He was growing up in a working-class family in Jackson, Tennessee, and he would need a lot more than dreams to make it to the country music capital 130 miles east on I-40. Determination came with his sometimes-tough upbringing. He played open mic nights until, at 20, he put together his first band. Just a year later, he was offered a Pacific tour through Armed Forces Entertainment that had listened to a three-song demo he and his band had cut in Jackson.
Ash was encouraged to come to Nashville and soon after, was restricting his playing to weekends and spending his weeks commuting daily to Nashville. The kind of commitment it took to drive 260 miles a day, five days a week--it quickly paid off. Just a year and a half after he began commuting to Nashville, a CD of his material reached Broken Bow/Stoney Creek Records president Benny Brown, the result, a record and publishing deal.
Ash Bowers has currently been writing for his album while working in the studio with legendary producer Buddy Cannon, known for his work with Kenny Chesney. Reba McIntire, George Jones and Willie Nelson, among many others, producing his forthcoming Stoney Creek Records debut album.
Bowers’ songwriting skills display his uncanny knack for turning working-class dreams and realities into stirring and highly relatable music. His new single, “I Still Believe In That,” written by Bowers, Anthony Smith and Frank Myers, is an anthem for all things good. Overall, his upcoming album debut will provide a window into what makes Ash tick both as a musician and as a person.
"Anybody listening to this record will get a good idea who Ash Bowers is and who I've been up to this point," he says, "and that's something I really wanted to do with this album. It's a real record."
Stuck
Ash Bowers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the sweat, it burns my eyes
Day in, day out, it's all the same
On this hot assembly line
I watch the hours of my life
Get chewed up by that clock
I'm gonna lose my mind if I don't find
Stuck in a rut
Stuck in this town
Stuck in a job that's keeping me down
I need to get these boots out of the mud
It's time to roll on, get in a groove
Pull up the stakes and make me a move
A spin of the wheel is bound to change my luck
I ain't stayin' stuck
I'm gonna take every dollar that I made
Out of that farmer's bank
Make one last stop at the Tiger mart
Gonna fill up that thirsty tank
Gonna find a road to a new zip code
They can kiss my hotel lights
It's never too late to start again
I've wasted too much time
Stuck in a rut
Stuck in this town
Stuck in a job that's keeping me down
I need to get these boots out of the mud
It's time to roll on, get in a groove
Pull up the stakes and make me a move
A spin of the wheel is bound to change my luck
I ain't stayin' stuck
I'm a little burned out
A little ticked off
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
Friday, Saturday, sometimes Sunday
Stuck in a rut
Stuck in this town
Stuck in a job that's keeping me down
I need to get these boots out of the mud
It's time to roll on, get in a groove
Pull up the stakes and make me a move
A spin of the wheel is bound to change my luck
I ain't stayin' stuck, no, no
Stuck
in 2-3 long paragraphs:
In Ash Bowers's song "Stuck," he speaks to the feelings of entrapment and monotony that come with being stuck in a job that is not fulfilling. The song begins with a vivid description of the physical discomfort that comes with working on an assembly line - sweat burns the eyes and the collar is wet on the back of the neck. Bowers then speaks to the more abstract effects of this kind of work, as he watches the hours of his life get "chewed up by that clock" and fears that he will lose his mind if he doesn't find a way out of this box. The phrase "stuck in a rut" becomes the song's refrain, as Bowers longs to break free from the cycle that has him feeling trapped.
As the song progresses, Bowers paints a picture of what it might look like to actually break free from this rut. He envisions taking every dollar he has saved and using it to make a fresh start in a new town. The imagery of filling up his tank at the Tiger mart is particularly resonant, as it speaks to the sense of possibility that comes with hitting the road with a full tank of gas. Bowers acknowledges the time he has wasted by being stuck in this job, but emphasizes that it's never too late to start again. The song ends on a hopeful note, as Bowers declares that he "ain't stayin' stuck" and that he's ready to make a move.
Overall, "Stuck" is a song that speaks to the universal desire for freedom and fulfillment. Bowers uses powerful imagery to convey the physical and emotional toll of a job that is not fulfilling, and offers a vision of a better life for those who are willing to take a risk.
Line by Line Meaning
Collar's wet on the back of my neck
Sweat from work has soaked through my clothes and is making me uncomfortable
And the sweat, it burns my eyes
Sweat is getting in my eyes, causing them to burn
Day in, day out, it's all the same
Every day is monotonously the same, with no change or excitement
On this hot assembly line
I am working on a production line in a hot environment
I watch the hours of my life
I am acutely aware of the time passing
Get chewed up by that clock
The time is slipping away and I feel trapped
I'm gonna lose my mind if I don't find
I am worried about my mental health if I don't escape this situation
A way out of this box
I am searching for a solution that will set me free
Stuck in a rut
I feel trapped and stagnant
Stuck in this town
I am restricted to living in this location
Stuck in a job that's keeping me down
I am held back by the job I am doing
I need to get these boots out of the mud
I need to remove myself from the situation that is holding me down
It's time to roll on, get in a groove
It's time for me to get into a rhythm, and make changes
Pull up the stakes and make me a move
I need to make a drastic life change in order to escape
A spin of the wheel is bound to change my luck
Taking a chance will give me the possibility of finding a way out
I ain't stayin' stuck
I refuse to remain trapped in this situation
I'm gonna take every dollar that I made
I will take all of the money that I have earned
Out of that farmer's bank
I will withdraw my money from the local bank
Make one last stop at the Tiger mart
I will stop at a convenience store for supplies
Gonna fill up that thirsty tank
I am going to fill up my vehicle with fuel
Gonna find a road to a new zip code
I am searching for a new place to live
They can kiss my hotel lights
I am leaving this place for good and they can say goodbye to me
It's never too late to start again
It's never too late to make a fresh start and find a new life
I've wasted too much time
I have spent too much time being stuck in a situation that is not fulfilling
I'm a little burned out
I am exhausted and feeling burned out
A little ticked off
I am a little bit angry
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
Every day of the week is the same for me
Friday, Saturday, sometimes Sunday
Even on the weekends, I am stuck in this cycle
Contributed by Katherine P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.