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."
Singing Rhymes
The Marshall Tucker Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Toy Caldwell)
Lord it seems, my whole life
Ain't been nothing but trouble
When I try to straighten things out
Hell, things double
Ever since I met you I'm doing what a man's supposed to do
A lot of folks think that love is wrong
And they don't know what's going on
Ever since the day they told me your name
This old heart of mine has been under lock and chain
Of love
I always knew that you made the sun shine
I never thought I'd see the day I'd make you mine
And I'll always be singing rhymes
I'll always be writing lines
About love
Don't want you to think
I'm coming on a little too strong
Just wanna let you know
Ain't nothing going wrong
And everything I ever tried to do
Lord, it just comes right back to you
I guess that's what love's supposed to do
I'll always be singing rhymes
I'll always be writing lines
About love
The Marshall Tucker Band's "Singing Rhymes" describes a love story that wasn't always smooth sailing. The lyrics indicate that the singer's life was full of problems until they met their love. When they tried to fix things, they became twice as hard, but now that they've found their significant other, they're doing what a man is supposed to do about love. However, despite their newfound love, some people still think loving someone is wrong, but the singer knows the truth. His heart has been under lock and chain since the day he learned his love's name.
The second stanza shows how the singer always knew that his love could make the sun shine, yet he never thought he'd make her his. He confesses that he will never stop writing rhymes and lyrics about love. But, he doesn't want to come across as forceful, so he assures her that everything is alright. The singer is now happy because everything he does brings him back to his love. In conclusion, the song shows how love can transform someone's life while also creating art.
Line by Line Meaning
Lord it seems, my whole life
I feel like my life has been filled with difficulties
Ain't been nothing but trouble
I haven't had an easy life
When I try to straighten things out
When I try to fix things
Hell, things double
Things get even worse
Ever since I met you I'm doing what a man's supposed to do
Since I met you, I am fulfilling my role as a man in a relationship
About love
In the context of this song, the topic of what I am doing as a man is related to love
A lot of folks think that love is wrong
Many people have negative beliefs about love
And they don't know what's going on
Their beliefs are not necessarily based on understanding of love
Ever since the day they told me your name
From the moment I heard about you
This old heart of mine has been under lock and chain
My heart has been guarded and closed off
Of love
Because of my feelings for you
I always knew that you made the sun shine
I have always known that being with you makes everything better
I never thought I'd see the day I'd make you mine
I never believed that I would be fortunate enough to be in a relationship with you
And I'll always be singing rhymes
I will always express my love and feelings through music
I'll always be writing lines
I will always be expressing my love and feelings through writing
About love
The subject of my creative expressions will always be love
Don't want you to think
I don't want you to have the wrong impression
I'm coming on a little too strong
I am being a bit intense
Just wanna let you know
I want to make it clear
Ain't nothing going wrong
Everything is going well
And everything I ever tried to do
In my attempts at anything
Lord, it just comes right back to you
It all comes back to you, my love
I guess that's what love's supposed to do
That's the nature of love, to bring everything back to the loved one
Lyrics © Spirit Music Group
Written by: TOY CALDWELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Shaina Manandhar
Lord it seems, my whole life
Ain't been nothing but trouble
When I try to straighten things out
Hell, things double
Ever since I met you I'm doing what a man's supposed to do
About love
A lot of folks think that love is wrong
And they don't know what's going on
Ever since the day they told me your name
This old heart of mine has been under lock and chain
Of love
I always knew that you made the sun shine
I never thought I'd see the day I'd make you mine
And I'll always be singing rhymes
I'll always be writing lines
About love
Don't want you to think
I'm coming on a little too strong
Just wanna let you know
Ain't nothing going wrong
And everything I ever tried to do
Lord, it just comes right back to you
I guess that's what love's supposed to do
I'll always be singing rhymes
I'll always be writing lines
About love
And everything I ever tried to do
Lord, it just comes right back to you
I guess that's what love's supposed to do
I'll always be singing rhymes
I'll always be writing lines
I'll always be singing rhymes
I'll always be writing lines
About love
tropicwave1
Singing Rhymes
The Marshall Tucker Band
Album: Together Forever
Lord it seems, my whole life
Ain't been nothing but trouble
When I try to straighten things out
Hell, things double
Ever since I met you I'm doing what a man's supposed to do
About love
A lot of folks think that love is wrong
And they don't know what's going on
Ever since the day they told me your name
This old heart of mine has been under lock and chain
Of love
I always knew that you made the sun shine
I never thought I'd see the day I'd make you mine
And I'll always be singing rhymes
I'll always be writing lines
About love
Don't want you to think
I'm coming on a little too strong
Just wanna let you know
Ain't nothing going wrong
And everything I ever tried to do
Lord, it just comes right back to you
I guess that's what love's supposed to do
I'll always be singing rhymes
I'll always be writing lines
About love
Written by: TOY CALDWELL
Lyrics © Spirit Music Group, Global Talent Publishing
Year: 1978
Brenda Milloy
Think it's a shame that the Marshall Tucker Band isn't in the RRHOF? Screw the RRHOF! I know of something better.
I am the representative/cyber cheerleader for the Marshall Tucker Band at the Hall Of Pretty Darned Good (HOPDG).
What is HOPDG?
The Hall Of Pretty Darned Good is a virtual Hall of Recognition. The HOPDG seeks to recognize people, bands and artists who are not recognized by their respective Halls of Fame.
Nominees are selected based on fan suggestions and inducted into the HOPDG by fan votes. It's as simple as that.
The current categories include:
Baseball
Football
Basketball
Hockey
Film/TV
Music
There is a Facebook Page named The Hall Of Pretty Darned Good where you can vote for the Marshall Tucker Band to be inducted into the Hall Of Pretty Darned Good!
To vote, first you need to "LIKE" the HOPDG page, then send a message via the Page, with your vote choices.
The Hall Of Pretty Darned Good also has a Group of the same name on Facebook so you can discuss the nominees with other voters, keep up to date on HOPDG news, and maybe win some extra votes for your favorites by answering trivia questions. It's all good fun with a great purpose - recognizing people for their outstanding contributions to sports, film and music.
On midnight, September 30th, voting stops for the current round of nominees. The Marshall Tucker Band is in the 3rd spot for induction unless another nominee overtakes. Don't let this happen! Vote!
Let's get the Marshall Tucker Band the long overdue recognition they deserve.
Thank you 🌈
Brenda Milloy
Think it's a shame that the Marshall Tucker Band isn't in the RRHOF? Screw the RRHOF! I know of something better.
I am the representative/cyber cheerleader for the Marshall Tucker Band at the Hall Of Pretty Darned Good (HOPDG).
What is HOPDG?
The Hall Of Pretty Darned Good is a virtual Hall of Recognition. The HOPDG seeks to recognize people, bands and artists who are not recognized by their respective Halls of Fame.
Nominees are selected based on fan suggestions and inducted into the HOPDG by fan votes. It's as simple as that.
The current categories include:
Baseball
Football
Basketball
Hockey
Film/TV
Music
There is a Facebook Page named The Hall Of Pretty Darned Good where you can vote for the Marshall Tucker Band to be inducted into the Hall Of Pretty Darned Good!
To vote, first you need to "LIKE" the HOPDG page, then send a message via the Page, with your vote choices.
The Hall Of Pretty Darned Good also has a Group of the same name on Facebook so you can discuss the nominees with other voters, keep up to date on HOPDG news, and maybe win some extra votes for your favorites by answering trivia questions. It's all good fun with a great purpose - recognizing people for their outstanding contributions to sports, film and music.
Let's get the Marshall Tucker Band the long overdue recognition they deserve.
Thank you 🌈
Shaina Manandhar
Lord it seems, my whole life
Ain't been nothing but trouble
When I try to straighten things out
Hell, things double
Ever since I met you I'm doing what a man's supposed to do
About love
A lot of folks think that love is wrong
And they don't know what's going on
Ever since the day they told me your name
This old heart of mine has been under lock and chain
Of love
I always knew that you made the sun shine
I never thought I'd see the day I'd make you mine
And I'll always be singing rhymes
I'll always be writing lines
About love
Don't want you to think
I'm coming on a little too strong
Just wanna let you know
Ain't nothing going wrong
And everything I ever tried to do
Lord, it just comes right back to you
I guess that's what love's supposed to do
I'll always be singing rhymes
I'll always be writing lines
About love
And everything I ever tried to do
Lord, it just comes right back to you
I guess that's what love's supposed to do
I'll always be singing rhymes
I'll always be writing lines
I'll always be singing rhymes
I'll always be writing lines
About love
Curtis Linder
not to steal this poster's thunder - but I will have this up on my vinyl youtube channel. But - until then - thanks for putting this up. and I agree with JustAintthatWay that it is a shame the MTB has been unfairly categorized into a narrow musical genre. They are, to me - in short - the quintessential American rock band...
Brenda Milloy
Amen 🌈
bluegills2
Thanks for this.Haven't heard it since my turntable broke,many,many years ago now.Toy's evocative and precise guitar work and Tommy's bass thumping out that back beat.Good God, it didn't and still don't get no better than this.
Mike Johnson
There is no way to completely express my appreciation for the privilege of growing up listening to this wonderful music. Memories..........
holmeed
top 10 bands ever. IMO
SilvioManfredDante85
Love this song ! Especially Toy's voice...
Brenda Milloy
Love it when Toy sings
Sakis Papamargaritis
EXCELLENT!!
Lacey Yakel
Another Tucker classic....what else can you say, it's real music.