Urban was born in Whangarei, North Island, New Zealand (on 26 October, 1967). Before he turned two years old his family moved to Australia. By age seven, Urban was already thinking about emigrating to America and making his mark in Nashville. Urban began to learn the guitar at age six and began winning talent contests at age eight. By twelve he was booking his band in local clubs, and at fifteen he quit school to hit the road. In 1990, Urban signed with EMI in Australia and recorded his first solo album, which charted four No. 1 country hits in Australia. In 1992, he moved to Nashville to pursue the largest country music market in the world. Originally the front man for The Ranch, a three-piece group that released one album in 1997 to critical acclaim, Urban disbanded the group to pursue a solo career.
In the late 90's Urban battled an addiction to cocaine. After reaching a personal rock bottom in 1998, he became determined to give up the habit and checked into Cumberland Heights, a treatment center in Nashville. After cleaning up, Urban released his self-titled American debut in 2000, achieving three top 5 hits and securing the title of Top New Male Vocalist Award at the 2001 Academy of Country Music Awards. Urban, openly regarded as a modern day guitar virtuoso, has performed as a session musician on albums such as Garth Brooks' Double Live and the Dixie Chicks' Fly.
In an attempt to gain more exposure, Keith then appeared semi-nude in an interview for Playgirl magazine's April 2001 issue. The publicity attempt worked as Keith was on the cover of the magazine's readers' most requested issue.
Keith Urban released Golden Road in 2002, and the success of the single "Somebody Like You" sent his career into high gear. The single spent eight consecutive weeks at the top of the charts, remaining at No. 1 longer than any other country artist in 2002. Three other singles were released, two went to No. 1 and the third was No. 3. The album went platinum in every country where it has been released and is triple platinum in the United States. In 2004 Be Here was released and nominated for best country album at the Grammy Awards and at the Academy of Country Music Awards. Out of the five singles released from Be Here, three went No. 1, and two fell just shy of that mark to land at No. 2. In 2006 the album went triple platinum in the U.S. Urban has also released Days Go By, a greatest hits collection, in Europe. With a career total of 13 singles released, seven singles went to No. 1, two went to No.2, two went to No.3, one went to No. 4, and one went to No.18.
Touring as a supporting act for renowned country acts Brooks & Dunn and Kenny Chesney honed Urban's skills and stage-craft. Country video channel CMT signed on as the title sponsor of Keith Urban's first headlining arena tour titled Keith Urban Be Here '04. Urban continued his meteoric rise to fame in 2005 with the very successful Alive in '05 tour. He performed in the Live 8 Philadelphia concert on July 2, 2005 and had been chosen by The Gap to appear alongside seven other musical stars in their "Favorites" campaign. In 2005 he was named CMA's Entertainer of the Year. He released a DVD in late September entitled Livin' Right Now, recorded in California on December 2004. Urban performed "Better Life" on the CMA Awards and "You'll Think of Me" on the American Music Awards. He also performed at the Grammys playing "You'll Think of Me" and "The Lucky One" with Faith Hill. At the 2006 ACM Awards Urban gave two performances when he performed "Tonight I Wanna Cry" and played guitar for Brooks & Dunn's song "Believe."
Personal life
On arriving in Nashville, Tennessee in 1992, Urban quickly fell for veterinary technician Laura Sigler. The pair shared an on-off relationship from 1992, and lived together between 1998 and 2002. Urban paid tribute to Sigler in the sleeve notes to his self-titled first hit album, and dedicated love song "You're The Only One" to Sigler, writing "For Laura" at the bottom of the lyrics. After proposing to Sigler in 2001, the pair broke up in 2002.
In 2002, after his painful breakup with Sigler, Urban met supermodel Niki Taylor, who played his love interest in his music video for "Somebody Like You." Taylor had told her hair/makeup person, Debra Wingo, that she might be interested in being in a country music video. Wingo also does hair/makeup for Urban, and she mentioned that he was getting ready to do a video. Urban and Taylor dated on and off for three years until their split was officially announced July 2005.
Urban met actress Nicole Kidman at an event in Hollywood in January of 2005. In May of 2006, Urban and Kidman announced their engagement, and their plans to wed in Australia. They got married in Australia on 25 June 2006 at the Cardinal Cerretti Memorial Chapel in the grounds of St Patrick's Estate, Manly, Sydney.
John Cougar John Deere John 3:16
Keith Urban Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm a two strike swinger, I'm a Pepsi Cola
I'm a blue jean quarterback saying "I love you" to the prom queen
In a Chevy
I'm John Wayne, Superman, California
I'm a Kris Kristofferson Sunday morning
I'm a mama and daddy singing along to Don McLean
At the levee
And I'm a child of a backseat freedom, baptized by rock and roll
Marilyn Monroe and the Garden of Eden, never grow up, never grow old
Just another rebel in the great wide open, on the boulevard of broken dreams
And I learned everything I needed to know from John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16
Hey, hey
Everything I needed
That's right
I'm Mark Twain on the Mississippi
I'm Hemingway with a shot of whiskey
I'm a TV dinner on a tray trying to figure out the Wheel of Fortune
I'm a Texaco star, I'm a Gibson guitar
I'm still a teenage kid trying to go too far
I'm a jukebox waiting in a neon bar for a quarter
I'm a child of a backseat freedom, baptized by rock and roll
Marilyn Monroe and the Garden of Eden, never grow up, never grow old
Just another rebel in the great wide open, on the boulevard of broken dreams
And I learned everything I needed to know from John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16
Oh, yeah, yeah, oh-oh
I spent a lot of years running from believing
Looking for another way to save my soul
The longer I live, the more I see it, there's only one way home
I'm a child of a backseat freedom, baptized by rock and roll
Marilyn Monroe and the Garden of Eden, never grow up and never grow old, no
Another rebel in the great wide open, on the boulevard of broken dreams
And I learned everything I needed to know from John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16
Oh, I'm a child of a backseat freedom, baptized by rock and roll (rock and roll)
Marilyn Monroe and the Garden of Eden, never grow up, never grow old (never grow old)
Another rebel in the great wide open, on the boulevard of broken dreams (everything I needed)
And I learned everything I needed to know from John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16 (3:16)
(John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16)
Everything I needed
John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16
Everything I needed
(John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16)
That's right
Keith Urban's song "John Cougar John Deere John 3:16" speaks of the American cultural icons that have shaped our lives and views, and their influence on the songwriter's upbringing. The song functions to glorify the idea of being a product of one's surroundings, and of accepting and embracing one's roots. The song's protagonist is a product of an America that was baptized by rock and roll and raised on the symbols of Hollywood, country music, and Americana.
The first verse of the song describes the songwriter's identity as a product of the American melting pot. He sees himself as a representation of the American identity, influenced by the classic rock of Kris Kristofferson, the saintly righteousness of John 3:16, and the country music persona of John Cougar. The second verse continues the theme of the songwriter's diverse identity, with references to famous literary figures like Mark Twain and Ernest Hemingway, as well as pop culture icons like the Wheel of Fortune and Texaco.
The song's chorus emphasizes the influence these cultural touchstones had on the artist's developmental years, emphasizing the importance of being forever young and never growing old. The song's final verse sees the songwriter recognize the influence these classic American symbols have had on his spirituality, as he acknowledges that his soul can only be saved by embracing the same values he was raised with.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm a 45 spinning on an old Victrola
I am timeless and classic, much like an old vinyl record on a Victrola.
I'm a two strike swinger, I'm a Pepsi Cola
I may have made mistakes in the past, but I'm still refreshing and ready for another go.
I'm a blue jean quarterback saying "I love you" to the prom queen
I'm a young, earnest and passionate person expressing my love to someone special.
In a Chevy
I am comfortable in simplicity and appreciate classic Americana.
I'm John Wayne, Superman, California
I'm a symbol of strength, heroism and the American dream.
I'm a Kris Kristofferson Sunday morning
I'm a relaxed and introspective person, like a lazy Sunday morning spent listening to Kris Kristofferson songs.
I'm a mom and daddy singing along to Don McLean
I have fond childhood memories of my parents singing Don McLean's classic tunes.
At the levee
I appreciate American folklore and cultural traditions, like gathering at a river levee.
And I'm a child of a backseat freedom, baptized by rock and roll
I grew up with the freedom and rebellion of rock and roll music, which has shaped who I am.
Marilyn Monroe and the Garden of Eden, never grow up, never grow old
I'm inspired by iconic pop culture figures and the timeless innocence and purity of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.
Just another rebel in the great wide open, on the boulevard of broken dreams
I'm a non-conformist with big dreams, navigating the challenges of life and the reality of setbacks and failures.
And I learned everything I needed to know from John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16
My life and philosophy have been shaped by the simple, powerful wisdom of John Cougar, John Deere, and John 3:16.
Hey, hey
An enthusiastic exclamation, conveying excitement and energy.
Everything I needed
Everything that has shaped me and taught me important lessons.
That's right
An affirmation of the statement that precedes it.
I'm Mark Twain on the Mississippi
I'm imaginative and adventurous like the legendary American author Mark Twain, who was known for his stories set along the Mississippi River.
I'm Hemingway with a shot of whiskey
Like Ernest Hemingway, I'm a writer and I know how to kick back and have a good time.
I'm a TV dinner on a tray trying to figure out the Wheel of Fortune
I'm relatable and down-to-earth, finding entertainment in simple things like game shows and frozen dinners.
I'm a Texaco star, I'm a Gibson guitar
I have a strong sense of identity and love for classic Americana, like the Texaco brand and Gibson guitars.
I'm still a teenage kid trying to go too far
I have a youthful spirit and a desire to push boundaries and explore my limits.
I'm a jukebox waiting in a neon bar for a quarter
I enjoy the simple pleasures of music and nightlife, like the nostalgic allure of jukeboxes in neon-lit bars.
I spent a lot of years running from believing,
I have struggled with my beliefs and values, and have been hesitant to fully embrace them.
Looking for another way to save my soul
I have searched for different ways and paths to find meaning and purpose in my life.
The longer I live, the more I see it, there's only one way home
As I grow older and gain more experience, I realize that there is only one true path for me to follow.
Lyrics ยฉ Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Spirit Music Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ross Copperman, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Observer of life
This song has inspired me as well as hit me in many different ways over the last few years...
The last week or so it has been quite funny...
I'm a child of backseat freedom...
For some reason I keep flashing back to 18 yrs old, in the front seat of my own car, after being in the back seat of the car in front of me..
We were following them somewhere, it was my first winter driving and the roads were slick... HE had no fear... ๐ณ I TRIED not to have any... ๐ณ
Which quickly ended any "backseat freedom" for me. It became front seat, oh shit, something's getting broke kinda thing... ๐
And yes it did. Someone lost their mailbox AND the post it was standing on...๐
Oops... ๐ณ
No worries though... My car... a 1970 something Chevy impala only suffered minor damage. ๐ From the tree that was on the other side of the mailbox. ๐ฌ Oops. It was pretty dented and I don't think the locks worked anymore. ๐คทโโ๏ธ
Yup... That whole thing could have been avoided if someone had actually told me not to turn the wheels as hard as you can in the opposite direction you are fishtailing on slick roads... ๐ณ Oops. ๐คฃ
Jennifer Swierpel
Love this song ๐๐ธ๐ง๐ผ๐น๐ฅ
That's because the Earth is flat
Dang!! Nothing more beautiful than a man singing praises to the Lord....You're a man after Gods heart, keep them coming
Jnetta58
I wouldn't go that far.
Jessie Myrle
One of my favorites, I love this song and I really love the sound of Keithโs voice singing this song. He is a fabulous entertainer,โค๏ธโค๏ธ
Alex Greham
Hello ๐ good morning ๐๐
Carla Reep
โค
Ian Busche
All time favorite Keith Urban song. John Deere taught me that you gotta work for your life and Itโs amazing that he sings about John 3:16, which is my all time favorite bible verse. It always brings me back to the reason I got faith.
Jax
7 years later and still my favorite song
Pah Kwan
Love this song and this beautiful MV !!
AMD joy!
So many pieces to this song are amazing, you can literally brake it down in many ways and still come out outstanding. His lyrics combined with his: moves, his voice, and his hum's make this song so special. But my favorite part is when he points up and says..."there's only one way home." He gets it, and we love him for that!!!