No. 85: Marshall Tucker Band, ‘Can’t You See’

No doubt they drew inspiration from their Capricorn Records label mates the Allman Brothers, but the Marshall Tucker Band were more than simply a band in the right place at the right time.

Although Southern rock bands like themselves, the Allmans and Lynyrd Skynyrd were riding an undisputed high in the late '60s and early '70s, the Marshall Tucker Band shied away from the rebel imaged embraced by Skynyrd (who we'll see later on our Top 100 Classic Rock Songs list), choosing to forge their own route that was more about making unforgettable music than anything else.

Despite the fact that the song capably brought together southern rock and country-rock in a very laid-back kind of way, the lyrics of the track paint a much darker picture: "I'm gonna find me a hole in the wall / I'm gonna crawl inside and die / 'Cause my lady now...Never told me goodbye"

This ain’t a love song in the traditional sense of the word. This is the story of a man running as far away as he can to begin the process of healing himself. Listening to the track, the heartache of the lyrics is reflected as optimistically as possible by guitarist Toy Caldwell, there is an overarching feeling of heartbreak and sadness understandably permeating the song.

Although the Marshall Tucker Band would only bring 'Can't You See' to slot No. 75 on the Billboard charts in September 1977, the lack of the track being a bonafide, No. 1 hit did not deter artists including Kid Rock, Poison, Black Stone Cherry, and, appropriately enough, the Allman Brothers from covering the song.

No. 85: Marshall Tucker Band, ‘Can’t You See’ – Top 100 Classic Rock Songs