Mattea was born in South Charleston, West Virginia, because it had the nearest hospital to her parents' home in Cross Lanes, where she grew up, graduating from nearby Nitro High School. In 1976, while in college, she joined the bluegrass band Pennsboro, and two years later dropped out of school to move to Nashville. She worked as a tour guide at the Country Music Hall of Fame, did backup vocal work for Bobby Goldsboro , and sang demos for several Nashville songwriters and publishers including Nashville songwriter/producer Byron Hill, who brought her to the attention of Frank Jones (then head of Mercury Records), who signed her to her first record deal in 1983.
Mattea's third album, 1986's folky Walk the Way the Wind Blows, proved to be her breakthrough both critically and commercially. Her cover of Nanci Griffith's "Love at the Five and Dime" was her first major hit, reaching #3 (and in addition, earned Griffith notice as a songwriter); and the album produced three other top ten songs: "Walk the Way the Wind Blows" (#10), "You're the Power (#5), and "Train of Memories" (#6).
Further hit songs include her first #1, "Goin' Gone"; the truck-driving song "Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses" (1988); "Come From the Heart" and "Burnin' Old Memories" (both #1 hits in 1989); "She Came From Fort Worth" (1990); "Lonesome Standard Time" (1992); "Walking Away a Winner" (1994); "Nobody's Gonna Rain on Our Parade" (1994); "Maybe She's Human" (1994); and "455 Rocket" (1997). "Eighteen Wheels," in late May 1988, became the first single by a solo female to spend multiple weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard country singles chart since Dolly Parton's "You're the Only One" in August 1979; both singles were on top of that chart for two weeks.
The heart-wrenching "Where've You Been," which Mattea's husband Jon Vezner co-wrote with singer/songwriter Don Henry, reached #2 on the country chart and won her a 1990 Grammy for Best Female Country Vocal. Mattea is a repeat winner of the County Music Associations Female Vocalist of the Year, which she won on the success of "Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses" and "Where've You Been."
The following year, Mattea took part in Voices That Care, a multi-artist project that featured other top names in music for a one-off single to raise money for the allied troops in the Gulf War. The project included fellow country singers Garth Brooks, Kenny Rogers and Randy Travis. She has also been heavily involved in HIV/AIDS-related charities beginning in the early 1990s, and is often credited with leading the country music community, commonly regarded as the last segment of the entertainment industry to address the AIDS epidemic, to finally do so. She performed with Mary Chapin Carpenter on VH1's very first Save The Music concert, which also starred Bette Midler.
Mattea won another Grammy in 1993 for her gospel-oriented Christmas album Good News. Her first single from the album, "Mary, Did You Know?" went on to be covered by Kenny Rogers with Wynonna, as well as Reba McEntire.
Mattea subsequently moved to MCA and, in 2000, released the ballad-heavy The Innocent Years, a heartfelt tribute to her ailing father. Wanting to explore her taste for Celtic folk, Mattea hopped labels to Narada, for whom she debuted in 2002 with the eclectic Roses.
With her social activism and her taste for songs with introspective lyrics, it has been often said that Mattea owes as much to the traditions of folk music as mainstream country.
Though her recent work has failed to make the country charts, Mattea continued to enjoy a strong following throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s; her albums are critically well received, and she continues to tour and perform. She continues to have strong support from a very active fan club, run by Sue Phelps, whose members refer to themselves as Matteaheads.
Kathy travelled the country presenting Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth" and speaking to crowds about the importance to fight global warming.
Before leaving Narada she released another album full of differing influences, Right Out Of Nowhere, including a cover of a Stones tune.
Her CD "Coal" released on her own label is a collection of songs about mining and received a nomination for a Grammy. She continues to tour across the US and in early 2008 she made a welcome return to the UK.
In 2018, Mattea announced a new album, Pretty Bird, which was released independently with Tim O'Brien serving as producer.
Down on the Corner
Kathy Mattea Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Over by the courthouse, they're startin' to unwind
Four kids on the corner, tryin' to bring you up
Willie picks a tune out and he blows it on the harp
Down on the corner, out in the street
Willie and the poor boy's are playin'
Bring a nickel, tap your feet
Rooster hits the wash board, people just got to smile
Blinky thumps the gut-bass and he solos for a while
Poor boy twangs the rhythm out, on his Kalamazoo
Willie goes into a dance and he doubles on kazoo
Down on the corner, out in the street
Willie and the poor boy's are playin'
Bring a nickel, tap your feet
You don't need a penny, just to hang around
But if you got a nickel, won't you lay your money down
Over on the corner, there's a happy noise
People come from all around to watch the magic boy
Down on the corner, out in the street
Willie and the poor boy's are playin'
Bring a nickel, tap your feet
Down on the corner, out in the street
Poor boy's are playin', nickel, tap your feet
Down on the corner, out in the street
Poor boy's are playin', nickel, tap your feet
Down on the corner, out in the street
Willie and the poor boy's are playin'
Bring a nickel, tap your feet
Down on the corner, out in the street
Willie and the poor boy's are playin'
Bring a nickel, tap your feet
In Kathy Mattea's song "Down On The Corner," she describes a scene of four kids on the corner who are "tryin' to bring you up." The song takes place early in the evening, just about supper time, and it seems like the kids are starting to unwind at the courthouse. Willie begins to play a tune on the harp, and the other kids join in, creating a happy noise that people from all around come to watch. It's a simple scene, but the message is clear: you don't need much to have a good time.
The lyrics are a celebration of the power of music to bring people together and lift their spirits. The kids on the corner are poor, but their music is a source of joy for themselves and for the people who come to listen. The song's repetitive chorus of "Down on the corner, out in the street, Willie and the poor boy's are playin', bring a nickel, tap your feet" captures the infectious energy of the scene and invites the listener to join in the fun.
Line by Line Meaning
Early in the evening, just about supper time
It's evening and almost dinner time
Over by the courthouse, they're startin' to unwind
Near the courthouse, people are starting to unwind or relax
Four kids on the corner, tryin' to bring you up
Four young people on the street corner are trying to lift your spirits
Willie picks a tune out and he blows it on the harp
Willie plays a tune on his harmonica
Down on the corner, out in the street
On the street corner
Willie and the poor boy's are playin'
Willie and the poor boy's are playing music
Bring a nickel, tap your feet
If you have a nickel, listen to the music and tap your feet
Rooster hits the wash board, people just got to smile
The person playing the washboard makes people happy
Blinky thumps the gut-bass and he solos for a while
Blinky is playing the bass and has a solo
Poor boy twangs the rhythm out, on his Kalamazoo
One of the poor boys is playing the rhythm on his Kalamazoo guitar
Willie goes into a dance and he doubles on kazoo
Willie dances and plays the kazoo at the same time
You don't need a penny, just to hang around
You don't have to pay anything to be there and listen to the music
But if you got a nickel, won't you lay your money down
If you have a nickel, you can give it as a tip or donation
Over on the corner, there's a happy noise
On the street corner, there is a joyful sound
People come from all around to watch the magic boy
People come from all over to watch the talented musician
Poor boy's are playin', nickel, tap your feet
The poor boys are playing music, if you have a nickel, tap your feet
Down on the corner, out in the street
On the street corner
Willie and the poor boy's are playin'
Willie and the poor boy's are playing music
Bring a nickel, tap your feet
If you have a nickel, listen to the music and tap your feet
Down on the corner, out in the street
On the street corner
Willie and the poor boy's are playin'
Willie and the poor boy's are playing music
Bring a nickel, tap your feet
If you have a nickel, listen to the music and tap your feet
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, THE BICYCLE MUSIC COMPANY
Written by: JOHN C FOGERTY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind