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.
A Heart Like Mine
Dwight Yoakam Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And took off running
Shells in your eyes,
What such sweet disguise
I wonder why, you never try
To understand a heart like mine
Whoa I didn’t waste the time
So is what you see
You’re in love, belong to me
Oh I, I wonder why, you never try
To understand a heart like mine
Oh I, I wonder why, you never try
To understand a heart like mine
Whoa I wonder why, you never try
To understand a heart like mine
A heart like mine, a heart like mine
A heart like mine,
A heart like mine
A heart like mine, a heart like mine
A heart like mine, a heart like
A heart, a heart like
A heart, a heart like
A heart, a heart, a heart like mine
The lyrics of Dwight Yoakam's song A Heart Like Mine present a mixture of emotions revolving around unrequited love. The opening lines suggest a mutual interest between the two, but the other person suddenly takes off running without any explanation. Then the reference to 'shells in your eyes' and 'sweet disguise' indicate that the other person might have been playing games or misleading the singer. The singer then expresses his confusion about why the other person doesn't try to comprehend his heart. It implies that the singer has been open about his feelings, yet the other person remains oblivious.
As the song progresses, it becomes apparent that the singer knows he has found something valuable and rare - a love so hard to find. He must have realized that the other person might not reciprocate his feelings, and hence he didn't waste his time on someone who doesn't deserve it. The repeated line 'A heart like mine' emphasizes the uniqueness and preciousness of the singer's emotions, which he feels the other person fails to recognize.
Overall, the lyrics of A Heart Like Mine depict an emotional conflict between two people, where one is open about their feelings, while the other plays games or remains indifferent. The singer's frustration, confusion, and pain are palpable, making it a poignant and relatable song.
Line by Line Meaning
I saw you coming, you saw me
We made eye contact and acknowledged each other's presence.
And took off running
You fled or avoided me.
Shells in your eyes,
You had a guarded demeanor.
What such sweet disguise
Your facade was deceptive and alluring.
I wonder why, you never try
I'm curious as to why you never attempt to see things from my perspective.
To understand a heart like mine
To empathize with my emotions and experiences.
Whoa I didn’t waste the time
I don't regret the time spent pursuing you.
'Cause a love, so hard to find
The love I seek is rare and valuable.
So is what you see
What you perceive in me is genuine and unique.
You’re in love, belong to me
I believe you are meant to be with me and not someone else.
Oh I, I wonder why, you never try
I'm still curious as to why you refuse to connect with me emotionally.
To understand a heart like mine
To recognize the intricacies of my personality and feelings.
A heart like mine, a heart like mine
I possess a particular type of heart and personality.
A heart like mine,
My unique heart and personality.
A heart, a heart like
I am defined by the qualities of my heart.
A heart, a heart, a heart like mine
My heart is a distinct aspect of my being.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DWIGHT DAVID YOAKAM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Linda Hudson
Can not understand why you do not hear him on the radios, like the rest, Dwight passes them by cause hes the greatest singer ever, his songs need to be played more on the East Cost, love this man, his moves, voice,Come on people wake up. Love to Dwight
Greg Normal
Hello!!! How are you doing today! Please pardon me for intruding into your privacy but I just wanted to know if you're a fan. Stay safe
Tired of it
My FAVORITE country singer EVER like EVER!!!! His music never gets old.
cc
Dwight Yoakam: a consistently fantastic country artist, be it a ballad or a rockin' tune; he never disappoints. One the the true and rare remaining country greats. Awesome!
Tyler Gavin
I agree with you
Vince Ryan
One of the true greats of country, rockabilly, southern rock, don't care what label you give him. Great songwriter. singer of the last 35 years of music.
Greg Normal
Hello!!! How are you doing today! Please pardon me for intruding into your privacy but I just wanted to know if you're a fan.. Stay safe
Melisa Rae
Honestly, he defies labels. So unique that even a metalhead like me loves his music.
Janice Leftwich
3 pears is one of the greatest CD's I've ever heard. But then I say that about most of All of Dwight's music.
New Damage
3 Pears was definitely one of the greatest albums of this decade! He's really the only country musician I listen to.