Ain't Wastin' Time No More

Following the death of group leader and guitarist Duane Allman, the Allman Brothers Band returned to the studio to complete Eat a Peach, which was midway through production at the time of his passing. Much of the song's lyrical content deals with his death; Gregg Allman felt the subject "was the only thing I knew how to do right then."[1] Allman had completed most of the song's music before his brother's death, but felt compelled to record it when bassist Berry Oakley and drummer Jaimoe asked about it. He proceeded to write the song's lyrics—which also concern soldiers returning home from the Vietnam War[2]— on a Steinway piano at Criteria Studios in Miami, Florida, where it was recorded in December 1971.[1] Guitarist Dickey Betts picked up slide guitar in the aftermath of the tragedy, and took time to make sure his performance on the song would be up to par.[3] Allman later recalled that he remembered Betts practicing the slide part for the song on the airplane down to Miami.[4]

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics