With guitar in hand, Craig can turn any setting into an intimate affair, infusing his music and lyrics with an uncompromising humanism rarely seen in today's production-heavy climate.
Craig makes it a point to keep the relationship with his fans personal, inviting and accepting any opportunity to make his audience as much a part of the performance as he is. Don't be surprised if one day you find yourself enjoying one of Craig's renowned shows in the comfort of your own living room.
In 2012, Cardiff was nominated for a Juno Award for Roots and Traditional Album of the Year: Solo, and for a Canadian Folk Music Award as Contemporary Singer of the Year.
For more information, tour dates, and music, please visit the official Craig Cardiff site.
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Great American White Trash Novel
Craig Cardiff Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I remember lighting cigarette off of cigarette
I remember you
That was so long ago
Way back in the days of dinosaur bones
And microwave popping corn was the latest rage
Eclipsed everything as you do
I said hey, what about us
You said hey, what about us
You went your way, and I went my way
There’s not much there left to say
Everyone went out and got their
Degrees in employability
Me I had a pretty good year, so it seems
Me I’ve been busy writing down my great
Great White Trash American novel
Before it gets away from me
I remember high school
I remember lighting cigarette off of cigarette
I remember you
That was so long ago way back in the days
Of dinorsaur bones and microwave
Popping corn was all the rage
Craig Cardiff's song Great American White Trash Novel tells the story of youthful memories and nostalgia. The singer reminisces about the past, specifically high school and a particular person, with vivid imagery of lighting cigarette after cigarette. The singer's thoughts are suddenly interrupted by the arrival of a person who instantly captures their attention. Despite trying to make a connection, the two ultimately parted ways. The singer goes on to reflect on the decisions made by themselves and others after high school, the pursuit of career goals, and the singer's own creative project of writing a "Great White Trash American novel."
The lyrics evoke a sense of longing and regret for the past that has long gone, and the inevitability of the changes and responsibilities of adulthood. The singer is holding on to the memory of a time when things were simpler and less complicated. Yet, the lyrics also suggest that the singer is not entirely alone in romanticizing the past. The line "Degrees in employability" suggests a certain conformity among the singer's peers, while the singer chooses to pursue a more unconventional life path.
Line by Line Meaning
I remember high school
The singer remembers his experiences in high school
I remember lighting cigarette off of cigarette
The singer vividly recalls chain-smoking cigarettes from his high school days
I remember you
The singer remembers a person from high school, likely someone he had a relationship with
That was so long ago
The events discussed in the previous lines are from a distant past
Way back in the days of dinosaur bones
The singer is emphasizing how long ago the events are by comparing them to the prehistoric era when dinosaurs lived
And microwave popping corn was the latest rage
The singer is using a trivial example of a popular product to further illustrate how long ago these events took place
Then you walked into the room
The person that the singer remembers from high school unexpectedly arrived
Eclipsed everything as you do
This person was so captivating that they overshadowed everything else in the room
I said hey, what about us
The singer expresses a desire to reconnect with this person
You said hey, what about us
This person responded positively to the singer's suggestion of reconnecting
You went your way, and I went my way
Despite their brief conversation, they ultimately went their separate ways
There’s not much there left to say
The circumstances of their reunion did not yield much conversation beyond initial pleasantries
Everyone went out and got their Degrees in employability
The singer is noting that many of his peers went on to pursue practical post-secondary degrees
Me I had a pretty good year, so it seems
The singer suggests that he has not followed the traditional post-high school path, but has had a successful year nonetheless
Me I’ve been busy writing down my great Great White Trash American novel
The singer has been occupied with writing his own novel
Before it gets away from me
He feels compelled to write this novel before he loses the inspiration or motivation to do so
Contributed by Lucas B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.