Seven Turns by The Allman Brothers Band

Album: Seven Turns (1990)

License This Song

lyrics

artistfacts

Songfacts®:

The title refers to a Navajo belief that there are seven times in life that you must make a decision that determines your life path. Taking the wrong path means you must either backtrack or stay on the road to ruin.
Allman Brothers Band guitarist Dickey Betts wrote this after producer Tom Dowd asked him to write something similar to "Blue Sky," which he composed for the band's 1972 album Eat A Peach.
This was the title track to the Allman Brothers comeback album. They had not recorded together for nine years.
This was one of the few Allman Brothers songs where Betts sang lead.
Features Warren Haynes on slide guitar. His addition to the band on the Seven Turns album allowed them to play with two guitars, like they did before Duane Allman died in 1971.

Comments: 8

Mike from Cookeville, TnWhat are the decisions you make that your life’s path?
FrancineThe fancy dancer at the end of the video is my cousin, Adam Nordwall Jr.
Toni from Fort Defiance, AzHere's some insight into the song origination. It is based on the philosophy of my late Grandfather, Stewart Etsitty. There are seven major decisions in one's life, you must make the right decision in order to progress to the next life. My Grandfather was a Roadman with the Native American Church, he and Dickie were friends for about 30 years. The Native Americans you see in the video are Navajo, with exception of the Fancy Dancers who are Chippewa/Shoshone & Navajo. This video was filmed in the Window Rock, AZ area. Thank you, Dickie for a great song and the fabulous memories. T, Fort Defiance, AZ
Bridget from Bordentown, NjI love the song and the meaning of it. Actually just saw Dickie Betts in Reading PA Mar 21 and we got to hang out after the show and he told us about the Indian, his good friend, that he had wrote the song for because he was the one that told him the meaning of it. Dickie is so full of life and if you can catch one of his shows it is awesome. He's still around!
- Bridget, Bordentown, NJ
Big Ed from Pulaski, TnI heard when this album came out, that this song was written in memory of Duane Allman. Could someone clarify this for me?
Barry from New York, NyIf you haven't seen the video, it features Hopi Natives and scenic canyon views as well as vintage shots of the ABB with their long lost guitarist Dickey Betts.
Barry from New York, NyProbably the best Dickey Betts song, it's real catchy and fun to listen to. Too bad Dickey isn't around anymore to play it. ¡Quã lástima!
Matt from Charleston, ScI was playing in a southern/classic rock band in college when this song and album came out, we were excited to hear new Allman material. In our version of this song, we jokingly sang "Seven turds on the driveway"!

see more comments

More Songfacts:

Mamma MiaABBA

The phrase "Mamma Mia" was big in 1976. It was the name of a popular Abba song, and also showed up in the lyrics to "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen.

GhosttownMadonna

"Ghosttown" from 2014 was Madonna's 45th chart-topper on the Dance Club Songs chart, breaking the record for the most #1s an artist has tallied on a single Billboard chart.

Lady MarmaladeChristina Aguilera

The first female rapper to perform on a #1 hit? Surprisingly, it's Lil' Kim with the 2001 remake of "Lady Marmalade" for the movie Moulin Rouge. She was was joined on the track by Christina Aguilera, Missy Elliott, Pink and Mya.

How Soon Is Now?The Smiths

The opening line in "How Soon Is Now?" by The Smiths is "I am the son and the heir," not "I am the sun and the air."

Six Months In A Leaky BoatSplit Enz

The Split Enz song "Six Months In A Leaky Boat" is about the journey explorers made from Europe to colonize Australia and New Zealand, where the band is from.

Islands In The StreamKenny Rogers and Dolly Parton

"Islands in the Stream" was originally written by The Bee Gees as an R&B song. It was originally written by the brothers for Marvin Gaye, however it was recorded instead as a duet by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton with the Gibb Brothers also contributing vocals.