Where I'm From
Carroll Jason Michael Lyrics
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I was silently celebrating my first class upgrade
Laughing at my jeans and my boots
Beside those high dollar shoes and Armani suits
When the gentleman next to me said the drinks up here are free
So if you'd like the first one can be on me
He said I'm heading back from business in New York and Rome
Tell me son, Where do you call home
I said I'm from the front pew of a wooden white church
The courthouse clock it still dont work
Where a man's word means everything
Where moms and dads were high school flings
Gave their children grandmothers maiden name
Yes it may not sound like much
But its where I'm from
So we drank that round and then another
There wasn't a topic in this world we did not cover
He said I headed out west when I was barely 19
Just a kid chasing my dreams
I said I'm flying out here to pick up my big brother
He's been fighting the cancer they discovered
But he called last night and said I think this is the end
So come take me home to my family and my friends
Where the quarterback dates the homecoming queen
The truck's a ford and the tractor's green
And Amazing Grace is what we sing
Well there's a county fair every fall
And your friends are there no matter when you call
Yeah It may not sound like much but it's
Where I'm from
And as we stood to claim the bags we checked
He said I'll pray for your brother and did I mention that
Italian suits haven't always been my style
See I was quarterback of my high school team
We took state back in '63
And my wife, she's still my homecoming queen
Cause I'm from the front pew of a wooden white church
A courthouse clock that still don't work
Where a man's word means everything
Where moms and dads were high school flings
Gave their children grandmothers maiden name
Yes it may not sound like much
I said it may not sound like much but it's where I'm from
It's where I'm from
Where I'm from
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound
The lyrics to Carroll Jason Michael's song "Where I'm From" describe a chance encounter between two strangers on a plane ride from Memphis to Los Angeles. The singer has been upgraded to first class and is feeling out of place among his wealthy fellow passengers, when a businessman offers to buy him a drink. The two strike up a conversation, and the businessman asks the singer where he's from. The singer responds with a simple description of his hometown, emphasizing the values of community, family, and tradition that he associates with it.
The second verse expands on the singer's description of his hometown, listing specific details like the broken courthouse clock and the fact that everyone knows each other's family history. The singer emphasizes the importance of “a man's word” and notes that children are given their grandmothers' maiden names. He also mentions a sense of nostalgia for the county fair and the comfort of knowing that his friends will always be there for him.
The final verse brings the conversation between the two travelers full circle, as the businessman reveals that he, too, is from a small town where he was the high school quarterback and his wife was the homecoming queen. The song closes with a repetition of the chorus, emphasizing that the singer is proud of his humble upbringing and the values he has learned from it.
Overall, "Where I'm From" is a song about the importance of roots, community, and tradition. The singer celebrates the simple pleasures and enduring values of his hometown, emphasizing that although it may not seem like much to some, it is where he comes from and where he belongs.
Line by Line Meaning
On a three hour flight from Memphis to LA
I was flying from Memphis to LA, which takes three hours.
I was silently celebrating my first class upgrade
I was happy that I got upgraded to first class, but I didn't say anything about it.
Laughing at my jeans and my boots
I chuckled because I was wearing casual clothes and everyone else was dressed formally.
Beside those high dollar shoes and Armani suits
I was sitting next to people who were wearing expensive shoes and suits made by the designer Armani.
When the gentleman next to me said the drinks up here are free
The man sitting beside me informed me that drinks in first class are complimentary.
So if you'd like the first one can be on me
He offered to buy me a drink.
He said I'm heading back from business in New York and Rome
He told me that he was traveling from New York and Rome because of work.
Tell me son, Where do you call home
He asked me where I'm from.
I said I'm from the front pew of a wooden white church
I replied that I come from a place where I sit in the front of a wooden, white church.
The courthouse clock it still dont work
The clock in the county courthouse is broken and doesn't tell time.
Where a man's word means everything
Where I come from, a person's promise is extremely important and valuable.
Where moms and dads were high school flings
Parents in my hometown often begin dating when they are in high school themselves.
Gave their children grandmothers maiden name
They often give their children their grandmother's last name.
Yes it may not sound like much
I know that where I'm from might not seem like a big deal to others.
But its where I'm from
But it's important to me because it's where I grew up.
So we drank that round and then another
We had a couple of drinks and then had another round.
There wasn't a topic in this world we did not cover
We had a conversation that covered many different topics.
He said I headed out west when I was barely 19
He shared that he went to live in the west when he was only 19 years old.
Just a kid chasing my dreams
He was young and trying to pursue his aspirations.
I said I'm flying out here to pick up my big brother
I told him that I was traveling to LA to bring my older brother back home.
He's been fighting the cancer they discovered
My brother has been battling cancer after it was discovered.
But he called last night and said I think this is the end
My brother contacted me yesterday and told me he believes he's nearing the end.
So come take me home to my family and my friends
My brother asked me to take him back to his loved ones.
Where the quarterback dates the homecoming queen
In my hometown, the most popular boy in school typically dates the girl who is crowned Homecoming Queen.
The truck's a ford and the tractor's green
Many people in my hometown drive Ford trucks, and the tractors they use on farms are green in color.
And Amazing Grace is what we sing
We often sing the hymn 'Amazing Grace' in church.
Well there's a county fair every fall
Every year, in the autumn season, we have a county fair.
And your friends are there no matter when you call
My friends will always be there for me, no matter what time I call them.
Yeah It may not sound like much but it's
I know that these things may not seem very impressive to others, but
Where I'm from
These small things are important to me because of where I come from.
And as we stood to claim the bags we checked
When we got off the plane and went to pick up our luggage,
He said I'll pray for your brother and did I mention that
He told me that he would pray for my brother, and then added that
Italian suits haven't always been my style
He said that he didn't always wear expensive Italian suits like he was that day.
See I was quarterback of my high school team
He told me that he used to be the quarterback of his high school's football team.
We took state back in '63
His team won the championship in the state during the year 1963.
And my wife, she's still my homecoming queen
He revealed that he is still married to the girl he went to the Homecoming dance with in high school.
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound
This line is repeated to emphasize the importance of the song to the singer's hometown and upbringing.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: PATRICK RUSSELL DAVIS, JOE LEATHERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind