Kelly writes and performs the kinds of songs that inspire novels and movies. You could call him a bastard disciple of Kurt Cobain and Townes Van Zandt, and he’d be totally cool with that. He’s just as comfortable wearing a cowboy hat as he is in a Slayer t-shirt. His story so far twists and turns through heartbreak and triumph, an overdose and rehab, empty dive bars and packed venues, living everywhere from South Carolina to Brussels, and as he puts it, “finally getting my shit together and proposing to the love of my life.” It’s this unbelievable experience that informs his singular style—a gravelly patchwork of folk lyricism, grunge attitude, country heart, Americana spirit, and rock energy. Not only has he penned songs for Tim McGraw (“Nashville Without You”), Josh Abbott Band (“Front Row Seat”), and more, but his independent solo debut EP Halloween earned acclaim from KCRW, Consequence of Sound, RELIX, Apple Music, and more. “Poison” racked up over 516K Spotify streams, while “Black Magic” soundtracked the Season Finale of the CBS series Scorpion. He logged countless miles on the road sharing the stage with the likes of The Lumineers and Robert Earl Keen in addition to performing at Bonnaroo and Wakarusa. Signing to Washington Square Music / Razor & Tie and he recorded his full-length debut in 2017.
Just For The Record
Ruston Kelly Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And maybe I lied about where I was going
And I don't blame you for the fact that you blame me
And I won't hate you if you wanna forget me
And say it was all a cloud of smoke
And say it was nothing but a joke
Everything that you said about me is true
You laugh with your friends when they talk about us
You agree with them when they say I was never good enough
For all that you needed that I wasn't giving
I guess it was easier to put it like this
And say it was all a cloud of smoke
And say it was nothing but a joke
Everything that you said about me is true
Just for the record I really loved you
Oh, oh
Maybe these are nothing but a sorry man's words
Oh, oh
I never tried to lessen how much it hurt
Oh, oh
Maybe it's a little bit selfish now
You probably don't wanna hear me out
So say it was all a cloud of smoke
And say it was nothing but a joke
For everything that I did
I used every excuse
Just for the record I really loved you
Just for the record I really loved you
Just for the record I really loved you
The lyrics of Ruston Kelly's song "Just For The Record" tell the story of a man reflecting on a failed relationship. He admits to leaving too many things unspoken and lying about his whereabouts, acknowledging that his partner's blame towards him is justified. He realizes that it would be easier for her to simply forget him and reduce their love to nothing more than a joke, but he wants to set the record straight and let her know that he truly loved her. He understands that his apologies may seem like "sorry man's words" and that it may be selfish of him to want to express his feelings now, but he feels the need to tell her one last time that his love for her was real.
Through these lyrics, Ruston Kelly expresses a sense of regret and longing for a past love. He acknowledges his mistakes and understands the pain he's caused, but still wants the person he's addressing to know that his love was genuine. The repetition of the line "just for the record, I really loved you" emphasizes the importance of this message and showcases the sincerity of his words.
Overall, "Just For The Record" is a poignant song that explores the complexities of love and loss, regret and forgiveness. It showcases Ruston Kelly's raw and emotional songwriting and brings the listener on a journey through the complexities of heartbreak and reconciliation.
Line by Line Meaning
Maybe I left too many things unspoken
Perhaps I didn't communicate enough
And maybe I lied about where I was going
It's possible I wasn't truthful about my whereabouts
And I don't blame you for the fact that you blame me
I understand that you hold me responsible
And I won't hate you if you wanna forget me
I won't hold a grudge if you choose to move on
And say it was all a cloud of smoke
You could claim it was all a blur, meaningless or insignificant
And say it was nothing but a joke
You could interpret it all as a prank or hoax
Everything that you said about me is true
I acknowledge the accuracy of your statements about me
Just for the record I really loved you
I want to make it clear that I genuinely loved you
You laugh with your friends when they talk about us
You find amusement in situations involving us when with your friends
You agree with them when they say I was never good enough
You concur with your friends' sentiment that I didn't measure up to your expectations
For all that you needed that I wasn't giving
I understand that I wasn't meeting all your needs
I guess it was easier to put it like this
I assume it was simpler to convey things in this manner
Oh, oh
Vocal interlude
Maybe these are nothing but a sorry man's words
Perhaps my words are nothing more than an attempt to apologize
Oh, oh
Vocal interlude
I never tried to lessen how much it hurt
I didn't make an effort to minimize the hurt I caused
Oh, oh
Vocal interlude
Maybe it's a little bit selfish now
It's conceivable that my actions are self-centered at present
You probably don't wanna hear me out
You likely aren't interested in listening to me
For everything that I did
I'm accepting responsibility for all my actions
I used every excuse
I relied on multiple justifications for my behavior
Just for the record I really loved you
I want to reiterate that I truly loved you
Just for the record I really loved you
I want to reiterate that I truly loved you
Just for the record I really loved you
I want to reiterate that I truly loved you
Contributed by Natalie I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Caffeinated Nation
Lyrics
[Verse 1]
Maybe I left too many things unspoken
And maybe I lied about where I was going
And I don't blame you for the fact that you blame me
And I won't hate you if you wanna forget me
[Chorus]
And say it was all a cloud of smoke
And say it was nothing but a joke
Everything that you said about me is true
Just for the record I really loved you
[Verse 2]
You laugh with your friends when they talk about us
You agree with them when they say I was never good enough
For all that you needed that I wasn't giving
I guess it was easier to put it like this
[Chorus]
And say it was all a cloud of smoke
And say it was nothing but a joke
Everything that you said about me is true
Just for the record I really loved you
[Bridge]
Oh, oh
Maybe these are nothing but a sorry man's words
Oh, oh
I never tried to lessen how much it hurt
Oh, oh
Maybe it's a little bit selfish now
You probably don't wanna hear me out
[Chorus]
So say it was all a cloud of smoke
And say it was nothing but a joke
For everything that I did
I used every excuse
Just for the record I really loved you
Just for the record I really loved you
Just for the record I really loved you
Joi Blackbird
Omg; They just played this on "Big Sky" ..... Such a beautiful lyric 🌼🌼
Saltine Cracker
I just started that show it’s good but that trooper creeps me out ughh
Jane irura
This is where I hear the song..dope
Teri Bennett
@Joi Blackbird I just came from that show
Gary Williams
Heard it on big sky too...nice tune
Farrah Walters
that's how i found it. shazam!!! and bought it
Steve Edwards
His lyrics & melodies just bring the hurt. The tone of his voice, too. What a gift. What a heart.
Caley LeMieux
Do you ever feel like a song is for you? This one came at the right time and had me hooked right away
Diana Dee
Ruston Kelly's songs are songs you listen to when you just want to take a step back from the world for a little while. ❤
Hannah Klages
On CONSTANT replay! ALL the feels!!! ❤️