hardest thing
I ever tried to get off my mind
I have never really had much, but whatever I did have, I had to leave behind. You are the hardest thing I have ever tried to forget.
Always something greener
On the other side of that hill
I was born a wrangler and a rambler
And I guess, I always will
There is always something better on the other side of the hill. I was born to wander and travel, and I think that's how it will always be.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: HAROLD DOUGLAS GRAY, RUSTY MILNER, MELODY PARKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ruththielen9521
I am 57 years old. Playing flute in church for a few years. Play this song with a rock band tonight for the 1st time on my live on stage can't tell you how glorious I feel
@MicheleACosci
keep on going bro !
@darkerSolstice
That's so exciting! Congrats!
@jeremyc9593
@@MicheleACosci Bro? Are there many guys named Ruth?
@MicheleACosci
@@jeremyc9593 Begging your pardon, Sir. No there aren't. This name is not so common where i come from. I apologize.
@jeremyc9593
@@MicheleACosci No worries
@Dudleymiddleton
Songs like this don't die, they get richer with age. Utterly brilliant.
@sharone420
YOU are spot ON !!!
@douglase.palensr8340
Forever a fan. Saw them live in concert once in the early 70s and then my wife and I stopped at a place on east colonial Dr they were playing there for one night that was in 1984. 350 people max...Fantastic show. Unbelievable that they were playing there. Lost my hearing for a few hours but it was worth it. The best of Southern rock and roll....
@dangre00
mm hmm