Mattea was born in South Charleston, West Virginia, because it had the nearest hospital to her parents' home in Cross Lanes, where she grew up, graduating from nearby Nitro High School. In 1976, while in college, she joined the bluegrass band Pennsboro, and two years later dropped out of school to move to Nashville. She worked as a tour guide at the Country Music Hall of Fame, did backup vocal work for Bobby Goldsboro , and sang demos for several Nashville songwriters and publishers including Nashville songwriter/producer Byron Hill, who brought her to the attention of Frank Jones (then head of Mercury Records), who signed her to her first record deal in 1983.
Mattea's third album, 1986's folky Walk the Way the Wind Blows, proved to be her breakthrough both critically and commercially. Her cover of Nanci Griffith's "Love at the Five and Dime" was her first major hit, reaching #3 (and in addition, earned Griffith notice as a songwriter); and the album produced three other top ten songs: "Walk the Way the Wind Blows" (#10), "You're the Power (#5), and "Train of Memories" (#6).
Further hit songs include her first #1, "Goin' Gone"; the truck-driving song "Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses" (1988); "Come From the Heart" and "Burnin' Old Memories" (both #1 hits in 1989); "She Came From Fort Worth" (1990); "Lonesome Standard Time" (1992); "Walking Away a Winner" (1994); "Nobody's Gonna Rain on Our Parade" (1994); "Maybe She's Human" (1994); and "455 Rocket" (1997). "Eighteen Wheels," in late May 1988, became the first single by a solo female to spend multiple weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard country singles chart since Dolly Parton's "You're the Only One" in August 1979; both singles were on top of that chart for two weeks.
The heart-wrenching "Where've You Been," which Mattea's husband Jon Vezner co-wrote with singer/songwriter Don Henry, reached #2 on the country chart and won her a 1990 Grammy for Best Female Country Vocal. Mattea is a repeat winner of the County Music Associations Female Vocalist of the Year, which she won on the success of "Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses" and "Where've You Been."
The following year, Mattea took part in Voices That Care, a multi-artist project that featured other top names in music for a one-off single to raise money for the allied troops in the Gulf War. The project included fellow country singers Garth Brooks, Kenny Rogers and Randy Travis. She has also been heavily involved in HIV/AIDS-related charities beginning in the early 1990s, and is often credited with leading the country music community, commonly regarded as the last segment of the entertainment industry to address the AIDS epidemic, to finally do so. She performed with Mary Chapin Carpenter on VH1's very first Save The Music concert, which also starred Bette Midler.
Mattea won another Grammy in 1993 for her gospel-oriented Christmas album Good News. Her first single from the album, "Mary, Did You Know?" went on to be covered by Kenny Rogers with Wynonna, as well as Reba McEntire.
Mattea subsequently moved to MCA and, in 2000, released the ballad-heavy The Innocent Years, a heartfelt tribute to her ailing father. Wanting to explore her taste for Celtic folk, Mattea hopped labels to Narada, for whom she debuted in 2002 with the eclectic Roses.
With her social activism and her taste for songs with introspective lyrics, it has been often said that Mattea owes as much to the traditions of folk music as mainstream country.
Though her recent work has failed to make the country charts, Mattea continued to enjoy a strong following throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s; her albums are critically well received, and she continues to tour and perform. She continues to have strong support from a very active fan club, run by Sue Phelps, whose members refer to themselves as Matteaheads.
Kathy travelled the country presenting Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth" and speaking to crowds about the importance to fight global warming.
Before leaving Narada she released another album full of differing influences, Right Out Of Nowhere, including a cover of a Stones tune.
Her CD "Coal" released on her own label is a collection of songs about mining and received a nomination for a Grammy. She continues to tour across the US and in early 2008 she made a welcome return to the UK.
In 2018, Mattea announced a new album, Pretty Bird, which was released independently with Tim O'Brien serving as producer.
Eighteen Wheels And A Dozen Roses
Kathy Mattea Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't seem like a whole lot
After thirty years of drivin'
Up and down the interstate
But Charlie's had a good life
And Charlie's got a good wife
And after tonight she'll no longer
Be countin' the days
Eighteen wheels and a dozen roses
Ten more miles on his four day run
A few more songs from the all night radio
And he'll spend the rest of his life
With the one that he loves
They'll buy a Winnebago
Set out to find America
They'll do a lotta catchin' up
A little at a time
With pieces of the old dream
They're gonna light the old flame
Doin' what they please
Leavin' every other reason behind
Eighteen wheels and a dozen roses
Ten more miles on his four day run
A few more songs from the all night radio
And he'll spend the rest of his life
With the one that he loves
Eighteen wheels and a dozen roses
Ten more miles on his four day run
A few more songs from the all night radio
And he'll spend the rest of his life
With the one that he loves
The song Eighteen Wheels And A Dozen Roses by Kathy Mattea is a narrative of a truck driver named Charlie who has spent thirty years of his life driving on the interstate. Charlie is about to retire and he is reflecting on his life as a truck driver. He may not have much to show for it, except a gold watch, but he has had a good life and a loving wife by his side.
The song is filled with metaphors relating to driving, counting the days, and taking a journey. The title 'Eighteen Wheels and A Dozen Roses' itself is a metaphor for the life of a truck driver. The wheels represent the journey through time, and the roses represent the rewards that come along the way. It also symbolizes the love and commitment between Charlie and his wife, as the roses are a gift for her.
The song takes a positive outlook on life after retirement. Charlie and his wife plan to travel cross-country in a Winnebago, and explore America, take their time and do what they please. They want to rekindle their old flame and light the passion that they once had. They are leaving every other reason behind and embarking on a journey of love and adventure.
Overall, Eighteen Wheels And A Dozen Roses is a song about life, love, and leaving behind the mundane routine that we often get caught up in. It’s about taking a leap of faith and exploring the unknown. It's a reminder that while life may be short, it's important to make the most of it and do what makes you happy.
Line by Line Meaning
Charlie's got a gold watch
After dedicating 30 years of his life to driving up and down the interstate, all Charlie has to show for it is a gold watch.
Don't seem like a whole lot
Because the watch can't represent all the experiences he's had, Charlie doesn't feel like he's left much of a mark.
But Charlie's had a good life
Despite his feelings about leaving a legacy, Charlie can look back on his life as a successful and fulfilling journey.
And Charlie's got a good wife
One of the joys of Charlie's life has been the presence of his loving and supportive wife.
And after tonight she'll no longer
Today marks the end of Charlie's driving career, and his wife will no longer be waiting for him to come home from work every night.
Be countin' the days
Finally, they can look forward to spending as much time together as they want, without the constraints of Charlie's job.
Eighteen wheels and a dozen roses
To celebrate this exciting new chapter in their lives, Charlie gives his wife 12 roses and prepares to leave behind the rig he's driven for so long.
Ten more miles on his four day run
Charlie has just a few more miles to go before finishing his last run and finally leaving behind the trucking lifestyle.
A few more songs from the all night radio
Charlie and his wife listen to a little more music before turning off the radio and enjoying the silence between them.
And he'll spend the rest of his life
Now retired from his job, Charlie can spend the rest of his life focusing on his family and the things that truly matter to him.
With the one that he loves
With his wife by his side, Charlie can finally enjoy the life he's built for himself.
They'll buy a Winnebago
To kick off their new life together, Charlie and his wife buy a Winnebago and hit the road to see what America has in store for them.
Set out to find America
Venturing out into the unknown, Charlie and his wife are ready to explore all that America has to offer.
They'll do a lotta catchin' up
After years of being apart due to Charlie's job, they're looking forward to spending time together and making up for lost time.
A little at a time
They don't have to rush anything - they have all the time in the world to explore and appreciate the beauty around them.
With pieces of the old dream
They carry old dreams with them, not just about Charlie's driving job, but about their life together and the experiences they want to share.
They're gonna light the old flame
Being together all the time will help them rekindle the romance that may have been forgotten during the time they spent apart.
Doin' what they please
With no obligations to a job or a set schedule, Charlie and his wife can now do whatever they want, whenever they want to do it.
Leavin' every other reason behind
Charlie and his wife are no longer worried about meeting deadlines or keeping up with the stresses of life. They're able to leave all that stress behind and focus on living in the moment.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Gene Nelson, Paul Nelson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind