Besides these two songs, five more of Montgomery's singles have reached the top of the country charts: "I Love the Way You Love Me", "Be My Baby Tonight", "If You've Got Love", "I Can Love You Like That", and "The Little Girl", while thirteen more have reached Top Ten. Montgomery's recordings of "I Swear" and "I Can Love You Like That" were both released concurrently with R&B versions by the group All-4-One. Montgomery has also released eleven studio albums, counting a Christmas album.
John Michael joined the family band (which also included his brother, Eddie Montgomery, who would later join Troy Gentry in the duo Montgomery Gentry) as guitarist before taking the lead singing role when his parents divorced. Afterwards, he made a frugal living on the local honky-tonk scene as a solo artist playing what he referred to as "working man's country." Eventually, Atlantic Records signed him.
Paint The Town Redneck
John Michael Montgomery Lyrics
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Dreamin' in color but livin' in black and white
Monday to Friday ain't nothing but shades of gray
But tonight I'm gonna party
All my blue collar blues away
I'm a paint the town redneck when I get my paycheck
You ought to see my Chevy van go
I'm a honky tonkin' Michelangelo
Picasso with a pool stick
Too loose with a two step
Rollin' till my green's all gone
I'm a paint the town redneck
Honey want to come along
We can get there early
And draw us a pitcher of beer
Do a little dancin' and make the blues disappear
Brushin' up against each other in the neon light
You can be my Mona Lisa and I'll make you smile tonight
I'm a paint the town redneck when I get my paycheck
You ought to see my Chevy van go
Headin' for the bright lights, I'll be painting all night
I'm a honky tonkin' Michelangelo
Picasso with a pool stick
Too loose with a two step
Rollin' till my green's all gone
I'm a paint the town redneck
Honey want to come along
I'm a paint the town redneck
Honey want to come along
In "Paint The Town Redneck," John Michael Montgomery sings about the daily grind of work and the monotony of the week. He longs for the weekend and the opportunity to let loose and have fun. Montgomery expresses his desire to escape the mundane routine of life by describing himself as a "paint the town redneck." He plans on using his paycheck to fund a night on the town where he'll indulge in some good old-fashioned honky-tonk fun. The lyrics describe how he's talented in his own unique way as a Michelangelo or Picasso, but instead of painting with brushes and canvas, he paints his masterpiece with a pool stick and some slick moves on the dance floor.
The party that Montgomery describes in the song is a way for him to forget his troubles and enjoy the company of those around him. The bright lights of the honky-tonk and the excitement of the dance floor serve as a temporary escape from the daily grind. He offers to take anyone who wants to come along with him on his adventure, promising a night of fun and laughter.
Line by Line Meaning
All week long I been workin' that nine to five
I've been working my regular job all week
Dreamin' in color but livin' in black and white
I've been fantasizing about living a more exciting life
Monday to Friday ain't nothing but shades of gray
My weekdays are dull and uneventful
But tonight I'm gonna party
But tonight I'm going to have fun
All my blue collar blues away
I hope to alleviate my work-related stress
We can get there early
We can arrive at the party early
And draw us a pitcher of beer
And order some beer for us to share
Do a little dancin' and make the blues disappear
We will dance and forget our problems
Brushin' up against each other in the neon light
We'll get close and dance together in a lively atmosphere
You can be my Mona Lisa and I'll make you smile tonight
You can be the highlight of my night and I will make sure you enjoy yourself
You ought to see my Chevy van go
You should see how fast I can drive my van
Headin' for the bright lights, I'll be painting all night
Heading towards the party, I plan to stay up all night having fun
I'm a honky tonkin' Michelangelo
I'm very talented when it comes to partying
Picasso with a pool stick
I'm a skilled pool player
Too loose with a two step
I'm very relaxed when dancing and not too precise
Rollin' till my green's all gone
I'll keep on partying until I'm out of money
Honey want to come along
Do you want to join me at the party?
I'm a paint the town redneck
I'm planning to have a wild night out
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, STEVE O'BRIEN MUSIC
Written by: RICHARD WILLIAM FAGAN, STEVE O'BRIEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind