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.
The Southern Soldier Boy
Kathy Mattea Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He's off to the wars and gone
He's fighting for his Nannie dear
His sword is buckled on
He's fighting for his own true love
His foes he does defy
He is the darling of my heart
Oh if in battle he was slain
I'm sure that I should die
but I'm sure he'll come again
And cheer my weeping eye
But should he fall
In this our glorious cause
He still would be my joy
For many a sweetheart mourns the loss
Of a Southern soldier boy
I hope for the best
And so do all
Whose hopes are in the field
I know that we shall win the day
For Southerns never yield
And when we thing
Of those who are away
We'll look above for joy
And I'm mighty glad
That my Bobby is
A Southern soldier boy
The Southern Soldier Boy by Kathy Mattea is a song about a woman named Nannie whose sweetheart, Bob Roebuck, has gone off to war as a Southern soldier. The song consists of two women's perspective: Nannie, whose sweetheart is fighting in the Civil War, and the singer herself, who tells the story of how she is "mighty glad" that Bobby is a Southern soldier boy.
The song depicts the deep love and loyalty a woman has towards her partner, who has gone off to fight for his country. Nannie's love for Bob is such that if he does not come back home from the war, she does not want to live either. She is willing to follow her lover to death. However, Nannie hopes that Bob will return victorious, and that they will cherish life together. In the second half of the song, the singer talks about her own admiration of the Southern soldier boy, whose fighting spirit she hopes will lead to a victory for the South in the Civil War.
Line by Line Meaning
Bob Roebuck is my sweetheart's name
The singer's sweetheart is a man named Bob Roebuck.
He's off to the wars and gone
Bob Roebuck has gone off to fight in a war.
He's fighting for his Nannie dear
Bob Roebuck is fighting for his beloved Nannie.
His sword is buckled on
Bob Roebuck is ready for battle, with his sword by his side.
He's fighting for his own true love
Bob Roebuck is fighting for the love of his life, the artist.
His foes he does defy
Bob Roebuck is fearless in the face of his enemies.
He is the darling of my heart
Bob Roebuck is the singer's beloved.
My Southern soldier boy
Bob Roebuck is referred to affectionately as a 'Southern soldier boy.'
Oh if in battle he was slain
The artist fears for Bob Roebuck's life in battle.
I'm sure that I should die
The artist would be heartbroken if Bob Roebuck were to die in battle.
but I'm sure he'll come again
The singer believes that Bob Roebuck will return from battle.
And cheer my weeping eye
Bob Roebuck's return would bring joy and happiness to the artist.
But should he fall
In the event that Bob Roebuck dies in battle...
In this our glorious cause
...while fighting for the Southern cause...
He still would be my joy
...he would still be a source of happiness for the singer.
For many a sweetheart mourns the loss
Other women have lost their beloveds in the war and are mourning.
Of a Southern soldier boy
These women have lost Southern soldier boys like Bob Roebuck.
I hope for the best
The singer is optimistic about the outcome of the war.
And so do all
Others share this optimism.
Whose hopes are in the field
Those who have loved ones fighting in the war are hopeful.
I know that we shall win the day
The artist is confident that the South will emerge victorious in the war.
For Southerners never yield
Southerners are known for their strength and resilience.
And when we think
When we reflect on those who are fighting in the war...
Of those who are away
...those who are away from their loved ones and fighting for their country...
We'll look above for joy
...we'll look to God for comfort and happiness.
And I'm mighty glad
The singer is very happy...
That my Bobby is
...that her beloved Bob Roebuck is...
A Southern soldier boy
...a proud Southern soldier boy.
Contributed by Jack H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.