James Wesley puts those core values into his music with a whiskey-smooth voice and a timelessly winning way with a great country song. Wesley sings directly to real people about real things that profoundly affect real lives—and from his small-town upbringing to his blue-collar work ethic, he has a deep understanding of what those folks are longing to hear.
"I know there's more people out there than just me who want to hear something that grabs you and makes you go, 'Wow, that's me—that's how I feel, that's my day, that's my family,'" he says. "When you swing a hammer every day, when you're out there doing what you have to do, you learn a lot of compassion for the people that do it day in and day out."
Wesley grew up in tiny Mound Valley, a community of about 200 people in Southeastern Kansas. He first discovered country music via his grandmother's record collection, which included heaping helpings of classic crooners like Marty Robbins, George Jones and Ray Price. "We'd go over there on the weekends," he recalls. "She'd have the console set up and the records stacked up and we'd listen to them as they dropped. Those guys back then, they could sing. I thought, 'That's what I want to do.'"
His mother was the first to notice Wesley's own talent for singing when she overheard him belting out his favorite songs behind his bedroom door. "I thought if I shut my door I blocked everybody out, but evidently I didn't block Mom out," he says with a chuckle. "She heard me and said, 'I'd love to have you sing in church.' So that's what I did." Soon he taught himself to play guitar on an old Stella practice model. "I've got it to this day," he says. "You can still see where I wore down the D, C and G chords on the fretboard."
By his late teens he was singing in local nightclubs and beginning to think about making music his life. "I'd sit in my bedroom and stare out of the window and dream of being out there, getting to see the world," he remembers. His first move in that direction was to Eureka Springs, Arkansas, where he performed in a nightly music and variety show.
There he met his wife, Mindee, with whom he now has two young children—and finally set his sights on Nashville. "I could have stayed in Eureka Springs for the rest of my life, but I just had to chase the dream," he says. "I had to follow my gut." He and Mindee sold their house and almost everything in it, rented a moving truck and headed for Music City. Once there, Wesley took a construction job to make ends meet and began learning the ropes of the Nashville music business. He met hit songwriter Rodney Clawson and producer Dan Frizsell, and the three began recording together.
Their work caught the attention of Broken Bow Records, which signed Wesley in December and quickly released the very first song on his original demo, "Jackson Hole," as his debut single. The tune (penned by Clawson and Monty Criswell) immediately began racing up the charts, driven by listeners who loved its vivid story of fleeting love in a snowy setting. "Jackson Hole" offered fans an upfront introduction to the more vulnerable aspects of Wesley's personality. "Growing up with three sisters, I've got a sensitive side too," he says with a smile. "But I'm proud that I have that side, that I'm not callous. The only thing calloused about me is my hands."
The breakout success of "Jackson Hole" instantly validated the enormous risk Wesley took in uprooting his family from Eureka Springs for an uncertain future in Nashville was worth it. "My family has seen all the ups and downs," he says. "There's been a lot of hard work. There's been times it wasn't easy, and they've been there the whole time. They're great." It also meant that Wesley's days of construction work were over. "Thank God I get to put the hammer down, at least for a while," he says with a laugh. "It's nice to be able to do what I love to do."
James Wesley hopes to do what he loves to do for a long time to come. "I want to be in it for the long haul," he says. "I want to do those songs that everybody wants to hear, and that everybody can feel. I want to be the guy who tells the stories, and tells it like it is."
Real
James Wesley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Except reality shows about some folk's so-called lives
A pretty girl cries 'cause she don't get a rose
But she'll find love next year on her own show
And they call that real
Real is a hand you hold fifty-seven years
Real is a band of gold tremblin' with fear
It's the first long tear down an old man's face, watchin' his angel slippin' away
His heart's so broke, it's never gonna heal
I call that real
Where I live, housewives don't act like that
And the survivors are farmers in John Deere hats
Our amazin' race is beatin' the check
Prayin' that the bank ain't ran it through yet
Real, like too much rain fallin' from the sky
Real, like the drought that came around here last July
It's the damn boll weevils and the market and the weeds,
The prayer they're sayin' when they plant the seeds
And the chance they take to bring us our next meal
I call that real
Real, like a job you lose 'cause it moves to Mexico
Like a mama and a baby with no safe place to go
Like a little dream-house with a big old foreclosed sign
Like a flag-draped coffin and a twenty-one gun goodbye
I call that real
Man, I call that real
Oh, I call that real
In James Wesley's song "Real," he comments on how the concept of what is considered "real" has shifted in our society. He contrasts the popular reality shows that dominate television channels, where people are in constant competition to be the most popular, to the real struggles and experiences that people face in their everyday lives. Wesley highlights the disconnect between the manufactured drama on reality TV and the genuine emotions that arise from real relationships and challenges.
Wesley defines "real" as the hand of a partner that you hold for fifty-seven years, a wedding band that trembles with fear, and the first tear a father sheds as he watches his child slip away. He sees the resilience of farmers facing droughts and boll weevils, the uncertainty of financial struggles and job losses, and the heartbreaking reality of a mother and baby without a safe place to call home in their struggle to survive. These are the real experiences that shape us and he calls them the true reality.
Wesley's song highlights how our society often confuses reality with entertainment, and we forget and ignore the true hardships that people are facing. He encourages us to recognize these struggles and the strength and perseverance they show. The song is a reminder that "reality" comes in many forms and that we should not lose sight of the struggles and experiences that shape our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Five-hundred channels and there ain't much on tonight
The abundance of TV channels is mostly filled with shallow, meaningless programming.
Except reality shows about some folk's so-called lives
The majority of TV programming consists of reality shows that portray highly edited and dramatized versions of people's lives.
A pretty girl cries 'cause she don't get a rose
The contestants on reality dating shows often cry and compete for superficial things, like roses, despite the artificial nature of the show's premise.
But she'll find love next year on her own show
Despite the shallowness of reality TV dating shows, the contestants often go on to have their own spin-off shows, perpetuating the cycle of superficial programming.
And they call that real
Despite the artificial nature of reality TV programming, it is often marketed and perceived as 'real,' contributing to the public's confusion between reality and entertainment.
Real is a hand you hold fifty-seven years
True reality is the profound emotional connection and longevity of a relationship that has endured over several decades.
Real is a band of gold tremblin' with fear
Real life involves the fear and anxiety that comes with significant transitions, such as getting married, and the preciousness of the love symbolized by the wedding band.
It's the first long tear down an old man's face, watchin' his angel slippin' away
Real life involves heartbreaking moments, such as watching a loved one die, which evoke strong emotions like sadness and hopelessness.
His heart's so broke, it's never gonna heal
The pain of losing a loved one is constant and deep, and can never be fully healed.
I call that real
These genuine and profound experiences of life are what make it truly 'real,' not the superficiality of reality TV programming.
Where I live, housewives don't act like that
The reality of everyday life in the singer's community is vastly different from the contrived and artificial portrayal of housewives on reality TV shows.
And the survivors are farmers in John Deere hats
Real life involves the struggles of everyday people, like farmers who work hard to survive and thrive in their community.
Our amazin' race is beatin' the check
The day-to-day challenge of survival, like making ends meet and beating the odds, is what constitutes the 'amazing race' of real life.
Prayin' that the bank ain't ran it through yet
The fear of debt and financial ruin is a real aspect of everyday life for many people, and often requires the solace of prayer and faith.
Real, like too much rain fallin' from the sky
Real life is unpredictable and can be both a blessing and a curse, like the abundance of rain that can both nourish and flood crops and communities.
Real, like the drought that came around here last July
Real life often involves hardships and difficult circumstances, such as droughts, that must be faced and overcome.
It's the damn boll weevils and the market and the weeds,
The realities of rural life involve struggles with pests, economic factors, and natural obstacles such as weeds that can threaten food production and livelihoods.
The prayer they're sayin' when they plant the seeds
The planting of crops represents a time of hope and faith, and the prayer that accompanies it is a reminder of the spiritual realities of life.
And the chance they take to bring us our next meal
The work of farmers and the risks they take are essential to providing food for society, and represent the 'real' contributions of everyday people that are often overshadowed by media and entertainment.
Real, like a job you lose 'cause it moves to Mexico
Real life involves the unforeseen challenges and negative consequences of globalization and economic shifts, such as the loss of jobs to other countries.
Like a mama and a baby with no safe place to go
Real life involves the heartbreaking struggles of homelessness and the lack of safety and security for those who are most vulnerable.
Like a little dream-house with a big old foreclosed sign
The reality of the housing market can be unstable and unpredictable, with people losing their homes due to foreclosure despite their dreams and hard work.
Like a flag-draped coffin and a twenty-one gun goodbye
The reality of war involves the tragic sacrifice of lives and the deep pain of loss felt by families and communities, represented by the solemn military traditions of the flag and the gun salute.
I call that real
The real experiences of everyday life that are filled with pain, hope, and perseverance are what truly matter, and should be valued and appreciated above the superficiality of entertainment.
Man, I call that real
The singer reiterates his conviction that the profound and genuine experiences of life are what truly make it 'real,' and should be celebrated and respected above all else.
Contributed by Austin I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.