Famous Blues Covers: The Nashville Teens, "Tobacco Road"

 

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"Tobacco Road" is a blues song written and first recorded by John D.  Loudermilk in December 1959, then released in 1960.  English rock band The Nashville Teens published their version in 1964 and has since become a classic across several musical genres.

Here's the original by John D. Loudermilk

We can't forget also the brilliant Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings cover. By the way, happy birthday to Bill, 85 this week!

"I was born in a trunk.

Mama died and my daddy got drunk.

Left me here to die alone

In the middle of Tobacco Road.

Grow up in rusty shack

All I had was hangin' on my back.

Only you know how I loathe

This place called Tobacco Road.

But it's home, the only life I ever known.

Only you know how I loathe Tobacco Road.

Interlude

Gonna leave, get a job

With the help and the grace from above.

Save some money, get rich and old

Bring it back to Tobacco Road.

Bring that dynamite and a crane

Blow it up, start all over again.

Build a town, be proud to show.

Gives the name Tobacco Road.

But it's home, the only life I ever known

And it's lost...

But I lost it's your home"

Source: Musixmatch

Composed by: John D. Loudermilk

Lyrics of Tobacco Road © Cedarwood Publishing