Tobacco Road
The Rev. Jimmie Bratcher Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My mama died and my daddy got drunk
Left me here to die or grow
In the middle of Tobacco Road
I grew up in a dusty shack
And all I had was a-hangin' on my back
Only you know how I loathe
But it's home
The only life I've ever known
Only you know how I loathe
Tobacco Road (Tobacco Road, Tobacco Road)
I'm gonna leave and get a job (Tobacco Road)
With the help and the grace from above (Tobacco Road)
Save some money, get rich I know
Bring it back to Tobacco Road (Tobacco Road)
Bring dynamite and a crane (Tobacco Road)
Blow it up and start all over again (Tobacco Road)
Build a town, be proud to show (Tobacco Road)
Give it the name of Tobacco Road
But it's home (it's home)
The only life I've ever known (ever known)
Only you know how I loathe (only you, how I loathe)
But it's home (it's home)
The only life I've ever known (ever known)
That I despise and disapprove of you (Tobacco Road)
Is to love you (Tobacco Road)
'Cause it's home (Tobacco Road)
'Cause it's home (Tobacco Road)
'Cause it's home (Tobacco Road)
It's home (Tobacco Road)
(Tobacco Road)
(Tobacco Road)
(Tobacco Road)
The Rev. Jimmie Bratcher's song Tobacco Road tells the story of a person who was born in the poverty-stricken area of Tobacco Road. The singer’s mother died, and their father turned to drinking, leaving them to either die or survive on their own. The singer grew up in a dusty shack and had very little to their name. They despise their home and describe it as a place where they loathe, but at the same time, it is the only life they have ever known.
Despite their loathing, the singer has a plan to leave this place and find a job with the help of God’s grace. They plan to save some money and come back to Tobacco Road as a wealthy person. The singer has a vision of using dynamite and a crane to clear the area and start anew, building a town and calling it Tobacco Road. The singer ends by acknowledging that despite his feelings, this place will always be their home, the only life they ever knew and that to despise and disapprove of someone or something is to love it.
Line by Line Meaning
I was born in a bunk
I was born in a lowly and confined place
My mama died and my daddy got drunk
After my mother passed away, my father turned to alcohol and neglected me
Left me here to die or grow
He abandoned me to face either death or the challenge of surviving on my own
In the middle of Tobacco Road
In a place known as Tobacco Road
I grew up in a dusty shack
I spent my formative years in a poor and humble dwelling
And all I had was a-hangin' on my back
I possessed nothing except the clothes I wore and a few meager belongings
Only you know how I loathe
No one but you could understand the depth of my disdain and disgust
This place called Tobacco Road
Referring to the area where I was raised and where I currently live
But it's home
Despite its shortcomings and flaws, it's the only place I have of my own
The only life I've ever known
This way of life is all I've experienced
I'm gonna leave and get a job (Tobacco Road)
I plan to depart from Tobacco Road to seek employment elsewhere
With the help and the grace from above (Tobacco Road)
I believe that divine assistance will aid me in my endeavors
Save some money, get rich I know
By practicing thrift and perseverance, I'm confident I can attain wealth
Bring it back to Tobacco Road (Tobacco Road)
I intend to return to Tobacco Road with my newfound riches
Bring dynamite and a crane (Tobacco Road)
In order to improve Tobacco Road, I suggest using explosive and mechanical means
Blow it up and start all over again (Tobacco Road)
Razing current structures to the ground and beginning anew would be beneficial
Build a town, be proud to show (Tobacco Road)
I envision a town that would make us all proud to display to others
Give it the name of Tobacco Road
I propose christening this improved town the same as the current place
That I despise and disapprove of you (Tobacco Road)
Although I may have negative feelings about you, Tobacco Road, they are grounded in love for my home and the desire to see it bettered
Is to love you (Tobacco Road)
Paradoxically, my feelings of loathing can be seen as a form of love for the place that inspired them
'Cause it's home (Tobacco Road)
Ultimately, my connection to Tobacco Road is too strong for me to leave it behind completely
It's home (Tobacco Road)
This place holds a special significance in my life and will always be my home
(Tobacco Road)
The repetition of this phrase serves to emphasize the importance of this place
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John D. Loudermilk
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind