American Kids
Kenny Chesney Lyrics

Doublewide Quick Stop midnight T-top
The singer is setting the scene and describing the surroundings, which include a convenience store (quick stop), a car with a removable roof (T-top), and a double-wide trailer (mobile home).

Jack in her Cherry Coke town
The singer is introducing a character named Jack who lives in a small town and likes to drink Coca-Cola.

Momma and daddy put their roots right here
The singer is describing how his parents decided to settle down in this small town and make it their home.

'Cause this is where the car broke down
The artist is explaining that his family ended up living in this small town because their car broke down and they couldn't afford to fix it.

Yellow dog school bus kickin' up red dust
The artist is describing the old school bus that used to pick him and his friends up and drop them off at school, which would create a cloud of dust as it drove by.

Pickin' us up by a barbed wire fence
The singer is explaining that the school bus would sometimes pick them up by a barbed wire fence while they waited for it to arrive.

MTV on the RCA, no A/C in the vents
The singer is describing the primitive technology of his childhood, including watching music videos on MTV through an old RCA television and not having air conditioning in their car.

We were Jesus save me, blue jean baby
The artist is describing his identity growing up as a Christian who prayed for salvation, and who wore blue jeans as his clothing of choice.

Born in the USA
The artist is identifying himself as an American citizen, born in the United States.

Trailer park truck stop, faded little map dots
The artist is painting a picture of small towns across America that often have little more than trailer parks and truck stops, and are barely noticeable on a map.

New York to LA
The singer is highlighting the vastness of America, referencing the distance between two of its biggest cities.

We were teenage dreamin', front seat leanin'
The artist is reflecting on his teenage years, when he would often daydream while leaning in the front seat of a car.

Baby, come give me a kiss
The singer is expressing his desire for physical affection.

Put me on the cover of the Rolling Stone
The singer is dreaming big, hoping to one day become famous enough to be featured on the cover of the popular music magazine, Rolling Stone.

Uptown down home American kids
The singer is describing himself and his friends as American kids who are comfortable in both urban and rural settings.

Growin' up in little pink houses
The artist is referencing the common dream of owning a small, modest home, often painted pink, with a white picket fence.

Makin' out on living room couches
The artist is describing a common activity among teenagers, making out on couches in their homes.

Blowin' that smoke on Saturday night
The singer is referencing another common teenage activity, smoking cigarettes on Saturday nights.

A little messed up, but we're all alright
The singer is acknowledging that, while they may not have made the best choices growing up, he and his friends turned out just fine.

Baptist church parkin' lot, tryin' not to get caught
The artist is recalling a time when he and a girl were fooling around in the parking lot of a Baptist church, hoping not to get caught by anyone inside.

Take her home and give her your jacket
The artist is describing a sweet gesture of taking a girl home and giving her his jacket to keep her warm.

Makin' it to second base, but sayin' you went all the way
The artist is referencing another common teenage experience, when boasting about going all the way with a girl, even if they only made it to second base.

Monday afternoon at practice
The singer is reminding us that, despite all the fun and mischief, he was still dedicated to his school's sports teams and practices.

Sisters got a boyfriend daddy doesn't like
The artist is describing the complicated family dynamics that arise when a sister starts dating someone that their father doesn't approve of.

Now he's sittin' out back, 30/30 in his lap
The singer is painting a tense picture of the father sitting outside with a loaded rifle, as if prepared to use it if necessary.

In the blue bug zapper light
The singer is creating an eerie atmosphere by referencing the light of a bug zapper, which often attracts and kills insects in the nighttime.