Green began his musical career when he was 18 and in college at Texas Tech in Lubbock. "I started playing guitar to pick up the chicks," Green laughs. "Before that, I only sang in the shower. I could mimic other people's voices. It took me a long time to find my own voice, but once I did, I became very comfortable with it. It's not real pretty but it's believable."
During those college years, Green started playing clubs and opening shows for other artists. In 1995, he put out his first independent record.
"I don't know exactly where it began, if it was Willie Nelson's picnic or one of Jerry Jeff's shows, but I got asked to play and there was a huge crowd there," Green says. "After that show, we started getting some radio support. All of a sudden, everything started happening at once. We were selling a ton of records. We were able sell out Billy Bob's. In Dallas-Fort Worth, we were selling 4, 5, 6000 seats. In Houston and everywhere else, it started being 1000, 2000 seats. It just started steamrolling. I think it was a combination of the popularity of Robert Earl Keen, Jerry Jeff Walker and Willie Nelson leading the forefront for us little guys. We just all fell in line behind them."
The result of that faith was Green's 2001 major-label debut, Three Days, on Republic/Universal. The album Wave On Wave followed in 2003, and debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard country albums chart, and the title track cracked the Top 5 on the singles chart. He released Lucky Ones in 2004. In 2006, after a move to the RCA imprint BNA, he issued Cannonball.
Who's To Say
Pat Green Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I like a little barbecue on Sunday
Well, I hang with a rougher crowd
Who drink too much, who talk too loud
Don't you know that it's all right with me
Yeah, I don't go to church too much, but I know that Jesus truly loves me
And if he was here I'd be drinking beer and
Hanging out and saving all of my friends, Amen
Who's to say and who are you to judge me anyway
This is my road, I take the corner as fast as I can go
Who's to say at how I got so lucky anyway
I am my own at least until the Man come and take me home
Well, I got my mama's features and my daddy's fixtures
All day long I been looking at pictures wondering
How in the hell they came up with me
Well, I'm crazy as a loon, I'm howling at the moon
My baby she don't know what to do
She's wondering how in the hell she's going to stay with me
Well, she's been church more than Billy Graham
And she knows the Bible like the back of her hand
Yeah, but she drinks gin like it's going out of style
Oh, it makes me smile
Yeah, who's to say and who are you to judge her anyway
This whole world spins, never gonna take that chance again
Yeah, who's to say at how we got so lucky anyway
We have a home, neither one of us will ever be alone
It's a lesson of survival
To ride out every trial
It's the secret of forgiveness
Way down deep inside
Who's to say and who are you to judge me anyway
This is my road, I take the corner as fast as I can go
Yeah, who's to say as how I got so lucky anyway
I am my own at least until the angels come,
Angels gonna come and take me home
The lyrics of Pat Green's song "Who's To Say" poignantly capture the artist's personal outlook and beliefs in life. The song is about self-acceptance, non-judgmentalism, and the idea that fate or circumstance beyond our control determines our lives' trajectory. The song's opening lines talk about how Green doesn't conform to societal norms, doesn't go to church often, but knows Jesus loves him regardless. The song's core idea is all about self-determination and recognizing that the road we take in life is ultimately ours to pick. Green sings about being fortunate to have found someone to share his life with, despite being different from each other. The lyrics emphasize the idea of survival, riding out trials, and forgiveness. The song's chorus line of "Who's To Say" repeatedly drives home the point that nobody's perfect or has all the answers, and it's okay to be yourself.
One interesting fact about this song is that it was released in 2001 as part of Pat Green's album "Wave on Wave." It became Green's highest-charting single and was a top-10 hit on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. The song's success helped Green cement his place in the Texas country scene and earned him a broader following. Another interesting fact is that Green co-wrote the song with Rob Thomas, the frontman of Matchbox Twenty, who also contributed background vocals for the track. The song's writing process also involved late-night phone calls between the two artists, with Green brainstorming the song's theme while Thomas wrote the melody.
The song's opening guitar riff is recognizable and represents the defining chord progression of the song. The song's key is E and has four chords (E, A, B, and C# minor). The verses follow a progression of E, A, C# minor, and B, while the chorus features A, B, and E. One of the notably unique characteristics of the song is a section of the song where the artist doubles the lines, "It's a lesson of survival / to ride out every trial. It's a secret of forgiveness/ way down deep inside." The repetition creates a haunting effect that gives the song weight and depth.
In conclusion, 'Who's To Say' is a song that encourages us to embrace our individuality and live life on our terms. It reminds us that we answer to no one but ourselves when making choices. The song's accessible melody, catchy hook, and meaningful lyrics make it timeless, and its popularity remains undiminished. It provides a message of hope, resilience, and confidence to anyone that feels like an outsider, providing an essential message to us all.
Chords: E, A, B, C#m
Line by Line Meaning
I don't wear my shirt tucked in
I don't follow strict rules or conventions
I like a little barbecue on Sunday
I enjoy simple pleasures and relaxation
Well, I hang with a rougher crowd
I associate with people who may not fit society's expectations
Who drink too much, who talk too loud
My friends may engage in behaviors that are considered excessive
Don't you know that it's all right with me
I accept and love my friends for who they are
Yeah, I don't go to church too much, but I know that Jesus truly loves me
I have my own spiritual beliefs and don't conform to traditional religious practices
And if he was here I'd be drinking beer and
If Jesus were here, I would enjoy his company while engaging in my favorite activity
Hanging out and saving all of my friends, Amen
I value my friendships and would do anything to help my friends, even if it's not conventional
Who's to say and who are you to judge me anyway
I reject society's expectations and refuse to conform to others' judgments
This is my road, I take the corner as fast as I can go
I live my life my way, taking risks and chasing my dreams
Who's to say at how I got so lucky anyway
I acknowledge that luck plays a role in life, and don't claim to have all the answers
I am my own at least until the Man come and take me home
I am responsible for my own life until the end
Well, I got my mama's features and my daddy's fixtures
I am the product of my parents' genes and upbringing
All day long I been looking at pictures wondering
I reflect on my roots and contemplate how I became who I am
How in the hell they came up with me
I find it hard to believe how I turned out like my parents' child
Well, I'm crazy as a loon, I'm howling at the moon
I'm unpredictable and sometimes behave erratically
My baby she don't know what to do
My significant other struggles to understand me at times
She's wondering how in the hell she's going to stay with me
My partner wonders how she can cope with my quirks
Well, she's been church more than Billy Graham
My partner is more devout than a famous religious leader
And she knows the Bible like the back of her hand
My partner is well-educated in religious teachings
Yeah, but she drinks gin like it's going out of style
My partner also has her own vices and indulgences
Oh, it makes me smile
I love my partner's quirks and imperfections
This whole world spins, never gonna take that chance again
Life is a precious gift and I don't want to waste it by conforming to others' expectations
We have a home, neither one of us will ever be alone
My partner and I have each other and we'll never face things alone
It's a lesson of survival
The struggles we've been through have taught us how to overcome obstacles and survive
To ride out every trial
We face challenges head-on and don't run from them
It's the secret of forgiveness
Forgiveness is key to a successful relationship
Way down deep inside
Forgiveness comes from the heart and soul
I am my own at least until the angels come,
I'm in control of my life until the mysterious forces of the afterlife take over
Angels gonna come and take me home
The afterlife will take me to my final resting place
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, MARK WINSTON KIRK PUBLISHING, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: PAT GREEN, MARK WINSTON KIRK, WALT WILKINS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind