Ashton Shepherd was born in Coffeeville, Alabama, United States. She began singing at an early age, and started writing songs at age five. By age eight, she had entered her first talent competition, where she sang Patsy Cline songs, and soon afterward, she began performing at various local venues as well. Her parents helped her finance a self-titled CD, which she released independently at age fifteen. In June 2006, she entered and won a talent contest in Gilbertown, Alabama. The prize was being the opening act for Lorrie Morgan in concert. Shepherd won the opening slot, and while performing as Morgan's opener, she was spotted by a representative of MCA Nashville Records, who then signed her to the label in April 2007.
Her debut single, "Takin' Off This Pain," was released in September 2007, the same month in which she made her debut on the Grand Ole Opry. The song, which peaked at No. 20 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, was the first single from her debut album "Sounds So Good", which was produced by Buddy Cannon and released on March 4, 2008. She also appeared on CMT's Unplugged at Studio 330 television program and subsequent interview March 5, 2008. The album's second single, its title track, was released in May 2008 and peaked at No. 21.
Shepherd's third single, "Look It Up," was released to country radio on January 3, 2011 as the lead-off single to her second album for MCA Nashville, Where Country Grows. It debuted at number 56 on the country charts for chart week ending January 15, 2011. The song entered the Top 40 of the charts in its third week and became her second Top 20 hit on the chart, reaching a peak of number 19 in May 2011. The title track was released as the second and final single from the album, and reached a peak of number 42 on the charts, becoming her first single to miss the Top 30. Shepherd parted ways with MCA Nashville in mid-2012.
She can also be heard singing back-up vocals on "Tailgate Blues" off Luke Bryan's album "Tailgates & Tanlines" released 9 August 2011.
I'm Good
Ashton Shepherd Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But sorry is as sorry does
You can call it what you want to,
But dammit, don't you dare call it love
You've got the nerve to ask me if I'm OK,
Boy give it a rest.
'Cause I'm good, and getting' better at being my best.
They say time can heal all wounds,
Well the sooner the better for me
'Cause a heart at war
Dang sure will make you be all that you can be
You tore me down piece by piece
But believe me there's plenty of me left.
Boy I'm good, gettin' better at being my best.
I've been thrown a lot of curves in this ol' world
But it's only made me strong
I suggest you do what I've done
And make this call your last one, and move on
No's my final answer, rest assured
That I'm not after anything less
Boy I'm good, gettin' better at being my best.
Oh I've cried a river, but you don't remember,
Let me refresh your memory one last time.
Boy I'm good, gettin' better at being my best.
Boy I'm good, gettin' better at being my best.
Boy I'm good,
Oh I'm getting' better
I'm good, gettin' better at being my best
Ashton Shepherd's song "I'm Good" is a powerful anthem of self-love and resilience after a breakup. The verses are directed at a former lover who calls to apologize and try to reconcile, but the singer of the song is determined to move on and be independent. The phrase "sorry is as sorry does" is a play on the old saying "actions speak louder than words" -- the singer is uninterested in empty apologies and wants to see meaningful change. She also explicitly rejects the idea that their relationship was ever love, saying "you can call it what you want to, but dammit, don't you dare call it love."
The chorus of the song emphasizes the singer's strength and growth in the aftermath of the breakup. She's "good, and getting' better at being my best," even though her heart has been at war. The bridge repeats the idea that the breakup has made her stronger, and that she's not interested in reconciliation: "No's my final answer, rest assured that I'm not after anything less."
Line by Line Meaning
You call me up to tell me that you're sorry,
You contacted me to apologize for your behavior, but words alone are not enough to make amends.
But sorry is as sorry does
Apologies are only meaningful if accompanied by sincere efforts to make things right.
You can call it what you want to,
You can label your feelings and actions however you like,
But dammit, don't you dare call it love
But do not try to deceive me or yourself by claiming it is love.
You've got the nerve to ask me if I'm OK,
Despite your mistreatment of me, you have the audacity to inquire about my well-being,
Boy give it a rest.
But enough is enough.
'Cause I'm good, and getting' better at being my best.
I am fine without you, and am improving my own self-development.
They say time can heal all wounds,
It is often said that the passage of time can soothe emotional pain,
Well the sooner the better for me
But I hope that healing comes sooner rather than later for my own benefit.
'Cause a heart at war
When someone's heart is in turmoil,
Dang sure will make you be all that you can be
It can inspire you to become the best version of yourself.
You tore me down piece by piece
You caused me significant emotional pain,
But believe me there's plenty of me left.
But I still have much to give in terms of resilience and inner strength.
Boy I'm good, gettin' better at being my best.
I am more than capable of moving on from this situation and thriving in the future.
I've been thrown a lot of curves in this ol' world
I have faced many hardships and challenges in life,
But it's only made me strong
But these experiences have only made me stronger and more resilient.
I suggest you do what I've done
I recommend that you take the same steps I have in moving on from this situation,
And make this call your last one, and move on
So stop contacting me, and begin to move forward.
No's my final answer, rest assured
Do not expect me to change my mind or respond to further attempts to contact me,
That I'm not after anything less
As I am content with my current situation, and do not need anything more from you.
Boy I'm good, gettin' better at being my best.
In summary, I am in a good place and improving every day.
Oh I've cried a river, but you don't remember,
I have shed many tears over the way you treated me, but you seem to have forgotten,
Let me refresh your memory one last time.
So let me remind you of the reality of the situation one final time.
Boy I'm good, gettin' better at being my best.
In conclusion, I am doing well and becoming a better version of myself, without you.
Boy I'm good, gettin' better at being my best.
I am content and thriving, improving my own well-being without the need for anyone else.
Boy I'm good,
I am doing well and moving on from this situation,
Oh I'm getting' better
And I am constantly improving and growing as an individual.
I'm good, gettin' better at being my best
I am fine without anyone else, and actively working on becoming the best version of myself.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DALE DODSON, DEAN DILLON, ASHTON SHEPARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind