ZZ Top formed after Gibbons' previous band, Moving Sidewalks, disbanded in 1969. Within a year, they signed with London Records and released ZZ Top's First Album in 1971. Subsequent releases, such as Tres Hombres (1973) and Fandango! (1975), and the singles "La Grange" and "Tush", gained extensive radio airplay. By the mid-1970s, ZZ Top had become renowned in North America for their live act, including the Worldwide Texas Tour (1976–1977), which was a critical and commercial success.
After a hiatus, ZZ Top returned in 1979 with a new musical direction and image, with Gibbons and Hill wearing sunglasses and matching chest-length beards. With the album El Loco (1981), they began to experiment with synthesizers and drum machines. They established a more mainstream sound and rose to international stardom with Eliminator (1983) and Afterburner (1985), which integrated influences from new wave, punk, and dance-rock. The popularity of these albums' music videos, including those for "Gimme All Your Lovin'", "Sharp Dressed Man", and "Legs", gave them mass exposure on television channel MTV and made them prominent artists in 1980s pop culture. The Afterburner tour set records for the highest-attended and highest-grossing concert tour of 1986.
After gaining additional acclaim with the release of their tenth album Recycler (1990), and its accompanying tour, the group's experimentation continued with mixed success on the albums Antenna (1994), Rhythmeen (1996), XXX (1999), and Mescalero (2003). They most recently released La Futura (2012) and Goin' 50 (2019), a compilation album commemorating the band's 50th anniversary. By the time of Hill's death in 2021, ZZ Top had become the longest-running band with an unchanged lineup in the history of popular music. Per Hill's wishes, he was replaced by their longtime guitar tech Elwood Francis on bass.
ZZ Top has released 15 studio albums and sold an estimated 50 million records worldwide. They have won three MTV Video Music Awards, and in 2004, the members were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 2015, Rolling Stone ranked Gibbons the 32nd greatest guitarist of all time. The band members have supported campaigns and charities including Childline, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and a fundraiser for the Delta Blues Museum.
Studio albums
ZZ Top's First Album (1971)
Rio Grande Mud (1972)
Tres Hombres (1973)
Fandango! (1975)
Tejas (1976)
Degüello (1979)
El Loco (1981)
Eliminator (1983)
Afterburner (1985)
Recycler (1990)
Antenna (1994)
Rhythmeen (1996)
XXX (1999)
Mescalero (2003)
La Futura (2012)
It's So Hard
ZZ Top Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Cause your baby's out there somewhere runnin' round.
Don't start feeling blue and feeling lonely too,
It's hard I know when that love ain't true.
You just can't explain, but you know it's there,
That empty feeling seems so unfair.
What can you do when it's gone, it's gone,
So if you feel like cryin', go ahead and cry,
A heartbreak will cool as time goes by.
And it's so hard baby, it's so hard to take.
It's so hard baby, it's so hard to take.
Well you work so long every day and night,
Tryin' every thing that seems so right.
But when a love falls a heart must break,
And it's so hard baby, it's so hard to take.
The lyrics of ZZ Top's song "It's So Hard" speaks of the emotional turmoil that one goes through when their love is not reciprocated. The song begins on a scene where the singer feels down, as his/her partner is out there running around. The singer is feeling blue and lonely, and it's hard to deal with the fact that the love is not true. The empty feeling, which the singer can't explain, seems unfair, and the lovelorn feelings hurt for a long time.
The song reminds the listener that it is okay to cry and that heartbreaks will eventually cool with time. The chorus repeats that it's hard for the singer to take the pain, which seems insurmountable, given the singer's efforts to salvage the relationship.
The song provides a realistic outlook on what happens when love falls apart. It speaks of the discomfort that comes with the emotional pain that accompanies a failed relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
When the light comes and yu're feelin' down
When the morning dawns and you're feeling sad
'Cause your baby's out there somewhere runnin' round.
Because your lover is out there wandering aimlessly.
Don't start feeling blue and feeling lonely too,
Do not become sad and lonely as well,
It's hard I know when that love ain't true.
It is challenging when love is not genuine.
You just can't explain, but you know it's there,
The feeling is inexplicable, but it exists,
That empty feeling seems so unfair.
The lack of emotion feels unjust.
What can you do when it's gone, it's gone,
There is nothing to do when it is over,
'Cause those lovin' feelings seem to hurt so long.
The emotions of affection continue to hurt for a long time.
So if you feel like cryin', go ahead and cry,
It is acceptable to cry if you feel like it,
A heartbreak will cool as time goes by.
Heartbreak will heal over time.
And it's so hard baby, it's so hard to take.
It's incredibly tough, my dear, to accept.
It's so hard baby, it's so hard to take.
It's so challenging, baby, to understand.
Well you work so long every day and night,
You work diligently every day and night,
Tryin' every thing that seems so right.
Attempting everything that seems appropriate.
But when a love falls a heart must break,
However, when a love fails, a heart must shatter,
And it's so hard baby, it's so hard to take.
And it's so demanding, dear, to understand.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: BILLY GIBBONS, DUSTY HILL, FRANK BEARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@williamgaines9784
One of the many reasons "That Little Ol Band From Texas" is greatness defined.
@rockerdrake
I casually came here yesterday and I'm back today after reading about Dusty's passing. Damn it really is so hard to take. Forever in our thoughts, RIP Dusty Hill.
@KayLynn-sr6cy
My dad showed me this song in high school when someone broke my heart. Over ten years later now my dad has passed and I come back to this song and cry, I miss you so much dad.
@kevdogrudi7260
Absolute Legends I'm going to see them in Evansville Indiana with my grown daughters
@FlecheDeFer
Apart from being one of his best solos, Billy's vocal performance is amazing.
@ricardozuniga9622
Xxxxx,
@chrisl9730
Agree
@johnrasenas2458
my favorite song from el loco. a bit different for zz but it has got a great groove. as always Billy tears it up especially for the final solo.
@tonywelker7230
The best day ever was, they are the best
@GenX1972
Today was so hard bruh!!! R.I.P. Dusty