The five original members of Wet Willie, all from Mobile, Alabama, came together in 1969 and soon realized they had something special. Jimmy was out front, a triple threat on lead vocals, sax and harmonica; as one writer said, “Jimmy Hall was who Mick Jagger wanted to be!” Ricky Hirsch played guitars and wrote or co-wrote much of the band’s material, with Jack Hall, Jimmy’s brother, on bass, Lewis Ross on drums and John Anthony on keyboards.
The band relocated to Macon, Georgia in 1970 where they were signed by Phil Walden’s Capricorn label, and got right to work on their self-titled first album. Upon its release later that year, Wet Willie began a relentless touring schedule, and soon became known as one of the hardest working bands of the Southern Rock era. As they put it, they “opened for everyone from A to Z: Allman Brothers to ZZ Top!”
Their second album, Wet Willie II came out a year later, followed by Drippin’ Wet, a live set recorded in New Orleans that captured the intense energy of their live shows. With the release of their fourth album in 1974, Keep On Smilin’, the band broke into the charts with the title track, hitting number 10 on national radio charts and number one in many Southern markets. Another track, “Countryside of Life,” became a staple of Wet Willie’s live shows and was later covered by country artists Alabama.
Vintage photo of Wet Willie BandAlso featured on Keep On Smilin’ and it’s follow up, Dixie Rock, were female backing vocalists The Williettes, including the Hall brothers’ sister, Donna Hall. They added even more dimension to the band’s gospel and soul sensibilities. Wet Willie also had chart success with the title track “Dixie Rock,” another fan favorite on the band’s set list. Another talented Alabama musician, Michael Duke debuted on Dixie Rock on vocals and organ and stayed with the band through their tenure in the Southern Rock era. The Wetter the Better was recorded in 1976 and became the band’s last studio album for Capricorn.
A second live set, Left Coast Live in 1977 and a greatest hits collection followed before the band entered a period of personnel and record label changes. Emerging in 1978 with a new Epic Records contract, the new line-up included Jimmy and Jack Hall, Mike Duke, Drummer T.K. Lively, and guitarists Marshall Smith and Larry Berwald. Wet Willie’s first Epic album, Manorisms, cut in England at the Manor Studios (thus the title), was released in 1978 and had a more polished, almost pop sheen. The harmony-filled track “Streetcorner Serenade” also hit the charts and became another fan favorite. The band’s last album for Epic followed in 1979. Titled Which One’s Willie?, it included “Weekend” which added a bit of a disco edge and was also well received on national radio.
The members of Wet Willie spent the 80’s pursuing varied projects and regrouped in the early 90’s following a reunion concert in Mobile for Mardi Gras. Photo of the new Wet Willie BandThe core of the band, siblings Jimmy, Jack and Donna Hall-Foster and drummer T.K. Lively remains intact today. Completing the current line-up are long-time members Ric Seymour, a multi-talented vocalist/guitarist; Ricky Chancey, versatile on electric and acoustic guitar, steel guitar and harp; and latest addition, very capable keyboardist Bobby Mobley.
At varied points in their career, Wet Willie has been featured in showcases and displays at the Alabama and Georgia Music Halls of Fame, and in 1976 received the prestigious America’s Music Award from the Alabama Hall of Fame.
Recorded in Woodstock, GA in 2011, Wet Willie’s newest release, Miles of Smiles, on Atlanta’s Hittin’ the Note label, is their first live CD since 1977 and includes their anthem “Keep On Smilin’," along with other crowd favorites and some previously unreleased songs. The band continues to tour, bringing their unique brand of high energy Southern Rock to festivals and other venues throughout the South and beyond.
Booking and press contact:
Terry Reeves, Music Matters Entertainment
(404) 734-6168 or email Music Matters Entertainment
You can also see 'Wet Willie' as The Wet Willie Band on Last.fm.
Official Website: Wet Willie
Country Side Of Life
Wet Willie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't need no crowded streets or city slicker tricks
I just need to be some place where I can move around
Look down at my toes and I can still see the ground
Give me that country side of life
Where I can stretch out right
Give me the country side
(Give me the country side)
Where I don't get uptight
Give me the country side
Goin' down to the fishing pond where I can throw the line
It don't' matter what fish I catch I only came to rest my mind
The only fish you'll get down town ain't caught with a hook and sinker
Put on your brakes, beep beep, honk your horn look out now turn on your blinker
Give me that country side of life
Where I can stretch out right
Give me the country side
(Give me the country side)
Give me that country side of life
Where I don't get uptight
Give me the country side
Give me that country side of life
Where I don't get uptight
Give me the country side
I was born in Georgia town with a lack-a-daisy street
A laid back lover just a-playin' games and a-stayin' off of them feet
Nobody trying to get on your nerves, nobody tryin' to get what you've got
And just live and let live by the golden rule now don't it just hit the spot
Give me that country side of life
Where I can stretch out right
Give me the country side
(Give me the country side)
Give me that country side of life
Where I don't get uptight
Give me the country side
Give me that country side of life
Where I can stretch out right
Give me the country side
Give me that country side of life
Where I don't get uptight
Give me the country side
The lyrics to Wet Willie's song "Country Side Of Life" express a desire to escape the fast-paced, crowded city life in favor of the tranquil, spacious countryside. The singer rejects the modern trappings of urban living, including buildings and arithmetic, in favor of a simpler, more natural lifestyle. The opening lines of the song illustrate this sentiment: "You can have your buildings and your arithmetic / I don't need no crowded streets or city slicker tricks". Instead, the singer seeks a place where they can stretch out and "look down at [their] toes" and "still see the ground."
The chorus of the song repeatedly declares a longing for the "country side of life" - a place where the singer can relax and not feel uptight or stressed. The singer contrasts the calm fishing pond in the countryside to the hectic city streets, suggesting that the only "fish" you'll catch in the city are things like traffic and noise pollution. Ultimately, the song celebrates the easy-going, neighborly ethos of rural living, concluding that it "just hit[s] the spot."
Line by Line Meaning
You can have your buildings and your arithmetic
I don't need the hustle and bustle of city life with its tall buildings and numbers.
I don't need no crowded streets or city slicker tricks
I'm not interested in dealing with the congestion and deceit found in the city.
I just need to be some place where I can move around
I crave the freedom to roam and wander without any constraints.
Look down at my toes and I can still see the ground
I want to be able to see and feel the earth beneath my feet, without the distractions and obstructions of city living.
Give me that country side of life
Where I can stretch out right
Give me the country side
(Give me the country side)
I desire the slower, easy-going way of living that can be found in rural areas, where I can relax and unwind and enjoy the open space.
Where I don't get uptight
Living in the country helps me avoid the anxieties and stressors of city life.
Goin' down to the fishing pond where I can throw the line
It don't' matter what fish I catch I only came to rest my mind
I find peace and tranquility in simple pleasures like fishing, where I can clear my head and think without any distractions.
The only fish you'll get down town ain't caught with a hook and sinker
The only 'fish' you'll find in the city aren't the kind that are caught with a traditional fishing rod and reel.
Put on your brakes, beep beep, honk your horn look out now turn on your blinker
Driving in the city can be full of loud, obnoxious noise and constant interruptions.
I was born in Georgia town with a lack-a-daisy street
A laid back lover just a-playin' games and a-stayin' off of them feet
I was born in a small town in Georgia, where life was easy-going and people were leisurely, enjoying games and avoiding strenuous activity.
Nobody trying to get on your nerves, nobody tryin' to get what you've got
In the country, there is less competition and fewer people trying to get ahead or take advantage of one another.
And just live and let live by the golden rule now don't it just hit the spot
The ethos of the country is one of peaceful coexistence and mutual respect - treating others the way you would like to be treated.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MAURICE RICHARD HIRSCH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind