Skaggs's music career began in 1970 when he joined Ralph Stanley's bluegrass band, the Clinch Mountain Boys. He plays mandolin, fiddle, guitar and banjo. For a few years, Skaggs was a member of Emmylou Harris's "Hot Band". He wrote the arrangements for Harris's bluegrass-roots album, Roses in the Snow. In addition to arranging, Skaggs sang harmony, and played mandolin and fiddle. In 2000, he shared the stage with the jam band Phish.
Skaggs moved to Nashville in 1980 and was signed to Sony Records, where he produced his debut album, Waitin' For The Sun To Shine. The album produced four successful singles, including two number one country hits. Many people say he rescued country music from the doldrums it had found itself in the 1970s. He was invited to join the Grand Ole Opry in 1982. He racked up 12 number one hits and 6 top ten singles during the 1980s. Skaggs picked up dozens of industry awards in the ensuing years.
He has made many fans due to his dedication to the traditional bluegrass style of music. "I always want to try to promote the old music, as well as trying to grow (musically), and be a pioneer too," Skaggs once said. Because of this approach to his music, Skaggs has been considered to be the founding father of Neotraditional Country.
From Wikipedia;
Early career:
Ricky Skaggs started playing music after he was given a mandolin by his fater, Hobert. At age 5, he played mandolin on stage with Bill Monroe. At age 6, he appeared on television's Martha White country music variety show, playing with Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs. he also wanted to audition for the Grand Ole Opry at the time, but was told he was too young.
In his mid-teens, Skaggs met a fellow teen prodigy, guitarist Keith Whitley and the two started playing together with Whitley's banjoist brothr Dwight on radio shows. By 1970, they had earned a spot opening for Ralph Stanley and Skaggs and Keith Whitley were thereafter invited to join Stanley's band, the Clinch Mountain Boys.
Skaggs later joined J.D. Crowe's New South. For a few years, Skaggs was a member of Emmylou Harris's Hot Band. He wrothe the arrangements for Harris's 1980 bluegrass-roots album, Roses in the Snow. In addition to arranging for Harris, Skaggs sang harmony and played mandolin and fiddle.
Neotraditionalism and experimentation:
Into the 1990s and 2000s, Skaggs has embraced his bluegrass roots, as well as experimenting with new sounds. With his band, Kentucky Thunder, he is a perennial winner of Grammy Awards and International Bluegrass Music Association for best bluegrass album.
"I always want to try to promote the old music, as well as trying to grow, and be a pioneer too, "Skaggs once said.
In 2000, he shared the stage with Vermont-based jam band, Phis. On March 20, 2007, Skaggs released an album with rock musician Burce Hornsby.
In 2007, Skaggs is slated to release and album he recorded with The Whites on his Skaggs Family Records label.
In 2008, Skaggs recorded a bluegrass version of "old Enough" by the Raconteurs with Ashley Monroe and the Raconteurs. He Played mandolin on the track as well as shared vocals with jack White, Brendan Benson, and Ashley Monroe.
Grammy awards
* 1983 Best Country Instrumental Performance: New South (J.D. Crowe, Jerry Douglas, Todd Phillips, Tony Rice, Ricky Skaggs) for Fireball
* 1984 Best Country Instrumental Performance: Ricky Skaggs for Wheel Hoss
* 1986 Best Country Instrumental Performance (Orchestra, Group or Soloist): Ricky Skaggs for Raisin' The Dickins
* 1991 Best Country Vocal Collaboration: Ricky Skaggs, Steve Wariner & Vince Gill for Restless
* 1999 Best Bluegrass Album: Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder for Bluegrass Rules!
* 1998 Best Country Collaboration with Vocals: Clint Black, Joe Diffie, Merle Haggard, Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss, Patty Loveless, Earl Scruggs, Ricky Skaggs, Marty Stuart, Pam Tillis, Randy Travis, Travis Tritt & Dwight Yoakam for Same Old Train
* 2000 Best Bluegrass Album: Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder for Ancient Tones
* 2000 Best Southern, Country, or Bluegrass Gospel Album: Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder for Soldier Of The Cross
* 2003 Best Country Performance By A Duo or Group With Vocal: Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder for A Simple Life
* 2004 Best Bluegrass Album: Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder for Brand New Strings
* 2006 Best Bluegrass Album: Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder for Instrumentals
* 2006 Best Musical Album For Children, "Songs From The Neighborhood, The Music Of Mr. Rogers"
* 2008 Best Southern, Country, or Bluegrass Gospel Album: Ricky Skaggs and The Whites for Salt Of The Earth
* 2009 Best Bluegrass Album "Honoring The Fathers Of Bluegrass 1946 & 47"
CMA (Country Music Association) Awards
* 1982 Male Vocalist of the Year: Ricky Skaggs
* 1982 Horizon Award: Ricky Skaggs
* 1983 Instrumental Group of the Year: Ricky Skaggs Band
* 1984 Instrumental Group of the Year: Ricky Skaggs Band
* 1985 Entertainer of the Year: Ricky Skaggs
* 1985 Instrumental Group of the Year: Ricky Skaggs Band
* 1987 Vocal Duo of the Year: Ricky Skaggs & Sharon White
IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association) Awards
* 1998 Instrumental Group Of The Year: Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder
* 1998 Album Of The Year: Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder for Bluegrass Rules!
* 1999 Instrumental Group Of The Year: Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder
* 2000 Instrumental Group Of The Year: Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder
* 2000 Instrumental Album Of The Year: David Grisman, Ronnie McCoury, Sam Bush, Frank Wakefield, Bobby Osborne, Jesse McReynolds, Ricky Skaggs & Buck White for Bluegrass Mandolin Extravaganza
* 2000 Recorded Event Of The Year: David Grisman, Ronnie McCoury, Sam Bush, Frank Wakefield, Bobby Osborne, Jesse McReynolds, Ricky Skaggs & Buck White for Bluegrass Mandolin Extravaganza
* 2002 Instrumental Group Of The Year: Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder
* 2003 Instrumental Group Of The Year: Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder
* 2004 Instrumental Group Of The Year: Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder
* 2005 Instrumental Group Of The Year: Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder
* 2006 Instrumental Group Of The Year: Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder
Other Awards and Accomplishments
* R&R Best New Artist
* Billboard magazine's Artist of the Year
* Musician Magazine- Voted One of the Top 100 Guitarists of the Century
* Artist of the Decade- Listeners' Poll Award BBC Radio 2
* CMT's 40 Greatest Men of Country Music rank #37 in 2003.
* Judge for the 2nd annual Independent Music Awards
Don't Get Above Your Raising
Ricky Skaggs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She just ain't what she used to be
Just a little high headed
That's plain to see
Don't get above your raisin'
Stay down to earth with me
Now lookee here gal don't you high hat me
I ain't forgot what you used to be
When you didn't have nothin'
That was plain to see
Don't get above your raisin'
Stay down to earth with me
Now you don't have to raise your head so high
Every time you pass me by
'Cause it don't mean nuthin'
To me you see
Don't get above your raisin'
Stay down to earth with me
Now look here, gal, you'd better be yourself
And leave that other stuff on the shelf
You're a country, baby
That's plain to see
Don't get above your raisin'
Stay down to earth with me
Well, I got a gal that's sweet to me
She just ain't what she used to be
Just a little high headed
That's plain to see
Don't get above your raisin'
Stay down to earth with me
Ricky Skaggs's "Don't Get Above Your Raising" is a classic country song that reminds us to remain humble and true to our roots. The song tells a story of a man whose sweet gal has changed and become too high-headed after gaining success. He warns her not to forget where she came from and to stay grounded.
The opening lines of the song set the tone for the rest of the lyrics. The man admits that his gal is sweet to him but says she's not what she used to be. He then goes on to say that she's become a little high-headed, indicating that she's forgotten her roots and is perhaps looking down on people who are not as successful as her. The chorus then comes in with the warning to "not get above your raisin'," which means don't forget where you came from and don't act as if you're better than others who are still there.
The second verse of the song continues with the warning to the gal not to "high hat" the man because he hasn't forgotten what she used to be when she didn't have anything. The man then tells her that she doesn't have to raise her head so high when passing him by, as it doesn't mean anything to him. The final verse is a direct plea to the gal to stay true to herself and not try to be someone she's not. The man reminds her that she's a country baby, and it's plain to see. The chorus comes in again, reiterating that she needs to stay grounded and not forget her roots.
Overall, the song is a cautionary tale about the dangers of forgetting where you came from and getting too caught up in success or material possessions. It's a reminder to stay true to oneself and remain humble, no matter what.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I got a gal that's sweet to me
There's a girl in my life who is kind to me
She just ain't what she used to be
Though she has changed a bit over time
Just a little high headed
She's become prideful and arrogant
That's plain to see
It's evident to me and others
Don't get above your raisin'
Don't act like you're better than you really are
Stay down to earth with me
Stay humble and grounded with me
Now lookee here gal don't you high hat me
Don't act superior towards me, listen up
I ain't forgot what you used to be
I remember how you used to be in the past
When you didn't have nothin'
When you had nothing going for you
That was plain to see
It was obvious to anyone who knew you
Now you don't have to raise your head so high
You don't need to act so proud and haughty
Every time you pass me by
When you walk past me
'Cause it don't mean nuthin'
It doesn't impress me or matter to me
To me you see
That's just how it is in my eyes
Now look here, gal, you'd better be yourself
Just be the genuine person you are
And leave that other stuff on the shelf
Stop trying to be something you're not
You're a country, baby
You're still just a humble country girl
That's plain to see
It's obvious to me and everyone else
Don't get above your raisin'
Don't start acting superior or arrogant
Stay down to earth with me
Stay humble and genuine with me
Well, I got a gal that's sweet to me
There's a girl in my life who is kind to me
She just ain't what she used to be
Though she has changed a bit over time
Just a little high headed
She's become prideful and arrogant
That's plain to see
It's evident to me and others
Don't get above your raisin'
Don't act like you're better than you really are
Stay down to earth with me
Stay humble and grounded with me
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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