One of the more successful country music groups of the 1990s, their hits have included Every Once in a While, Days of America, and Goodbye Says It All.
The original lineup for the band throughout the 1990s was Paul, Robbins, and guitarist/vocalist Van Stephenson, who died of skin cancer in April, 2001. He was replaced by Randy Threet, the band's bass player, until 2003, when Anthony Crawford signed on.
From early 2008 until he re-joined in 2010, Robbins left the group to resume his songwriting career, and Threet re-joined. Since then, BlackHawk's backing band has been subsumed into the main group, which comprises Paul (lead vocals, guitar, mandolin), Randall (acoustic guitar, background vocals), Threet (bass guitar, background vocals), Chris Anderson (lead guitar, background vocals), Dave Robbins (keyboards, background vocals), and Monte Yoho (drums, percussion).
Current Total Nonstop Action Wrestling musician Dale Oliver was also once a part of Blackhawk.
Between Ragged And Wrong
BlackHawk Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I'm not supposed to hang out there anymore
You fell in love with a side of me that you called wild and free
Now that's not the way you want me to be
It must be nice to walk the straight and narrow
See in black and white true as an arrow
Out here on the edge is where I belong
I know you think that you can manke somebody out of me
But the good Lord did that job already, can't you see
I'm sorry if my rebel ways don't fit into your plan
But I kinda like me fine the way I am
It must be nice to walk the straight and narrow
See in black and white true as an arrow
Out here on the edge is where I belong
Walkin' that fine line between ragged and wrong
I've got my own way of bein' true
I've got my own way of lovin' you
If that ain't enough it'll have to do
It must be nice to walk the straight and narrow
See in black and white true as an arrow
Out here on the edge is where I belong
Walkin' that fine line between ragged and wrong
Walkin' that fine line between ragged and wrong
Between ragged and wrong
Between ragged and wrong
Between ragged and wrong
Between ragged and wrong
The lyrics to BlackHawk's song "Between Ragged and Wrong" describe a struggle between the singer's desire to live on the edge and be wild and free, and their romantic partner's wish for them to conform to a more traditional lifestyle.
The couple met in a honkey tonk, a place where the singer is no longer supposed to hang out due to their wild habits. Despite this, the partner fell in love with the "side" of the singer that is "wild and free." However, the partner wants the singer to change and walk the "straight and narrow" path, living a more "black and white" and "true as an arrow" life. The singer resists this, feeling that they belong on the edge, "walkin' that fine line between ragged and wrong."
The singer acknowledges that their ways may not fit into their partner's plan, but they like themselves the way they are. They have their own way of being true and loving the partner, and if that's not enough, it will have to do. Despite the tension between the singer and their partner, the song ends with a repetition of the title phrase, emphasizing the singer's continued existence on the fine line between "ragged and wrong."
Line by Line Meaning
We met in a honkey tonk with sawdust on the floor
We first encountered each other in a dive bar with the floor covered in sawdust.
But I'm not supposed to hang out there anymore
However, I'm no longer allowed to frequent such places.
You fell in love with a side of me that you called wild and free
You were enamored with a part of me that you deemed to be unconventional and unconstrained.
Now that's not the way you want me to be
But now you're asking me to change and to conform to society's expectations.
It must be nice to walk the straight and narrow
It must be a comfortable existence to comply with established rules and conventions.
See in black and white true as an arrow
To see things in a binary fashion without nuance and complexity.
Out here on the edge is where I belong
I feel that I am meant to live outside of the bounds of the mainstream.
Walkin' that fine line between ragged and wrong
I'm constantly balancing on the edge of what society deems as acceptable and what is considered deviant behavior.
I know you think that you can make somebody out of me
I understand that you have hopes of changing me into a different type of person.
But the good Lord did that job already, can't you see
But I believe that the person I am was already created by a higher power.
I'm sorry if my rebel ways don't fit into your plan
I apologize if my nonconformist behavior clashes with your desires for me to assimilate.
But I kinda like me fine the way I am
However, I'm content with who I am at present.
I've got my own way of bein' true
I have my own personal standards of morality and honesty.
I've got my own way of lovin' you
The way in which I express affection towards you may not be typical or conventional.
If that ain't enough it'll have to do
If my unconventional way of living and expressing myself isn't satisfactory for you, then that's just how it's going to be.
Between ragged and wrong
Living in the space between being a societal outcast and a law-abiding citizen.
Between ragged and wrong
Balancing on the line between what is considered acceptable and what is considered deviant.
Between ragged and wrong
Existing in the space where societal norms and personal freedom intersect.
Between ragged and wrong
Living a life that is constantly pushing the boundaries of acceptability.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: STEVE BOGARD, RICHARD C. GILES, STEVEN JAY NATHAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind