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.
Waterfall
Dwight Yoakam Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We wouldn't wonder, not at all
How much fun each day was gonna be
If I had a mountain top
I know we would never stop
Climbing way high up to look and see
I betcha we would never miss
A single peanut butter kiss or squeeze
If I had a waterfall
It might not make no sense at all
But that won't matter much to you and me
Babies get born, even in a war
I guess just to show us, what livin's for
And my heart still believes that love
For what we need can be enough
If we'll just stop keepin' score
If I had a big giraffe
That tried to dance and made us laugh
Every smile and giggle would be free
If I had a big moonlight
We'd turn it back on every night
Just so the dark could try and get some sleep
And if I had a rocket ship
We'd go places really quick
Then have the time to stop and get ice cream
If I had a big giraffe
He'd have to take a real long bath
And that's why waterfalls are really neat
Babies get born, even in a war
I guess just to show us, what livin's for
And my heart still believes that love
For what we need can be enough
If we'll just stop keepin' score
If I had an everything
We could stand out in the rain
And only feel the drops we wanted to
If I had a wonderful
We could play out in the snow
And never have to wear our socks and shoes
If I had a pot of luck
I wouldn't have to spend a buck
And get all the stuff we needed for a sneeze
If I had an everything
We wouldn't get wet in the rain
And ridin' waterfalls would be a breeze
If I had a big giraffe
He'd have to take a real long bath
And that's why waterfalls are really neat
The song "Waterfall" by Dwight Yoakam is a playful and whimsical focus on the power of imagination and the joys of childhood. The song is a conversation between two people, discussing the fun they could have if they had certain things, like a waterfall or a mountain top. They muse about climbing up high to take a look and enjoy the view. The two speakers talk about how they would enjoy the small things in life, like the silliness of a dancing giraffe or the beauty of the moonlight. They ponder over the joy of riding on a rocket ship and taking an enjoyable stop by an ice cream stand.
Despite the random nature of the imagination, the song conveys a deeper message about the joys of life, and how they are not dependent on material possessions. Dwight Yoakam uses the crying babies in a war as an example that life is worth living no matter the circumstance. The lyrics also suggest focusing on the small moments in life that generate happiness, like laughter and free smiles, instead of worrying about keeping score or material possessions.
Line by Line Meaning
If I had a waterfall
If I had something big and beautiful in my life that made me unconditionally happy
We wouldn't wonder, not at all
We wouldn't have to question or worry about our happiness or what each day would bring us
How much fun each day was gonna be
We would know that each day would be filled with joy and entertainment
If I had a mountain top
If I had something awe-inspiring to explore and conquer
I know we would never stop
We would have endless curiosity and desire to keep exploring
Climbing way high up to look and see
Scaling the mountain would be worth it to see the breathtaking view from the top
If I had a jellyfish
If I had a unique and interesting creature to share experiences with
I betcha we would never miss
We would always find something to entertain us or make us happy, even in mundane situations
A single peanut butter kiss or squeeze
Even small and simple pleasures would feel abundant and fulfilling
It might not make no sense at all
It may seem illogical or irrational, but the happiness it brings is worth it
But that won't matter much to you and me
Our love for each other is what truly matters and makes us happy
Babies get born, even in a war
New life continues even in the midst of terrible circumstances
I guess just to show us, what livin's for
New life reminds us of the beauty and value of life itself
And my heart still believes that love
My core belief and conviction is that love
For what we need can be enough
Can fill us with the happiness and fulfillment we need to live contentedly
If we'll just stop keepin' score
If we stop focusing on what we don't have or comparing ourselves to others
If I had a big giraffe
If I had a comical and different creature like a big giraffe
That tried to dance and made us laugh
That entertained us with its unique mannerisms and quirks
Every smile and giggle would be free
The laughter and good times shared would be priceless and abundant
If I had a big moonlight
If I had something magical and romantic like a big moonlight
We'd turn it back on every night
We would cherish and appreciate its beauty each and every night
Just so the dark could try and get some sleep
Even the darkness needs some rest and respite from the shadows
And if I had a rocket ship
If I had something fast and thrilling like a rocket ship
We'd go places really quick
We would travel to new and exciting places in the blink of an eye
Then have the time to stop and get ice cream
And still have time to enjoy simple pleasures like getting ice cream
He'd have to take a real long bath
A big and unusual creature like a giraffe would need extra time and care to bathe
And that's why waterfalls are really neat
And that is why waterfalls are so fascinating and awe-inspiring
If I had an everything
If I had all the things I could ever want or need
We could stand out in the rain
We would have the freedom to enjoy even the simplest things in life, like standing in the rain
And never have to wear our socks and shoes
We would have the luxury of not having to worry about protecting our feet
If I had a pot of luck
If I had good fortune and was never short on good things
I wouldn't have to spend a buck
I wouldn't have to worry about the cost of things I need or want
And get all the stuff we needed for a sneeze
I wouldn't have to worry about obtaining even mundane things like tissues for sneezing
We wouldn't get wet in the rain
We would have the luxury of being able to enjoy the rain without getting wet
And ridin' waterfalls would be a breeze
And riding and experiencing waterfalls would be effortless and enjoyable
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DWIGHT DAVID YOAKAM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@nancy4texas
If I had a waterfall
We wouldn't wonder, not at all
How much fun each day was gonna be
If I had a mountain top
I know we would never stop
Climbing way high up to look and see
If I had a jellyfish
I betcha we would never miss
A single peanut butter kiss or squeeze
If I had a waterfall
It might not make no sense at all
But that won't matter much to you and me
Babies get born, even in a war
I guess just to show us, what livin's for
And my heart still believes that love
For what we need can be enough
If we'll just stop keepin' score
If I had a big giraffe
That tried to dance and made us laugh
Every smile and giggle would be free
If I had a big moonlight
We'd turn it back on every night
Just so the dark could try and get some sleep
And if I had a rocket ship
We'd go places really quick
Then have the time to stop and get ice cream
If I had a big giraffe
He'd have to take a real long bath
And that's why waterfalls are really neat
Babies get born, even in a war
I guess just to show us, what livin's for
And my heart still believes that love
For what we need can be enough
If we'll just stop keepin' score
If I had an everything
We could stand out in the rain
And only feel the drops we wanted to
If I had a wonderful
We could play out in the snow
And never have to wear our socks and shoes
If I had a pot of luck
I wouldn't have to spend a buck
And get all the stuff we needed for a sneeze
If I had an everything
We wouldn't get wet in the rain
And ridin' waterfalls would be a breeze
If I had a big giraffe
He'd have to take a real long bath
And that's why waterfalls are really neat
@08saywhat
Its cool that Dwight can do whatever he wants with his musical direction, and doesnt care what the industry thinks. Keep making great music Dwight!
@Daves_not_here_man_
This is the song I always go to when I need to smile and remember that life is supposed to be fun. It's impossible to be in a bad mood after hearing this.
@songkick
Thanks for watching!
@Noway00141
Congrats Dwight and Emily on their baby boy 🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳
@sartainja
Wonder if he wrote this song for his son?
@_GingerSnap
Wow, I love this. Written by a true kid at heart that still remembers that magic is real and kisses really do heal boo boo's. I love this song!
@Vaquero1950
:)))) me to!!!
@karlarentz7694
Congratulations to you& your beautiful wife Emily, on the arrival of your
precious baby boy Dalton💙
@rebagaudet7641
I can't get over how beautiful his voice is in this song,,,on the serious words..lol. he is just awesome
@peggygardner3577
I love this song that Dwight is doing, as a matter of fact I love every song he does.