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Birmingham Lyrics
Delta Mama and a Nickajack Man
Raised their Cumberland daughters in a Tennessee band
Played Springwater at Station Inn
Couldn't play fast, couldn't fit in
Caught a '66 Dodge in Caroline
Got her education on her mama's dime
She was singing in a bar called Comatose
Halfway rusted on the salty coast
Rock of Ages, cleave for me
Let me hide myself in Thee
Buried in the sand
Five hundred miles from Birmingham
Rockamount Cowboy in a rock and roll band
Plugged his amplifier in all across the land
Athens, Georgia on a Friday night
Saw that little girl, she could sing alright
Spent five years going from town to town
Waiting on that little girl to come around
Caught in the arms of New York City
To lose that gal seemed terrible pity
Rock of Ages, cleave for me
Let my heart forget of thee
Why do you demand
Calling me from Birmingham
Pulled her covered wagon off the BQE
Said this'll be the last you'll ever see of me
Well the cowboy laughed said I know it's not true
Cause there's nothing I could do to get loose from you
Made a little money playing in the bars
With two beat up drums and two old guitars
From the Crescent City to the Great Salt Lake
It ain't what you got, it's what you make
When the road got rough and the wheels all broke
Couldn't take more then we could tow
Making something out of nothing with a scratcher and our hope
With two old guitars like a shovel and a rope
Rock of Ages, cleave for me
Let me hide myself in Thee
Now I understand
On better terms since Birmingham
Raised their Cumberland daughters in a Tennessee band
Played Springwater at Station Inn
Couldn't play fast, couldn't fit in
Got her education on her mama's dime
She was singing in a bar called Comatose
Halfway rusted on the salty coast
Let me hide myself in Thee
Buried in the sand
Five hundred miles from Birmingham
Plugged his amplifier in all across the land
Athens, Georgia on a Friday night
Saw that little girl, she could sing alright
Waiting on that little girl to come around
Caught in the arms of New York City
To lose that gal seemed terrible pity
Let my heart forget of thee
Why do you demand
Calling me from Birmingham
Said this'll be the last you'll ever see of me
Well the cowboy laughed said I know it's not true
Cause there's nothing I could do to get loose from you
With two beat up drums and two old guitars
From the Crescent City to the Great Salt Lake
It ain't what you got, it's what you make
Couldn't take more then we could tow
Making something out of nothing with a scratcher and our hope
With two old guitars like a shovel and a rope
Let me hide myself in Thee
Now I understand
On better terms since Birmingham
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What does "cleave for me" mean?
Nevermind, it's a reference to a hymn called "Rock of Ages". I guess I should have looked it up before asking.
Nevermind, it's a reference to a hymn called "Rock of Ages". I guess I should have looked it up before asking.
It's from the hymn Rock of Ages http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_of_Ages_(Christian_hymn)
It's from the hymn Rock of Ages http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_of_Ages_(Christian_hymn)
I love this song! Though the first time I heard it I was wondering what that word was in the first line...I was like I sure hope this isn't racist! lol. It's not. It's where her step dad is from or something. This whole song is about her upbringing and how the band got together.
The area known as Nickajack referred in general to the rugged Appalachian foothills in eastern Tennessee and northeastern Alabama. John P. Brown, in Old Frontiers, states that "Nickajack" is a corruption of the Cherokee ᎠႠᎫáŒá˜ á± ("Ani-Kusati-yi"), which he says means Coosa Town but more likely means Koasati Town.[citation
The area known as Nickajack referred in general to the rugged Appalachian foothills in eastern Tennessee and northeastern Alabama. John P. Brown, in Old Frontiers, states that "Nickajack" is a corruption of the Cherokee ᎠႠᎫáŒá˜ á± ("Ani-Kusati-yi"), which he says means Coosa Town but more likely means Koasati Town.[citation
Favorite verse is the one that ends It ain't what you got, it's what you make. Refers to the fact that it don't matter if your equipment is crappy (two beat up drums and two old guitars) it matters what you do with it. Lots of people have fancy guitars etc. 99% of them play nothing worthwhile. (Fender, Gibson and Martin make a lot of money however.) A feeling I have long shared, and beautifully put.
While I agree that you don't need an expensive instrument to make good music, they are expensive for a good reason, especially when it comes to acoustic instruments. It's not just a name, you pay for quality wood and being handmade as opposed to plywood from a factory in china. I agree with your point, but you shouldn't be so quick to bash high-end instruments.
While I agree that you don't need an expensive instrument to make good music, they are expensive for a good reason, especially when it comes to acoustic instruments. It's not just a name, you pay for quality wood and being handmade as opposed to plywood from a factory in china. I agree with your point, but you shouldn't be so quick to bash high-end instruments.
In the second Rock of Ages chorus, it seems clear as a bell to me that they sing "Forget of thee", not "Forget a beat". I'm listening to the recording on O' Be Joyful, haven't seen them live yet ("terrible pity"!)
Anyone else hear it that way? I tried the Edit page but I don't think it "took".
Love this song so much I had tears in my eyes just now listening again.
Thank you SongMeanings!
@bulgie Definitely "forget of thee". Cary Ann sings a lot about her relationship with God and I believe this is a reference to that.
@bulgie Definitely "forget of thee". Cary Ann sings a lot about her relationship with God and I believe this is a reference to that.