"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.
Headed South
Cross Canadian Ragweed Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've got two things on my mind
Yeah don't you know I'm headed Southbound
I've got two things on my mind
I need some of that juicy barbeque
And some of the sweet blackberry wine
When I get back to Louisiannie
Yeah when I get back to Louisiannie
Lord I think I just might stay
Cause I always get so lonesome
Every time I get away
So you know I'm headed South
I've got two things on my mind
Don't you know I'm headed South
I've got two things on my mind
I need some of the juicy barbeque
And I need some of that sweet blackberry wine
I'm gonna cross that Pontchartrain
On a train, in the rain
Yeah I wanna cross that Pontchartrain
On a train, in the rain
Ain't nothin' more beautiful sweet darlin'
Than that Poncha Tray in the rain
Yeah don't you know I'm headed South
I've got two things on my mind
Yeah don't you know I'm headed Southbound
I've got two things on my mind
I need some of that juicy barbeque
And some of that sweet blackberry wine
I wanna get back to Baton Rouge
Before Winter comes again
I wanna get back to Baton Rouge
Before Winter comes again
I wanna walk down by that river
And cross that muddy river now and then
Yeah don't you know I'm headed South
I've got two things on my mind
Yeah don't you know I'm headed Southbound
I've got two things on my mind
I need some of that juicy barbeque
And some of that sweet blackberry wine
The lyrics to Cross Canadian Ragweed's song "Headed South" tell the story of a person who is longing to return to the South, specifically to Louisiana, to enjoy the things they miss when away. The singer sings about two things that are on his mind - juicy barbeque and sweet blackberry wine. He intends to cross the Pontchartrain on a train in the rain to return to Baton Rouge before winter comes again. The singer reveals that he gets lonely every time he leaves the South, emphasizing his strong connection to the place. The lyrics capture the emotional pull and attachment the singer has to his southern heritage and the things he loves most.
The chorus of the song reinforces the singer's desire to return to the South to enjoy the food, wine, and scenery that he loves so much. The repeated line "don't you know I'm headed south" underscores how vital this return journey is to him. The lyrics also touch on the theme of home and belonging, as the singer seems to feel most at home in the places he associates with his southern heritage. The song's imagery features vivid descriptions of the landscape, evoking strong images of the muddy river and the beauty of crossing the Pontchartrain in the rain.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah don't you know I'm headed South
I am traveling towards the South
I've got two things on my mind
I have two objectives that I want to achieve
Yeah don't you know I'm headed Southbound
I am moving towards the South
I've got two things on my mind
I have two objectives that I want to achieve
I need some of that juicy barbeque
I want to eat some delicious barbeque
And some of the sweet blackberry wine
I want to drink some sweet blackberry wine
When I get back to Louisiannie
When I return to Louisiana
Lord I think I just might stay
I may decide to stay there
Yeah when I get back to Louisiannie
When I return to Louisiana
Lord I think I just might stay
I may decide to stay there
Cause I always get so lonesome
I become lonely every time I leave
Every time I get away
Every time I leave the place
So you know I'm headed South
I am traveling towards the South
I've got two things on my mind
I have two objectives that I want to achieve
Don't you know I'm headed South
I am moving towards the South
I've got two things on my mind
I have two objectives that I want to achieve
I need some of the juicy barbeque
I want to eat some delicious barbeque
And I need some of that sweet blackberry wine
I want to drink some sweet blackberry wine
I'm gonna cross that Pontchartrain
I will cross Pontchartrain
On a train, in the rain
In a train and it will be raining
Yeah I wanna cross that Pontchartrain
I want to cross Pontchartrain
On a train, in the rain
In a train and it will be raining
Ain't nothin' more beautiful sweet darlin'
There is nothing more beautiful, my dear
Than that Poncha Tray in the rain
Than Pontchartrain in the rain
Yeah don't you know I'm headed South
I am traveling towards the South
I've got two things on my mind
I have two objectives that I want to achieve
Yeah don't you know I'm headed Southbound
I am moving towards the South
I've got two things on my mind
I have two objectives that I want to achieve
I need some of that juicy barbeque
I want to eat some delicious barbeque
And some of that sweet blackberry wine
I want to drink some sweet blackberry wine
I wanna get back to Baton Rouge
I want to return to Baton Rouge
Before Winter comes again
Before the winter season arrives
I wanna get back to Baton Rouge
I want to return to Baton Rouge
Before Winter comes again
Before the winter season arrives
I wanna walk down by that river
I want to walk by the river
And cross that muddy river now and then
And sometimes cross the muddy river
Yeah don't you know I'm headed South
I am traveling towards the South
I've got two things on my mind
I have two objectives that I want to achieve
Yeah don't you know I'm headed Southbound
I am moving towards the South
I've got two things on my mind
I have two objectives that I want to achieve
I need some of that juicy barbeque
I want to eat some delicious barbeque
and some of that sweet blackberry wine
I want to drink some sweet blackberry wine
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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