They originate from Edmonton, Kentucky. Chris Robertson and John Fred Young, son of The Kentucky Headhunters' rhythm guitarist Richard Young, started to play music together early in their teens and Jon and Ben soon followed. Black Stone Cherry officially formed on June 4, 2001. They then took over the practice house that had been used by The Kentucky Headhunters since 1968 and began to record tracks. After the band finished recording, they returned to Edmonton for a homecoming gig in the gym of the local middle school, which was attended by 1500 people. After the band’s self-titled debut album was released, Chris's former school principal invited the band back to Edmonton to celebrate with a concert. As the band entered the town, the streets were covered with signs welcoming them back.
In July 2007, they released a second EP containing the song "Rain Wizard" along with two previously unreleased tracks.
The first live album by Black Stone Cherry was released on October 31, 2007 immediately following the concert at the Astoria in London. They joined Def Leppard and Whitesnake in the summer of 2008 for European dates.
On August 19, 2008 Black Stone Cherry released their second album, entitled Folklore and Superstition. Three singles from the album, "Blind Man", "Please Come In" and "Things My Father Said" have been released.
In May 2009, they supported Nickelback's Dark Horse tour.
The White Trash Millionaire Songfacts states that their third studio album, Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, got an unexpected early release on the bittorrent tracker, Demonoid on May 27, 2011 due to an employee error at an unspecified Walmart. The official release date was May 31, 2011.
The band recorded a new album in fall 2013, through early 2014. Magic Mountain was released on 6 May 2014, reaching number five in the UK albums chart. The first single was "Me and Mary Jane"
On October 7, 2015, it was revealed that the band had signed to Mascot Label Group, and had begun recording the follow-up to Magic Mountain for a 2016 release. The album was recorded in the same location as the self-titled album; Glasgow, Kentucky. The album, entitled Kentucky, was released on April 1, 2016 and became their second consecutive #1 album on the Billboard Hard Rock albums chart.
In February 2018, the band released their first single, Burnin', from their new album Family Tree which released on 20th April 2018 through Mascot Records.
Black Stone Cherry's music style is often associated with bands like Lynyrd Skynyrd and the Black Crowes, and Led Zeppelin to a lesser extent. While there are clear influences in Black Stone Cherry’s music, they have created their own style to a great extent. The musical tone and composition of Black Stone Cherry is very comparable to that of Brand New Sin and Zakk Wylde's Pride and Glory.
The song writing of Black Stone Cherry is often praised for great storytelling and delivering a strong message. For example, the song "Lonely Train" is about the effect on families when a relative goes to fight in a war. The song "Rain Wizard" is about a local legend of mysterious wisemen who could bring the rain in times of drought. "Backwoods Gold" is about a local man who ran moonshine out of the hardware store in the middle of Edmonton.
Big City Lights
Black Stone Cherry Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Shine for me no more
You know somebody took my angel
And now shes gone for sure
Theres a street sign on
A lamppost where we used to hang
Its on the corner of love and trust
Somehow we lost our way on
The dark end of the street
Now we sit here every night
And listen to the band and
Can you hear them say?
Big city lights don't
Shine for me no more
You know somebody took my angel
And now shes gone for sure
She saved somebody that
Couldn't save them self
Big city lights don't shine
For me no more
If you ever come to our town
Don't go where angel plays
You know she'll take
You under her wing
Then she'll just fly away
Just like she broke the heart of
Every boy from love and trust
Now we sit here every night
Listen to the band
And can you here us say?
Listen to us say!
Big city lights don't
Shine for me no more
You know somebody took my angel
And now shes gone for sure
She saved somebody that
Couldn't save them self
Big City lights don't
Shine for me no more
No, No!
-Solo-
Big city lights don't
Shine for me no more
You know somebody took my angel
And now shes gone for sure
Yeah, she saved somebody that
Couldn't save them self
Big City lights don't
Shine for me no more
Big city lights...
Big city lights...
In "Big City Lights," Black Stone Cherry sings about the loss of a loved one and the subsequent emptiness and lack of meaning in the bright and captivating lights of the city. The lyrics tell the story of a lost love, represented by the singer’s “angel,” who has been taken away from him for good by someone else. The singer and his friends sit by the riverbank, listening to the band every night, their hearts heavy with sorrow, as they remember the good times they had with the woman they loved. The street sign on the lamppost that used to be a significant site of their young love is now just a reminder of what they had and lost. The song highlights the theme of how love can be taken for granted and lost, leaving a person feeling lost and alone.
Line by Line Meaning
Big city lights don't
The bright lights of the city no longer have the same appeal or significance to the singer.
Shine for me no more
The singer feels disconnected and disassociated from the city lights and what they represent.
You know somebody took my angel
The singer has lost someone important to them, someone they referred to as their 'angel'.
And now shes gone for sure
The artist has come to terms with the loss of this person and recognizes that they are not coming back.
Theres a street sign on
The artist is reminiscing about a specific location in the city.
A lamppost where we used to hang
The location is a place they used to spend time with someone they cared about.
Its on the corner of love and trust
The location is significant because it represents an intersection of emotions and experiences.
Down by the river bank
The location is near a body of water, which can often add to the significance of a place or event.
Somehow we lost our way on
The artist and their 'angel' have drifted apart, both physically and emotionally.
The dark end of the street
The artist and their 'angel' have entered a period of darkness and uncertainty in their relationship.
Now we sit here every night
The singer has returned to this location, perhaps in an attempt to reconnect with their lost love.
And listen to the band and
The artist is finding solace in the music and atmosphere of this location.
Can you hear them say?
The singer is addressing the listener, asking them to pay attention to the lyrics of the song and the emotions they evoke.
She saved somebody that
The 'angel' in question had a positive impact on someone else's life.
Couldn't save them self
Despite this positive impact, the 'angel' may have struggled with their own personal demons or challenges.
If you ever come to our town
The artist is addressing the listener once again, warning them about a specific location in the city.
Don't go where angel plays
The artist is advising the listener to avoid a particular establishment or area where their lost love would spend time.
You know she'll take
The singer believes that their 'angel' has a magnetic personality that draws people to them.
You under her wing
The 'angel' has a nurturing and caring nature, but ultimately may not be capable of maintaining long-term relationships.
Then she'll just fly away
The 'angel' is flighty and unpredictable, often leaving those close to them behind without explanation.
Just like she broke the heart of
The artist is not the only person to have been hurt or disappointed by their 'angel'.
Every boy from love and trust
The 'angel' has left a trail of broken hearts in their wake, specifically affecting those who were closest to them or their location of choice.
Listen to us say!
The singer is emphasizing the importance and emotion behind their words, urging the listener to truly hear and understand their message.
No, No!
The artist is firm in their belief that the city lights no longer hold any meaning for them, and that the loss of their 'angel' has played a significant role in that disillusionment.
-Solo-
A solo instrumental section of the song.
Big city lights...
The repetition of this phrase emphasizes the overarching theme of the song, which is that the city no longer holds the same allure or promise for the singer.
Contributed by Muhammad H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.