A roots rocker with a classic raspy, shouting voice, Seger wrote and recorded songs that deal with love, women and blue-collar themes and is an exemplar of heartland rock.
- To preserve his voice for the stage, he does not talk in the hours immediately before and immediately after concerts.
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Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 15, 2004. Fellow Detroiter Kid Rock gave the induction speech.
- His album “Face the Promise”, released in September 2006, sold over 400,000 copies in its first 45 days of release.
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Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 1750 Vine Street in Hollywood, California.
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Seger also co-wrote the Eagles’ number-one hit “Heartache Tonight”, and his iconic recording of “Old Time Rock and Roll” was named one of the Songs of the Century in 2001.
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Has said that the line “hummin’ a song from 1962” in his song “Night Moves” was about The Ronettes hit song “Be My Baby”. Unfortunately, he got the year wrong–“Be My Baby” did not come out until 1963.
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Bob Seger did not actually write “Old Time Rock and Roll”. The writing credits for it go to George Jackson and Tom Jones III. Bob did change several of the lyrics but decided against taking songwriting credit. Which later, he said he wish he had added his name so he could have gotten the royalties for the publishing rights.
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His song, “Old Time Rock and Roll”, was used to great effect in a classic scene in the film Risky Business (1983).
Bob Seger has recorded many hits, including:
“RAMBLIN’ GAMBLIN’ MAN”
“Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man”
Yeah, I’m gonna tell my tale come on,
Come on, give a listenCause I was born lonely down by the riverside
Learned to spin fortune wheels, and throw dice
And I was just thirteen when I had to leave home
Knew I couldn’t stick around, I had to roam
Ain’t good looking, but you know I ain’t shy
Ain’t afraid to look it girl, hear me out
So if you need some lovin, and you need it right away
Take a little time out, and maybe I’ll stay[Chorus:]
But I got to ramble (ramblin’ man)
Oh I got to gamble (gamblin’ man)
Got to got to ramble (ramblin’ man)
I was born a ramblin’ gamblin’ manYeah yeah yeah yeah
Bring it on, come down
Yeah alright, here we go now now now
I’m out of money, cause you know I need some
Ain’t around to lovin, and I must run
Gotta keep moving, never gonna slow down
You can have your funky world, see you ’round[Chorus:]
But I got to ramble (ramblin’ man)
Oh I got to gamble (gamblin’ man)
Got to got to ramble (ramblin’ man)
I was born a ramblin’ gamblin’ man
“NIGHT MOVES”
“Night Moves”
I was a little too tall
Could’ve used a few pounds
Tight pants points hardly reknown
She was a black-haired beauty with big dark eyes
And points all her own sitting way up high
Way up firm and high
Out past the cornfields where the woods got heavy
Out in the back seat of my ’60 Chevy
Workin’ on mysteries without any clues
Workin’ on our night moves
Tryin’ to make some front page drive-in news
Workin’ on our night moves
In the summertime
In the sweet summertimeWe weren’t in love, oh no, far from it
We weren’t searchin’ for some pie in the sky summit
We were just young and restless and bored
Livin’ by the sword
And we’d steal away every chance we could
To the backroom, to the alley or the trusty woods
I used her, she used me
But neither one cared
We were gettin’ our share
Workin’ on our night moves
Tryin’ to lose the awkward teenage blues
Workin’ on our night moves
And it was summertime
Sweet summertime summertime
And oh the wonder
We felt the lightning
And we waited on the thunder
Waited on the thunderI awoke last night to the sound of thunder
How far off I sat and wondered
Started humming a song from 1962
Ain’t it funny how the night moves
When you just don’t seem to have as much to lose
Strange how the night moves
With autumn closing in
“TURN THE PAGE”
“Turn The Page”
On a long and lonesome highway, east of Omaha
You can listen to the engine moanin’ out its one-note song
You can think about the woman, or the girl you knew the night before
But your thoughts will soon be wandering the way they always do
When you’re riding sixteen hours and there’s nothing much to do
And you don’t feel much like riding, you just wish the trip was through
Say, here I am, on a road again
There I am, up on the stage
Here I go, playing the star again
There I go, turn the page
Well, you walk into a restaurant, strung-out from the road
And you feel the eyes upon you as you’re shaking off the cold
You pretend it doesn’t bother you but you just want to explode
Most times you can’t hear ’em talk, other times you can
All the same old clichés: “Is that a woman or a man?”
And you always seem outnumbered, you don’t dare make a stand
Here I am, on a road again
There I am, up on the stage
Here I go, playing the star again
There I go, turn the page
Out there in the spotlight you’re a million miles away
Every ounce of energy you try to give away
As the sweat pours out your body like the music that you playLater in the evening as you lie awake in bed
With the echoes from the amplifiers ringin’ in your head
You smoke the day’s last cigarette, remembering what she saidAh Here I am, on a road again
There I am, up on the stage
Here I go, playing the star again
There I go, turn the pageAh, here I am, on a road again
There I am, up on the stage
Here I go, playing the star again
There I go, there I go
“STILL THE SAME”
“Still The Same”
You always won, everytime you placed a bet
You’re still damn good, no one’s gotten to you yet
Everytime they were sure they had you caught
You were quicker than they thought
You’d just turn your back and walk
You always said, the cards would never do you wrong
The trick you said was never piay the game too long
A gambler’s share, the only risk that you would take
The only loss you could forsake
The only bluff you couldn’t fakeAnd you’re still the same
I caught up with you yesterday
Moving game to game
No one standing in your way
Turning on the charm
Long enough to get you by
You’re still the same
You still aim high
There you stood, everybody watched you play
I just turned and walked away
I had nothing left to say’
Cause you’re still the same
You’re still the same
Moving game to game
Some things never change
You’re still the same
“WE’VE GOT TONIGHT”
“We’ve Got Tonight” by Bob Seger
I know it’s late, I know you’re weary
I know your plans don’t include me
Still here we are, both of us lonely
Longing for shelter from all that we see
Why should we worry, no one will care girl
Look at the stars so far away
We’ve got tonight, who needs tomorrow?
We’ve got tonight babe
Why don’ you stay?
Deep in my soul, I’ve been so lonely
All of my hopes, fading away
I’ve longed for love, like everyone else does
I know I’ll keep searching, even after today
So there it is girl, I’ve said it all now
And here we are babe, what do you say?
We’ve got tonight, who needs tomorrow?
We’ve got tonight babe
Why don’t you stay? I know it’s late, I know you’re weary
I know your plans don’t include me
Still here we are, both of us lonely
Both of us lonely
We’ve got tonight, who needs tomorrow?
Let’s make it last, let’s find a way
Turn out the light, come take my hand now
We’ve got tonight babe
Why don’t you stay?
Why don’t you stay?
“AGAINST THE WIND”
“Against The Wind”
It seems like yesterday
But it was long ago
Janey was lovely, she was the queen of my nights
There in the darkness with the radio playlng low
And the secrets that we shared
The mountains that we moved
Caught like a wildfire out of control
Till there was nothing left to burn and nothing left to prove
And I remember what she said to me
How she swore that it never would end
I remember how she held me oh so tight
Wish I didn’t know now what I didn’t know then
Against the wind
We were runnin’ against the wind
We were young and strong, we were runnin’
Against the wind
And the years rolled slowly past
And I found myself alone
Surrounded by strangers I thought were my friends
I found myself further and further from my home
And I guess I lost my way
There were oh so many roads
I was living to run and running to live
Never worried about paying or even how much I owed
Moving eight miles a minute for months at a time
Breaking all of the rules that would bend
I began to find myself searchin’
Searchin’ for shelter again and again
Against the wind
A little something against the wind
I found myself seeking shelter against the wind
Well those drifters days are past me now
I’ve got so much more to think about
Deadlines and commitments
What to leave in, what to leave outAgainst the wind
I’m still runnin’ against the wind
I’m older now but still running
Against the wind
Well I’m older now and still running
Against the wind
“YOU’LL ACCOMP’NY ME” by Bob Seger
“You’ll Accomp’ny Me”
A gypsy wind is blowing warm tonight
The sky is starlit and the time is right
And still you’re tellin’ me you have to go
Before you leave there’s something you should know
Yeah something you should know babe
I’ve seen you smiling in the summer sun
Ive seen your long hair flying when you run
I’ve made my mind up that it’s meant to be
Someday lady you’ll accomp’ny me
Someday lady you’ll accomp’ny me
Out where the rivers meet the sounding sea
You’re high above me now, you’re wild and free ah but
Someday lady you’ll accomp’ny me
Someday lady you’ll accomp’ny me
Some people say that love’s a losin’ game
You start with fire but you lose the flame
The ashes smolder but the warmth’s soon gone
You end up cold and lonely on your own
I’ll take my chances babe I’ll risk it all
I’ll win your love or I’ll take the fall
I’ve made my mind up girl it’s meant to be
Someday lady you’ll accomp’ny me
Someday lady you’ll accomp’ny me
It’s written down somewhere, it’s got to be
You’re high above me flyin’ wild and free
Oh but someday lady you’ll accomp’ny me
Someday lady you’ll accomp’ny me
Someday lady you’ll accomp’ny me
Out where the rivers meet the sounding sea
I feel it in my soul, it’s meant to be
Oh someday lady you’ll accomp’ny me
Someday lady you’ll accomp’ny me
“SHAME ON THE MOON” by Bob Seger
“Shame On The Moon”
Until you’ve been beside a man
You don’t know what he wants
Youdon’t know if he cries at night
You don’t know if he don’t
When nothin comes easy
Old nightmares are real
Until you’ ve been beside a man
You don’t know how he feels
Once inside a woman’s heart
A man must keep his head
Heaven opens up the door
Where angels fear to tread
Some men go crazy
Somemen go slow
Some men go just where they want
Some men never goOh blame it on midnight
Ooh shame on the moon
Everywhere it’s all around
Comfort in a crowd
Strangers faces all around
Laughin right out loud
Hey watch where your goin
Step light on old toes
Cause until you’ve been beside a man
You don’t know who he knows
Oh blame it on midnight
Ooh shame on the moon
Oh blame it on midnight
Ooh shame on the moon
“LIKE A ROCK” by Bob Seger
“Like A Rock”
Stood there boldly
Sweatin’ in the sun
Felt like a million
Felt like number one
The height of summer
I’d never felt that strong
Like a rockI was eighteen
Didn’t have a care
Working for peanuts
Not a dime to spare
But I was lean and
Solid everywhere
Like a rockMy hands were steady
My eyes were clear and bright
Mywalk had purpose
My steps were quick and light
And I held firmly
To what I felt was right
Like a rockLike a rock, I was strong as I could be
Like a rock, nothin’ ever got to me
Likea rock, I was something to see
Like a rock
And I stood arrow straight
Unencumbered by the weight
Of all these hustlers and their schemes
I stood proud, I stood tall
High above it all
I still believed in my dreams
Twenty years now
Where’d they go?
Twenty years
I don’t know
Sit and I wonder sometimes
Where they’ve gone
And sometimes late at night
When I’m bathed in the firelight
The moon comes callin’ a ghostly white
And I recall
I recall Like a rock. standin’ arrow straight
Like a rock, chargin’ from the gate
Like a rock, carryin’ the weight
Likea rock
Like a rock, the sun upon my skin
Hard against the wind
Like a rock, I see myself again
Like a rock
“SHAKEDOWN” by Bob Seger
“Shakedown” (From the motion picture “Beverly Hills Cop 2”) No matter what you think you pull you’ll find it’s not enough
No matter who you think you know you won’t get through
It’s a given L.A. law
Someone’s faster on the draw
No matter where you hide I’m comin’ after you yeah
No matter how the race is run it always ends the same
Another room without a view awaits downtown
You can shake me for a while
Live it up in style
No matter what you do I’m gonna take you down
Shakedown
Breakdown
Takedown
Everybody wants into the crowded line
Breakdown
Takedown
You’re busted
Let down
Your guard
Honey, just about the time you’re thinkin’ it’s alright
Breakdown
Takedown
You’re busted
This is a town where everyone is reachin’ for the top
This is a place where second best will never do
It’s okay to want to shine
But once you step across that line
No matter where you hide I’m comin’ after you
Shakedown
Breakdown
Takedown
Everybody wants into the crowded line
Breakdown
Takedown
You’re busted
Shakedown
Breakdown
Honey, just about the time you’re thinkin’ it’s alright
Breakdown
Takedown
You’re busted
Ah, busted
Aw aw
Shakedown
Breakdown
Takedown
Everybody wants into the crowded line
Breakdown
Takedown
You’re busted
Shakedown
Breakdown
Honey, just about the time you’re thinkin’ it’s alright
Breakdown
Takedown
You’re busted
Shakedown
Breakdown
Takedown
Everybody wants into the crowded line
Breakdown
Takedown
You’re busted
Let down
Your guard
Honey, just about the time you’re thinkin’ it’s alright
Breakdown
Takedown
Ah, you’re busted
Shakedown
Breakdown
Takedown
Everybody wants into the crowded line
Breakdown
Takedown
You’re busted
Let down
Your guard
Honey, just about the time you’re thinkin’ it’s alright
With a career spanning six decades, Seger continues to perform and record today.
What’s your favorite Bob Seger (And The Silver Bullet Band) song?
Bob Seger gets inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
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