Birthdate: July 12, 1988
Birthplace: Ka… Read Full Bio ↴Name: Craig Smith Jr.
Birthdate: July 12, 1988
Birthplace: Kansas City, MO
Early Life: Lived with both parents until they separated. Eventually, came to live with Craig Smith Sr. in California for 9 months while attending school in Van Nuys, CA. Attended high School at Raytown South High in a suburb of Kansas City.
Music Career: Began pursuing music with Chief Wakil and Greg Enemy in high school. The group was known as The Renegades. This collective put out 4 mixtapes throughout Kansas City before pursuing separate projects in 2007. Craig Smith went on to release several free projects including 2007’s Anomaly, My Fly Mixtape and The Introduction (both released in 2008), and the early 2009 mixtape: 1988.
My old Kentucky home
Craig Smith Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Turned the corner and I'm doin' fine
Shootin' at the birds on the telephone line
Pickin' 'em off with this gun of mine
I got a fire in my belly, fire in my head
Gonna hi-di-hi 'til I'm dead
Sister Sue, short and stout
Mama thinks she's pretty and she's bein' kind
Papa thinks she's lovely and he's half blind
Don't let her out much except at night
I don't care 'cause I'm all right
Oh, the sun shines bright on my old Kentucky home
And the young folks lay on the floor
Oh, the sun shines bright on my old Kentucky home
Keep them bad times away from my door
Brother Gene, he's big and mean
He don't have much to say
He had a little woman that he'd whoop each day
But now she's gone away
Got drunk last night kickin' mama down the stairs
And I'm all right and I don't care
Oh, the sun shines bright on my old Kentucky home
And the young folks lay on the floor
Oh, the sun shines bright on my old Kentucky home
Keep them bad times away from my door
Craig Smith's song "My Old Kentucky Home" tells a story of a young man who doesn't seem to care about the world around him. The first stanza talks about the man's love for turpentine and dandelion wine, which may be seen as a way of dulling his senses, allowing him to be able to shoot at birds on a telephone line. He is using a gun, probably as a symbol of his power and control, which may be rooted in insecurities. The man seems to be living on the edge, with a fire in his belly and head, which suggests an impending explosion at some point in the future.
The second stanza introduces Sister Sue, who the singer describes as short and stout. Her parents think she is lovely, but they don't let her out much except at night. The man seems indifferent to Sue's situation, perhaps suggesting that he has a cynical view of the world around him. He is not moved by the potential exploitation of Sue, but he rather sees himself as being all right.
The third and final stanza talks about Brother Gene, who is described as big and mean. He had a little woman that he would beat each day, but now she is gone. Gene has a history of violence, and he gets drunk and kicks his mother down the stairs. The singer seems to not care about this, and he sees himself as all right. The last two lines of the song suggest that the man is trying to keep the bad times away from his door because he views the world as dark and dangerous.
Line by Line Meaning
Turpentine, dandelion wine
I have indulged in homemade alcoholic beverages, made of turpentine and dandelion, and it has lifted my spirits
Turned the corner and I'm doin' fine
I've overcome some difficulties and I'm feeling good now
Shootin' at the birds on the telephone line
I'm idle and I'm having fun shooting birds on the telephone wire
Pickin' 'em off with this gun of mine
I'm using my gun to kill the birds for fun and amusement
I got a fire in my belly, fire in my head
I have a strong burning desire to live life to the fullest
Gonna hi-di-hi 'til I'm dead
I'm going to live life joyously and with enthusiasm until my last breath
Sister Sue, short and stout
My sister is short and plump
She didn't grow up, she grew out
My sister didn't grow taller, she put on weight
Mama thinks she's pretty and she's bein' kind
My mother sees the beauty in my sister and is being generous in her compliments
Papa thinks she's lovely and he's half blind
My father is very fond of my sister and is slightly biased due to his love for her
Don't let her out much except at night
My family keeps my sister indoors mostly, and only allows her to go outside at night
I don't care 'cause I'm all right
I'm not concerned about my sister's situation because I'm doing well myself
Oh, the sun shines bright on my old Kentucky home
I feel happy and content in my hometown, Kentucky, under the bright sun
And the young folks lay on the floor
The younger generation in Kentucky is carefree and relaxed
Keep them bad times away from my door
I don't want to face any hardships or unpleasant experiences in my life
Brother Gene, he's big and mean
My brother Gene is physically big and has a rough personality
He don't have much to say
My brother doesn't communicate much
He had a little woman that he'd whoop each day
My brother used to physically abuse his wife on a daily basis
But now she's gone away
His wife left him
Got drunk last night kickin' mama down the stairs
My brother got drunk and hurt our mother by kicking her down the stairs
And I'm all right and I don't care
I refuse to be affected by my brother's actions and I am doing fine
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ALF CLAUSEN, STEPHEN C. FOSTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind