James Wesley puts those core values into his music with a whiskey-smooth voice and a timelessly winning way with a great country song. Wesley sings directly to real people about real things that profoundly affect real lives—and from his small-town upbringing to his blue-collar work ethic, he has a deep understanding of what those folks are longing to hear.
"I know there's more people out there than just me who want to hear something that grabs you and makes you go, 'Wow, that's me—that's how I feel, that's my day, that's my family,'" he says. "When you swing a hammer every day, when you're out there doing what you have to do, you learn a lot of compassion for the people that do it day in and day out."
Wesley grew up in tiny Mound Valley, a community of about 200 people in Southeastern Kansas. He first discovered country music via his grandmother's record collection, which included heaping helpings of classic crooners like Marty Robbins, George Jones and Ray Price. "We'd go over there on the weekends," he recalls. "She'd have the console set up and the records stacked up and we'd listen to them as they dropped. Those guys back then, they could sing. I thought, 'That's what I want to do.'"
His mother was the first to notice Wesley's own talent for singing when she overheard him belting out his favorite songs behind his bedroom door. "I thought if I shut my door I blocked everybody out, but evidently I didn't block Mom out," he says with a chuckle. "She heard me and said, 'I'd love to have you sing in church.' So that's what I did." Soon he taught himself to play guitar on an old Stella practice model. "I've got it to this day," he says. "You can still see where I wore down the D, C and G chords on the fretboard."
By his late teens he was singing in local nightclubs and beginning to think about making music his life. "I'd sit in my bedroom and stare out of the window and dream of being out there, getting to see the world," he remembers. His first move in that direction was to Eureka Springs, Arkansas, where he performed in a nightly music and variety show.
There he met his wife, Mindee, with whom he now has two young children—and finally set his sights on Nashville. "I could have stayed in Eureka Springs for the rest of my life, but I just had to chase the dream," he says. "I had to follow my gut." He and Mindee sold their house and almost everything in it, rented a moving truck and headed for Music City. Once there, Wesley took a construction job to make ends meet and began learning the ropes of the Nashville music business. He met hit songwriter Rodney Clawson and producer Dan Frizsell, and the three began recording together.
Their work caught the attention of Broken Bow Records, which signed Wesley in December and quickly released the very first song on his original demo, "Jackson Hole," as his debut single. The tune (penned by Clawson and Monty Criswell) immediately began racing up the charts, driven by listeners who loved its vivid story of fleeting love in a snowy setting. "Jackson Hole" offered fans an upfront introduction to the more vulnerable aspects of Wesley's personality. "Growing up with three sisters, I've got a sensitive side too," he says with a smile. "But I'm proud that I have that side, that I'm not callous. The only thing calloused about me is my hands."
The breakout success of "Jackson Hole" instantly validated the enormous risk Wesley took in uprooting his family from Eureka Springs for an uncertain future in Nashville was worth it. "My family has seen all the ups and downs," he says. "There's been a lot of hard work. There's been times it wasn't easy, and they've been there the whole time. They're great." It also meant that Wesley's days of construction work were over. "Thank God I get to put the hammer down, at least for a while," he says with a laugh. "It's nice to be able to do what I love to do."
James Wesley hopes to do what he loves to do for a long time to come. "I want to be in it for the long haul," he says. "I want to do those songs that everybody wants to hear, and that everybody can feel. I want to be the guy who tells the stories, and tells it like it is."
Walking Contradiction
James Wesley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I just keep it simple, I say it's complicated man
Well you got your opinions and I got my views
But since you asked, let's grab a glass and I'll explain it to you
I go to the church, I go to bars
I read the Word, I read the stars
Dixie waves in my front yard
Yeah you might see gray but I'm black and white
Not afraid to love, not afraid to fight
I love my mama, hell raising Christian
A midnight run and a walking contradiction
I like my country mixed with a little rock
I plant my corn in rows, but there's weeds in my crop
My dad retired from GM in the spring of '94
Well I'm loyal to my daddy, but hell I drive a Ford
I go to the church, I go to bars
I read the Word, I read the stars
Dixie waves in my front yard
But the stars and stripes are in my heart
Yeah you might see gray but I'm black and white
Not afraid to love, not afraid to fight
I love my mama, hell raising Christian
A midnight run and a walking contradiction
Yeah there a lot of folks out there just like me
We are what we are and we are what you see
We go to the church, we go to bars
We read the Word, we read the stars
Dixie waves in our front yards
But the stars and stripes are in our hearts
Yeah you might see gray, but we're black and white
Not afraid to love not afraid to fight
We love our mamas, hell raising Christians
A midnight run and a walking contradiction
Yeah I love my mama, hell raising Christian
A midnight run and a walking contradiction
In the song "Walking Contradiction" by James Wesley, he addresses the dilemma of having multiple identities and beliefs. He acknowledges that people often want to know where he stands and he admits that it's complicated. Wesley embodies characteristics that appear to be in conflict with each other. The song's lyrics describe him as someone who goes to church and reads the word, but also frequents bars and reads the stars. While Dixie flags wave in his front yard, the stars and stripes reside in his heart. He sees things in black and white and he is not afraid to fight or love.
Overall, the song celebrates contradictions and the fact that people are complex beings. Though it may seem confusing at times, the song argues that you can embody multiple identities and beliefs and still be true to yourself. Wesley is proud of his multifaceted nature and encourages others to embrace their contradictions too.
Line by Line Meaning
People want to know right where I stand
People are curious about my beliefs and opinions.
I just keep it simple, I say it's complicated man
I try to simplify my answer, but my perspective is complex.
Well you got your opinions and I got my views
You have your thoughts, and I have mine.
But since you asked, let's grab a glass and I'll explain it to you
Since you asked, I'll elaborate over a drink.
I go to the church, I go to bars
I enjoy both religious and social environments.
I read the Word, I read the stars
I find meaning in both religious texts and astrology.
Dixie waves in my front yard
I'm proud of my Southern heritage.
But the stars and stripes are in my heart
I also have love for America and its flag.
Yeah you might see gray but I'm black and white
My beliefs and principles are clear, even if they seem contradictory.
Not afraid to love, not afraid to fight
I am not hesitant to show affection or stand up for what I believe in.
I love my mama, hell raising Christian
My mother is important to me, and she's a proud Christian.
A midnight run and a walking contradiction
Sometimes I do things that seem unexpected or inconsistent.
I like my country mixed with a little rock
I enjoy country music blended with rock elements.
I plant my corn in rows, but there's weeds in my crop
I try to be organized, but sometimes things don't go as planned.
My dad retired from GM in the spring of '94
My father worked at General Motors and retired in 1994.
Well I'm loyal to my daddy, but hell I drive a Ford
I have respect for my father, but I drive a car from a different brand.
Yeah there are a lot of folks out there just like me
There are many people who have similar beliefs and lifestyles as me.
We are what we are and we are what you see
We are genuine and don't hide who we are.
Yeah I love my mama, hell raising Christian
My mother is an important figure in my life, and she's a proud Christian.
A midnight run and a walking contradiction
Sometimes I do things that seem unexpected or inconsistent.
Contributed by Samuel D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.