A song that takes me back to being a kid riding in my sister’s Vega…she kept a case of oil in the hatchback because it used it daily…but the AM radio worked great.
A great song written by the super talented Toy Caldwell. This is the Marshall Tucker Band’s biggest hit on the Pop charts, and remains their best-remembered song.
The song peaked at #14 in the Billboard 100 and #5 in Canada in 1977. It was on their album Carolina Dreams. The album peaked at #23 in the Billboard Album Charts and #7 in Canada.
Toy Caldwell was the soul of that band. He was a Marine in the 60s and served in Vietnam. After getting injured he was able to go home and started to play music with his high school friends. Toy and his brother helped start Marshall Tucker.
Toy stayed with Marshall Tucker until he left in 1984. Contributing to him leaving was the fact that his brother… co-founder of the band and bass guitarist Tommy Caldwell, was killed at age 30 in an automobile accident on April 28, 1980. Toy’s other brother Tim Caldwell, who on March 28, 1980, one month prior to Tommy’s death, was killed at age 25 in a collision in South Carolina.
Toy Caldwell died February 25, 1993.
From Songfacts
In spite of its up tempo, it’s rather sad. Written by Toy Caldwell, the song is about a man who has lived on the road from town to town and affair to affair. Here, he’s been with a woman who’s been good to him and who he actually loves, but he can’t stay with her because the call of the road is too strong.
Toy Caldwell, who died of heart failure in 1993, was the band’s guitarist and wrote most of their songs. His wife Abbie Caldwell told us: “He didn’t read music, and played by ear. He jotted down words on any piece of paper available.”
Mark Chesnutt recorded this as the title track of his 2006 album Heard It in a Love Song.
Heard It In A Love Song
I ain’t never been with a woman long enough for my boots to get old
But we’ve been together so long now, they both need re-soled
If I ever settle down, you’d be my kind
And it’s a good time for me to head on down the line
(Heard it in a love song, heard it in a love song)
(Heard it in a love song) can’t be wrong
I’m the kind of man who likes to get away
Who likes to start dreamin’ about tomorrow today
Never said that I loved you, even though it’s so
Where’s that duffle bag of mine, it’s time to go
(Heard it in a love song, heard it in a love song)
(Heard it in a love song) can’t be wrong
I’m gonna be leavin’ at the break of dawn
Wish you could come but I don’t need no woman taggin’ along
Gonna sneak out that door, couldn’t stand to see you cry
I’d stay another year if I saw a teardrop in your eye
(Heard it in a love song, heard it in a love song)
(Heard it in a love song) can’t be wrong
I never had a damn thing but what I had, I had to leave it behind
You’re the hardest thing I ever tried to get off my mind
Always something greener on the other side of that hill
I was born a wrangler and a rounder and I guess I always will
(Heard it in a love song, heard it in a love song)
(Heard it in a love song) can’t be wrong
PowerPop... An Eclectic Collection of Pop Culture 
Nice tune. I also like “Can’t You See.” I’m planning to come back tonight to catch up!😀
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Don’t worry about it man…there are times I don’t see yours until a week later lol.
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This takes me back, too. It got overplayed in my area, so I’ve heard it enough for now.
But it was a good one for sure.
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The one by them that got played to death here was Can’t You See…but yes this was played quite a bit…but the Vega memory won out this time lol.
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I remember this beautiful song and I always liked it.
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I’ve always liked this one a lot. I figured they were 1 Hit Wonders but I’d forgotten about ‘Can’t You See’
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Can’t You See, this one, and Fire On The Mountain…
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Wow, how I haven’t this song before??? Just brilliant. There is just so many shades to it and a lot going on music-wise. Thanks for bringing it to our attention Max!
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No problem Matt… I’m not sure how big internationally it was….
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It’s a keeper that one. I just added it to my list to download. Cheers.
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My brother also had a Vega and spent more money on oil than he did on gas.
I think I’d be hard-pressed to think of another song by The Marshalll Tucker Band. Kind of a shame, really…
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I’ve read where they use those old Vegas to race after putting a new engine in them. Her Vega looked sharp…silver with two black racing stripes but…that doesn’t do you any good by the side of the road.
Two others that I like are Can’t You See and Fire On The Mountain.
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I get a hankering for this band. May to mix it up Max.
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That was an awful month for Caldwell. Geesh…
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I always loved this song. Never knew about the tragic loss of both of Toy’s brothers though; how terribly sad.
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It was sad and it helped cause his early death. He was a gifted guitar player.
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Good music but, DAMN. Tommy & Tim die in vehicle accidents on the same day, one month apart? Sheesh. Rips apart a family. Wow.
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Yea he never got over it and it probably killed him.
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That is pitiful.
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Also, I forgot to mention that Marshall Tucker and Firefall reminded me of each other. Both had flutes. I know Jethro Tull is known for that but, I can’t them.
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You know now that you said that….they do remind me of each other.
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