Atlanta Rhythm Section - Back Up Against The Wall Lyrics






I was dealin' up and down the highway
Till they caught me with a heavy load
They sentenced me to hard labor
Workin' on the side of the road

Now I don't deny I was guilty
And I know I broke the law
I was hungry and broke and couldn't see no hope
And my back was up against the wall

Now I'm right outside your window
Honey open up and let me in
I broke out of jail this mornin'
And I ain't never goin' back again

I just had to stop by for a minute
And I can't stay long at all
'Cause I gotta run you see I'm under the gun
And my back is up against the wall

I was shackled to a three-time loser
A man named Jefferson
One night we got to talkin'
And I asked him what he'd done

He said a man fell over my razor
In the middle of a barroom brawl
But don't you see it was him or me
And my back was up against the wall

Now I'm right outside your window
Honey open up and let me in
I broke out of jail this mornin'
And I ain't never goin' back again

I just had to stop by for a minute
And I can't stay long at all
'Cause I gotta run you see I'm under the gun
And my back is up against the wall

Now I'm right outside your window
Honey open up and let me in
I broke out of jail this mornin'
And I ain't never goin' back again

I just had to stop by for a minute
And I can't stay long at all
'Cause I gotta run you see I'm under the gun
And my back is up against the wall

I gotta run you see I'm under the gun
And my back is up against the wall
Yeah I gotta run you see I'm under the gun
And my back is up against the wall





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Atlanta Rhythm Section Back Up Against The Wall Comments
  1. m.... f....

    96 rock hotlanta 🐝

  2. M.... J....

    ARS still rocks after all these years! Saw them at Red Rocks in Bolder Co. in 77.

  3. J.... C....

    This song always reminded me of Skynyrd. Would have loved to hear them cover it.

  4. G.... M....

    seen them with they opened for Charlie Daniels. red hot show.

  5. L.... H....

    2019 and still love to rock this <3

  6. T.... ....

    Rest in peace J.R. Cobb

  7. R.... D....

    I saw ARS probably 15 times in the '70s. I actually "tricked" my parents into seeing them with the ASO in '74 or so, my second real rock n roll show. Then in '84 moved into Chess King Apts.... with no idea that was once "the place" in Doraville. RIP and bless all. And they smoked em all through out.

  8. C.... O....

    This band is a classic. Have too remember always their song is always in the memory of Southern Rock.

  9. B.... ....

    Is this Ronnie Hammond singing?

  10. P.... K....

    Dealing up and down the highway 70's good time

  11. S.... G....

    The 70s were the best

  12. D.... W....

    BEEN THERE DONE IT

  13. N.... ....

    Man sometimes I think Billy Powell musta played on their tunes too!

  14. E.... G....

    I like these guys so much, I can pretend I'm ok with the flag.

  15. J.... D....

    Ronnie Hammond, what a singer!! RIP

  16. M.... O....

    I remember hearing this when the album came out (or maybe even before) on the radio in Augusta. And I'm pretty sure I heard Doraville either in Augusta that year or in Atlanta before that album came out. I was always bummed they were never better known than they were. The vocals on this song are nearly perfect, and I love the whole song.

  17. K.... B....

    Some folks are at their best when the heat is on.

  18. D.... M....

    Good times from back in the day. "Conversation, getting so hard make"

  19. r.... h....

    love ronnie hammond great r h

  20. D.... B....

    Ronnie Hammons rest in peace.

  21. c.... ....

    the best southern rock song there ever was.

  22. r.... s....

    Watch out chicken?..They will fry up your liver in the trailer park*

  23. r.... s....

    I CAN FIND THAT OLD BRIDGE I SAT UNDER AND JUST STUNK ABOUT THINGS*

  24. r.... s....

    HELP THAT STRANGER YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW*

  25. H.... R....

    Maillon essentiel du rock sudiste ! http://rock6070.e-monsite.com/pages/lynyrd-skynyrd/atlanta-rhythm-section.html

  26. J.... ....

    This isn't just a great story song it;s a GREAT great story. ARS sure could make 'em nice.

  27. D.... K....

    im a georgia boy .i live in sioux falls love to go home one day

    D.... K....

    You may have left georgia,but it will never leave you!!!

  28. T.... C....

    Love these guys and this is one their best ! They consistently put out fantastic catalog of music throughout their career and I'll match their musicianship against anyone ! ARS ARS ARS !

  29. J.... M....

    To bad I never new about ARS, sooner! To many good albums go out of print, and never come back on CD! Come on Wounded Bird, or maybe Razor and Tie!

  30. r.... s....

    ain't no tape player or cassette player gonn eat no more of my stuff up???????????????????/

  31. r.... s....

    meeeeeeee tooooooooo count me in??????????

    r.... s....

    SAW THEM WITHOUT RONNIE NEVER THE SAME COLD TURKEY TENN ALSO A OLDIE AND LOIS MALONE AND GA RHYTHM AND COCAINE CHARLIE VERY GOOD SONG ARS UNDERRATED

  32. M.... P....

    I was back to living in Atlanta in 1973 after being away for a while. I can remember when this album was released advertisement featuring the cover was everywhere. The big song paying in all the “head shops” on Peachtree Street was Back Up Against The Wall. Having heard the first album and not being overly impressed I was a little skeptical of this release. But after hearing the whole album I was hooked as a fan from then on. There are three cuts on the album I love, Wrong, Conversations and Back Up Against The Wall. I don’t know why when there is a Best of… for ARS those 3 cuts are never there. Especially this one.

    M.... P....

    Mike Payne I think why you don't see this and other songs from the first two albums on the greatest hits compilations is because this album was released on Decca Records (which MCA acquired) and most of the ARS hits were on their later label, Polydor

  33. e.... ....

    Loved me some ARS back in the day and still do! R.I.P. Ronnie...😎

  34. d.... w....

    By God these Guys from Georgia CAN COOK
    Loved them since the '70's and ain't
    nobody better

  35. r.... s....

    Was that light yellow or red g dam..did i dothat???

  36. r.... s....

    ride down the road and blow your freakin head offffff!

  37. K.... S....

    I seen these fellas with Lynyrd Skynyrd back in the early seventies. These boys from Doraville just plain smoked !

    K.... S....

    Saw 'em open for ZZ Top in a big barn in Chicago. I love ZZ Top but I went for ARS.

    K.... S....

    I went to a small outside concert with ARS and Wet Willie. about 200 people and it was fabulous!!

  38. R.... C....

    SURE U RIGHT BEEN IN ATL 58 YRS ARS IS THE SHIT

  39. R.... R....

    my back is up against the all they better watch the Fuck out Rock all Roll ARS

  40. R.... K....

    rebel yell

  41. T.... H....

    sitting in P C B Florida watching it rain and this just got the flowing and away we go!

  42. M.... M....

    Amazing. Very underrated. I went to two of the Champagne Jams in Atlanta back in the 70's. Or did I just go once and was seeing double??? As tight on stage as they were in the studio. Thanks ARS for some good times and excellent music! RIP Ronnie and Paul.

  43. H.... N....

    I was hungry and broke

  44. H.... N....

    Great band! They were always the opening band when I saw them!

  45. M.... w....

    7 people don't like this... WTF? Must be foreigners (not from the South).

    M.... w....

    Michael wolfenbarger Only stupid people think that everyone must like what they do. I bet that makes you feel all manly and shit.

  46. C.... C....

    Who wrote or did the original version?  ARS or Travis?  Or did Travis play with ARS?  Help me out here.  I never heard the song until it was featured in "On Deadly Ground".  I had "Champagne Jam" on cassette back in the day, but this song wasn't on it.  Help me out here please.  :)

    C.... C....

    ARS did the original back in 1973. Written by Buddy Buie and J.R. Cobb Of ARS). Was also the name of the album (first with Ronnie Hammond as lead singer).

  47. J.... K....

    My dad Larry Davis worked with ARS. An I am on a album cover with the drummers daughter sitting behind the drums in the Fox theater in Atlanta Georgia.

    J.... K....

    is your dad from Opp Al?

    J.... K....

    +Cox Gregory yes sir

    J.... K....

    Totally cool dude. This is one of my all time faves.

    J.... K....

    Do you have a picture you can share?

  48. M.... T....

    I love this band . Atlanta Native ! The Way It Use To Be ! Thank You

  49. C.... C....

    I was dealin' up and down the highway, til they caught me with a heavy load
    They sentenced me to hard labor, workin' on the side of the road
    Now I don't deny I was guilty, and I know I broke the law
    I was hungry and broke and couldn't see no hope, and my back was up against the wall..!..

    Now I'm right outside of your window, honey open up and let me in
    I broke out of jail this morning and I ain't never going back again
    I just had to stop by for a minute, and I can't stay long at all
    I got to run, you see, I'm under the gun and my back is up against the wall...

    I was shackled to a three time loser, and man called Jefferson
    One night we got to talkin' and I asked him what he'd done
    He said a man fell over my razor, in the middle of a bar room brawl
    Don't you see, it was him or me and my back was up against the wall...

    Now I'm right outside of your window, honey open up and let me in
    I broke out of jail this morning and I ain't never going back again
    I just had to stop by for a minute, and I can't stay long at all
    I got to run, you see, I'm under the gun and my back is up against the wall...etc...

                                               ...........:)O(:...........

  50. B.... W....

    Anybody remember them playing at the Atlanta Chili Cook Off....

    B.... W....

    @Bruce Werley Yeah!! After my fourth bowl I had to hit up a porta shitter and they let loose with this....I got a pretty got a pretty good sound out of that shitter and my chili farts were right in time with the music.

    B.... W....

    @Bruce Werley I was at the Chili Cook Off in 1989, by which time AA had taken over vocals, and the song didn't sound as good. Having lived right behind Studio One in the early days of the band, there's just a certain sound / groove that ARS could not change once Ronnie had the mike. So sad how we've lost both Ronnie and Paul.

    B.... W....

    +Bruce Werley isn't that when leonard got ahold of some bad tex/mex

    B.... W....

    yep, James Gregory opened up for them.

    B.... W....

    @MOJO89OTDT I guess you had your back against the wall'

  51. M.... H....

    Atlanta Rhythm Section Back Up Against The Wall ! Man they could rock it never get's old !!

    M.... H....

    +Mike Hand Man that is for sure!!

  52. C.... C....

    One more time!!!...:)O(:...

  53. s.... m....

    Blackberry Smoke aren't bad, but, they cant hold a candle to ARS! These guys rocked it!! They also had ballads, oh so smooth

    s.... m....

    That's right! I was there in the 70's when southern rock bands flourished. I saw them in concert, Skynyrd, Allman Bros, Molly Hatchet, Blackfoot, 38 Special, Outlaws, etc, there is no comparing Blackberry Smoke to those southern rock greats. The musicianship of those bands blow BS off of the stage.

    s.... m....

    LMAO....."strictly commercial "......

    s.... m....

    BBS is a great band and they are keeping it going with thier albums..They are a great live band also

    s.... m....

    @NICE DAWGI Agree! Saw Blackberry Smoke 6 times and going back for more!. Dec, 31, 2018, Chattanooga, TN. I will be there!

    s.... m....

    @sierra man I saw ALL THE GREAT BANDS LIVE

  54. H.... N....

    The whole band was super talented but I love that bass player! Man I think he used nylon strings???? Amazing talent he was!! I saw them live 3 times in the late 70's and he always played a great solo!

    H.... N....

    Harry Nowak Paul Goddard, he was a great musician

  55. H.... N....

    Damn right!

  56. a.... ....

    Used to see them at the Brave Falcon in the early '70's! Great times!

  57. T.... K....

    ARS Rocks, for sure...Was at Tech from 77-81, and those Dog Days jams were among the finest concerts I've ever seen, and I've been backstage at some good ones...

  58. m.... ....

    You should check out the band Blackberry Smoke!!!

  59. M.... B....

    too cool!!! i found it by accident when i was 14...my friends would not believe me there was an fm rock n' roll station....they also played "Hey Jude" before any other station!!!

  60. j.... k....

    i rember wplo

  61. n.... ....

    I first saw them at the West Ga. College gym in about '75. If there was that much dope smoke in there today they'd call the SWAT team!!!!

  62. M.... B....

    i remember hearing this first in '68 on WPLO FM.....am i the only one?

    M.... B....

    FM radio in the '60s. Wasn't that rare?

  63. B.... ....

    Atlanta Rhythm Section is a jewel that many people have not heard or may only know those AM standards like Imaginary Lover and Spooky. I also truly saddened by the passing of Ronnie Hammond and drummer Robert Nix. Rock on brothers !!!!

  64. M.... ....

    Awesome,one of the great bands of the 70's. I was living in atlanta at the time,and remember this song and others,being played on the local fm stations.

    M.... ....

    Remember 96rock WKLS FM Atlanta?

  65. A.... p....

    disagree that they were one of the best bands ever, they were the best of all time, have seen them 30+ times and have and still will travel to see them. RIP Ronnie, miss you Barry, and glad to have Paul back in the band

  66. L.... W....

    best song ARS EVER recorded

  67. L.... B....

    Simply one of the killer lyrics of all time. I love it

    "a man tripped over my razor, in the middle of a bar room brawl,
    can't you see, it was him or me and my back was up against the wall" - simply brilliant!

    L.... B....

    Fell not tripped

  68. b.... ....

    RIP Ronnie Hammond, such an amazing voice and talent. You are missed.

  69. a.... ....

    @Griddercritter he's a very good bass player. probably one of the most underrated in all of southern rock

  70. s.... ....

    Skynyrd`s like it....