Yoakam was born in Pikeville, Kentucky, the son of Ruth Ann, a key-punch operator, and David Yoakam, a gas-station owner. He was raised in Columbus, Ohio. He graduated from Columbus's Northland High School in 1974. During his high school years, he excelled in both music and drama, regularly securing the lead role in school plays, such as "Charlie" in a stage version of Flowers for Algernon, honing his skills under the guidance of teacher-mentors Jerry McAfee (music) and Charles Lewis (drama). Outside of school, Yoakam sang and played guitar with local garage bands, and entertained his friends and classmates with his impersonations, such as Richard Nixon, who, at the time, was heavily embroiled in the Watergate controversy.
Yoakam briefly attended Ohio State University, but dropped out and moved to Nashville in 1977 with the intent of becoming a recording artist. Later on, Ohio Valley University in Parkersburg, West Virginia awarded and presented Dwight with an honorary doctorate degree on May 7, 2005.
When he began his career, Nashville was oriented toward pop "urban cowboy" music, and Yoakam's brand of hip honky tonk music was not considered marketable.
Not making much headway in Nashville, Yoakam moved to Los Angeles and worked towards bringing his particular brand of new Honky Tonk or "Hillbilly" music (as he called it) forward into the 1980s. Writing all his own songs, and continuing to perform mostly outside traditional country music channels, Yoakam did many shows in rock and punk rock clubs around Los Angeles, playing with roots rock or punk rock acts like The Blasters (Yoakam scored a small video hit with his version of their song "Long White Cadillac"), Los Lobos, and X. This helped him diversify his audience beyond the typical country music fans, and his authentic, groundbreaking music is often credited with rock audiences accepting country music.
Yoakam's recording debut was the self-financed EP Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc., Etc. on independent label Oak Records produced by lead-guitarist Pete Anderson; this was later re-released by Reprise records, with several additional tracks, as his major-label debut LP, 1986's Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc., Etc.. It launched his career. "Honky Tonk Man", a remake of the Johnny Horton song, and "Guitars, Cadillacs" were hit singles. His stylish video "Honky Tonk Man" was the first country music video ever played on MTV. The follow-up LP, Hillbilly Deluxe, was just as successful. His third LP, Buenas Noches from a Lonely Room, included his first No. 1, a duet with his musical idol, Buck Owens, on "Streets of Bakersfield". 1990's If There Was a Way was another best-seller.
Yoakam's song "Readin', Rightin', Route 23" pays tribute to his childhood move from Kentucky, and is named after a local expression describing the route that rural Kentuckians took to find a job outside of the coal mines. (U.S. Route 23 runs north from Kentucky through Columbus and Toledo, Ohio and through the automotive centers of Michigan.) Rather than the standard line that their elementary schools taught "the three Rs" of "Readin', 'Ritin', and 'Rithmetic", Kentuckians used to say that the three Rs they learned were "Readin', 'Ritin, and Route 23 North".
Johnny Cash once cited Yoakam as his favorite country singer. Chris Isaak called him as good a songwriter that ever put a pen to paper. Time Magazine dubbed Yoakam "A Renaissance Man" and Vanity Fair declared that "Yoakam strides the divide between rock's lust and country's lament." Along with his bluegrass and honky-tonk roots, Yoakam has written or covered many Elvis Presley-style rockabilly songs, including his covers of Queen's "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" in 1999 and Presley's "Suspicious Minds" in 1992. He recorded a cover of The Clash's "Train in Vain" in 1997, a cover of the Grateful Dead song "Truckin'", as well as Cheap Trick's "I Want You to Want Me". Yoakam has never been associated only with Country music; on many early tours, he played with Hardcore Punk bands like Hüsker Dü, and played many shows around Los Angeles with Roots/Punk/Rock & Roll acts. His middle-period-to-later records saw him branching out to different styles, covering Rock & Roll, Punk, 1960's, Blues-based "Boogie" like ZZ Top, and writing more adventurous songs like "A Thousand Miles From Nowhere". In 2003, he provided background vocals on Warren Zevon's last album The Wind.
In the 21st century, Yoakam released dwightyoakamacoustic.net, an album featuring solo acoustic versions of many of his hits; left his major label and started his own label.
2005 saw the release of Yoakam's well-reviewed album Blame the Vain, on New West Records. Yoakam also released an album dedicated to Buck Owens, Dwight Sings Buck, on October 23, 2007. His duet with Michelle Branch, a song titled "Long Goodbye", was released as a free download on Branch's official website in early 2011.
In July 2011, Yoakam re-signed with Warner Bros. Nashville and announced plans to release a new album. 3 Pears was released on September 18, 2012 with twelve new tracks. The album, produced by Yoakam, includes collaborations with Kid Rock, Beck, and Ashley Monroe. 3 Pears was released to resounding critical acclaim and earned Yoakam the highest-charting debut of his career on the Billboard 200 and Billboard Country Albums charts. 3 Pears reached #1 on the Americana Radio chart on October 29, 2012 and went on to break the 2012 record for most weeks at #1 on Americana Radio.[4] By the end of 2012, the album was named on annual best of lists by NPR, Rolling Stone, American Songwriter, AOL's The Boot, Entertainment Weekly, The Village Voice, and Rhapsody, and has been included in more critic's "best of 2012" lists than any other artist in the country genre.
Yoakam won the Grammy Award for "Best Male Country Vocal Performance" in 1993 for the song "Ain't That Lonely Yet". He was also named "Artist of the Year" by CMT Europe in 1993 and given the International Touring Artist Award by CMA in 2007.
In 2011, Yoakam received the Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award for his trailblazing achievements in the country music genre.
3 Pears
Dwight Yoakam Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
3 pears of shades
3 pears of other things, all there in space
3 pears of shoe-less feet,
Dream mindless thoughts
3 pears of wishes for all that you want
That means where you are is where you at
If you can’t recall, just remember that
To wear 3 pears of shades, and 3 pears of glasses
3 pears of shades
3 pears of other things, all there in space
3 pairs of shoe-less feet,
Dream mindless thoughts
3 pairs of wishes for all that you want
All I want for you is happiness
All I have to give is nothing less
Than more than one or two more
3 pears of glasses
3 pears of shades
3 pears of other things, all there in space
3 pairs of shoe-less feet,
Dream mindless thoughts
3 pairs of wishes for all that you want
3 pairs of wishes for all that you want
The lyrics of this song are very metaphorical and open to interpretation. The repeated phrase "3 pears" could mean a variety of things, but one interpretation could be that they represent different aspects of life or different perspectives. The first verse describes 3 pears of glasses and 3 pears of shades, which could represent different ways of seeing the world - one clear and one shaded or distorted. The second verse talks about 3 pears of other things in space, which could represent the vastness of possibilities and options in life. The third verse mentions 3 pears of shoe-less feet, which could represent vulnerability and being open to new experiences. And the chorus repeats the idea of 3 pairs of wishes for all that you want, which could represent different desires or goals.
The lines "That means where you are is where you at / When your head is cold, to put on a hat / If you can't recall, just remember that" suggest that the song is about being present in the moment and being content with what you have. The repetition of "3 pears" throughout the song reinforces this idea, as it encourages a focus on what you have rather than what you lack. The line "All I want for you is happiness / All I have to give is nothing less / Than more than one or two more" further emphasizes the theme of contentment and happiness.
Overall, "3 Pears" is a song that encourages listeners to appreciate the present moment and be content with what they have. The metaphorical lyrics allow for different interpretations, but the overarching theme is one of gratitude and happiness.
Line by Line Meaning
3 pears of glasses
Three different perspectives to observe the world around you
3 pears of shades
Three different ways to protect yourself from the sun while walking the long and winding road of life
3 pears of other things, all there in space
Three undefined objects that need to be discovered in a boundless universe
3 pears of shoe-less feet,
Three instances of barefoot experience, feeling the earth beneath your toes
Dream mindless thoughts
Allowing your imagination to take over and explore unconventional ideas
3 pears of wishes for all that you want
Three desires that you yearn to manifest into reality
That means where you are is where you at
You are present in the exact moment you exist, and there is no other place than where you already stand
When your head is cold, to put on a hat
When you feel empty and disconnected, it's time to seek comfort and refuge in something familiar
If you can’t recall, just remember that
When you forget your goals and ambitions, always remember to follow your heart and intuition
All I want for you is happiness
I wish you the ultimate state of contentment and joy in your life
All I have to give is nothing less
My gift to you is the purest form of kindness and compassion, with no ulterior motive
Than more than one or two more
I want to give you an abundance of positivity and goodwill, not just a small amount
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DWIGHT DAVID YOAKAM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Nancy Gray Barrow
3 pears of glasses
3 pears of shades
3 pears of other things, all there in space
3 pears of shoe-less feet,
Dream mindless thoughts
3 pears of wishes for all that you want
That means where you are is where you at
When your head is cold, to put on a hat
If you can’t recall, just remember that
To wear 3 pears of shades, 3 pears of glasses
3 pears of shaded
3 pears of other things, all there in space
All they’re in spades
3 pairs of shoe-less feet,
Dream mindless thoughts
3 pairs of wishes for all that you want
All I want for you is happiness
All I have to give is nothing l
ess than more than one or two more
3 pears of glasses
3 pears of shades
3 pears of other things, all there in space
3 pairs of shoe-less feet,
Dream mindless thoughts
3 pairs of wishes for all that you want
3 pairs of wishes for all that you want
Rita Levalley
three pears is a great album.every song is so good. I've seen him in concert. he is the best country singer hands down. these guys today can't compare!
j a mayo
how does he do so much with 3 basic chords??? keep on doing it 'old school' Dwight!
Paul
I love how this stuff is just DRENCHED in guitars! Love it.
Skelet3n
One of the greatest country singers of all time. A genius and a genuine creative talent!
Mary Davenport
I love you Dwight Yoakam I love all your songs you are a super guy or a good role model an old grandma but I just love you
Tony Swain
Dwight has been putting out good songs like this for over 20 years now, and he is a talented actor too, as he proved in SlingBlade and Panic Room.
CHRIS DEAN
damn awesome song man not another like dwight yoakam ive been a fan from the beginning of his career and will be to the end still cranking them out mr yoakam and sound awesome as ever thanks
Mary Coats
He is such a great singer. HE IS A SUPERSTAR. LOVE HIS MUSIC SO MUCH.
brandonhill72
Watched these guys play the Stagecoach festival a few months back. Could definitely see why these guys get paid the big bucks. Tight band with not only the hook but also the look. Anybody know the names of any of the band other than Dwight? I can't seem to find that info. Awesome band!
Sandy Juntunen
I bet his fan club could tell you.