"My dad was a guitar player. He played with Bob Wills and a little bit with Reba McEntire when she was first starting out," says Ragsdale. "He really didn't want me to be a drummer but I insisted. I found a set of drums in a neighbor's trash one day and hauled them into the cellar. He kind of figured out after about a year that I was serious and finally got me a new drum set. And when he met Cody, he realized his talent and how seriously we wanted to take music, and he really pushed us. He completely drove us up the wall, but later down the road, we realized he did it for a good reason."
Once the band got its chops they moved to Stillwater, Okla., where acts like Mike McClure's Great Divide and singer-songwriter Jimmy LaFave had established enough of a local scene to earn Stillwater the nickname "North Austin" (or, depending on your perspective, "West Nashville"). Inspired by McClure's self-penned Great Divide songs (and more than a little by early Steve Earle), the band quickly grew out of its Merle Haggard and classic rock covers and began focusing on Canada's uncommonly honest and straight-forward originals. A potent foursome of albums -- 1998's Carney, 1999's Live at the Wormy Dog, 2001's Highway 377 and 2002's Live at Billy Bob's Texas -- collectively sold more 70,000 copies to date. Combined with the band's average of 200 gigs a year, Cross Canadian Ragweed cinched a place at the top of the Texas-Oklahoma music totem pole.
"We're a little more rock 'n' roll than other people [from the Oklahoma/Texas scene], and that's not a bad thing," laughs Canada, whose Southern-fried lead guitar licks betray his love of heroes like Stevie Ray Vaughan, Pete Anderson (of Dwight Yoakam fame) and Eddie Van Halen -- not to mention the fact that he's been playing since he was 8 years old.
After building a huge concert following in Texas and Oklahoma, the band decided to look into signing a record deal. In 2003, fledgling label Universal South released a self-titled album (produced by McClure) that the band recorded prior to signing their record deal. They released Soul Gravy in 2004 and Garage in 2005.
Their offical website is at www.crosscanadianragweed.com.
Carney Man
Cross Canadian Ragweed Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I want a squirtin' flower squirt it on you
Like all the bad clowns do
I want to juggle bowling pins in the sun
I want to join the circus, the circus looks like fun
I'll sit and work the gate or I can guess your weight
I'll even sell the corn dogs I don't care
As long as I am there
I'll ride my funny car laughing all the way to the bank
'Cause I'm a carney man, I'm a carney man
I'm a carney man, I'm a carney man, carney man, carney man
The human cannonball I'll rise above it all
Up higher than the trapeze I can fly
Oh God I'm gonna die
I just gotta get high
I am a carney worker I make two bucks
Every hour come to find out this job it fucking sucks
'Cause I'm a carney man, I'm a carney man
I'm a carney man, I'm a carney man
You need a corndog
I can tell you need a corn dog, I can tell
I'm a carney man
The song "Carney Man" by Cross Canadian Ragweed talks about a person who wishes to join the circus and do odd jobs like selling corn dogs, guessing people's weight or handing out baseballs at the dunk tank. The person wants to dress up like a clown, juggle bowling pins and even become the human cannonball. The person acknowledges that the job of a carney worker, though exciting, pays very little. However, the person is willing to do anything to be a part of the circus because that's where the fun is.
The song portrays the excitement and allure of joining a circus - the glitz and glamour of the circus life, the thrill of the performances, the excitement of the crowd, and the feeling of being part of something bigger. Juggling bowling pins in the sun, or sitting and working the gate might not sound like fascinating jobs, but for someone drawn to the circus life, the job is irrelevant. The circus is a surreal world where anything is possible, where one can fly high as a cannonball or ride a funny car, laughing all the way to the bank.
Overall, "Carney Man" is a song about the romance and lure of the circus, and the dreams of many who wish to be a part of it, even if it means taking up the most menial of jobs.
Line by Line Meaning
I want a big red nose I want some floppy shoes
I desire to dress up as a bad clown with a red nose and floppy shoes.
I want a squirtin' flower squirt it on you
I aspire to own a flower that squirts water so that I can playfully splash it on others.
Like all the bad clowns do
This behavior is typical of bad clowns like me.
I want to juggle bowling pins in the sun
I dream of juggling bowling pins outdoors where the sun can shine on me.
I want to join the circus, the circus looks like fun
I hope to work at the circus because it appears to be a joyous and exciting place.
I'll sit and work the gate or I can guess your weight
I am willing to handle basic tasks such as working the entrance gate and will also provide services like guessing someone's weight.
I'll even sell the corn dogs I don't care
I am willing to sell corn dogs or other items at the circus without any concern of the product's significance.
As long as I am there
It does not matter what exactly I am doing, as long as I am a part of the circus.
I'll hand out baseballs at the dunk tank
I can help distribute baseballs for people to throw at the dunk tank target and dunk the person in the water.
I'll ride my funny car laughing all the way to the bank
I will ride in my amusing car and make my way to the bank while laughing joyfully.
'Cause I'm a carney man, I'm a carney man
I am a person employed in the traveling carnival world, and I am proud of it.
The human cannonball I'll rise above it all
I am capable of performing in the human cannonball act and displaying bravery above others.
Up higher than the trapeze I can fly
I can soar higher than the trapeze artists - I am that high-flying and daring.
Oh God I'm gonna die
While this seems like a dangerous activity, I am not afraid of death, but rather an adrenaline rush seeker.
I just gotta get high
I need to feel the rush that comes from performing these dangerous acts.
I am a carney worker I make two bucks
I am an employee in the carnival industry and earn very little pay.
Every hour come to find out this job it fucking sucks
After finding out more about the realities of the job, I realize that it is a horrible affair after every hour of work.
You need a corndog
You seem like you might be interested in a corn dog - they are available for purchase.
I can tell you need a corn dog, I can tell
I have a good intuition, and it appears you would enjoy eating a corn dog based on your appearance.
I'm a carney man
Just a reminder, I am a person employed in the carnival industry and proud of it.
Lyrics © Bluewater Music Corp.
Written by: Cody Jay Canada, Michael Mcclure
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind