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.
Like I Roll
Black Stone Cherry Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And his old guitar
A suitcase full of broken hearts
Got my momma's smile
And her baby blue eyes
I ain't got much
But what I got's mine
And I roll like I roll I roll like I roll
I got an open road
And a restless soul
The Rolling Stones on the radio
And I roll like I roll
'Cause I roll like I roll
I roll like the hills under the California sun
Burn through the desert like a devil on the run
I'll be flying high until the day that I die
No matter what they say
At the end of the day
I will roll like I roll
Well there's a lot a people gonna try to bring you down
They got a lot of rules
They gonna try to put you out
I keep looking up
In this world full of doubt
I roll like I roll
I roll like the hills under the California sun
Burn through the desert like a devil on the run
I'll be flying high until the day that I die
No matter what they say At the end of the day
I'm not gonna let it slip away
'Cause I rather burn it up
Than to let it fade
I got an open road
And a restless soul
The Rolling Stones on the radio
And I roll like I roll
I roll through the hills of my own Kentucky home
Back to the place where my heart belongs
I'll be flying high until the day that I die
No matter what they say
At the end of the day
I did it my way
The Black Stone Cherry song Like I Roll is all about living life on your own terms and staying true to yourself no matter what others may say or do. The lyrics start off by talking about inheritance- got their Daddy's car and his old guitar, and a suitcase full of broken hearts, and their Momma's smile and her baby blue eyes. While they don't have much, what they do have is theirs to roll with. The songwriter is emphasizing the importance of embracing what you have in life and embracing it wholeheartedly.
The song continues to describe the persona's state of mind, they have an open road and a restless soul with The Rolling Stones on the radio. They emphasize that they roll like they roll because it's what makes them happy and that's all that matters. There are many people in the world who may try to bring you down, with a lot of rules, leaving one feeling doubtful, but the persona decides to keep looking up and roll because they roll, and that’s what keeps them happy.
The second verse shifts to driving through the hills of their own Kentucky home back to the place where their heart belongs, emphasizing that wherever they go, they will still roll. They’ll fly high until the day that they die, and they won't let the world slip away, they want to burn it up rather than let it fade. The song ends on the note that they accomplished everything their way, emphasizing that no one will stop them from living life on their own terms.
Line by Line Meaning
Got my daddy's car
I inherited my father's car
And his old guitar
I also got his old guitar
A suitcase full of broken hearts
I have faced heartbreak in the past, and carry that with me
Got my momma's smile
My mother's smile is something I inherited as well
And her baby blue eyes
I also have her beautiful blue eyes
I ain't got much
I don't have a lot of material possessions
But what I got's mine
But what I do have is important to me
And I roll like I roll
I live my life the way I want to
I got an open road
I have the freedom to travel
And a restless soul
I am constantly seeking new experiences and adventures
The Rolling Stones on the radio
I enjoy listening to classic rock music
'Cause I roll like I roll
Because I live life on my own terms
I roll like the hills under the California sun
I move through life with the same ease and beauty as the California hills
Burn through the desert like a devil on the run
I move quickly and with intent, like a devil on the run in the desert
I'll be flying high until the day that I die
I will continue to live my life to the fullest until the very end
No matter what they say
Regardless of what others may try to tell me
At the end of the day
Ultimately
Well there's a lot a people gonna try to bring you down
Many people will try to discourage and hinder you
They got a lot of rules
They have their own set of expectations and limitations
I keep looking up
I remain optimistic
In this world full of doubt
In a world where there is so much uncertainty
I roll through the hills of my own Kentucky home
I also find solace and comfort in my own home state
Back to the place where my heart belongs
Returning home makes me feel complete
I did it my way
Ultimately, I make my own choices and live my life in a way that feels right to me
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., NETTWERK ONE MUSIC (CANADA)LTD
Written by: BENJAMIN DANIEL WELLS, CHRISTOPHER ROBERTSON, CHRISTOPHER BRYANT ROBERTSON, DAVE BASSETT, DAVE RICHARD BASSETT, JOHN FREDERICK YOUNG, JONATHAN MICHAEL LAWHON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@DynamoRoberto
“I ain’t got much, but what I got’s mine”
Wow, what a great lyric !!
@bloodykills7509
This band is proof that rock isn't dead! :)
@danielcopeland9144
This band deserves so much more fame. My 2nd favorite band o all time. Much love to bsc
@chrishanson3362
and they have Rolling Stones on the radio, two zigzags and you they share😀
@justagreasemonkey
It's weird that not a lot of younger people in their hometown know them. I found this out during a school project I used the drummer's senior picture. 😂
@travisriddle3718
They need to come back to Kentucky. Give me a chance to see them.
@mikegrey5663
@@travisriddle3718they were here in march. Opened for ZZ top and Lynyrd Skynyrd
@speedwaynutt
2022 I'm still rolling with Black Stone Cherry
@speedwaynutt
2024 I'm Still rolling with Black Stone Cherry.
@MikeGyorgyiMMG
why doesn't this band have more views?