Daniels began writing and performing in the 1950s. In 1964, Daniels wrote a song called "It Hurts Me" which Elvis Presley recorded. He worked as a session musician, including playing on three Bob Dylan albums during 1969 and 1970. Daniels recorded his first solo album, Charlie Daniels, in 1970. His first hit, the novelty song "Uneasy Rider", came off his 1972 second album, Honey in the Rock, and reached #9 on the Billboard Hot 100.
In 1974, Daniels organized the first in a series of Volunteer Jam concerts based in or around Nashville, Tennessee. Except for a three-year gap in the late 1980s, these have continued ever since.
In 1975, he had a top 30 hit as leader of the Charlie Daniels Band (CDB) with the Southern rock self-identification anthem "The South's Gonna Do It Again". "Long Haired Country Boy" was also a minor hit in that year.
Daniels won the Grammy Award for Best Country Vocal Performance in 1979 for "The Devil Went Down to Georgia", which reached #3 on the charts.
Subsequent Daniels pop hits included "In America" (#11 in 1980), "The Legend of Wooley Swamp" (#31 in 1980), and "Still in Saigon" (#22 in 1982).
In the late 1980s and 1990s several of Daniels' albums and singles were hits on the country charts. Daniels also released several gospel and Christian records.
Charlie Daniels has never shied away from politics. "The South's Gonna Do It" had a mild message of Southern cultural identity within the Southern rock movement. Daniels was an early supporter of Jimmy Carter's presidential bid and performed at his January 1977 inauguration.
"In America" was a reaction to the 1979-1981 Iran Hostage Crisis; it described a patriotic, united America where "we'll all stick together and you can take that to the bank / That's the cowboys and the hippies and the rebels and the yanks." In contrast, "Still in Saigon" (written by Dan Daley) was an effective portrayal of the plight of the American Vietnam veteran ten years after the war; it was part of an early 1980s wave of attention to the subject, in contrast to treatments such as Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the U.S.A." and "Shut Out the Light", Billy Joel's "Goodnight Saigon", and somewhat later Steve Earle's "Copperhead Road".
In 1990, Daniels' country hit "Simple Man" seemingly advocated a pseudo-Biblical form of vigilantism; lines such as "Just take them [rapists, killers, child abusers] out in the swamp / Put 'em on their knees and tie 'em to a stump / Let the rattlers and the bugs and the alligators do the rest," got Daniels considerable media attention and talk show visits.
In 2003, Daniels published an Open Letter to the Hollywood Bunch in defence of George W. Bush's Iraq policy. His 2003 book Ain't No Rag: Freedom, Family, and the Flag contains this letter as well as many other personal statements. During the 2004 presidential campaign, Daniels acknowledged that having never served in the military himself, he did not have the right to criticize John Kerry's service record.
In 2005, he has made a cameo appearance along with Larry the Cable Guy, Kid Rock, and Hank Williams, Jr. in Gretchen Wilson's music video for the song "All Jacked Up", whose album has been released.
In November 2007, Daniels was invited by Martina McBride to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry.
In October 2016, Daniels officially became a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame.
On October 26, 2018, Daniels released a new side album project that was not solo or CDB, but a new band called Beau Weevils, along with CDB bass player, Charlie Hayward, producer James Stroud on drums and Billy Crain on guitar.
Texas
Charlie Daniels Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Out with the cows and the Lone Star beer
Where the livin' and lovin' is quite all right with me
Well they call it Texas and it's a mighty fine place to be
Runs from Texarkana to El Paso
And Oklahoma down to old Mexico
And there's Houston, Dallas, Austin and San Antone
They just want everybody to leave them alone
While they drink their whiskey and roll their own
And they like their music with a little bit of southern sound
They kick up their heels every evening when the sun goes down
And you can call them country and they don't care
And if you don't like the way they wear their hair
You can take you like and shove 'em on up the line
People in Texas don't care if the sun don't shine
The Charlie Daniels Band's song "Texas" is a love letter to the state of Texas, celebrating its people, culture, and love of freedom. The song begins by talking about the laid-back lifestyle and hospitality of Texas, with lyrics like "Where the livin' and lovin' is quite all right with me" and "People in Texas sure do make you feel at home." The song then goes on to name various cities in Texas, from the northern border with Oklahoma all the way down to Mexico. The chorus repeats the message of the song, how Texas is a place where people can be themselves and enjoy life without anyone else interfering.
The lyrics of the song embrace the unique character of Texas and its people. Texans are known for their independent spirit and love of country music, and these elements are highlighted in the song. The line "They just want everybody to leave them alone/While they drink their whiskey and roll their own" is a nod to Texas's libertarian streak, while the mention of "southern sound" music reflects the state's long-standing relationship with country music. The song ends on a defiant note, with the line "People in Texas don't care if the sun don't shine," a testament to the state's resilience and determination.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a place not too far away from here
Referring to Texas, the state that is relatively close to the singer's location.
Out with the cows and the Lone Star beer
Texas has an image of being a state with a lot of cattle and a famous beer brand, Lone Star Beer.
Where the livin' and lovin' is quite all right with me
Texas is a place where the singer enjoys living and being, with a culture of love and acceptance.
Well they call it Texas and it's a mighty fine place to be
The artist is emphasizing that Texas is a wonderful place to be in and is noteworthy for its culture.
Runs from Texarkana to El Paso
Texas is a large state that spans from Texarkana in the east to El Paso in the west.
And Oklahoma down to old Mexico
Texas is bordered by Oklahoma to the north and Mexico to the south.
And there's Houston, Dallas, Austin and San Antone
Texas has major cities such as Houston, Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio.
People in Texas sure do make you feel at home
The people in Texas are known for being friendly and welcoming to visitors and outsiders.
They just want everybody to leave them alone
Many people in Texas value their independence, and would rather be left alone to live their lives without interference.
While they drink their whiskey and roll their own
Texans enjoy drinking whiskey and smoking their own cigars or cigarettes.
And they like their music with a little bit of southern sound
Texans enjoy music that has a distinct southern style, which is evident in the music that has originated from Texas.
They kick up their heels every evening when the sun goes down
Texans make the most of their evenings by partying, dancing, and enjoying themselves with others.
And you can call them country and they don't care
Texans are proud of their country roots and don't mind being known as a country state.
And if you don't like the way they wear their hair
Texans don't care about others' opinions about their personal style, even their hairstyles.
You can take you like and shove 'em on up the line
If someone does not like Texas or Texans, they are free to leave and find somewhere else to go.
People in Texas don't care if the sun don't shine
Texans are known for their resilience and can maintain a positive attitude even during unfavorable weather.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHARLES EDWARD DANIELS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind