englishAlternative Hip Hop

Tennessee Lyrics

by Arrested Development

23 views • Published on Sep 30, 2026

Tennessee Lyrics

Verse One: Speech Lord I've really been real stressed Down and out, losin ground Although I am black and proud Problems got me pessimistic Brothers and sisters keep messin up Why does it have to be so dman tuff? I don't know where I can go To let these ghosts out of my skull My grandmas past, my brothers gone I never at once felt so alone I know you're supposed to be my steering wheel Not just my spare tire (home) But lord I ask you (home) To be my guiding force and truth (home) For some strange reason it had to be (home) He guided me to Tennessee (home) Chorus Take me to another place Take me to another land Make me forget all that hurts me Let me understand your plan Verse Two Lord it's obvious we got a relationship Talkin to each other every night and day Although you're superior over me We talk to each other in a friendship way Then outta nowhere you tell me to break Outta the country and into more country Past Dyesburg into Ripley Where the ghost of childhood haunts me Wlak the roads my forefathers walked Climbed the trees my forefathers hung from Ask those trees for all their wisdom They tell me my ears are so young (home) Go back to from whence you came (home) My family tree my family name (home) For some strange reason it ahd to be (home) He guided me to Tennessee (home) Chorus Verse Three Now I see the importance of history Why people be in the mess that they be Many journeys to freedom made in vain By brothers on the corner playin ghetto games I ask you lord why you enlightened me Without the enlightment of all my folks He said cuz I set myself on a quest for truth And he was there to quench my thirst But I am still thirsty... The lord allowed me to drink some more He said what I am searchin for are The answers to all which are in front of me The ultimate truth started to get blurry For some strange reason it had to be It was all a dream about Tennessee Chorus

Meaning of Tennessee

“Tennessee” by Arrested Development is a deeply introspective plea for guidance and healing amidst profound personal struggle. The speaker, overwhelmed by loss, systemic issues, and a pervasive sense of isolation, seeks solace and direction from a higher power – represented as a “steering wheel” guiding him to the state of Tennessee. The song explores themes of generational trauma, inherited hardship, and the search for identity through confronting painful memories and connecting with ancestral roots. Arrested Development’s message is one of yearning for understanding and escape from a cycle of negativity, urging listeners to confront their past and seek wisdom within themselves and in history. The repetition of “For some strange reason it had to be (home)” highlights the feeling of inevitability and acceptance as he journeys toward a place where he can finally find peace and truth.

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