Hometown News is Scott Whitehead and Ron Kingery. These musical brothers planted the seeds for their sound when they met at a Nashville songwriters night. Ron at the time was writing songs and engineering albums for The Wonder Workshop. It was there that he provided his musical and engineering skills for Roy Clark's Grammy nominated album "Roy Clark Sings and Plays Gospel Greats".
Before Hometown News Scott did a stint in the Navy flying the F/A-18 Hornet. Scott flew missions over North Iraq during the first Gulf War and is a graduate of the Naval Fighter Weapons School (Top Gun). After moving to Nashville he landed a staff writer job for the legendary Acuff-Rose publishing company. It was during this time he met Ron, and the two began writing what would be their first Top-40 Country single - "Minivan".
Together, Scott and Ron have a knack for recording songs that speak to the way everyday people live their lives. Their self-produced debut CD "Wheels" and sophomore project "Hometown News" reflect the mid-America emotions of their upbringing. Ron and Scott spent younger years in rural Illinois and Missouri respectively where the small town lifestyle, along with Johnny Cash and Glenn Campbell records that could be found on their parents' turntables shaped their musical tastes.
Another aspect these "brothers" share is they were both born on military bases, the sons of active duty members of the Armed Forces. It is the discipline instilled by their parents that in part drives their work ethic, and is arguably a factor in Hometown News being nominated for an ACM award less than a year after the release of the debut CD "Wheels" on independent label VFR Records.
Hometown News has gone on to secure a Ford Motor Company sponsorship, made its debut appearance on the Grand Ole Opry and completed a 34-day world tour of military bases. In October of 2005 Ron and Scott became a part of history and a trivia question answer when they sang the National Anthem and God Bless America at Game 6 of the 2005 National League Championship Series in St.Louis. It was the final anthem sung in the old Busch stadium.
When looking at what their future may hold, the duo turns back to the way music inspired them when they were young. "I think it would be a neat thing 30 years down the road for some kid who's an up and coming singer to be doing an interview and say, 'You know, there were these two guys who were called Hometown News, and my Dad used to play that stuff all the time," says Ron. "We'd like to have something that might last a little and stand the test of time. That would be a great compliment".
Stuck In The Middle With You
Hometown News Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I got the feeling that something ain't right
I'm so scared in case I fall off my chair
And I'm wondering how I'll get down the stairs
Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right
Here I am, stuck in the middle with you.
Yes I'm stuck in the middle with you
It's so hard to keep the smile from my face
Losing control, yeah I'm all over the place
Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right
Here I am, stuck in the middle with you.
Well you started out with nothing
And you're proud that you're a self-made man
And your friends they all come crawlin'
Slap you on the back and say 'Please, please.'
Trying to make some sense of it all
But I can see that it makes no sense at all
Is it cool to go to sleep on the floor
Well I don't think I can take anymore
Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right
Here I am, stuck in the middle with you.
Well you started out with nothing
And you're proud that you're a self-made man
And your friends they all come crawlin'
Slap you on the back and say 'Please, please.'
Yeah I don't know why I came here tonight
I got the feeling that something ain't right
I'm so scared in case I fall off my chair
And I'm wondering how I'll get down the stairs
Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right
Here I am, stuck in the middle with you.
(Yes I'm) stuck in the middle with you
Stuck in the middle with you
(Here I am) stuck in the middle with you.
The lyrics to Hometown News's song Stuck in the Middle With You describe a feeling of confusion and uncertainty. The singer seems to have found themselves in a situation they did not expect to be in, surrounded by people they do not trust or understand. The line "clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right" paints a vivid image of the singer being stuck in between two opposing forces, both of which seem to be causing them anxiety and discomfort. Despite this, the singer is trying to maintain a positive outlook, but is struggling to do so. They are "losing control" and "all over the place," suggesting that they are feeling overwhelmed and in over their head.
The second verse offers a possible explanation for why the singer feels so out of place. It seems that they have achieved some level of success or recognition, but are now unsure of where they stand with their friends and peers. The line "trying to make some sense of it all, but I can see that it makes no sense at all" suggests that the singer is struggling to reconcile their own values and goals with the expectations of those around them. This theme is further emphasized by the repeated refrain of "stuck in the middle with you," which suggests that the singer feels caught between their own ambitions and the expectations of those around them.
Overall, the lyrics to Stuck in the Middle With You paint a picture of someone who is struggling to find their place in the world. They are surrounded by uncertainty and conflicting emotions and are searching for a way to make sense of it all.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I don't know why I came here tonight
I am unsure why I have found myself in this situation
I got the feeling that something ain't right
I have a sense that things are not as they should be
I'm so scared in case I fall off my chair
I am afraid of losing my balance and falling
And I'm wondering how I'll get down the stairs
I am uncertain of how I will descend the stairs
Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right
There are both amusing and foolish people surrounding me
Here I am, stuck in the middle with you.
I find myself trapped in this situation with you
Yes I'm stuck in the middle with you
I am indeed caught in this circumstance with you
And I'm wondering what it is I should do
I am unsure of how best to proceed
It's so hard to keep the smile from my face
It is challenging to hide my emotions
Losing control, yeah I'm all over the place
I feel like I am losing my composure
Well you started out with nothing
You began your journey with very little
And you're proud that you're a self-made man
You take pride in your ability to succeed on your own
And your friends they all come crawlin'
Your acquaintances come to you for help
Slap you on the back and say 'Please, please.'
They flatter you and seek your assistance
Trying to make some sense of it all
I am attempting to understand the situation
But I can see that it makes no sense at all
I realize that it is illogical
Is it cool to go to sleep on the floor
Is it acceptable to rest on the ground
Well I don't think I can take anymore
I am unsure if I can handle any further stress
(Yes I'm) stuck in the middle with you
I am, indeed, still caught in this predicament with you
Stuck in the middle with you
I remain in this difficult position with you
(Here I am) stuck in the middle with you.
I remain, unwillingly, in this scenario with you
Writer(s): Gerald Rafferty Copyright: Stage Three Music (Catalogues) Limited
Contributed by Sadie C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@johnmccarthy9391
It just doesn't get any better, and think about the fact that Gerry grew up in Scotland. Somehow, he tapped into the American vibe of what was going on at that time and adapted it and created magic out of it all.
Rafferty absolutely nailed it.
Icon of 70s music writ large.
And no, PLEASE do not post idiotic geriatric missives about how "that was real music, no this or that, blah blah." That's idiotic and irrelevant.
There is plenty of good music out there now, but the point is that this was the 70s, and Raffrerty helped define the era.
I was there.
@ralphmadera4366
I was in my last year of high school, that song came out , I used to start a part time job at 1:30 pm , and this radio station play this song exactly at 1 pm every day , I’m 62 years old and today Sunday , March 7,2024 at 12:42 pm I still play this song . What a great part of humanity we lived between the 70s and 80s.
@Kitunae
My dear Grandpa is going for his cancer operation in the new year. He loves this song. I'm trying to sing for him instead of cry. I love you Grandpa. You are my hero.
@lonepenguin29
I hope everything goes well.
@vickimiller5785
Prayers and positive thoughts to you and yours. I'm sure he appreciates you being there for him, and with him.
@vickimiller5785
Prayers and positive thoughts to you and yours. I'm sure he appreciates you being there for him, and with him.
@cindy-mq6pl
💖💖💖
@pmenadue
Best of luck with everything - take care.
@usmc6911
My drum teacher told me back in 1972 that the sign of a truly great song is, While its playing you can close your eyes and see the song as a movie in your head.My strongest "movies"are Baker street,Rush 2112 whole album,Led Zep No Quarter and Black Sabbath Hand of Doom.
@stanbattle7436
No one ever talks about the guitar riff only the Sax but it is outstanding as well.
@olavius771
One of the most iconic songs of the seventies! ❤️