Barley Scotch is on lead vocals, fiddle and guitar. The Reverend Don-Wayne Reno is on banjo, Deacon Dale Reno is on mandolin and guitar and Jake 'Bakesnake' Byers is on acoustic bass. Hayseed Dixie are an awesome live band, who have, to date, released 9 albums. The latest, 'Killer Grass' was released in 2010. A live DVD entitled 'No Sleep 'til Liverpool' is also available.
Songs by artists such as Kiss, Outkast, Led Zeppelin and Aerosmith get the Rockgrass treatment, but the band play original songs too. - numbers such as 'Moonshiner's Daughter', 'Kirby Hill' and 'Blind Beggar Breakdown' raise the roof at live shows. Hayseed Dixie songs cover the four key elements of any song worth playing; - Drinkin', Cheatin', Killin' and Hell! - The band also recorded an album of rocked-up bluegrass classics, called '*Choose Your Own Title' using the name The Kerosene Brothers.
Brothers Dale Reno and Don--Wayne Reno are the sons of bluegrass maestro Don Reno, who wrote many hits, including 'Dueling Banjos', and the band even once played at a house-warming party for AC/DC bass player Cliff Williams.
Beware of instrumental cover tracks mis-tagged as 'Hayseed Dixie'! (often from the 'Pickin' On...' series of albums.)... as Barley Scotch has said, "If a song's got word's we'll sing 'em!" - A full list of albums and tracks can be found at the band's website.
Hayseed Dixie also perform under the name Kerosene Brothers
Site: Archive.org
Rockin' In The Free World
Hayseed Dixie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Red, white, and blue
People shufflin' their feet
People sleepin' in their shoes
But there's a warnin' sign on the road ahead
There's a lot of people sayin'
We'd be better off dead
Don't feel like Satan
So I try to forget it, any way I can.
Keep on rockin' in the free world,
Keep on rockin' in the free world,
Keep on rockin' in the free world,
Keep on rockin' in the free world.
I see a girl in the night
With a baby in her hand
Under an old street light
Near a garbage can
Now she puts the kid away,
And she's gone to get a hit
She hates her life
And what she's done to it.
That's one more kid
That will never go to school
Never get to fall in love
Never get to be cool
Keep on rockin' in the free world,
Keep on rockin' in the free world,
Keep on rockin' in the free world,
Keep on rockin' in the free world.
Keep on rockin' in the free world,
Keep on rockin' in the free world,
Keep on rockin' in the free world,
Keep on rockin' in the free world.
The lyrics to Hayseed Dixie's song "Rockin' In The Free World" tells a story of the struggles of people in America. The opening lines "Colors on the street, Red, white, and blue, People shufflin' their feet, People sleepin' in their shoes" paints a picture of a community where people are struggling to make ends meet. The mention of "warnin' sign on the road ahead" implies a sense of danger or warning for the future. The line "There's a lot of people sayin' We'd be better off dead" suggests that people may have given up hope.
The song goes on to describe a girl in the night with a baby in her hand near a garbage can. The line "She hates her life, and what she's done to it" shows the desperation and hopelessness of the situation. The heartbreaking part of the song is the following lines "That's one more kid that will never go to school, Never get to fall in love, Never get to be cool." It highlights the cycle of poverty and the lack of opportunities for children born into such situations.
The refrain "Keep on rockin' in the free world" is a call to action to keep going despite the struggles and hardships. It's a message of hope amidst the despair. The song addresses the social issues and inequalities in America and encourages people to keep fighting for a better future.
Line by Line Meaning
Colors on the street
Observing the patriotic colors of the United States flag on display along city streets.
Red, white, and blue
Specifically noting the colors of the American flag, which are red, white and blue.
People shufflin' their feet
Many people walking, but not quickly or with any particular purpose.
People sleepin' in their shoes
Referring to the destitute people who are sleeping in their shoes, unable to afford a bed.
But there's a warnin' sign on the road ahead
Signs of trouble or danger lie ahead.
There's a lot of people sayin'
Many people are stating their opinions.
We'd be better off dead
People are so unhappy with their situation that they feel life is not worth living.
Don't feel like Satan
Despite the negative attitudes and actions of others towards the singer, they don’t feel evil or malicious.
But I am to them
Other people choose to think of the singer as being bad, whether justified or not.
So I try to forget it, any way I can.
The singer tries not to let the negativity get to them.
Keep on rockin' in the free world,
Persist in living in a free world because it's worth persevering through the difficulties.
I see a girl in the night
The singer observes a girl one night.
With a baby in her hand
The girl is holding a baby.
Under an old street light
The girl and baby are under a street light that is old and barely functioning.
Near a garbage can
The girl and baby are near a garbage can which evokes a sense of hopelessness and despair.
Now she puts the kid away,
The girl puts the baby away somewhere.
And she's gone to get a hit
The girl leaves the baby to go and get a drug fix.
She hates her life
The girl is deeply unhappy with her situation.
And what she's done to it.
The girl is full of regret and self-blame for how her life has turned out.
That's one more kid
The baby the girl has just put away is symbolic of yet another innocent who has become a victim.
That will never go to school
The child may never have an education or opportunities in life.
Never get to fall in love
The child may never get the chance to experience love and happiness.
Never get to be cool
The child will never be able to embody the ideal of coolness and being hip.
Keep on rockin' in the free world,
Persist in living in a free world because it's worth persevering through the difficulties.
Keep on rockin' in the free world,
Persist in living in a free world because it's worth persevering through the difficulties.
Keep on rockin' in the free world,
Persist in living in a free world because it's worth persevering through the difficulties.
Keep on rockin' in the free world.
Persist in living in a free world because it's worth persevering through the difficulties.
Contributed by Nathaniel C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.