Knight was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and grew up in Slaughters, Kentucky. His extended family lives in the same area of Kentucky. Knight has three brothers and a sister. When he was three years old, he asked for a plastic guitar for Christmas. At 15, he became serious and began teaching himself John Prine songs on his older brother's guitar. In an interview, Knight commented "At one point I could play probably 35-40 John Prine songs.
Knight earned a degree in agriculture from Western Kentucky University. He worked for ten years as a mine reclamation inspector and as a miner's consultant for the Kentucky Department of Surface Mining.
Knight started composing when he was 26, but didn't start performing until he was 30. He got his first record deal when he was 37.
On June 25, 2019, The New York Times Magazine listed Chris Knight among hundreds of artists whose material was reportedly destroyed in the 2008 Universal fire.
Enough Rope
Chris Knight Lyrics
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Some days I run a backhoe some days I run a dump.
If I had other plans on my graduation day,
Then several years ago I guess I hauled 'em all away.
Yeah I hauled 'em all away.
She told me she was pregnant on the day I turned 18.
I did what your supposed to do. I bought her a ring.
We stood up and said, "I do." what else were we gonna say?
What else were we gonna say?
Well I'm thankful for the things I have,
And all the things I don't.
And I've got dreams that will come true,
And I've got some that won't.
Most the time I just walk the line wherever it goes.
'Cuz you can't hang yourself if you ain't got enough rope.
My boss man is mad. I did just what he asked.
I mowed the courthouse lawn watched the prisoners walkin' past
I'm happy to be working, instead of wearin' chains.
Like my cousin Willy, he's locked up in the grange.
He's locked up in the grange.
But I'm thankful for the things I have,
And all the things I don't.
And I've got dreams that will come true,
I've got some that won't.
Most the time I just walk the line wherever it goes.
'Cuz you can't hang yourself if you ain't got enough rope.
There's a tavern down the highway, I go to drink some beers.
And wash down all I'm missin' by hangin' around here.
Then I drive back to the trailer; I'll makeup with my wife.
I kiss my sleeping children, and I get on with my life.
Yeah I get on with my life.
The lyrics to Chris Knight’s “Enough Rope” song paint a picture of a man living a life of tough choices and just enough contentment. The song describes the singer’s current job in the city where he grew up - a city workman working construction and hauling dump. The lyrics suggest that the singer once had bigger plans for himself, but gave them up to support his family. The singer fell in love and got married young, having the weight of the world placed on his shoulders at the age of 18. The singer doesn't regret his decisions, but the lyrics suggest that he is aware of the unfulfilled dreams he left behind. The chorus comes in as a reminder to be grateful for the things that have been achieved and the dreams that have come true, while acknowledging that not all dreams are achievable. The song’s final verse finds the singer sitting alone in a bar looking for a way out of his current routine. Still, he heads back to his trailer to be with his wife and children, acknowledging that he has enough rope to live life one day at a time.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I work for the city in the town where I grew up.
I work for the government in the same town where I grew up.
Some days I run a backhoe some days I run a dump.
Some days I operate a backhoe, and on other days I work with the dump truck.
If I had other plans on my graduation day,
If I had different plans for my future when I graduated from high school,
Then several years ago I guess I hauled 'em all away.
I suppose I let go of those plans a few years after graduation.
Yeah I hauled 'em all away.
Yes, I completely let go of my other plans.
She told me she was pregnant on the day I turned 18.
On my 18th birthday, she informed me that she was pregnant.
I did what your supposed to do. I bought her a ring.
I did what society expects of me and bought her a ring.
He didn't have to ask us, but he asked us anyway.
We were already planning to get married, but he still asked if we wanted to.
We stood up and said, "I do." what else were we gonna say?
We got married and said 'I do'; what other answer was there?
Well I'm thankful for the things I have,
I am grateful for the things I possess,
And all the things I don't.
And also for the things that I lack.
And I've got dreams that will come true,
I have aspirations that will come to fruition,
And I've got some that won't.
And also ideas that will not come to pass.
Most the time I just walk the line wherever it goes.
Most of the time, I just go along with whatever life gives me.
'Cuz you can't hang yourself if you ain't got enough rope.
Because if you do not have enough resources, you cannot do something drastic such as hanging yourself.
My boss man is mad. I did just what he asked.
My boss is annoyed despite me following his orders.
I mowed the courthouse lawn watched the prisoners walkin' past
I mowed the lawn of the courthouse while observing prisoners walking around.
I'm happy to be working, instead of wearin' chains.
I am content with working rather than being imprisoned.
Like my cousin Willy, he's locked up in the grange.
My cousin Willy is incarcerated in the grange.
But I'm thankful for the things I have,
I am grateful for the things I possess,
And all the things I don't.
And also for the things that I lack.
And I've got dreams that will come true,
I have aspirations that will come to fruition,
I've got some that won't.
And also ideas that will not come to pass.
Most the time I just walk the line wherever it goes.
Most of the time, I just go along with whatever life gives me.
'Cuz you can't hang yourself if you ain't got enough rope.
Because if you do not have enough resources, you cannot do something drastic such as hanging yourself.
There's a tavern down the highway, I go to drink some beers.
There is a bar down the highway where I go to drink beer.
And wash down all I'm missin' by hangin' around here.
I drink to forget everything that I am missing by living here.
Then I drive back to the trailer; I'll makeup with my wife.
After drinking, I return to my trailer and reconcile with my wife.
I kiss my sleeping children, and I get on with my life.
I give a goodnight kiss to my children, who are sleeping, and move on with my life.
Yeah I get on with my life.
Yes, I keep living my life.
Contributed by Keira R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.