Born in the bush, Corryong, Victoria, in the foothills of the Snowy Mountains high country is where Lee's life began. The son of a truck driver and later multi-platinum recording artist Ray Kernaghan, Lee spent his formative years growing up in the Riverina country of Southern NSW. Lee's Grandfather was a third generation drover of sheep and cattle and his experiences on the road with his Pop ran deep, producing a string of hits that began with the release of his first album the ARIA award winning " Outback Club" in 1992. His first number one hit "Boys from the Bush" became an anthem, a celebration of a way of life that would change the face of Australian country music forever.
Lee Kernaghan has dominated the charts with successive hit albums including "Three Chain Road", "1959", "Hat Town" and "Electric Rodeo" making him Hit Maker of the Decade and creating a new musical landscape along the way. He has done to country music in Australia what Garth Brooks did in the USA..... he blurred the line and took country music out of the box that it had existed in for decades.... He added a spectacular live show and along the way has sold over one million albums, won 24 Golden Guitars, 3 Aria Awards, 21 number 1 hits, 8 hit albums and now with the release of his 9th album 'Spirit of the Bush' he's done it again, his stellar career continues
The Way It Is
Lee Kernaghan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And hanging off the rails at the rodeo
A back veranda with creaking boards
And the dark range of a thunderstorm
It's the stockman's bar at an old bush pub
And chasing mickey's though the scrub
It's planting seeds and praying for rain
And the red dust running through your veins
[Chorus]
It's the way it is, it's the way it goes
When my wheels hit the gravel road it feels like home
It's the way of life, it's the life I live
And I'm right where I want to be
That's the way it is
It's a corrugated iron shed
And work boots on a backdoor step
Scones in the oven and preserves in jars
Talking prices at the sale yards
It's long straight roads and one horse towns
And sheep dogs bringing the mob around
It's she'll be right and having a go
It's good on ya mate and what do ya know?
[Chorus]
Its the eerie still in the grey of dawn
Fields of wheat and rows of corn
A rusty tank and flaking paint
A weary digger on ANZAC day
Its the dream time land and uluru
Aborigine didgeridoo
Its battered hats and calloused hands
The spirit of a hard won land
[Chorus]
In Lee Kernaghan's song "The Way It Is" the lyrics paint a vivid picture of life in rural Australia. The verses describe quintessential Australian scenes such as dust plumes on dirt roads, rodeos, storms on verandas, stockman bars at old pubs, and chasing animals through the scrub. The chorus repeats twice, highlighting the phrase "It's the way it is," which serves to reinforce the idea that this rugged way of life is ingrained in the Australian identity. The repetitiveness of the chorus also serves to emphasise that no matter what life may throw at the people living in these circumstances, there is a sense of contentment with where they are and what they are doing. The song, therefore, reflects the themes of resilience, hard work, and a deep connection to the land, which are all fundamental aspects of rural Australian life.
The lyrics are rich in cultural references, from the ANZACs to Uluru, and the didgeridoo. By including these references, Kernaghan emphasises the importance of these cultural touchstones in Australian life. The song's poetic language and imagery are also significant in conveying the sense of nostalgia and longing that some Australians feel towards their rural roots. Indeed, "The Way It Is" has become a sort of national anthem for rural Australians, making it a song that is deeply woven into the Australian fabric.
Line by Line Meaning
It's a plume of dust down an old dirt road
The sights, sounds, and smells of an old dirt road, which are familiar and comforting to me.
And hanging off the rails at the rodeo
The excitement and adrenaline rush of watching bull riders and other rodeo events from the sidelines.
A back veranda with creaking boards
The peacefulness and nostalgia of sitting on a back porch, hearing the sound of creaking boards underneath me.
And the dark range of a thunderstorm
The awe-inspiring power and beauty of a thunderstorm over a dark, rugged landscape.
It's the stockman's bar at an old bush pub
The feeling of camaraderie and friendship that can be found in a small, local bar in the middle of the wilderness.
And chasing mickey's though the scrub
The thrill of hunting small animals through the Australian scrubland.
It's planting seeds and praying for rain
The hard work and uncertainty involved in agriculture, and the dependence on the whims of the weather.
And the red dust running through your veins
The sense of connection and belonging to the Outback, which feels like a part of me.
[Chorus]
The refrain of the song, which expresses my love and contentment with this way of life.
It's the way it is, it's the way it goes
This is simply how life is in the Outback, with all its hardships and rewards.
When my wheels hit the gravel road it feels like home
The sense of familiarity and comfort that comes with traversing the rough and rocky roads of the Outback.
It's the way of life, it's the life I live
This lifestyle is not a fleeting experience, but something that is at the core of who I am as a person.
And I'm right where I want to be
I am happy and fulfilled living in the Outback, and would not want to be anywhere else in the world.
That's the way it is
This is simply the truth of my life in the Outback, which I have fully embraced and accepted.
It's a corrugated iron shed
The simple architecture and straightforward design of the homes and buildings in the Outback.
And work boots on a backdoor step
The evidence of hard work and manual labor that is a part of everyday life out here.
Scones in the oven and preserves in jars
The traditions of homemaking, baking, and preserving food that have been passed down for generations in the Outback.
Talking prices at the sale yards
The importance of buying and selling cattle and other livestock at local auctions.
It's long straight roads and one horse towns
The vastness and remoteness of the Outback, with its small towns and lengthy stretches of open terrain.
And sheep dogs bringing the mob around
The invaluable assistance provided by well-trained dogs in herding sheep and other animals.
It's she'll be right and having a go
The unspoken mantra of the Outback, which emphasizes resilience, perseverance, and a no-nonsense attitude.
It's good on ya mate and what do ya know?
The friendly and welcoming spirit of the Outback, which is rooted in a deep sense of community and togetherness.
Its the eerie still in the grey of dawn
The tranquil and serene atmosphere of an early morning in the Outback, as the sun begins to rise.
Fields of wheat and rows of corn
The beauty of the land and the abundance of crops that can be grown in the Outback with perseverance and hard work.
A rusty tank and flaking paint
The charm and character of the weathered and worn objects that are found in the Outback, which have stood the test of time.
A weary digger on ANZAC day
The honor and respect given to those who have served their country, and the commemoration of those who have fallen in battle.
It's the dream time land and uluru
The rich Indigenous history and culture of the Outback, including its many sacred sites and beliefs.
Aborigine didgeridoo
The unique and haunting sound of the didgeridoo, which is closely associated with Indigenous Australian culture.
Its battered hats and calloused hands
The physical evidence of a life spent working hard in the sun, and the pride that comes with that hard work.
The spirit of a hard won land
The resilience, strength, and toughness required to live in the Outback, which is ingrained in the people who call this land home.
[Chorus]
The final refrain of the song, which echoes the same sentiments expressed earlier about the love, contentment, and fulfillment that come from living in the Outback.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GARTH IVAN RICHARD PORTER, LEE KERNAGHAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Iain B
on Hat Town
Intro
I was born in a hat town
Raised on the Warrego
It’s hot out here but you tough it out
Like an old Brigalow
From the back of the Channel country
Across the western plains
The roads are straight and dusty
And the folks are much the same
Chorus:
Roots run strong deep out here in a hat town
And we'll carry on down through the years in a hat town
Well it might be Thargominda; Might be Barky Downs
Theres a pub and a store and not much more, you’re living in an old hat town
Stocking out in the heat haze, half mile 60 zone
Just a rag tag bunch of buildings made of wood and tin and stone
Theres a swag with stories, most of them are true
How the locals pass the hat around and pull each other through
Chorus
Instrumental
Well we're roustabouts and drovers; we're bushies tried and true
And we're out here for the long haul; not just blowin' through
Roots run strong and deep out here in a hat town
And we'll carry on down through the years in a hat town
From the back of the Channel Country, and across the Dusty Downs
There's a pub and a store and not much more, you’re living in an old hat town
Yeah
Todelay heeeee
Livin in a hat town
Livin in an old hat town
Yodelay heeeee
Livin in a hat town
Livin in an old hat town
Please delete earlier comment which misspelt Thargominda
Iain B
on Hat Town
Intro
I was born in a hat town
Raised on the Warrego
It’s hot out here but you tough it out
Like an old Brigalow
From the back of the Channel country
Across the western plains
The roads are straight and dusty
And the folks are much the same
Chorus:
Roots run strong deep out here in a hat town
And we'll carry on down through the years in a hat town
Well it might be Thargomind; Might be Barky Downs
Theres a pub and a store and not much more, you’re living in an old hat town
Stocking out in the heat haze, half mile 60 zone
Just a rag tag bunch of buildings made of wood and tin and stone
Theres a swag with stories, most of them are true
How the locals pass the hat around and pull each other through
Chorus
Instrumental
Well we're roustabouts and drovers; we're bushies tried and true
And we're out here for the long haul; not just blowin' through
Roots run strong and deep out here in a hat town
And we'll carry on down through the years in a hat town
From the back of the Channel Country, and across the Dusty Downs
There's a pub and a store and not much more, you’re living in an old hat town
Yeah
Todelay heeeee
Livin in a hat town
Livin in an old hat town
Yodelay heeeee
Livin in a hat town
Livin in an old hat town