From a family with a long history of military service, Bryan was born in Okinawa, Japan, in 1996, while his family was deployed overseas. Growing up in the small town of Oologah, Oklahoma, Bryan started playing music at 14, when his father and grandfather bought him a Takamine guitar for his birthday. After learning to play and write lyrics, Bryan began to create his own unique sound.
Bryan describes authenticity as essential to his music: “I’ll always tell the truth in whatever I’m playing or singing.Whether it’s one of the hopeless love songs I sing or a story I wanted to put into a tune, just know at one point in time I was putting all my heart and all my thought into how my feelings and thoughts might be understood by other people.”
Birmingham
Zach Bryan Lyrics
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I hit him with a tire iron
He did not move and I do not give a damn
I've been working here like a slavein' mule
Sucking the earth of dry crude
Looking for a way out of it all
Cops are coming
My back is crawling with standing hair
Wouldn't mind to see a few pigs fall
So take me down to the river
My blood all on the floor
'Cause I don't know if I can carry this weight much longer anymore
Take me up the mountain
On a cloud bound for the sky
Don't go prayin' for me because tonight I'm prepared to die
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
That night out there in Birmingham, that boy he tried to rob me
I did not want to, but I had to show that boy the real me
That night I often wonder what, my tombstone would say
Would it mention any of my good or just evil in my days?
The dust has not settled, from the boys who busted in
I am not a bad man but there's bullets in my skin
Take me down to the river
My blood all on the floor
'Cause I don't know if I can carry this weight much longer anymore
Take me up the mountain
On a cloud bound for the sky
Don't go prayin' for me because tonight I'm prepared to die
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Well, I killed a man in Birmingham, that boy he tried to rob me
I did not want to but I had to show that boy the real me
The song "Birmingham" by Zach Bryan is a narrative about a man who, evidently, has just committed an act of violence while working in the crude oil industry. The song begins with the admission that the singer had killed someone with a tire iron in Birmingham, referring to an event in the past. The following verses reveal the singer's anxiety over coming to terms with their actions as they describe working like "a slave in a mule, sucking the earth of dry crude". The singer expresses a willingness to accept the repercussions of their actions, as they feel that they cannot bear the weight of their guilt any longer. They continue to describe the sensation of the police coming after them before finally asking to be taken down to the river, where it is suggested they will meet their fate.
The song communicates themes of culpability, morality, and consequences. The singer seems to feel the weight of their actions and is resigned to accepting whatever punishment comes their way. Still, they express a desire to face the music, rather than escaping from the situation, showing that they understand the gravity of what has occurred. The refrain is particularly impactful with the suggestion that the singer is prepared to die, as they feel that they cannot go on carrying the burden of their crime any longer. This sense of acceptance is heightened by the haunting vocal performance and simple instrumentation of the song, giving it a somber yet poignant quality.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I killed a man in Birmingham
I took a man's life in Birmingham
I hit him with a tire iron
I used a tire iron to strike him
He did not move and I do not give a damn
He showed no response, but I have no remorse
I've been working here like a slavein' mule
I have been working relentlessly like an overworked mule
Sucking the earth of dry crude
I am extracting crude oil from the ground
Looking for a way out of it all
I am searching for an escape from my current situation
Cops are coming
I sense the arrival of the police
I can feel 'em here
I can sense their presence nearby
My back is crawling with standing hair
My hair is standing up on end due to fear or adrenaline
Wouldn't mind to see a few pigs fall
I wouldn't object to seeing some police officers get hurt
So take me down to the river
Take me to the river
My blood all on the floor
I have spilled my own blood
'Cause I don't know if I can carry this weight much longer anymore
I am unsure if I can continue to bear the weight of my actions
Take me up the mountain
Take me to the top of the mountain
On a cloud bound for the sky
While surrounded by clouds in the sky
Don't go prayin' for me because tonight I'm prepared to die
Do not offer prayers on my behalf, as I am ready to die tonight
That night out there in Birmingham, that boy he tried to rob me
That night in Birmingham, a boy attempted to steal from me
I did not want to, but I had to show that boy the real me
Although I did not desire to, I had to reveal my true identity to the boy
That night I often wonder what, my tombstone would say
I often think about what my tombstone would read after that night
Would it mention any of my good or just evil in my days?
Would it acknowledge any virtues or simply list my misdeeds?
The dust has not settled, from the boys who busted in
The aftermath of the boys who burst in has not yet been resolved
I am not a bad man but there's bullets in my skin
I don't consider myself a bad person, but I have been shot
Contributed by Keira O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.