"From the prairie city of Saskatoon, Canada come the Sheepdogs, 4 young gentlemen who revel in the joy of rock n roll so wholeheartedly, it's downright contagious. Sporting the long-haired looks of their musical forefathers, the lads make the most of their 2 guitars, bass and drums combo. Soulful vocalizations, everybody harmonizing, old-school guitar chops winding, riffing and chiming, and a grooving rhythm section that keeps it all going. Having already cemented their reputation as dynamic performers in their hometown, the Sheepdogs now turn their attention to spreading their affection for rock n roll cross-country. They have spent the last year covering the great white north, playing from Vancouver island to Montreal. They have played festivals, headlined a bill during 2007's Junofest, opened for the likes of Matt Mays and el Torpedo, and performed before thousands at 2006's Saskatoon Centennial Celebration. In January 2007 they released their debut LP Trying to Grow, a collection of guitar-driven originals that recall classic rockers like the Stones, CCR, and the Kinks. The album's title-track was featured in a province-wide campaign in their native Saskatchewan. Early 2008 has already seen the completion of their follow-up album, which mixes elements of southern rock and moody soul with gleeful straight-forward rockers. Once again, the boys are hitting the road, spreading their rock n roll revival to the rest of Canada."
-Bill Shakespeare, August 2007
Band Lineup:
Ewan Currie - lead vocals, guitar
Leot Hanson - backing vocals, guitar
Ryan Gullen - backing vocals, bass
Sam Corbett - backing vocals, drums
http://www.thesheepdogs.com/
You Got to Be a Man
The Sheepdogs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If you don't you're gonna lose
Why can't you understand
Just how much you'll never choose
I don't care
Used to be I'd go anywhere
I don't mind
You got to be a man
If you don't you're gonna lose
Give up the one night stands
Quit the smoke, give up the booze
I don't care
Used to be I'd go anywhere
I don't mind
Just how far I'm falling behind
Seems I'm going out of my mind
You got to be a man
You got to be a man (you got to be a man)
You got to be a man (you got to be a man)
You got to be a man (you got to be a man)
If you don't you're gonna lose (gonna lose)
You're gonna lose
You're gonna lose (gonna lose)
You're gonna lose
You're gonna lose
The Sheepdogs's song You Got to Be a Man seems to be about the struggles of growing up and becoming a responsible adult. The lyrics suggest that being a man means taking control of your life and making responsible choices. The repeated line "You got to be a man" is a call to action, urging the listener to step up and be responsible. The lyrics also suggest that there are consequences for not taking responsibility, as the line "If you don't you're gonna lose" implies.
The lyrics also touch on themes of regret and feeling lost. The lines "Just how much you'll never choose" and "Just how far I'm falling behind" suggest that the singer feels like they have missed opportunities and fallen behind in life. The line "Seems I'm going out of my mind" implies a sense of confusion and frustration.
Overall, the message of the song seems to be that being a man means taking control of your life and making responsible choices, even when it's hard. It's a message that is relevant to anyone who is struggling with growing up and becoming an adult.
Line by Line Meaning
You got to be a man
In order to succeed in life, especially in regards to relationships and making responsible decisions, you need to be mature and take ownership of your actions.
If you don't you're gonna lose
If you fail to take responsibility for your choices and act immaturely, you will suffer consequences and miss out on opportunities in life.
Why can't you understand
The singer is frustrated that the listener is unable to grasp the importance of taking responsibility and acting like a mature adult.
Just how much you'll never choose
By failing to take responsibility and act maturely, the listener will miss out on important choices and opportunities in life.
I don't care
The artist is indifferent to their current situation and the consequences of their actions.
Used to be I'd go anywhere
The singer used to be carefree and willing to take risks, but has since realized the importance of being responsible and making smart choices.
I don't mind
The singer is not bothered by the fact that they are falling behind, as they have accepted the consequences of their previous actions.
Just how far I'm falling behind
The artist acknowledges that they are not making progress in their life due to their previous choices and lack of responsibility.
Give up the one night stands
The artist suggests that the listener should stop engaging in casual sexual encounters and instead focus on building meaningful relationships.
Quit the smoke, give up the booze
The artist advises the listener to stop smoking and drinking excessively, as these behaviors are harmful and demonstrate a lack of responsibility.
Seems I'm going out of my mind
The singer feels frustrated and overwhelmed by their own thoughts and emotions.
You got to be a man (you got to be a man)
The central message of the song is that in order to be successful and happy in life, one needs to behave like a mature, responsible adult.
If you don't you're gonna lose (gonna lose)
Once again, the singer stresses the importance of taking responsibility and warns that failing to do so will result in negative consequences and missed opportunities.
You're gonna lose (gonna lose)
The song ends on a somber note, with the repeated warning that failure to take responsibility will lead to negative outcomes.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Ewan Currie
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind