Kilgore’s course was set. He spent the next several years working the club scene playing classic country, first in Oregon, then in Phoenix, where a romantic breakup first inspired him to try his hand at writing his own songs. Soon Kilgore’s original songs were getting more requests at his shows than his covers. Jerry then spent two more years honing his chops in North Carolina before deciding to take a shot at Nashville. The young musician dragged his possessions into the yard and put a For Sale sign out, and the next day he loaded whatever hadn’t sold into his pickup truck and headed out for Music City.
Within a few short years Kilgore began to have success as a songwriter, penning “Love Lessons” for Tracy Byrd, “Leavin’ Comin’ On” for Mark Wills, “Cover You in Kisses” for John Michael Montgomery, and “If A Man Ain’t Thinking About His Woman” for Clay Walker. Kilgore’s songs caught the attention of powerhouse country producer Scott Hendricks, who had produced Alan Jackson, Faith Hill, and Brooks and Dunn among many others. Hendricks was President of Virgin Records’ new Nashville office at that time. “He came out to a club and saw me play,” Kilgore says, “and a week later he offered me a record deal on Virgin Records as the first male artist that they were signing.”
The result was 1999’s Love Trip, which brought together Kilgore’s classic influences like Haggard, Buck Owens, Gene Watson, George Strait and Ricky Skaggs in a contemporary country album that critics and fans alike hailed as the debut of a major new traditionalist. Kilgore got to live out many of his dreams, including playing the Grand Ole Opry and going on tour with George Strait, who had inspired him in the first place. “It was kinda full circle,” Kilgore recalls. “I got to go on his tour as an opening act. It was great. It was a lot of fun.” Though Love Trip’s title song was a Top 40 hit, Virgin Nashville was struggling financially, and the label soon folded, leaving Kilgore out on tour and with records in stores, but no label support. “Things were rolling, but the label wasn’t,” Kilgore says. “So that was that.”
Jerry Kilgore spent the next several years re-grouping, playing, writing new songs and recording, figuring out his next move. In 2007 he formed his own label and released his second album Loaded and Empty, which he co- produced with Matt Rollings. “I always kept writing, and I just accumulated enough songs that I felt would be a good record,” Kilgore states. “I cut it in pieces, a few songs here and a few songs there, until it led to having a finished record.” Songs like “What’s It Take To Get A Drink In Here”, “Looking For A Highway”, “Loaded And Empty” and “Aint Got One Honky Tonk” continue in the Kilgore tradition of classic-yet-contemporary country. “There was never really any thought about having to find the right single and picking the right song like I did on the Virgin project,” Kilgore says. “You know, you kinda look at ‘What can I do that radio will like?’ This record I didn’t think about any of that; I went in and cut songs the way I thought they should sound, and the songs I liked singing”.
Loaded and Empty is Jerry Kilgore’s strongest work to date, and the word of mouth has been tremendous. “I’ve been selling CDs overseas, , and I’m getting really great response from this record, great reviews,” Kilgore says. Loaded And Empty was considered by Country Music magazine one of the ten best cd’s of the year. “Loaded And Empty” is distributed through CD Baby. Also, a video for “What’s It Take To Get A Drink In Here” is showing on GAC. Kilgore is currently working on a new cd to be released summer of 2010.
LOVE TRIP
Jerry Kilgore Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm pulling in the driveway you're pulling out
We need a va-cation I want to be alone with you
In a cozy little cabin or a caribbean cruise
Let's take a little love trip Lock the doors and try to forget
The bills to pay and the faucet drips Oh we've got to get a-way
It don't matter baby where we go The blue ridge mountains or Mexico
Just park the car and the kids Let's take a little love trip
Now we can call the airlines heard fares are cheap
We can rent a rag top and head down to the beach
Now wouldn't it be romantic to get a room on a train
And go on a long slow ride to any place
Let's take a little love trip Let's take a little love trip
The lyrics to Jerry Kilgore's song Love Trip describe the stressful nature of holding down two jobs and the impact that this has on a person's love life. The individual in the song is describing the situation where they are arriving home from one job just as their partner is leaving for the other job. The lyrics express the desire for a vacation, an opportunity to get away from the stresses of daily life and to spend some quality time with their partner. The romantic getaway is imagined to take place in either a cozy cabin or on a Caribbean cruise. The lyrics depict a longing to embark on a love trip, to escape the bills to pay and the constant drip of a leaking faucet.
The lyrics suggest that the destination for the love trip is not important, as long as it is away from the stresses of daily life. The individual could see themselves taking a love trip to the Blue Ridge Mountains, Mexico, or even further afield. The focus is on getting away, on rekindling the spark of romance, and on spending time alone with their partner, away from their daily routine. Love Trip is an upbeat country song that conveys the importance of taking time away from work and daily stresses to focus on what really matters - the love between two individuals.
Line by Line Meaning
It's hard on the love life holding two jobs down
Juggling multiple jobs is affecting our love life.
I'm pulling in the driveway you're pulling out
We are struggling to find time for each other due to conflicting schedules.
We need a va-cation I want to be alone with you
We need to go on a relaxing vacation to spend quality time together.
In a cozy little cabin or a caribbean cruise
We are open to any vacation destination as long as we can be alone together.
Let's take a little love trip Lock the doors and try to forget
We need a break from our daily routine and want to focus on each other.
The bills to pay and the faucet drips Oh we've got to get a-way
We are feeling overwhelmed by our responsibilities and need an escape.
It don't matter baby where we go The blue ridge mountains or Mexico
The destination is not as important as being alone together and enjoying each other's company.
Just park the car and the kids Let's take a little love trip
We need a break from our parental responsibilities and just want to focus on each other.
Now we can call the airlines heard fares are cheap
We are exploring all options to make this vacation happen, including finding affordable travel options.
We can rent a rag top and head down to the beach
We are considering a road trip to a beach destination.
Now wouldn't it be romantic to get a room on a train
We are considering a more unique and romantic travel option like taking a train trip.
And go on a long slow ride to any place
We want to take our time and enjoy the journey to our destination.
Let's take a little love trip Let's take a little love trip
We are committed to making this vacation happen and prioritizing our relationship.
Contributed by Bentley V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.