Ernest Keith Smith was born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee. He took an interest in hip hop music at an early age, citing the Space Jam soundtrack and a compact disc of Eminem songs given to him by a friend as his main influences. At age 19, he suffered a heart attack brought on by a viral infection, and developed a drug addiction while in college playing JUCO baseball. After recovering, he moved back to Nashville and began writing and recording songs, in the Bro Country style with Matt Royer, the brother of his now wife, who owned a recording studio. This association led to him co-writing the title track of Florida Georgia Line's 2016 album Dig Your Roots. The following year, recording under the mononym Ernest, he began to cut country rap singles: "Dopeman" and "Bad Boy".
In addition, Ernest began writing songs for Chris Lane and Jake Owen. This led to him signing a recording contract with Big Loud, the label to which both Owen and Lane are signed, in 2019. Concurrently, he began touring with Lane and Mason Ramsey later in the year. Ernest had further success as a songwriter in 2020 with Lane's "Big, Big Plans", Morgan Wallen's "More Than My Hometown", and Sam Hunt's "Breaking Up Was Easy in the 90s". He also released his first single for Big Loud, titled "Cheers". This was followed in 2021 by two more singles; the first was "American Rust", issued in June. It was followed in December by "Flower Shops", a duet with Wallen.
Ernest also host his own podcast titled Just Being Ernest, in which he talks to other musicians about the music industry. The podcast first started April 19, 2020.
The Dream
Ernest Lyrics
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To see for certain what I thought I knew
Far far away someone was weeping
But the world was sleeping
cny dream will do
In Ernest's song "The Dream," the lyrics convey a sense of curiosity and introspection. The opening line, "I closed my eyes pulled back the curtain," suggests a departure from the physical world into the realm of imagination and dreams. By doing so, the singer seeks to validate their existing beliefs and assumptions by seeing them from a different perspective. The line "To see for certain what I thought I knew" reflects a yearning for clarity and understanding in a world that can often seem confusing.
The next line, "Far far away someone was weeping," introduces an element of empathy and emotional connection. It implies that while the singer delves into their personal dreams and aspirations, they are aware of the emotional struggles faced by others in the world. However, the subsequent line, "But the world was sleeping," suggests a disconnect between the singer's internal perceptions and the external reality. It implies a sense of isolation or detachment from the world's problems, emphasizing the solace found within the realm of dreams.
Line by Line Meaning
I closed my eyes pulled back the curtain
I shut off my senses and removed the barrier of perception
To see for certain what I thought I knew
To verify the reality of my assumptions
Far far away someone was weeping
In a distant place, an individual was expressing sorrow
But the world was sleeping
However, the rest of the world remained unaware and indifferent
cny dream will do
Any aspiration or longing is acceptable
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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