Crowell was born in Houston, Texas to James Walter Crowell and Addie Cauzette Willoughby. A contemporary of Steve Earle and, like Earle, influenced by the (songwriting) greats Guy Clark and Townes Van Zandt, Crowell played guitar and sang for three years in Emmylou Harris' "Hot Band".
He was married to Rosanne Cash (daughter of famous singer/guitarist Johnny Cash) from 1979 to 1992 and had a great influence on her career, producing most of her albums during that period. They collaborated on a number of duets, including 1988's "It's Such a Small World." Though Crowell and Cash are now divorced, they remain on friendly terms, performing together occasionally. Six years after the breakdown of his marriage to Rosanne he married Claudia Church.
Although best known as a songwriter and alternative country artist, Crowell enjoyed mainstream popularity during the late 1980s and early 1990s. His critically acclaimed album, 1988's Diamonds and Dirt, produced five No. 1 hits during a 17-month span in 1988 and 1989: "It's Such a Small World" (a duet with Cash), "I Couldn't Leave You If I Tried," "She's Crazy for Leaving," "After All This Time" and "Above and Beyond." His follow-up album, 1989's "Keys to the Highway," produced two top 5 hits in 1990, which were "Many a Long and Lonesome Highway" and "If Looks Could Kill."
As Crowell's popularity in mainstream country faded, he continued his prolific songwriting. In 2001 he released The Houston Kid on Sugar Hill Records. Many songs on the album were semi-autobiographical, and the album included a duet with Crowell's ex father-in-law Johnny Cash on "I Walk the Line (Revisited)". Initially, Cash was annoyed at Crowell changing the tune to his song, but he came to like the finished product. Crowell followed up this effort with Fate's Right Hand in 2003 and The Outsider in 2005. Crowell considers these three albums his finest work as a solo artist.
2004 saw the release of The Notorious Cherry Bombs, a reunion of The Notorious Cherry Bombs, a group that existed briefly in the 1970s with Rodney Crowell, Vince Gill, Tony Brown, and others. The future Keith Urban hit "Making Memories of Us" was included on this disc.
In 2005, Crowell served as producer for established Irish singer/songwriter Kieran Goss on the album Blue Sky Sunrise.
Preachin' To The Choir
Rodney Crowell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I aim for heaven but I wake up on the floor
I'd take up with rattlesnakes to get my point across
I'd argue with a parking brake to show em who's the boss
It's my intention to inspire
Instead I'm preachin to the choir
I had some money but I blew it living high
I tried to prove myself a man of certain taste
But all I've got to show you now is written on my face
I'm not someone you'd admire but I'm still preachin' to the choir
I'm born a lion but I don't believe it fits
I'm no king of the jungle out there livin by my wits
This morning's paper called for romance on a whim
I reckon I'd believe em' if they told me sink or swim
I'm under water not on fire but I'm still preachin to the choir
Baytown Texas there's a fisherman I knew
He read the bible and he spit tobacco too
He said that crap about the rod you spare to spoil the child
Is only propaganda meant to keep you in denial
Go on and follow your desire but he was preachin to the choir
Time is of the essence when you're hanging by a thread
And the answer to your questions won't unravel in your head
When you're staring at forever from the edge of life's abyss
No one's gonna tell you how it all came down to this
If you say different you're a liar
I'm just preachin' to the choir
When I'm standing at the St. Peter's gate a trying to slip on in
I might as well plead guilty to the worst of who I've been
I used to like to think I had a special way with words
But right now I'm convinced I've more in common with the birds
I'm not ready to retire I'll keep on preachin to the choir
The song "Preachin' To The Choir" by Rodney Crowell is a reflective look at the failures and contradictions within himself. The opening lines state that his self-importance is something he finds unappealing, and although he aims for heaven, he keeps waking up on the floor. He states that he is not proud of himself, but he is still trying to inspire others, even though his preaching is falling on deaf ears.
The second verse is an admission of past mistakes with money, including living excessively by indulging in the best of wine and women, which has led to him having nothing to show for it except a face that's ridden with wrinkles. He knows he isn't anyone that people would idolize, but he's still trying to reach them in some way.
The final verse shifts from his personal thoughts to a story about a fisherman he once knew from Baytown Texas. The fisherman spits tobacco and reads the Bible, but he admits that the "rod" mentioned in the Bible verse about sparing the child is all just propaganda meant to make people stay in denial. The song concludes by saying that he doesn't know how he'll fare at St. Peter's gate, but he still has more to say and will continue preaching to the choir.
Line by Line Meaning
My self importance is a god forsaken bore
I am a self-centered person and it's tiresome.
I aim for heaven but I wake up on the floor
I want to succeed, but I keep failing.
I'd take up with rattlesnakes to get my point across
I will do anything to make my point heard.
I'd argue with a parking brake to show em who's the boss
I will argue with anyone to prove that I am right.
It's my intention to inspire
I want to motivate others.
Instead I'm preachin to the choir
Unfortunately, I am just stating the obvious to those who already know it.
I had some money but I blew it living high
I once had wealth, but I spent it all recklessly.
My wine and women were the best that you could buy
I indulged in the finest things, including alcohol and women.
I tried to prove myself a man of certain taste
I attempted to prove myself elitist through my choices.
But all I've got to show you now is written on my face
My face shows the results of my poor choices and reckless living.
I'm not someone you'd admire but I'm still preachin' to the choir
Although I am not admirable, I am still trying to motivate those who already believe as I do.
I'm born a lion but I don't believe it fits
I was born with potential, but I don't believe I have lived up to it.
I'm no king of the jungle out there livin by my wits
I am not a master of my destiny.
This morning's paper called for romance on a whim
The news calls for impulsive romantic behavior.
I reckon I'd believe em' if they told me sink or swim
I would follow the news and its guidance, even if it's harmful.
I'm under water not on fire but I'm still preachin to the choir
I am struggling, but I am still trying to inspire those who already believe as I do.
Baytown Texas there's a fisherman I knew
In Baytown Texas, I knew a fisherman.
He read the bible and he spit tobacco too
The fisherman read the bible and chewed tobacco.
He said that crap about the rod you spare to spoil the child
The fisherman rejected the notion of spoiling a child by being too lenient.
Is only propaganda meant to keep you in denial
The idea is a deception that keeps people in denial.
Go on and follow your desire but he was preachin to the choir
The fisherman's advice was falling on deaf ears since he was speaking to those who already agreed with him.
Time is of the essence when you're hanging by a thread
When life is fragile, time is valuable.
And the answer to your questions won't unravel in your head
Answers won't just come to you, you need to seek them out.
When you're staring at forever from the edge of life's abyss
When you realize your own mortality, and what comes next.
No one's gonna tell you how it all came down to this
Ultimately, you are accountable for your own life's decisions and outcomes.
If you say different you're a liar
If you claim otherwise, then you are untruthful.
I'm just preachin' to the choir
Again, I am merely trying to motivate those who already agree with me.
When I'm standing at the St. Peter's gate a trying to slip on in
When I am trying to gain entry to heaven.
I might as well plead guilty to the worst of who I've been
I am guilty of my past sins, no matter what.
I used to like to think I had a special way with words
I used to think I was an orator.
But right now I'm convinced I've more in common with the birds
Presently, I feel that I have nothing remarkable about me.
I'm not ready to retire I'll keep on preachin to the choir
Although I don't feel exceptionally gifted, I will continue to motivate those who already believe as I do.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: RODNEY CROWELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind