Prior to his success as an artist, Houser lived as a songwriter, co-writing singles including "Honky Tonk Badonkadonk" by Trace Adkins, "Back That Thing Up" by Justin Moore, and "My Cowboy" by country pop artist Jessie James.
Route 3 Box 250 D
Randy Houser Lyrics
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And growing up was a fairytale
But Hollywood don't make no movies
About a house up on wheels
Down a dirt road, Mississippi
Tucked back in the trees
Route 3 Box 250 D
Had a mean streak in his blood
And when he took to drinking
He'd take it out on us
And I could hear my mama crying
That made it hard to sleep
Route 3 Box 250 D
That's where I became a man
Long before my time
And since I left I ain't been back
But I go back in my mind
Thank God for Buford Bailey
He had a pond he'd let me fish
That's where I'd run off to
Every chance I'd get
And I would pray that God was listening
And He'd come rescue me
Route 3 Box 250 D
Then one day, my uncle pulled up in a pickup truck
Loaded up everything
Wasn't much but it was everything
I'd like to say it was perfect
That growing up was a fairytale
Hollywood don't make no movies
About a house up on wheels
Down a dirt road, Mississippi
But that's what made me, me
Route 3 Box 250 D
Randy Houser's song Route 3 Box 250 D paints a vivid picture of the singer's tumultuous childhood growing up in rural Mississippi. The lyrics explore the harsh realities of his upbringing, which was marked by poverty, abuse, and neglect. Houser sets the scene by describing his family's mobile home, perched on wheels down a dirt road, and nestled among the trees. While it may not seem like much, Route 3 Box 250 D was the backdrop for some of the most formative experiences of Houser's life.
The song touches on the man Houser's mother married, who had a mean streak and would take out his anger on the family when he drank. The singer recalls hearing his mother crying, and the sadness and fear he felt as a child. However, amidst the turmoil, Houser found solace at Buford Bailey's pond, where he would run off to fish as often as he could. It was a precious escape from the difficulties of home, and Houser would often pray for God to come rescue him from his troubled existence.
The themes of hardship and resilience run deep throughout the song, and Houser sings with both raw emotion and a mature sense of hindsight. While he may have left Route 3 Box 250 D long ago, the memories of that time remain with him, and have helped shape him into the man he is today.
Line by Line Meaning
I'd like to say it was perfect
I wish I could say that my childhood was ideal
And growing up was a fairytale
And that I lived in an enchanted world
But Hollywood don't make no movies
However, movies only portray perfect scenarios
About a house up on wheels
About living in a mobile home
Down a dirt road, Mississippi
In a remote part of Mississippi reached only by a dirt road
Tucked back in the trees
Hidden amongst the trees
Route 3 Box 250 D
Address of the mobile home where he grew up
Well the man my mama married
The man my mother married
Had a mean streak in his blood
Had a tendency toward aggression
And when he took to drinking
And when he started drinking heavily
He'd take it out on us
He would become abusive towards us
And I could hear my mama crying
And I could hear my mother weeping
That made it hard to sleep
Which made it difficult for me to fall asleep
Route 3 Box 250 D
Address of the mobile home where he grew up
That's where I became a man
That's where I learned to be a mature adult
Long before my time
Before I was truly ready
And since I left I ain't been back
And ever since I moved away, I haven't returned
But I go back in my mind
But I revisit it in my thoughts
Thank God for Buford Bailey
I am grateful for Buford Bailey
He had a pond he'd let me fish
He had a pond where he allowed me to fish
That's where I'd run off to
That's where I would escape to
Every chance I'd get
Whenever I had the opportunity
And I would pray that God was listening
And I would pray that God could hear me
And He'd come rescue me
And that He would come to my aid
Route 3 Box 250 D
Address of the mobile home where he grew up
Then one day, my uncle pulled up in a pickup truck
One day, my uncle arrived in a pickup truck
Loaded up everything
He packed all our things
Wasn't much but it was everything
It wasn't a lot, but it was all we had
I'd like to say it was perfect
I wish I could say that everything turned out ideal
That growing up was a fairytale
That I lived in an enchanted world
Hollywood don't make no movies
However, movies only portray perfect scenarios
About a house up on wheels
About living in a mobile home
Down a dirt road, Mississippi
In a remote part of Mississippi reached only by a dirt road
But that's what made me, me
But that's what made me who I am today
Route 3 Box 250 D
Address of the mobile home where he grew up
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RHETT AKINS, BEN HAYSLIP, RANDY HOUSER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind