Using his own contacts in the record business, Shepherd's father and manager, Ken Shepherd, helped his son land a major-label record deal with Giant Records. In 1995, his debut album was entitled Ledbetter Heights and featured original material and a few covers.
He recently converted to Catholicism and overcame an addiction problem, and that's become a theme of his current work. He is married to Hannah Gibson, daughter of Actor Mel Gibson.
Discography:
1995 - Ledbetter Heights
1997 - Trouble Is...
1999 - Live On
2004 - The Place You're In
2007 - 10 Days out...Blues from the Backroads
2011 - How I Go
Honky Tonk
Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Beat of the drum like to drive me wild
Sound was a commin' from across the track
Went off over and I never came back
[chorus]
Yeah the preacher taught him --Daddy taught me--
how to sing all the blues in a honky tonk key
Well I turn up the singer on a sad song
Guitar man's got a Beale Street tone
Girls up front baby all night long
Oh what a night to come home alone
Yeah the preacher taught him --Daddy taught me--
how to sing all the blues in a honky tonk key
Yeah the preacher taught him --Daddy taught me--
how to sing all the blues in a honky tonk key
The lyrics to Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band's song "Honky Tonk" depict the singer reminiscing about their childhood and the influence music had on their life. They remember the captivating sound they heard as a child, which was the beat of the drum that would drive them wild. This sound was coming from across the tracks, representing a different world or experience. The singer then mentions going off over the tracks and never returning, possibly symbolizing a departure from that innocent and carefree time in their life.
In the chorus, the singer acknowledges that both their preacher and their father played a role in teaching them how to sing the blues in a honky tonk key. This suggests that the singer's musical education was influenced by their religious upbringing and their family. The honky tonk key refers to a style of music commonly associated with country and blues music, often played in bars or dance halls.
The second verse highlights the singer's appreciation for sad songs and the guitar player's ability to evoke emotions with their Beale Street-inspired tone. The presence of girls up front suggests that despite the melancholic nature of the music, there is still a lively atmosphere in the honky tonk. However, the line "Oh what a night to come home alone" implies a sense of longing or loneliness, indicating that amidst the excitement, the singer feels a sense of emptiness.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I remember the sound since I was a child
I have vivid memories of the musical sound from my childhood
Beat of the drum like to drive me wild
The rhythm of the drum used to excite and energize me
Sound was a commin' from across the track
The music was coming from the other side of the railroad tracks
Went off over and I never came back
I was drawn to that music and never looked back
Yeah the preacher taught him --Daddy taught me-- how to sing all the blues in a honky tonk key
Both the preacher and my father taught me how to sing blues music in the distinctive style of honky tonk
Well I turn up the singer on a sad song
I increase the volume of the singer's voice when listening to a melancholic song
Guitar man's got a Beale Street tone
The guitarist has a distinctive sound similar to the style of music from Beale Street in Memphis
Girls up front baby all night long
There are women dancing and enjoying themselves at the front of the crowd all night
Oh what a night to come home alone
It's a lonely feeling to return home alone after experiencing such a vibrant night
Yeah the preacher taught him --Daddy taught me-- how to sing all the blues in a honky tonk key
Both the preacher and my father taught me how to sing blues music in the distinctive style of honky tonk
Yeah the preacher taught him --Daddy taught me-- how to sing all the blues in a honky tonk key
Both the preacher and my father taught me how to sing blues music in the distinctive style of honky tonk
Lyrics © SCHUBERT MUSIC PUBLISHING INC.
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