Mark Chesnutt’s stature is easily gauged. He has 14 #1 hits, 23 Top 10 singles, four platinum albums and five gold records to his credit; he maintains a front-and-center presence with a hefty tour schedule year after year. Country music critics and fans alike need look no further when it comes to Country music basics. If you ask Chesnutt, he’ll tell you, “It’s the music and the fans that have kept me around this long.” In a creative forum that sometimes confuses style with substance, Mark Chesnutt possesses both.
Remaining true to himself as a traditional country artist, while keeping the pace with the ever-changing country recording landscape, Mark Chesnutt has a knack for picking great songs, delivering them with world-class style and a heart-felt emotion that’s lived-in. With a trademarked voice, Chesnutt has set the bar for his generation and those that follow in his footsteps shaping the music of today’s country music newcomers and the new country music format. Mark Chesnutt’s personal integrity combined with his principal to record a genuine country song has made him a fixture on radio and in honky tonks across the globe.
Chesnutt got his start in the honky-tonks of Beaumont, Texas, learning from his father, Bob Chesnutt, a singer, record collector and major fan of classic country music. Playing alongside his dad, Mark embraced his father’s influence one set at a time and to begin making a name for himself. Mark sang covers by Lefty, Merle, George and Waylon to develop his unmatched crowd-pleasing rapport and his authentic country style.
Bob Chesnutt often traveled to Nashville to record and to broaden his exposure. He began taking Mark along to record when he was just 17. After nearly a decade of recording on regional labels, word got out about this young country vocalist. Music Row executives came to hear Mark on his own Texas turf and recognized the depth of Mark Chesnutt’s raw talent.
In 1989, he was signed to MCA Nashville and his list of accolades tells the rest of his story. With the release of his first single“ Too Cold At Home,” Mark established himself as one of country’s most authentic and talented vocalists. He won the CMA Horizon Award attracting the attention of country legend [and Mark’s greatest mentor] George Jones who introduced him as “A boy from Beaumont, Texas who is the real deal.” That recognition and initial success opened the door to offer Mark his chance of a lifetime, to do what he loved most—sing country music for country fans; this time, on a national level. “The first couple years it was non-stop.” Mark says.
“I can remember one time during a tour, I didn’t step foot on the front porch for ten months, with exception of a day or a day-and-a- half, then, it was right back out again.” Mark’s dedication paid off. He developed a true blue fan base. Fans, he confides, “are the reason for my success.”
His fans helped his records to climb the charts one right after the other making him one of Billboard’s Ten Most-Played Radio Artists of the ‘90’s. Mark’s singles were some the decade’s most memorable; from the fun tempo “Bubba Shot The Jukebox” to emotional ballad “I’ll Think Of Something.” Mark is easily identified for his string of hits including “Brother Jukebox,” “Blame It On Texas,” “Old Flames Have New Names,” “Old Country,” “It Sure Is Monday,” “Almost Goodbye,” “I Just Wanted You To Know,” “Going Through The Big D,” “It’s A Little Too Late,” “Gonna Get A Life,” and one of his biggest, “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing;” a song that held its position at the top of the charts for four consecutive weeks.
Of all the recorded highlights Chesnutt has enjoyed, they take a back seat to his first love; Mark Chesnutt lives to perform on stage. “I just make records because want people to come see my show,” he says with a grin. “Recording music for folks to just listen to music is great,” he says, “but I’ve got to be out there on stage making it.” Fans who have seen him perform agree. Known as one of the industry’s hardest-working concert performers, maintaining a hefty tour schedule and steady presence in front of his fans, Mark’s dedication to deliver live music is unsurpassed. Mark has been on the road since 1990. Whether you hear Mark Chesnutt with a new release on the radio, or see his face on the cover of a new CD, folks can always find Mark doing what he was born to do playing. “The clubs and honky tonks are home for me; it’s comfortable and I’m always with friends,” says Chesnutt.
Married since 1992, Mark and Tracie Chesnutt are the loving parents of three boys, Waylon, Casey & Cameron.
Honky Tonk Heroes
Mark Chesnutt Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Woe is me, why can't I see, I best be leaving well enough alone
Them neon light nights, couldn't stay out of fights
They keep a hauntin' me and memories
There is one in every crowd, for cryin' out loud
Why was it always turnin' out to be me.
Where does it go, the good Lord only knows
I was down at Green Gables, hawkin' them tables
And generally blowin' all my hard earned pay.
Piano rolled blues, danced holes in my shoes
There weren't another other way to be
For loveable losers, and no account boozers
And honky tonk heroes like me...
In Mark Chesnutt's song Honky Tonk Heroes, the lyrics paint a picture of a country singer with a troubled and tumultuous past. The opening line "Low down leaving sun" evokes an image of a sun setting on a hard and rough life. The singer reflects on the fact that they have "done did everything that needs done," indicating a sense of exhaustion and weariness from past experiences. Despite this, the singer seems unable to leave their past behind and move on as they contemplate why they can't "see," and why they can't "leave well enough alone."
The song's chorus speaks of the haunting memories of "neon light nights" and troublesome crowds. The singer laments that there always seems to be "one in every crowd" and wonders why it was always "turning out to be me." The second verse of the song continues the theme of reflection and lament, with the singer wondering where their life has gone and reflecting on the fact that it seems like just yesterday that they were "down at Green Gables" wasting all their money.
The song's final verse acknowledges the singer's status as a "honky tonk hero," a term which has been used to describe country singers who have lived hard and wild lives but have ultimately achieved success. The singer acknowledges that their past has involved "lovable losers" and "no account boozers" but maintains a sense of pride in their identity as a "honky tonk hero."
Line by Line Meaning
Low down leaving sun, I've done did everything that needs done
As the sun sets and night approaches, I have completed all the tasks I needed to - and now I am restless and unsure of what else to do with myself.
Woe is me, why can't I see, I best be leaving well enough alone
I am feeling sorry for myself because I can't see that I need to move on from this lifestyle and leave good enough alone.
Them neon light nights, couldn't stay out of fights
The bright lights of the city at night were a temptation I couldn't resist, but they always led to me getting into fights.
They keep a hauntin' me and memories
I can't escape the memories of those nights - they continue to haunt me.
There is one in every crowd, for cryin' out loud
There always seems to be one person causing trouble in every group of people.
Why was it always turnin' out to be me.
Unfortunately, that one person always ended up being me.
Where does it go, the good Lord only knows
I wonder where time goes, but only God knows the answer.
It seems like it was just the other day
It feels like it was yesterday that I was doing things I shouldn't have, instead of being responsible.
I was down at Green Gables, hawkin' them tables
I spent my days gambling and trying to make some money by working at Green Gables.
And generally blowin' all my hard earned pay.
However, I was never able to hold on to my earnings for long as I would quickly blow it on frivolous things.
Piano rolled blues, danced holes in my shoes
I would spend my nights listening to the piano and dancing, wearing through my shoes in the process.
There weren't another other way to be
I was convinced that this was the only way to live and there was no other way for me to be.
For loveable losers, and no account boozers
The honky tonk lifestyle seemed to only attract those who didn't have much in their lives - those that were losers and had drinking problems.
And honky tonk heroes like me...
However, we still saw ourselves as heroes in some way for being able to handle and survive this lifestyle, no matter how self-destructive it may be.
Contributed by Evan Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.