"Travelin' Band" is the title song from Sawyer Brown's 2011 album, Travelin' Band. Written by Mark Miller, the song tells the history of the band and began being performed live during their 2009 tour.
Lyrics[]
They were searchin' for stars when we came along
It was rock 'n roll in a country song
There were five of us thinking that we can
This is the life and times of a traveling band
Hollywood had a funny face
So we took our chances and we got away
Back to Nashville, Tennessee
Hobie, Bobby, Jim and Joe and me
No the west coast life
Didn't fit just right
You could see us on the television
It ain't easy bein' all that grand
So we put on our blue jeans and our t-shirts
And made off with our guitars in the van
And took our place
Out on the stage
In a travelin' band
We heard our song on the radio
Along with the "Gambler" we hit the road
All across the USA
We were gypsies on parade
We were all about three chords and the truth
We wrote our songs on the bus, in the booth
Some go fast like "Some Girls Do"
Some go slow like "Used to Blue"
When the lights went down
We could hear the crowd
We headlined our first show in Salt Lake City
We still make a stop there now and then
They've got all our faces on their t-shirts
You should have seen our hairdos way back when
We took our place
On the stage
In a travelin' band
Fame and fortune don't mean much
Without someone to hold and someone to touch
Some wives left, some stayed on
So who do you love when the beat goes on
Now we're 27 years and a million miles
Shifting gears and changing styles
We said goodbye to old DC
Now it's Hobie, Shayne and Jim, the Joes and me
And when "The Race is On"
They all sing along
Now I'd like to take this time to thank you
Though it's been a long and winding road
I count my blessings when I see those faces
And I look down at this guitar in my hand
And I take my place
On the stage
In a travelin' band
I'm in a travelin' band
Albums[]
"Travelin' Band" appears on one Sawyer Brown album:
Notes[]
The song makes references to many events and songs from the history of the band:
- "Searchin' for stars" is a reference to the band's appearing on Star Search.
- "Hobie, Bobby, Jim and Joe and me" refers to the original band members: Hobie Hubbard, Bobby Randall, Jim Scholten, Joe Smyth, and singer Mark Miller.
- "Along with the "Gambler" we hit the road" makes reference to the band's first tour opening for Kenny Rogers.
- "We were gypsies on parade" refers to the song "Gypsies on Parade," which was also the title of their fan club newsletter and a term the band used to refer to themselves.
- "Some Girls Do" and "Used to Blue" are overt song references.
- "We headlined our first show in Salt Lake City" is self explanitory.
- "We said goodbye to old DC" refers to the departure of the band's second guitarist, Duncan Cameron.
- "Now it's Hobie, Shayne and Jim, the Joes and me" refers to the current line-up of Hobie Hubbard, Shayne Hill, Jim Scholten, Joe Smyth, long-time rythm guitarist Joe Erkman and singer Mark Miller.
- "When the race is on" is an obvious reference to the song "The Race is On."
- In early concert performances of the song, "Now I'd like to take this time to thank you" was instead "Mr. Curb I'll take this time to thank you, " which references Mike Curb, president of Curb Records, the band's long-time label. This lyric was likely dropped because the band moved to Beach Street Records.
thumb|300px|right|Traveling Band live performance