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.
Rural Route
Chris Knight Lyrics
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Talked to God all night, took another shot at setting me right
Then I walked down to the road, filled a beer can full of 22 holes
Then I said goodbye, yeah I said goodbye
I'd go back but I can't go home, cause river is up and the road is closed
And there ain't no telephone ? At my mothers' house
And all the lights are out, down on the rural route
There ain't much of nothin' left, this place where I became myself
Ghosts and memories, I'd walk on by but they'd follow me
I'd seen plenty on down the road. Asked him if he'd seen my brother
He just said no, well I guess I'd better go
I'd go back but I can't go home, cause river is up and the road is closed
And there ain't no telephone ? At my mothers' house
And all the lights are out, down on the rural route
I built a fire up on the hill; I sat in the woods and drank my fill
Talked to God all night, took another shot at setting me right
Then I'd just walk away, ain't nothin' here I want to remember anyway
Least not today
I'd go back but I can't go home, cause river is up and the road is closed
And there ain't no telephone ? At my mothers' house
And all the lights are out, down on the rural route
I'd go back but I can't go home, cause river is up and the road is closed
And there ain't no telephone ? At my mothers' house
And all the lights are out, down on the rural route
The lyrics of Chris Knight's "Rural Route" evoke a sense of nostalgia and longing, as the singer reflects on his past and contemplates returning home. The song begins with the singer building a fire on the hill and drinking while talking to God, as he attempts to find clarity and direction in his life. He then fills a beer can with 22 holes and says goodbye, suggesting that he is leaving something behind and moving on.
As he walks down to the road, he reflects on his past and the memories he has associated with the place. He encounters a stranger on the road and asks about his brother but receives no response, leading him to conclude that he must move on. The singer contemplates returning home but notes that the river is up and the road is closed, meaning that he cannot go back.
The song's themes of nostalgia, loss, and longing are universal and relatable, as most people have experienced moments of reflection and contemplation about their past. The repetition of the chorus underscores this sense of longing and creates a haunting, melancholic tone that stays with the listener long after the song ends.
Line by Line Meaning
I built a fire up on the hill; I sat in the woods and drank my fill
I lit a fire on top of the hill and I sat in the woods, enjoying my drink while finding solace in nature.
Talked to God all night, took another shot at setting me right
I spent the night talking to God and trying to make things right in my life.
Then I walked down to the road, filled a beer can full of 22 holes
I walked down to the road and used a beer can to make 22 holes, possibly for target practice or just for fun.
Then I said goodbye, yeah I said goodbye
After my time in the woods, I said goodbye to the place and its memories.
I'd go back but I can't go home, cause river is up and the road is closed
I would like to go back to where I came from, but the rising river and closed road make it impossible.
And there ain't no telephone ? At my mothers' house
Even if I could go back, there is no telephone at my mother's house to reach out to her.
And all the lights are out, down on the rural route
The lights are out on the rural route, possibly indicating an abandoned or forgotten place.
There ain't much of nothin' left, this place where I became myself
There is not much left in this place, which is where I discovered who I am.
Ghosts and memories, I'd walk on by but they'd follow me
Even if I try to move on from my past, memories and ghosts of it continue to haunt me.
I'd seen plenty on down the road. Asked him if he'd seen my brother
I have traveled far down the road and asked someone if they have seen my brother.
He just said no, well I guess I'd better go
The person I asked said they have not seen my brother, so I decided to leave.
Then I'd just walk away, ain't nothin' here I want to remember anyway
I walked away from the place because there was nothing there that I wanted to remember.
Least not today
At least not today, I do not want to remember anything about this place.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHRIS KNIGHT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind