Chuck Wicks was born on a farm in the community of Smyrna, Delaware. Wanting to pursue a career in country music, he moved to Nashville, Tennessee after graduating from college in 2002. He then began to hone his songwriting skills, penning more than one hundred songs per year at one point; one of his songs, "Lead Me On", was cut by Steve Holy on his 2006 album Brand New Girlfriend. Eventually, Wicks caught the attention of RCA Records executives, who signed him to a recording contract in 2007.
While he was working on his debut album, Wicks was also picked as a cast member for Fox Networks' short-lived reality TV series Nashville. Due to poor ratings, however, Nashville was cancelled after its second episode. He was also cast in the ABC show Dancing with the Stars and was partnered with then-girlfriend Julianne Hough who is also a rising country music artist.
Shortly afterward, RCA released Wicks' debut single, a ballad entitled "Stealing Cinderella"; he debuted the song at his first Grand Ole Opry appearance in August 2007. The single produced the biggest debut for any new country artist in all of 2007, with fifty-two of the stations on Billboard's survey adding it in its first official week of airplay. A month after the song's release, he was invited by University of Tennessee football coach Phillip Fulmer to perform it at the wedding of Fulmer's daughter Courtney. "Stealing Cinderella" has since gone on to become the fastest-rising single for a new country act in all of 2007; it can be found on Wicks' debut album, Starting Now, which was released January 22, 2008.
Stealing Cinderella
Chuck Wicks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It wasn't any secret I'd be asking for her hand
I guess that's why he left me waiting in the living room by myself
With at least a dozen pictures of her sitting on a shelf
She was playing Cinderella
She was riding her first bike
Bouncing on the bed and looking for a pillow fight
Dancing with her dad, looking up at him
In her eyes I'm Prince Charming
But to him I'm just some fella
Riding in and stealing Cinderella
I leaned in towards those pictures to get a better look at one
When I heard a voice behind me say, "Now, ain't she something, son?"
I said "Yeah, she's quite a woman"
And he just stared at me
And I realized that in his eyes she would always be
Playing Cinderella
Riding her first bike
Bouncing on the bed and looking for a pillow fight
Running through the sprinkler with a big popsicle grin
Dancing with her dad, looking up at him
In her eyes I'm Prince Charming
But to him I'm just some fella
Riding in and stealing Cinderella
Ooh-ooh-ooh
Oh, he slapped me on the shoulder
Then he called her in the room
And when she threw her arms around him
That's when I could see it too
She was playing Cinderella
Riding her first bike
Bouncing on the bed and looking for a pillow fight
Running through the sprinklers with a big popsicle grin
Dancing with her dad and looking up at him
If he gives me a hard time
I can't blame the fella
I'm the one who's stealing Cinderella, mmhmm
The lyrics of Chuck Wicks's song Stealing Cinderella depict a situation where the singer goes to meet his girlfriend's father to ask for her hand in marriage. Even though he had anticipated this meeting, he still feels nervous and uncertain, especially as he is left waiting alone with pictures of his girlfriend on the walls. As he gazes at her pictures, he reflects on the times he has shared with her, and she is pictured as a playful and innocent child, bouncing around on the bed, running through sprinklers and looking for a pillow fight, and dancing with her dad. To the singer, she is a princess worthy of his love, and he is Prince Charming to her.
However, when her father enters the room, he realizes that although he views her as playing Cinderella, to her father, she is still his little girl. Despite the nerves and inevitable apprehension he feels towards meeting his girlfriend's father, the singer knows that he is there to ask for Cinderella's hand in marriage, a task he promises to successfully execute with respect to the father's feelings. The song showcases the trepidation and anxiety that often come with taking that next big step in a relationship, especially when the approval of the parents is involved.
Line by Line Meaning
I came to see her daddy for sit down man to man
I came to see her father and speak with him face to face.
It wasn't any secret I'd be asking for her hand
It was no surprise that I would ask her dad for her hand in marriage.
I guess that's why he left me waiting in the living room by myself With at least a dozen pictures of her sitting on a shelf
He left me waiting alone in the living room surrounded by pictures of her which made me realize how much I loved her.
She was playing Cinderella
She was young and carefree like the character Cinderella.
She was riding her first bike
She was experiencing many firsts in her life, like riding her bike for the first time.
Bouncing on the bed and looking for a pillow fight
She was playful and enjoyed having fun, jumping on the bed and wanting a pillow fight.
Running through the sprinkler with a big popsicle grin
She enjoyed the simple things in life, running through the sprinklers and enjoying a popsicle with a smile.
Dancing with her dad, looking up at him
She cherished the moments she spent with her father, dancing and looking up to him.
In her eyes I'm Prince Charming
In her eyes, I am the perfect man for her, like the character of Prince Charming.
But to him I'm just some fella
To her father, I'm just some guy trying to win his daughter's heart.
Riding in and stealing Cinderella
I am trying to win her heart and take her away, like the story of Cinderella.
I leaned in towards those pictures to get a better look at one When I heard a voice behind me say, "Now, ain't she something, son?"
I leaned in to look closer at the pictures and her father started a conversation with me.
I said "Yeah, she's quite a woman" And he just stared at me And I realized that in his eyes she would always be
I complimented her and he stared back, making me realize that she would always be his little girl.
Oh, he slapped me on the shoulder Then he called her in the room And when she threw her arms around him That's when I could see it too
Her father softened up and called her in the room, when I saw how much she meant to him as she hugged him tightly.
If he gives me a hard time I can't blame the fella I'm the one who's stealing Cinderella, mmhmm
If her father doesn't approve, I can't blame him for being protective of his daughter, but I am still the one who is trying to win her heart and take her away like in the story of Cinderella.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: George Teren, Rivers Rutherford, Chuck Wicks
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Olivia Westfall
my dad has had this song planned for my wedding since i was a little girl. he'd play it in the car thinking i didn't know what it meant, little did he know, i knew. this song makes me tear up every time. can't wait to one day dance with my dad to this amazing song 💙 i will always be Cinderella to him
Lynnsica Zitzman
Same 💙
Shannon Marie
God bless you and your Dad Olivia!!! 🙏🏻🙏🏻 My Dad passed in 2010 and I miss him dearly!…
Shannon Marie
And yes, this song is beautiful! I cry every time I hear it!!!…. I was my Dad’s only daughter also!!….
Julio Tamayo
I just played it to my 9 years old daughter and she didn't get it either. One day she will and to be honest that day will come too soon for me.
Shannon Marie
@Julio Tamayo God bless your sweet daughter!! ❤️🙏🏻 Protect her always Julio!!!
Arkeus Ultor
Beautiful and shining example of what a father is meant to be. He captured this perfectly.
Jessie D
I pictured dancing to this with my dad and literally started crying, what a gorgeous song.
Bob Laine
Only fathers and daughters can really understand this song. My youngest daughter is getting married in three weeks to a very wonderful young man. The times she and I spent together are much a part of me.
Christopher Bush
Hey dad! How did the wedding go? Mines 10! Lord, I hope I can keep it together that day.... you know what I'm talking about