Zimmerman studied violin from age 4 to age 7, playing a violin made by his grandfather, an immigrant from Bavaria in the late 19th century, who was both an architect and a violin maker.At age 7 he was moved to Healdsburg (a rural town in Northern California) where he lived until the age of 17. He attended and graduated from both the grammar school and high school there. During this time he studied piano and trombone with private teachers. In 1956, through 1958 he was selected to play trombone in the California State High School Orchestra. Also in those same years he formed a 4-piece rock and roll band in which he sang and played piano (sax, bass and drums). This group played for local weddings and school dances.
In 1958 he returned to San Francisco and studied music for two years at San Francisco City College. Theory and history. He began composing at this time and studied privately with Robert Morton. He also played trombone in various jazz ensembles and big bands in the city. In 1959 He received an AA (Associate of Arts) degree from San Francisco City College.
From 1961 to 1966 he attended San Francisco State College (now University) where he studied theory and composition. He received at BA (Bachelor of Arts) in Music in 1964 and an MA (Master of Arts) in Theory and Composition in 1966. Private lessons in composition with Henry Onderdonk.
In 1965 he began writing songs (words and music) for his own voice with harmonica and guitar and to date has written over 800 such songs.
In 1966 he received a Fulbright Scholarship to study composition in Rome, Italy with Gofredo Petrassi. both privately and in master class at Santa Cecilia Academy. In 1967 the scholarship was renewed for a second year. During this time he began to perform his solo songs in various folkclubs in Rome.
In 1968 he left the academic world and moved to London where he began to seriously pursue his songwriting and singing. He lived in England for two years, first in London and then in Oxford, playing gigs under assumed names, posing as a Canadian, since he was not granted a work permit. He also worked in various recording studios as an arranger and musician. In 1969 he recorded his first album TEN SONGS BY TUCKER ZIMMERMAN produced by Tony Visconti for Regal Zonophone Records, EMI.
Tucker Zimmerman:
"While living in England I wrote 150 songs, but I couldn't get a single artist in London to sing one. My album had come out in December of 1968 - Ten Songs by Tucker Zimmerman - and was going absolutely nowhere. I learned later that the record company had signed me simply to keep me out of action for three years. They put me in their deep freeze so that I wouldn't offer any competition to the other (British) singer/songwriters they were promoting. I wasn't able to record again until 1971 when my contract with them expired."
From 1970 to 1984 he played hundreds of solo concerts all over Europe, especially in Belgium, Switzerland and Germany where he was regarded as a « song poet ». During this period he also continued to write songs and recorded 5 more LPs.
In 1984 he stopped touring as a solo performer. His creative output from then until 1996 was divided into two media : musical composition and the writing of fiction.
In 1996 he returned to song writing and performing, first with a blues band, and then with his own Nightshift Trio. He writes poetry/fiction and to compose music for various acoustic ensembles.
http://www.tuckerzimmerman.org/
Tucker Zimmerman : vocals, 12-string guitar, harmonica, piano, harpsichord, melotron
Tony Visconti : electric bass, 6-string Spanish guitar
Shawn Phillips : sitar, electric guitar
Rick Wakeman : organ
Aynsley Dunbar : drums
Freeway
Tucker Zimmerman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
see the city upside down
that's a good way to start the day
that's a way to know the earth is round
then let's go down to the freeway
and let a few cars and trucks run thru our minds
and feel the earth revolve
let's go down to the railroad tracks
count the boxcars on the train
most of them will be empty
and maybe our heads will feel the same
then let's go down to the freeway
and let a few cars and trucks run thru our minds
and feel the earth revolve
take time to put our hands and feet upon the ground
my feet have found freedom
your feet are cold
I'm so tired of driving
and you say you're tired of growing old
so let's go down to the freeway
and let a few cars and trucks run thru our minds
and feel the earth revolve
take time to put our hands and feet upon the ground
even peace has its problems
(don't think too much, there's much to think about)
like the unspoken words that turn your mind
(don't think too much just touch your own way out)
words that turn to troubled silence
(don't think too much, there's much to think about)
like the thoughts that only take away your time
(don't think too much just touch your own way out)
The song "Freeway" by Tucker Zimmerman is a reflective and philosophical piece that explores the idea of taking a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life to connect with nature and the earth. The first verse suggests looking at the city upside down from the river bridge as a way of starting the day and acknowledging the roundness of the earth. The second verse goes on to suggest walking by the freeway and feeling the earth revolve as cars and trucks pass by. Zimmerman urges the listener to take a moment to feel the ground beneath their feet, to connect with the earth and its movements.
The third verse moves on to the railroad tracks, suggesting that most of the boxcars on the train will be empty, and perhaps this void is reflected in the feeling of emptiness in the listener's head. The song then returns to the chorus, encouraging the listener to take a moment to feel the earth revolve and connect with the present moment. The following verses suggest struggles with freedom, growing old, and troubled thoughts, but ultimately, the song ends with a call to touch one's own way out and enjoy the simplicity and beauty of the world.
Overall, the song "Freeway" is about finding solace and inspiration in the natural world as a way of escaping the complexities of modern life.
Line by Line Meaning
let's go down to the river bridge
Let's visit the river bridge.
see the city upside down
Observe the city upside down from the bridge.
that's a good way to start the day
It's a good way to begin the day.
that's a way to know the earth is round
This confirms the round shape of the earth.
then let's go down to the freeway
Next, let's go to the freeway.
and let a few cars and trucks run thru our minds
Mentally run a few cars and trucks through our thoughts.
and feel the earth revolve
Sense the motion of the earth.
take time to put our hands and feet upon the ground
Take the opportunity to physically touch the ground.
let's go down to the railroad tracks
Let's go see the railroad tracks.
count the boxcars on the train
Count the number of boxcars on the train.
most of them will be empty
The majority of the boxcars will be empty.
and maybe our heads will feel the same
Perhaps we will feel similarly empty.
my feet have found freedom
My feet feel liberated.
your feet are cold
Your feet are chilly.
I'm so tired of driving
I am exhausted from driving.
and you say you're tired of growing old
You express fatigue with aging.
even peace has its problems
Even peacefulness presents challenges.
(don't think too much, there's much to think about)
Avoid overthinking; there's already a lot to ponder.
like the unspoken words that turn your mind
For instance, unsaid words that preoccupy your thoughts.
(don't think too much just touch your own way out)
Instead, follow your intuition and find your way out of those thoughts.
words that turn to troubled silence
Words that transform into troubling silence.
like the thoughts that only take away your time
Similar to thoughts which only consume your time.
(don't think too much just touch your own way out)
Again, it's better to follow your senses and break free from such thoughts.
Contributed by Jason W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.