“Ramblin’ Man”
Artist: The Allman Brothers
Music / Lyrics by Dickey Betts
Label: Atlantic, 1973
The Allman Brothers, who simultaneously realized some of the most innovative and inspired
aspects of 60s rock (improvisation, the expansion of blues into other genres, and fantastic rootsbased original songwriting), pointed the way toward new genres of the 1970s, most notably
country-rock and so-called “Southern” rock. Driven by the incendiary double-guitar leads of
Duane Allman and Dicky Betts, powered by a two-drummer rhythm section, and featuring the
transcendent vocals of “baby brother” Gregg Allman (easily one of the greatest of the 1960s white
blues singers), they also proved beyond a doubt that the term “Southern rock,” in its truest and
finest sense, was all about “roots music” and not about pick-up trucks, posturing and confederate
flags. Far from being “redneck rock,” The Allmans incorporated the spiritualism of John Coltrane
(“In Memory of Elizabeth Reed”), the pan-African circular drumming of Elvin Jones (“Whipping
Post,” with its complex, asymmetrical rhythmic patterns), and the pure funk of “southern white
boys playing the blues” to a height no other 60s or 70s band even approached.
Musical style notes
“Ramblin’ Man,” from the LP Brothers and Sisters, was the Allman Brothers’ only “top ten” hit.
While it features the lead guitar virtuosity of Dickey Betts and session player Les Dudek, it was
recorded after the death of founding guitarist Duane Allman, and therefore does not illustrate the
Duane Allman—Dickey Betts pyrotechnics one hears on earlier Allman Brothers recordings such
as At Fillmore East. However, “Ramblin’ Man” is a classic example of 1970’s “country rock,”
inspired by and based on an old Hank Williams song, with country-ballad immediacy, gospeltinged harmonies, tasty double-lead-guitar licks, and virtuoso solos.
Musical “Road Map”
Timings
0:00-0:05
Comments
Introduction
0:05-0:26
Allman and Betts guitar duo.
Chorus
0:26-0:47
Verse 1
0:47-1:07
Chorus
1:07-1:35
1:35-1:56
Guitar break showcasing Duane Allman-Dicky Betts duo
at the beginning, with Betts taking over
Verse 2
1:56-2:17
Chorus
2:17-4:26
Chorus
4:26
Double-lead guitar breaks, leading into Allman-Betts
guitar solo, with Allman most prominent; breaking into
duet again at 3:44.
Duane starts playing slide…fades to the end
Lyrics
Lord, I was born a Ramblin’
Man
Trying to make a living and
doing the best I can…
My father was a gambler
down in Georgia…
Lord I was born a Ramblin’
Man…
I’m on my way to New
Orleans this morning…
Lord, I was born a Ramblin’
Man…
Lord, I was born a Ramblin’
Man…
Angela Mariani would like to thank Dr. Chris Smith of Texas Tech University for his
contribution to this Listening Guide.