"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.
Jenny
Cross Canadian Ragweed Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She said her mother's doing fine
Jenny come back from California
With a sparkle in her eye
(verse)
Early last June, she bought a round trip ticket
To San Francisco by the bay.
She needed time to get away.
(repeat chords of chorus)
Jenny come back from California.
With a brand new pair of shoes
Jenny come back from California
She come back without her blues
Solo:
(repeat chords of verse)
Well there's something about that ocean
That's got a romantic feeling
When you're standing by the shore
A little more time, a lot more healing
Maybe she'll love me once more
(repeat chords of chorus)
Jenny come back from California.
A little lighter when she steps.
Jenny come back from California
Full of life with no regrets
(bridge)
Never knew what she saw in San Francisco
Maybe moonlight by the sea
It can fall off in the water
Just as long as she comes back to me.
(repeat chords of chorus)
Jenny come back from California
With a brand new diamond ring
Jenny come back from California
She gathered up the rest of her things.
Jenny went back to California.
The song "Jenny" by Cross Canadian Ragweed tells the story of a woman named Jenny who took a trip to California to escape her troubles at home. When she returns, she's full of life and has a sparkle in her eye. She's bought a new pair of shoes and she's left her blues behind. The singer wishes he knew what she saw in San Francisco that made her feel this way, but he's just happy that she's returned to him. There's a romantic feeling that the ocean brings and maybe, just maybe, Jenny will love him once more.
The song is a reflection of the theme of escapism, and it's evident in the lyrics. Jenny wanted to get away from her troubles, and the ocean provided the healing that she needed. California is also portrayed as a place where she found a new perspective on life, where she was able to leave her blues behind and start again. The song is a declaration of love, a plea for Jenny to come back to the singer, and a call to embrace life fully, without holding onto regrets.
Line by Line Meaning
Jenny come back from California
The singer is expressing his desire for Jenny to return from her trip to California.
She said her mother's doing fine
Jenny gave an update on her mother's well-being upon her return.
With a sparkle in her eye
Jenny returned with a renewed sense of enthusiasm and happiness.
Early last June, she bought a round trip ticket
Jenny purchased a ticket to San Francisco in June with the intention of returning home.
To San Francisco by the bay
Jenny traveled specifically to San Francisco, a city located on the coast.
Trouble at home, she said she couldn't take it
Jenny left home due to difficulties there that were too much for her to handle at the time.
She needed time to get away
Jenny needed a break from her troubles and the stresses of her daily life.
With a brand new pair of shoes
Jenny returned home with a new pair of shoes as a souvenir from her trip.
She come back without her blues
Jenny was able to overcome her problems and returned home feeling happy.
Well there's something about that ocean
The singer is acknowledging the therapeutic nature of being near the ocean.
That's got a romantic feeling
The ocean has a special quality that can inspire romantic feelings.
When you're standing by the shore
The singer is describing the particular sensation of being close to the ocean's edge.
A little more time, a lot more healing
The singer believes that spending more time by the ocean can help a person heal emotionally.
Maybe she'll love me once more
The singer is hopeful that Jenny will reciprocate his feelings upon her return.
A little lighter when she steps
Jenny seems more carefree and unburdened after her trip to California.
Full of life with no regrets
Jenny has returned home feeling energized and with a sense of positivity about her future.
Never knew what she saw in San Francisco
The singer is unsure of what Jenny found so appealing about San Francisco.
Maybe moonlight by the sea
The singer postulates that Jenny may have been enchanted by the romantic atmosphere of moonlit beaches.
It can fall off in the water
Regardless of what Jenny experienced in San Francisco, it ultimately doesn't matter as long as she returns to him.
Just as long as she comes back to me.
The most important thing for the singer is Jenny's return to him, regardless of what happened on her trip.
With a brand new diamond ring
Jenny returned home with a new piece of jewelry, possibly a sign of her commitment to the singer.
She gathered up the rest of her things.
Jenny is settling back into her life at home, having returned from her trip to California.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: CODY JAY CANADA, ROBERT MICHAEL SHANNON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind