Skaggs moved to Nashville in 1980 and was signed to Sony Records, where he produced his debut album, Waitin' For The Sun To Shine. The album produced four successful singles, including two number one country hits. Many people say he rescued country music from the doldrums it had found itself in the 1970s. He was invited to join the Grand Ole Opry in 1982. He racked up 12 number one hits and 6 top ten singles during the 1980s. Skaggs picked up dozens of industry awards in the ensuing years, including four Grammy Awards, and eight awards from the Country Music Association.
He has made many fans due to his dedication to the traditional bluegrass style of music. "I always want to try to promote the old music, as well as trying to grow (musically), and be a pioneer too," Skaggs once said. Because of this approach to his music, Skaggs has been considered to be the founding father of Neotraditional Country.
My Father's Son
Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder Lyrics
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In the hill beside this river rest my mother's gentle bones
And daddy there beside her among his next of kin
And their legacy passed down to me the sons of mountain men
Raised to be a miner by a miners callused hands
Passed my youth between these mountains where I grew to understand
That family was the word of God and faith was it's demand
Well, a rich man writes the book of laws a poor man must defend
But the highest laws are written on the hearts of honest men
If that cup is passed to me to do what must be done
When they lay me down remind them I was just my father's son
I've walked among these people, heard the stories that they tell
I've crawled beside them in the mines and touched the walls of hell
I've shared their sacred secrets, known their triumph and their pain
And right or wrong I'll stand with them on the final judgment day
They say God gives his comfort when the time of trouble comes
They say we'll know no share of peace till we lay down our guns
But will my boy have the chance to do the things I've never done
Or will he, like me, be told that he must be his father's son?
Well, a rich man writes the book of laws a poor man must defend
But the highest laws are written on the hearts of honest men
When that cup is passed to me to do what must be done
On a chunk of coal just carve these words, ''I was just my father's son''
The song My Father's Son by Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder tells the story of a man who was born and raised in the mountains by his coal miner father. The song reflects on the history of the family and the legacy passed down from generation to generation as sons of mountain men. The opening lyrics acknowledge the history and final resting place of his parents, who are buried on the hill beside the river. The singer emphasizes the importance of family and faith, describing them as the word of God and life's demand, respectively. He speaks of the experiences he's had while among the people in the community and while working in the mines. The singer concludes by contemplating the future and the possibility that his son will be told that he must be his father's son.
The song speaks to the universal theme of sons following in their father's footsteps. It emphasizes the importance of heritage, faith and standing up for what is right. The song also acknowledges the class struggle between the rich and the poor and the importance of honest people creating and following the highest laws. The chorus stresses that after his passing, the singer should be remembered for who he was - just his father's son.
Overall, the lyrics are rich with storytelling and display a deep understanding of moral values and heritage. The song has a rustic country sound that complements the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
My history is no secret it's written in the stones
My past is accessible and apparent, inscribed in the rocks around me.
In the hill beside this river rest my mother's gentle bones
My mother's remains lay buried in the slope near this waterway.
And daddy there beside her among his next of kin
My father lies in rest near her, alongside his relatives.
And their legacy passed down to me the sons of mountain men
The traditions and skills of my forefathers, who were of this mountainous region, have been bestowed upon me and my kin.
Raised to be a miner by a miners callused hands
My father, who had weathered hands from a lifetime of mining, raised me to also work in the mines.
Passed my youth between these mountains where I grew to understand
Spent my childhood amidst these hills where I developed a comprehension of its customs and ways.
That family was the word of God and faith was it's demand
Family was a sacred concept, similar to that of religion, in that it required unwavering dedication.
And life and death the same came from the coal beneath this land
Coal mining dictated life and death, as it was the most prominent source of labor and livelihood in the area.
Well, a rich man writes the book of laws a poor man must defend
The wealthy and influential are the ones who dictate laws and those without means must uphold them.
But the highest laws are written on the hearts of honest men
The most pure and righteous concepts of morality lie within the hearts of individuals who possess honesty.
If that cup is passed to me to do what must be done
If I am given the responsibility to undertake an arduous task,
When they lay me down remind them I was just my father's son
When I pass away, inform others that I simply followed in the footsteps of my father before me.
I've walked among these people, heard the stories that they tell
I have traversed this region and interacted with its citizens, absorbing the anecdotes they share.
I've crawled beside them in the mines and touched the walls of hell
I have toiled laboriously with them in the mines and experienced the excruciating conditions first-hand.
I've shared their sacred secrets, known their triumph and their pain
I have become privy to their intimate knowledge and understand their times of elation and suffering.
And right or wrong I'll stand with them on the final judgment day
Regardless of any scrutiny or judgment, I will support them until the end.
They say God gives his comfort when the time of trouble comes
It is believed that God will provide solace during periods of distress.
They say we'll know no share of peace till we lay down our guns
Until arms are laid down, true peace will not be achieved.
But will my boy have the chance to do the things I've never done
I wonder if my son will experience things I could not.
Or will he, like me, be told that he must be his father's son?
Will he also be held to the standards set forth by his father, as was I?
On a chunk of coal just carve these words, ''I was just my father's son''
Engrave these words into a lump of coal, 'I was simply the offspring of my father,' to serve as my epitaph.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RICKY SKAGGS, GEORGE MICHAEL GREEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind