Pocahontas Proud
Gretchen Wilson Lyrics


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I was raised in Pocahontas, Illinois
Everybody thought of me as one of the boys
'Cause I'd run with a crowd that was tough
At fifteen, I was tendin' Big O's Bar
I'd sing 'til 2 AM for a half-full tip jar
Spent my youth singing truth and payin' dues

I'm the biggest thing that ever came from my hometown
And I'll be damned if I'm gonna let 'em down
If it's the last thing I do before they lay me in the ground
You know I'm gonna make Pocahontas proud

I knocked on every door on music row
They looked down at me and said
"Girl, go back home, you ain't got (you ain't got)
What we need (what we need) in this town"
But they couldn't whup the fighting side of me
You know where I come from, we don't give up easily
Overnight
It took all my life to be found

I'm the biggest thing that ever came from my hometown
And I'll be damned if I'm gonna let 'em down
If it's the last thing I do before they lay me in the ground
You know I'm gonna make Pocahontas proud

Pocahontas proud (Pocahontas proud, Pocahontas proud)

At twenty-seven, I had baby Grace
And I was born again when I saw her sweet face
And I knew she was the greatest thing I'd ever do

I'm the biggest thing that ever came from my hometown
I'll be damned if I'm gonna let 'em down
If it's the last thing I do before they lay me in the ground

I'm the biggest thing that ever came from my hometown
And I'll be damned if I'm gonna let 'em down
If it's the last thing I do before they lay me in the ground
You know I'm gonna make Pocahontas proud

I was raised in Pocahontas, Illinois

Pocahontas proud
You know I'm gonna make Pocahontas proud

Pocahontas proud





Good night, Pocahontas, we love ya

Overall Meaning

In "Pocahontas Proud," Gretchen Wilson sings about her upbringing in Pocahontas, Illinois, and her determination to succeed in the music industry despite the obstacles she faced. She describes herself as a tough girl who ran with a rough crowd from a young age, and spent her youth singing truth and paying her dues by playing gigs in local bars. She is proud of where she comes from and feels a strong sense of responsibility to represent her hometown well.


The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "I'm the biggest thing that ever came from my hometown," which can be interpreted in a couple of different ways. On one hand, Wilson may be boasting about her success in the music industry and her status as a celebrity from a small town. On the other hand, she may be underscoring the fact that Pocahontas, Illinois is a small and relatively unknown place, and that she is one of the few people to achieve national recognition while living there. In either case, the lyrics show that Wilson feels a strong connection to her roots and is determined to make her hometown proud.


Later in the song, Wilson describes her struggles in the music business, including rejection from record labels and industry insiders who told her she didn't have what it takes. She credits her resilience and fighting spirit to her upbringing in Pocahontas, where people don't give up easily. She also talks about the birth of her daughter and how that experience renewed her sense of purpose and inspired her to continue pursuing her dreams.


Line by Line Meaning

I was raised in Pocahontas, Illinois
This line simply tells us where the singer spent her childhood.


Everybody thought of me as one of the boys
This line indicates how the society viewed the singer, as someone who was not typically feminine and exhibited characteristics that would usually be associated with boys.


'Cause I'd run with a crowd that was tough
The singer was a part of a tough group of people in her society.


At fifteen, I was tendin' Big O's Bar
The singer had started working at a bar at the young age of fifteen.


I'd sing 'til 2 AM for a half-full tip jar
The singer performed music at the bar till the late hours of the night, for a very meagre earning.


Spent my youth singing truth and payin' dues
The singer spent her youth singing about real-life situations while struggling to earn her livelihood.


I'm the biggest thing that ever came from my hometown
The singer had achieved a level of success that was unmatched by anyone else from her locality.


And I'll be damned if I'm gonna let 'em down
The singer is determined to not disappoint her hometown after making it big as an artist.


If it's the last thing I do before they lay me in the ground
The singer is prepared to do anything to make sure that she fulfils the expectations of her hometown, even if it means doing so on her deathbed.


You know I'm gonna make Pocahontas proud
The singer reiterates her determination to make her hometown proud.


I knocked on every door on music row
The singer tried every possible path to success in the music industry.


They looked down at me and said
The industry people did not take the singer seriously.


"Girl, go back home, you ain't got (you ain't got)
The music industry people told the singer that she did not have what it takes to make it in the industry.


What we need (what we need) in this town"
The industry people were looking for something different from what the singer had to offer.


But they couldn't whup the fighting side of me
The singer did not give up and continued to keep fighting despite the rejections and criticisms.


You know where I come from, we don't give up easily
This line highlights the determination and resilience that is characteristic of the people from the singer's hometown.


Overnight
This line is a way to say that success takes time, and does not happen overnight.


It took all my life to be found
After years of hard work, the singer finally made it in the industry.


At twenty-seven, I had baby Grace
The singer had a child at the age of twenty-seven.


And I was born again when I saw her sweet face
The birth of her child had induced in the singer a new sense of energy and purpose.


And I knew she was the greatest thing I'd ever do
The singer saw her child as her biggest achievement and source of inspiration.


Pocahontas proud
This phrase is repeated to emphasise the singer's commitment to making her hometown proud.


Good night, Pocahontas, we love ya
This line expresses the singer's love for her hometown, even as she continues to pursue her dreams elsewhere.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Gretchen Wilson, John Rich, Vicky Mcgehee

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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