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Rough & Ready
Trace Adkins Lyrics


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Mud grips white-tip
Cigar stickin' out of my face
Earnhardt racing sticker on the window
Banged up fender
4x4, straight pipe roar
Primer and rust all over the door
Scarred up knuckles, Mack belt buckle
White t-shirt, ain't afraid to work
Got a "what-are-you-looking-at-pretty-boy" smirk

Cold beer, hot wings
Wranglers, Skoal ring
Get just what you see
Gun rack, ball cap
Don't take no crap
Ain't a pretty boy-toy
I'll rock you steady
Rough and ready

Work boots, one blue suit
Size too small, don't wear at all
Unless somebody kicks, gets hitched
Don't fit, makes me itch
Up with sun, off on the run
Makin' money money, cause I want to have fun
5 o'clock whistle, off like a missile
Got a hot date, girl named Kate
Think's I'm cool, 'cause I shoot straight
Ain't one thing about her fake
She's long and tall, and she goes great with

Cold beer, hot wings
Wranglers, Skoal ring
Get just what you see
Gun rack, ball cap
Don't take no crap
Ain't a pretty boy-toy
I'll rock you steady
Rough and ready
Rough and ready baby

Oh, here's Johny
Oh there you go Gordo
I ain't never heard nothin' like that

Well you are who you are
And that's all right with me
But I am who I am
And that's all I can be

I like cold beer, hot wings
Wranglers, Skoal ring
Get just what you see
Gun rack, ball cap
Don't take no crap
Ain't a pretty boy-toy
I'll rock you steady
Rough and ready
Rough and ready
Rough and ready baby

Ah, that's me and my buddies
We're all just alike
Said hey, watch this
That didn't turn out too good
You ok?
What are you lookin' at?
Yeah, that's a real gun in that gun rack
No I don't have a permit for it
You got a permit to ask stupid questions like that?
Gonna hurt you boy, get away from me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Trace Adkins's song "Rough & Ready" describe a man who takes pride in his tough, rugged exterior and his blue-collar lifestyle. The first verse includes a list of physical details that contribute to the singer's tough guy image, including mud grips on his truck, a cigar in his mouth, and a racing sticker on his window. The second verse elaborates on his work ethic, highlighting his willingness to work long hours and his desire to have fun with his earnings. The chorus emphasizes his simple pleasures, like cold beer, hot wings, and his trademark ball cap, and his readiness to defend himself or his possessions if necessary. In the bridge, the singer acknowledges that he and his friends are all cut from the same cloth, but asserts his individuality and independence.


Overall, "Rough & Ready" portrays a strong sense of masculine identity and a disdain for pretension or superficiality. The singer takes pride in his physical prowess and his blue-collar work ethic, and sees himself as an authentic and unapologetic representation of Middle America. The song's upbeat, guitar-driven melody and catchy chorus make it an anthem for anyone who likes to work hard, play hard, and keep things simple.


Line by Line Meaning

Mud grips white-tip
My truck tires are muddy and have white rims.


Cigar stickin' out of my face
I have a cigar sticking out of my mouth.


Earnhardt racing sticker on the window
I have a Dale Earnhardt race car sticker on my truck window.


Banged up fender
My truck fender is scratched or dented.


4x4, straight pipe roar
My truck is four-wheel drive and has a loud straight pipe exhaust.


Primer and rust all over the door
The door of my truck is painted with primer and has rust on it.


Scarred up knuckles, Mack belt buckle
My knuckles are scarred and I wear a Mack brand belt buckle.


White t-shirt, ain't afraid to work
I'm wearing a white t-shirt and I'm not afraid to work.


Got a "what-are-you-looking-at-pretty-boy" smirk
I have a smirk on my face that asks 'What are you looking at pretty boy?'


Cold beer, hot wings
I like to drink cold beer and eat hot wings.


Wranglers, Skoal ring
I wear Wrangler jeans and have a ring from dipping Skoal tobacco.


Get just what you see
I am exactly as I appear with no hidden motives or intentions.


Gun rack, ball cap
I have a gun rack in my truck and I wear a baseball cap.


Don't take no crap
I don't put up with any nonsense or disrespect.


Ain't a pretty boy-toy
I'm not a pretty boy who's only concerned with his appearance.


I'll rock you steady
I'll keep you safe and secure.


Rough and ready
I'm tough and always prepared for whatever comes my way.


Work boots, one blue suit
I wear work boots and own one blue suit.


Size too small, don't wear at all
My blue suit is too small, so I don't wear it.


Unless somebody kicks, gets hitched
I won't wear my blue suit unless I'm in a wedding or a funeral.


Don't fit, makes me itch
The suit doesn't fit me well and makes me uncomfortable.


Up with sun, off on the run
I wake up early and start working right away.


Makin' money money, cause I want to have fun
I work hard to make money so that I can have fun.


5 o'clock whistle, off like a missile
When the workday ends, I leave quickly.


Got a hot date, girl named Kate
I have a date with a girl named Kate.


Think's I'm cool, 'cause I shoot straight
Kate thinks I'm cool because I'm honest and direct.


Ain't one thing about her fake
Kate is genuine and sincere, there is nothing fake about her.


She's long and tall, and she goes great with
Kate is tall and thin, and she looks good with me.


Oh, here's Johny
Someone named Johny has arrived.


Oh there you go Gordo
Someone named Gordo is leaving.


I ain't never heard nothin' like that
I've never heard anything like what Johny just said.


Well you are who you are
You are yourself and that's okay.


And that's all right with me
I'm okay with you being yourself.


But I am who I am
I am myself and that's all I can be.


And that's all I can be
I can only be myself.


Ah, that's me and my buddies
The song describes me and my friends.


We're all just alike
We are all similar in our mannerisms and interests.


Said hey, watch this
I said 'Hey, watch this' as I attempted something risky or daring.


That didn't turn out too good
My risky or daring attempt did not turn out well.


You ok?
I am checking to make sure someone is not hurt after their failed attempt.


What are you lookin' at?
I am asking why someone is staring at me.


Yeah, that's a real gun in that gun rack
There is actually a real gun in my gun rack.


No I don't have a permit for it
I do not have a permit for my gun.


You got a permit to ask stupid questions like that?
I am asking if they have a permit to ask such a stupid question about my gun.


Gonna hurt you boy, get away from me
I am warning someone to leave and stay away if they continue to ask me stupid questions about my gun.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Capitol CMG Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Blair Mackichan, Brian White, Craig Wiseman

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@kimberley5963

@Trace Adkins I've been a Trace Adkins since highschool. It was after my Randy Travis phase. We only had one country music radio station in my small town.
Now, I'm in constant listening to 'Swing batter, swing' 'Arlington' 'You're gonna miss this' 'Every light in the house is on' and so many more! Forgive me for not remembering the exact title, but '...bible in the glove compartment..' affected me so when my boys left home!
Your strong ideals and sense of humor that come across in your music is admirable and relates so much to my world!
I remember reading about how you were shot. Incredible story of resilience, impressed me so!
When you were on 'The Apprentice', I was equally pleased and impressed. There was no drama in how you portrayed yourself. You who were who you are and that's all you can be! Lol
Your love and dedication to your family, children is heartwarming!
I simply appreciate good role models in our music, and you are by far the best!
I hope you don't mind that I said my brother reminds me so much of you. He used to be so energetic, fun, animated, happy...now, he's not that, as you can understand.
I took him out in a limo for his 21st birthday. He was dressed in an amazingly colorful western shirt, Garth Brooks style. It was 1993. A country bar in Minneapolis gave him 10 free drinks! By the time we left the Mall of America, he had his head out the sunroof singing, 'Turn the radio up and let the wind blow through your hair!' by Alabama. I will never forget it!
Thank you for your artistry and all you are in life! You are an amazing entertainer!



All comments from YouTube:

@sirtimothy92

He's the true definition of "Mr. STEAL UR GIRLS"

@ESLaParra

For real.

@joshuaberry8281

really

@corywalker2248

Damb right

@gavinmcclure3254

Damn right

@doughesson

With HIS girlfriend alongside to join in the fun.

3 More Replies...

@TheCampercore

I love the "well, you are who you are that´s alright with me, but I am who I am that´s all I can be"
I used that few times already... when someone tried to make fun of me...

@tommyodonovan3883

« вaттʟεcrіer » "I is all that I is"
-Popeye

@isha503

Gawd, there's something about this guy, no matter how many times i listen to this song, 1) i never get tired of it and 2) i totally check him out while listening to it. =P

@bridypow1947

He is so yummy...He is hypnotic drool love watching him 💃💃💃dance

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