Back Down South Lyrics
If you get the chance,
We're gonna spit on the rivals.
All I wanna know,
Is how far you wanna go,
Fighting for survival.
Where we parked the cars,
Ain't showing signs of stopping.
Pretty little girls,
Naked to their curls,
Ready to lay in a coffin.
If you wanna go,
I'm gonna go,
I gotta fire burning.
Go on take my hand,
When we see the band,
Baby's gonna be a big one.
Baby's gonna be a big one.
And we hear the fights,
It's gonna be a stunner.
I've got something here,
If you give me one more beer,
I'm gonna call a runner.
I don't want to say,
What I have to say,
Baby I'm kicking off now.
If you wanna go,
I'm gonna go,
I'm going back down south now ahh
I'm going back down south now ahh
I'm going back down south now.
I'm going back down south now.
Come on take my hand,
I'm going back down south now.
When we see the lights,
And we hear those fights,
I'm going back down south now.
All I want to know,
Is how far you wanna go,
I'm going back down south now oh yeah.
I'm going back down south now.
I'm going back down south now.
Oh, yeah.
![Cover art for Back Down South lyrics by Kings of Leon](https://images.songmeanings.com/4e50774c-6c8e-4aed-9e59-3ff9b756858e.webp)
In this song, Caleb is reminiscing on his younger days in Nashville (Down South). From the first verse, he's saying that in those years he spent down South you had to fight for survival. "How far you wanna go" Here, he's saying that him and the rest of the band had to fight a lot / work very hard to get were they are today. In the second verse, he goes into deeper detail of life down South. He shares us with one of his memories of him and the bands journey to get to the top, "underneath the stars, where we parked the cars 'aint showing signs of stopping. Pretty little girls, naked to their curls ready to lay in a coffin". When the band first started off they used to play in strip clubs in the night. We can pretty much tell were it goes from here with, "Naked to their curls ready to lay in a coffin". Then in the third verse he's going back to when they were forming the band. Caleb is telling everyone to trust him and that the band is going to be a big one. Then in the last verse, Caleb is looking at where he is now. He wants to go Back Down South and relive these beautiful happy memories he has. Once again he says "take my hand" as he wants everyone to trust him and Back Down South is a beautiful happy place. Back Down South is his home, he needs a break from the fame and he wants to go back to the much simpler things, home.
![Cover art for Back Down South lyrics by Kings of Leon](https://images.songmeanings.com/4e50774c-6c8e-4aed-9e59-3ff9b756858e.webp)
Saw this in Hyde Park. BRILLIANT. I am so stoked for the new album. Can't get this out of my head, been singing for two days straight now.
![Cover art for Back Down South lyrics by Kings of Leon](https://images.songmeanings.com/4e50774c-6c8e-4aed-9e59-3ff9b756858e.webp)
This song is about dying and remembering better days. A runner is an obvious reference to a drug dealer. Alot of opiate users like to push the limits - hence "how far you want to go".
The way it's sung, it sounds like down south is obviously home. And that's the one place everyone wants to be when they don't think they're going to make it.
Well, I happen to think it's about sex...oral, in particular. Pretty little girls naked to their curls; going south; he's got a big one; and there's a fire burning sounds like sex. Hey, sex is more fun than dying or using drugs so let's stick with my interpretation. It's a heck of a lot more upbeat than yours ;) What a party pooper you are!
Well, I happen to think it's about sex...oral, in particular. Pretty little girls naked to their curls; going south; he's got a big one; and there's a fire burning sounds like sex. Hey, sex is more fun than dying or using drugs so let's stick with my interpretation. It's a heck of a lot more upbeat than yours ;) What a party pooper you are!
Come on, Eileen, don't take it so bad.
Come on, Eileen, don't take it so bad.
Yes, my interpretation was a bit of exaggeration. But the lyrics, the tone in the vocals, and the tempos, really do seem like someone reflecting on better times. Better times that are now over, for reasons untold. Nothing last forever. It's nice to be able to look back and smile about the past, rather than lament that it's over.
Yes, my interpretation was a bit of exaggeration. But the lyrics, the tone in the vocals, and the tempos, really do seem like someone reflecting on better times. Better times that are now over, for reasons untold. Nothing last forever. It's nice to be able to look back and smile about the past, rather than lament that it's over.
![Cover art for Back Down South lyrics by Kings of Leon](https://images.songmeanings.com/4e50774c-6c8e-4aed-9e59-3ff9b756858e.webp)
Saw them play this live last night! Amazing! Back to their southern roots :)
![Cover art for Back Down South lyrics by Kings of Leon](https://images.songmeanings.com/4e50774c-6c8e-4aed-9e59-3ff9b756858e.webp)
I love this song soo much.
![Cover art for Back Down South lyrics by Kings of Leon](https://images.songmeanings.com/4e50774c-6c8e-4aed-9e59-3ff9b756858e.webp)
I FREAKED OUT in the front row when they played this song in Noblesville a few weeks ago. I dunno if I was allowed to know the words, or if they could tell from the way I was near tears that I had driven up from the south to see them in Indiana (hahaha...), but I hope they understood from my enthusiasm that I am soooo excited for the new album!
I think this song is about them touring the world, with "the lights" and "the fights" and all those "pretty little girls." But they'll always love comin home to the south...
I hear this part differently on the live version I have though..
Go on take my hand, Hope you see the band / When we see the band (??) Baby's gonna be a weird one. Baby's gonna be a weird one.
All I know is I love Kings of Leon, and this song (along with the band itself) makes me proud to be a southerner.
![Cover art for Back Down South lyrics by Kings of Leon](https://images.songmeanings.com/4e50774c-6c8e-4aed-9e59-3ff9b756858e.webp)
At Bonnaroo 2010, Caleb explicitly states this song is "about having pride about where they are from"
![Cover art for Back Down South lyrics by Kings of Leon](https://images.songmeanings.com/4e50774c-6c8e-4aed-9e59-3ff9b756858e.webp)
this is such an amazing song. i was lucky to hear it live at swu in brazil!
![Cover art for Back Down South lyrics by Kings of Leon](https://images.songmeanings.com/4e50774c-6c8e-4aed-9e59-3ff9b756858e.webp)
One of those songs as soon as you hear it, you know its a classic song .
![Cover art for Back Down South lyrics by Kings of Leon](https://images.songmeanings.com/4e50774c-6c8e-4aed-9e59-3ff9b756858e.webp)
"Naked to the curls" = "Naked to the curbs" "I'm gonna call a runner" = I'm gonna crawl a runner"
I think have a listen and it makes more sense... He's so wasted he will have to crawl a runner. Pretty little girls naked to the curbs (hookers)
That definitely makes sense, but I've got the album booklet and these lyrics are right.
That definitely makes sense, but I've got the album booklet and these lyrics are right.
ahhh right cool are all the words in the booklet?? everysong? x
ahhh right cool are all the words in the booklet?? everysong? x
Yeah, well I actually have the vinyl version, but they're all there on one of the sleeves!
Yeah, well I actually have the vinyl version, but they're all there on one of the sleeves!