The Charlie Daniels Band was formed in 1970, with Charlie Daniels joined by Barry Barnes (guitar), Mark Fitzgerald (bass), Fred Edwards and Gary Allen (drums), and Taz DiGregorio (keyboards). They started recording southern rock-styled albums for Kama Sutra. Although a multi-instrumentalist, Daniels was a limited vocalist, but his voice was well suited to the talking-style "Uneasy Rider", which reached the US Top 10 in 1973. He followed it with his anthem for southern rock, "The South's Gonna Do It". In 1974, Daniels had members of The Marshall Tucker Band and The Allman Brothers Band join him onstage in Nashville. It was so successful that he decided to make his so-called Volunteer Jam an annual event. It led to some unlikely combinations of artists such as James Brown performing with Roy Acuff, and the stylistic mergers have included Crystal Gayle singing the blues with the Charlie Daniels Band.
The Charlie Daniels Band underwent some personnel changes on 1975's 'Nightrider", with Tom Crain, Charlie Hayward and Don Murray replacing Barnes, Fitzgerald and Allen respectively. When Daniels moved to Epic in 1976, there was a concerted effort to turn the band into a major concert attraction, despite the fact that at 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighing 20 stone Daniels was no teenage idol: he hid his face under an oversized cowboy hat. The albums sold well, and in 1979, when recording his "Million Mile Reflections" album, he recalled a 20s poem, "The Mountain Whipporwill", by Stephen Vincent Benet. The band developed this into "The Devil Went Down To Georgia", in which Johnny outplays the Devil to win a gold fiddle. Daniels overdubbed his fiddle seven times to create an atmospheric recording that topped the US country charts and reached number 3 in the US pop charts. It was also a UK Top 20 success.
In 1980 the band recorded "In America" for the hostages in Iran, and then in 1982, "Still In Saigon", about Vietnam. The band were featured on the soundtrack for Urban Cowboy and also recorded the theme for the Burt Reynolds movie "Stroker Ace". The 13th Volunteer Jam was held in 1987, but financial and time constraints meant the event was put on temporary hiatus (it resumed four years later). In the late 80s Daniels appeared in the movie "Lone Star Kid" and published a book of short stories, but continued touring and playing his southern boogie to adoring audiences.
In the late 1980s and 1990s, several of Daniels' albums and singles were hits on the Country charts and the music continues to receive airplay on country stations today. Daniels also released several Gospel and Christian records.
http://www.charliedaniels.com/
A Change Is Gonna Come
Charlie Daniels Band Lyrics
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And just like that river I've been running ever since
It's been a long time coming
But I know a change is gonna come, oh yes it will
It's been too hard living, but I'm afraid to die
'cause I don't know what's out there beyond the sky
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change is gonna come, oh yes it will
[BRIDGE:]
And then I go to see my brother
And I ask him to help me please
And he just winds up knockin' me
Back down on my knees
There were times when I thought I couldn't last for long
But now I think I'm able to carry on
It's been a long, been a long time coming
But I know a change is gonna come, oh yes it will
[REPEAT VERSE 2]
The lyrics of Charlie Daniels & Dobie Gray's song A Change Is Gonna Come speak to the struggles and hardships faced by those who are oppressed and marginalized. The opening lines of the song, "I was born by the river in a little tent / And just like that river I've been running ever since," evoke powerful imagery of wandering and searching for something more. The singer has been running their whole life, always moving forward, but never really finding a sense of comfort or stability.
The main theme of the song is centered around the inevitability of change. The lyrics express a powerful hope and belief that despite the difficulties faced, things will eventually improve. This is reiterated in the chorus, "But I know a change is gonna come, oh yes it will". The singer has been living a hard life, fearing death because they are unsure of what's beyond. But despite these challenges, they remain hopeful that something better is on the horizon.
The bridge of the song introduces a supporting character, the singer's brother, who is asked for help but instead knocks the singer back down. This is a poignant reminder that not everyone who should be an ally will be, and that the road to change can be difficult and filled with setbacks. But even in the face of adversity, the singer perseveres and believes in the inevitability of change.
Overall, the lyrics of A Change Is Gonna Come serve as a reminder of the struggles and injustices faced by marginalized communities. While the song speaks to a specific time and place in history, its message remains relevant and powerful today.
Line by Line Meaning
I was born by the river in a little tent
I was born in a humble and modest setting, just beside the river.
And just like that river I've been running ever since
Much like how that river continues to flow, I've been on the move constantly ever since.
It's been a long time coming
I've been waiting for quite some time now.
But I know a change is gonna come, oh yes it will
I believe that a shift in fortune, a positive outcome will occur sooner or later.
It's been too hard living, but I'm afraid to die
My life has been incredibly rough, but I'm too afraid to pass away and not know what comes next.
'cause I don't know what's out there beyond the sky
I am unsure of what exists beyond the horizon of life.
And then I go to see my brother
Later on, I visit my sibling.
And I ask him to help me please
I request aid and assistance from him politely.
And he just winds up knockin' me
Unfortunately, he responds in a way that makes things worse for me.
Back down on my knees
Leaving me feeling defeated and hopeless.
There were times when I thought I couldn't last for long
There were moments where I felt like I wouldn't be able to endure for much longer.
But now I think I'm able to carry on
However, now I possess the willpower to keep going.
It's been a long, been a long time coming
The duration of my waiting has been extensive.
But I know a change is gonna come, oh yes it will
But I'm still hopeful that my luck will change for the better eventually.
Repeat verse 2
Repeat the second verse in its entirety.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Abkco Music Inc.
Written by: Sam Cooke
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind