MANNING, Story Behind The Song and Lyrics
Manning is the story of a trucker from Alabama. who in this complicated day and age, gets cold feet with his bride-to-be. He hops in his his rig and seeks refuge in a truck stop/bus stop hundreds of miles away in Manning, South Carolina, which is where the song starts. The protagonist explains where he is and why he's here in the first verse, however, there is insecurity involved and there is an obvious struggle involved. He suggests more like an excuse, that the truck is broken down, but is it the truck, or the protagonist? It appears as though he's lying to himself. He eases his tension using a metaphor “.. it's raining down in 'Bama, but in Manning, it's a sunny day”
Verse two, the protagonist justifies his excursion away from the alter, because he's defiant to himself, attempting to justify everything. He's staying in Manning, hanging in the sleeper cab of the truck, watching tv and drinking beer. His life in Alabama is nearly forgotten, suppressed, and far away. However, his actions begin haunting him and he wonders if he did the right thing? He attempts to justify his actions, again with the same metaphor as the first verse “.. it's raining down in 'Bama, but in Manning, it's a sunny day”, however that justification is clearly being eroded.
Verse three, the protagonist comes out of his delusion and comes to his senses. He realizes that he was being completely mindless for doing what he did, and is heading back to Alabama and ready to deal with all the many ramifications that will be facing him. He ran away from his life at the expense of his fiance and there are prices that will need to be paid and there are no guarantees. He's ready to face them. On this final verse he reverses the metaphor, here saying “ 'Cause it's raining here in Manning, but in 'Bama, it's a sunny day”)
1
SITTIN’ IN A TRUCK STOP, BUS STOP BROKEN IN MANNING
AND MANNING’S JUST THE PLACE I OUGHT TO BE
FURTHER BACK HOME WAY DOWN IN ‘BAMA
THEY’RE LOOKIN’ AT THEIR WATCHES WONDERING WHAT’S
BECOME OF ME?
HERE THERE ARE HOT DOGS ON A ROLLER GRILL
STOCK CAR MODELS ARE STANDING STILL YET
SOMEWHERE 'ROUND ‘BAMA THEY’RE WAITING ON MY CALL
IN MY HEART I FEEL THE PAIN
CEMENT’S HERE’S GOT TOBBACCO STAINS
BUT IT’S RAINING DOWN IN ‘BAMA
BUT IN MANNING IT’S A SUNNY DAY
IN MANNING IT'S A SUNNY DAY
2
SITTIN' RIGHT HERE AIN'T GOING NOWHERE IN MANNING
HANGIN’ IN THE SLEEPER WATCHING MY TV
STAY RIGHT HERETHINK I'LL DRINK A FEW BEERS IN MANNING
‘BAMA’S JUST SO FAR AWAY FROM ME
WONDERING WHY I’M NOT THERE
YEAH MAYBE I’M JUST ACTING SCARED
AND ‘BAMA’S SO FAR AWAY FROM HERE
CELL PHONE’S RINGING OFF THE HOOK
E-MAIL PAGE IS SOLID BOOKED
BUT IT’S RAINING DOWN IN ‘BAMA
BUT IN MANNING IT’S A SUNNY DAY
IN MANNING IT’S A SUNNY DAY
3
MOTOR’S FIRED UP GUESS I’M HEADIN OUT OF MANNING
CONSCIENCE GOT THE BETTER PART OF ME
HEADING BACK HOME GONNA FACE THE MUSIC IN ‘BAMA
I’LL TAKE IT ON THE CHIN AND GET WHAT’S COMING TO ME
SHE’L PROBOBLY SLAP ME IN THE FACE
TELL ME I’M A BIG DISGRACE
‘YA KNOW BAMA’S LOOKING BRIGHTER EVERY DAY
I’M HOPIN’ SHE’LL TAKE ME BACK
CROSS MY FINGERS SHE’LL CUT ME SLACK
CAUSE IT’S RAINING HERE IN MANNING
BUT IN ‘BAMA, IT’S A SUNNY DAY
IN ‘BAMA, IT’S A SUNNY DAY
© Christopher R. Rehm BMI
Musicians:
Chris Rehm – Vocals, Acoustic guitars, Slide Guitar
Emily Randle – Violin
Claire Finley - Bass
Ericson Holt - Keyboards
Randy Stindt - Drums
Allen “Jax” Bowers - Percussion
This song is a single release and is available wherever you purchase your music via download, iTunes, Amazon, CD Baby... ex.
Search “Key West Chris Rehm, Manning”
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