Paul Heaton formed The Housemartins in the early 1980s. The Housemartins released a number of singles and two studio albums, London 0 Hull 4 and The People Who Grinned Themselves to Death. Their most famous hit was an a-capella version of the Isley Brothers' Caravan of Love, which was a Christmas number one in the UK.
In 1988, Paul Heaton formed The Beautiful South from the ashes of The Housemartins. The Beautiful South released two top ten singles, Song for Whoever and You Keep It All In, which featured Irish singer Briana Corrigan on vocals. In 1989, the band released an album "Welcome to the Beautiful South" by which time Corrigan had joined the band as a full time member. The band's biggest success to date is the release of the single "A Little Time" in 1991. It reached number 1 on the charts. In 1993 the band released their third album, "0898 Beautiful South".
In 1994, Briana Corrigan left the band and a new female vocalist, Jacqui Abbott, was brought in. During the recording of the band's fourth album "Miaow", Heaton was increasingly irritated with the band and at one time told them to get their act together or he would leave. "Miaow" is some of Heaton's most depressing songwriting (only their fifth studio album, "Blue Is The Colour", is considered sadder). Heaton was going through a break-up with his girlfriend and other problems at the time. After the release of Miaow's third single, "Prettiest Eyes", the record company was worried about the band's sales, so they proposed a greatest hits release to save the band. Heaton hated the idea as he was trying to keep the band as far away from mainstream as possible, but nevertheless, "Carry on up the Charts" was released in December 1994 and it sold overwhelmingly, going platinum and becoming one of the biggest selling albums of all time in the UK.
The band returned to form a number one album, "Blue Is the Colour". Their sixth album, "Quench", also hit the top spot. In 2000, after the release of "Painting It Red", Jacqui Abbott left the band to care for her son. A second compilation album, "Solid Bronze", was released and two more studio albums with a new female vocalist, Alison Wheeler. The first, Gaze, became the first Beautiful South album to fail to reach the top 10, and the band were then dropped by Mercury Records.
The following year (2004), newly signed to Sony, they released the curiously named covers album Goldiggas, Headnodders and Pholk Songs, an eclectic album that featured the Beautiful South's unique take on a wide variety of tracks by the like of ELO, Blue Öyster Cult, John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, S Club 7, and Rufus Wainwright. Again, despite considerable publicity and promotional TV appearances, the album failed to make the top 10.
2006 saw the release of yet another album of new material, "Superbi." Reviews were generally positive. "Superbi" has more of an alt-country sound (plenty of slide guitar, for example) than previous Beautiful South releases. The album maintains the band's trademark eccentricity, however, featuring a dobro on one song.
On the ITV documentary music series Faith & Music screened 29th October 2006, Paul talks openly and honestly about his atheism and his battle with alcoholism.
Heaton is the father of two daughters, although he has never married.
www.paulheatonmusic.co.uk
Chickasaw County Child
Paul Heaton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where the bitter weeds growin' wild
Born seven miles outside of Woodland
Was a Chicasaw County child
An Poppa done brung us some peppermint candy
Momma fixed a custard pie
Bought her a store-bought doll from Jackson
Chickasaw County child
Is gonna be ok
Chickasaw County child
You gonna be somebody someday
Sporting her checkered feed sack dress
A ruby ring from a Cracker Jack box
Shufflin' on down that gravel road
Barefooted and chunking rocks
Momma said looky here dumplin'
You'll go far, cause you got style
Ain't nothing in this world gonna hold her back
Her pretty Chickasaw County child
Chickasaw County child
Is gonna be ok
Chickasaw County child
You gonna be somebody someday
Leavin' the county a week from Monday
Ain't got much to pack
A tin can of black strap sogga molasses
And her momma's almanac
Momma done made her a brand new dress
Made of blue polka dotted silk
Two postcards from California
And a gallon of buttermilk
Chickasaw County child
Is gonna be ok
Chickasaw County child
You gonna be somebody someday
You gonna be somebody someday
You gonna be somebody someday
The song "Chickasaw County Child" by Paul Heaton tells the story of a young girl growing up in rural Mississippi, just outside of Delta Country. She is proud of her roots and her heritage, despite the hardships she faces living in poverty. The lyrics describe how her parents try to make the best of their situation by bringing her peppermint candy and fixing her custard pie. Her mother encourages her to dream big and tells her she will go far because she has "style." Despite the tough times, the Chickasaw County child has a bright future ahead of her.
The song is a poignant reflection on the struggles of poverty and the resilience of the human spirit. It highlights the importance of perseverance, hope, and the power of dreams. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the young girl's surroundings, from the bitter weeds growing wild to the gravel roads she walks barefooted, and the blue polka dotted silk dress she wears when she leaves home. Ultimately, the song conveys a message of encouragement and optimism - that despite adversity, anyone can be somebody someday.
Line by Line Meaning
Just outside of delta country
The story is taking place in a location close to the delta country.
Where the bitter weeds growin' wild
The place where the story is taking place is described as having wild bitter weeds.
Born seven miles outside of Woodland
The singer was born seven miles from Woodland.
Was a Chicasaw County child
The artist is a child from Chickasaw County.
An Poppa done brung us some peppermint candy
The artist's father brought some peppermint candy for them.
Momma fixed a custard pie
The singer's mother made a custard pie for them.
Bought her a store-bought doll from Jackson
The singer was given a store-bought doll from Jackson.
She's a apple of everyone's eye
The artist is very loved by everyone around them.
Chickasaw County child
The artist is referred to as a Chickasaw County child.
Is gonna be ok
The song reassures the artist that they will be okay.
You gonna be somebody someday
The song is encouraging the singer to believe in themselves and their potential to succeed in life.
Sporting her checkered feed sack dress
The artist is wearing a checkered dress made from a feed sack.
A ruby ring from a Cracker Jack box
The singer is wearing a ruby ring from a Cracker Jack box.
Shufflin' on down that gravel road
The singer is walking down a gravel road, shuffling their feet.
Barefooted and chunking rocks
The singer is barefoot and throwing rocks along the road.
Momma said looky here dumplin'
The artist's mother refers to them affectionately as 'dumplin'.
You'll go far, cause you got style
The artist's mother believes that their unique style will take them far in life.
Ain't nothing in this world gonna hold her back
The singer is portrayed as being unstoppable and unbreakable, and nothing in the world can hold them back.
Her pretty Chickasaw County child
The singer is referred to again as a pretty Chickasaw County child.
Leavin' the county a week from Monday
The artist plans to leave the county a week from Monday.
Ain't got much to pack
The artist doesn't have much to pack when they leave the county.
A tin can of black strap sogga molasses
One of the few things the artist is packing is a tin can of black strap sorghum molasses.
And her momma's almanac
Another thing the singer is packing is their mother's almanac.
Momma done made her a brand new dress
The artist's mother made them a brand new dress.
Made of blue polka dotted silk
The dress is made of blue polka dotted silk.
Two postcards from California
The singer is taking two postcards from California with them when they leave.
And a gallon of buttermilk
The singer is also packing a gallon of buttermilk.
You gonna be somebody someday
The song ends by reiterating its message of encouragement and belief in the artist's potential to succeed in life.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BOBBIE GENTRY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Josie Springfield
Love this song grew up on Bobbie Gentry.
Nancy Desch
The speed is too fast - I know this album because I bought it in 1967.