The Wealthy West is American musician Brandon Kinder, previously the enigma… Read Full Bio ↴The Wealthy West is American musician Brandon Kinder, previously the enigmatic singer for The Rocketboys.

Kinder, of Austin, TX, has set himself apart as a powerful songwriter with a unique voice and a knack for telling stories through song. Through the success and loyal following that The Rocketboys built over the years, Kinder has captivated audiences through four acclaimed albums and prominent TV and film placements. In his spare time, Kinder began writing songs that wouldn’t necessarily fit for The Rocketboys, and without a true outlet for them, The Wealthy West was born.

The Wealthy West trades The Rocketboys’ anthemic indie rock for a serious dose of Americana coupled with Kinder’s signature eccentricity weaved into tales of bad choices, long roads, longing for home and the banality of love.

I've Got To Go
The Wealthy West Lyrics

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Tell my Father that I'm going to make him proud
And tell my mother that I'm going to keep my head on
Tell my brother that I'm going to fall in love before he does
Oh, and tell my sister that I'm going to call soon
Because I've got to go

I've got to build something, I've got to go
I've got to make a life of my own

And I will not stop until these hands have a home
Oh, I've got to go

I'm not sure what it is to be a man
But, oh man, I'm just trying as hard as I can
And I've been thinking all through the night, about what you said
About how no one's going to matter when they're dead
But I've got to try

I've got to build something, I've got to try
I've got to do something good with my life
And I will not stop until I run out of time
Oh I've got to try

Oh I've got to try
I've got to build something, I've got to try

I've got to do something good with my life
And I will not stop until I run out of time

Overall Meaning

The song "I've Got to Go" by The Wealthy West is an anthem for those who are leaving their hometowns in search of new opportunities and experiences. The lyrics are a message from the singer to their family and loved ones, telling them that they're leaving to make something of themselves but they will always care about and think of those they left behind.

The opening stanza of the song sets the stage for the singer's journey, informing the family of his intentions. He wants to make his father proud by achieving his goals, he promises to be strong and make the most of his opportunities to make sure his mother has nothing to worry about, he wants to fall in love before his brother and he'll call his sister soon. These promises of growth and love are necessary in the singer's journey away from what he knows and towards what he hopes for.

The chorus of the song, "I've got to build something, I've got to make a life of my own, And I will not stop until these hands have a home, Oh, I've got to go" shows the determination of the singer to create something out of his life. He's not sure what it takes to be a man, but he's going to try his hardest to achieve it. The second chorus reaffirms the singer's intentions to try his hardest and "do something good" with his life.

Line by Line Meaning

Tell my Father that I'm going to make him proud
I want to achieve something great and show my dad that I am capable of making him proud.

And tell my mother that I'm going to keep my head on
I promise to be grounded and always make wise decisions. I'll make my mother proud too.

Tell my brother that I'm going to fall in love before he does
I'll try my best to find someone I love and start a new journey with them before my brother does. I hope it happens.

Oh, and tell my sister that I'm going to call soon
I'll call my sister very soon and tell her all about my plans and how I'm going to make them a reality - she will be proud of me.

Because I've got to go
I really need to leave home and make a change in my life. It's time to make my own path.

I've got to build something, I've got to go
I need to create and establish something big. It's not just about leaving, it's about having something to leave for.

I've got to make a life of my own
I want to create a fulfilling life that satisfies my needs and aspirations. I don't want to rely on anyone else.

And I will not stop until these hands have a home
I promise to work hard and never give up until I have a place to call home - a place of my own creation.

I'm not sure what it is to be a man
I'm still trying to figure out what it's like to be a responsible adult, and how to build a family, and how to carve a life out for myself.

But, oh man, I'm just trying as hard as I can
Even though I am not sure about everything, I am still putting in effort to make progress and feel responsible and capable.

And I've been thinking all through the night, about what you said
I've been taking time to consider what those who are older and wiser than me have told me, and have reflected on their advice.

About how no one's going to matter when they're dead
I've been contemplating the finality of life, and how nothing we do will matter when we are gone. It's a harsh truth.

But I've got to try
Even though it seems pointless in the end, I refuse to give up trying to make something of my life, for myself and for others.

I've got to build something, I've got to try
I need to create something meaningful with my life, even though it may seem futile. It's what brings me purpose and joy.

I've got to do something good with my life
I am determined to do something that benefits not just me, but those around me as well. To leave the world better than it was before.

And I will not stop until I run out of time
I will keep striving towards my goals and aspirations until the very end. My life won't be over until I've done all I set out to do.

Oh I've got to try
I have to give it my all, put in my best effort, and never give up. That's the only way to build something great.

Contributed by Lila S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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