Robert Earl Keen, Jr. (born January 11, 1956 in Houston, Texas) is an Ameri… Read Full Bio ↴Robert Earl Keen, Jr. (born January 11, 1956 in Houston, Texas) is an American singer-songwriter. Growing up, Keen was interested in music, sports, movies and writing. He attended Texas A&M University, enrolling in the school of journalism. Disappointed in the College Station, Texas music scene, he began playing guitar and learned to read and write music, basing his style on folk, country, blues and roots rock. In 1977 he rented a house from landlord Jack Boyett, where his neighbor was a then-unknown Lyle Lovett. The two became friends and performed together on the front porch. This eventually grew into inspiration for a song entitled "The Front Porch Song", which both would add to their repertoire. In 1980, Keen graduated from Texas A&M, moved to Austin, Texas and began writing for a newspaper. Soon he was performing in Austin's nightclubs and live music venues, building a solid following. In 1984 he financed the recording of his own EP and distributed it regionally. In 1986, He moved to Nashville, Tennessee. Discouraged by the polish of the new country sound and unable to land a recording contract, Keen moved back to Austin. In 1989 he released his national debut album, West Textures. His 1993 release, A Bigger Piece Of Sky, gained wider acclaim, both amongst fans and critics. Over the next ten years, Keen would continue to write, record, perform and tour. Today, he is popular with traditional country music fans, folk music fans, the college radio crowd and alt-country fans. Keen currently resides in Bandera, Texas.

Feelin' Good Again
Robert Earl Keen Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Standin' down on Main Street across from Mr. Blues
In my faded leather jacket and my weathered Brogan shoes
A chill north wind was blowin' but the spring was comin' on
As I wondered to myself Just how long I had been gone

So I strolled across old Main Street
Walked down a flight of stairs
Stepped into the hall and saw all my friends were there

A neon sign was flashin', "Welcome, come on in"
It feels so good feelin' good again

My favorite band was playin' an Otis Redding song
When they sang the chorus everybody sang along
Dan and Margarita were swayin' side by side
I heard they were divorcin' but I guess they let it slide
And I wished I had some money
With which to buy a round

I wished I'd cashed my paycheck before I came to town
But I reached into my pocket found three twenties and a ten
It feels so good feelin' good again

There was old man Perkins sittin' on his stool
Watchin' Butch and Jimmy John talkin' loud and playin' pool
The boys from Silver City were standin' by the fire
Singin' like they thought They were the Tabernacle choir

And I wanted you to see 'em all I wished that you were there
I looked across the room and saw you standin' on the stair
And when I caught your eye I saw you break into a grin
It feels so good feelin' good again

I wanted you to see 'em all I wished that you were there
I looked across the room and saw you standin' on the stair
And when I caught your eye I saw you break into a grin

It feels so good feelin' good again
It feels so good feelin' good again

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Feelin' Good Again" by Robert Earl Keen speak to the feeling of returning to one's hometown and reuniting with old friends. The singer describes standing on Main Street, feeling a chill wind blowing, but also sensing the coming of spring. He reflects on how long he has been gone from his hometown and then decides to head down to a local bar where he knows his friends will be. As he enters the bar, he is welcomed by a neon sign and the sound of his favorite band playing an Otis Redding song. He sees his friends Dan and Margarita dancing together, despite rumors of their impending divorce. He also sees his old friend, old man Perkins, sitting on his stool, watching the younger crowd play pool.

The singer takes in the scene around him, enjoying the warmth of the fire and the sound of the boys from Silver City singing like they're "the Tabernacle choir." He wishes he had more money to spend on drinks for his friends but finds some cash in his pocket. As he looks around, he sees someone he cares for standing on the stairs and feels a sense of joy and relief to see them. The song closes with the repetition of the line "It feels so good feelin' good again," emphasizing the sense of comfort and belonging that comes from returning to one's roots.

The lyrics of "Feelin' Good Again" are relatable to anyone who has left their hometown and returned to visit or moved back permanently. The song speaks to the sense of nostalgia and familiarity that comes from returning to a place that holds so many memories. It also emphasizes the importance of relationships, both romantic and platonic, in contributing to one's sense of happiness and belonging. Overall, "Feelin' Good Again" is a comforting and nostalgic song that captures the essence of returning to one's hometown.

Line by Line Meaning

Standin' down on Main Street across from Mr. Blues
I was standing on Main Street opposite Mr. Blues, feeling lost and disconnected from the people around me.

In my faded leather jacket and my weathered Brogan shoes
I was wearing my worn out leather jacket and shoes, feeling like an outsider among the people around me.

A chill north wind was blowin' but the spring was comin' on
Despite the cold north wind, I felt hopeful that spring was coming soon and with it, a sense of renewal.

As I wondered to myself Just how long I had been gone
I was reflecting on how long it had been since I had taken the time to truly connect with my community and friends, feeling a sense of regret for my absence.

So I strolled across old Main Street
I took a leisurely walk along the old Main Street, taking in the sights and sounds of the place where I once belonged.

Walked down a flight of stairs
I walked down a set of stairs, unsure of what I would find below.

Stepped into the hall and saw all my friends were there
To my delight, I found that all my friends were gathered in the hall, waiting for me to join them.

A neon sign was flashin', "Welcome, come on in"
A bright neon sign welcomed me inside the hall, making me feel like I was home again.

It feels so good feelin' good again
I felt a sense of joy and happiness, being surrounded by my friends and community once more.

My favorite band was playin' an Otis Redding song
The band was playing one of my favorite songs by Otis Redding, filling me with nostalgia and memories of happy times.

When they sang the chorus everybody sang along
Everyone in the room joined in to sing the chorus, feeling connected by the music and the moment.

Dan and Margarita were swayin' side by side
Even though they were divorcing, Dan and Margarita were dancing together and enjoying each other's company, reminding me of the power of forgiveness and moving on.

I heard they were divorcin' but I guess they let it slide
Although they were in the process of getting a divorce, they seemed to be able to set their differences aside and enjoy the moment together.

And I wished I had some money
I felt a momentary sense of regret that I didn't have any money to contribute to the festivities.

With which to buy a round
I wished I could have bought a round of drinks for everyone to show my appreciation for their welcoming spirit.

But I reached into my pocket found three twenties and a ten
To my surprise, I found enough money in my pocket to buy a round of drinks, feeling grateful and content.

There was old man Perkins sittin' on his stool
Old man Perkins was sitting on his stool, watching the others talk and play pool, feeling a sense of connection to his community and friends.

Watchin' Butch and Jimmy John talkin' loud and playin' pool
Butch and Jimmy John were talking loudly and playing pool, enjoying each other's company and the sense of camaraderie that comes with it.

The boys from Silver City were standin' by the fire
The boys from Silver City were standing by the fire, singing like they were the Tabernacle choir, feeling happy and connected to their friends and community.

Singin' like they thought They were the Tabernacle choir
The boys were enjoying themselves so much that they sang as if they were a professional choir, feeling a sense of pride in their community and culture.

And I wanted you to see 'em all I wished that you were there
I wished for someone special to be there to share in the joy and happiness of the moment, feeling a sense of longing and affection.

I looked across the room and saw you standin' on the stair
To my delight, I saw that you were standing on the stairs, filling me with a sense of relief and happy anticipation.

And when I caught your eye I saw you break into a grin
When our eyes met, you broke into a grin, feeling a sense of happiness and shared joy.

It feels so good feelin' good again
At that moment, I felt a sense of joy and happiness, knowing that I was surrounded by my friends and community once more.

I wanted you to see 'em all I wished that you were there
I wanted you to be there to share in the moment and feel the same sense of joy and connection that I was experiencing.

It feels so good feelin' good again
The feeling of happiness and belonging was so great that it needed to be said twice, confirming the depth and intensity of the emotion.

Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: Robert Earl Keen

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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