He is a relative of Cajun music legend, Doug Kershaw.
After the death of his father when Sammy was 11, he worked a variety of jobs by day while playing roadhouses at night to support his family.
During that time, he opened shows for Ray Price, Merle Haggard and George Jones while barely into his teens. When the pressures of growing up fast took their toll in the form of a serious drug and alcohol problem, he quit his bad habits cold turkey in 1988 and took a break from music to work as a remodeling supervisor at Wal-Mart.
One of Kershaw's demo tapes made its way to Mercury Records, which released his debut album in 1991. His traditional country voice found a receptive audience in the early 1990s, with hits like "Cadillac Style," "She Don't Know She's Beautiful" and a remake of the Amazing Rhythm Aces' "Third Rate Romance."
Shortly thereafter, Kershaw and Lorrie Morgan divorced their spouses and married in 2001. They separated two years later, but quickly reconciled. Prior to their marriages, Kershaw and Morgan recorded two duets - "Maybe Not Tonight" and "He Drinks Tequila", both of which made the Top 40.
He has released over 14 albums in his career including "I Want My Money Back" on Audium Records in 2003.
Kershaw filed for protection under Chapter 13 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code on February 7, 2007.
Singles
Year Title Album US Country
1991 "Cadillac Style" Don't Go Near The Water 3
1991 "Don't Go Near The Water" Don't Go Near The Water 12
1992 "Yard Sale" Don't Go Near The Water 17
1993 "Anywhere But Here" Don't Go Near The Water 10
1992 "She Don't Know She's Beautiful" Haunted Heart 1
1993 "Haunted Heart" Haunted Heart 9
1993 "Queen Of My Double-Wide Trailer" Haunted Heart 7
1994 "I Can't Reach Her Anymore"A Haunted Heart 3
1994 "National Working Woman's Holiday" Feelin' Good Train 2
1994 "Third Rate Romance" Feelin' Good Train 2
1995 "Southbound" Feelin' Good Train 27
1995 "If You're Gonna Walk, I'm Gonna Crawl" Feelin' Good Train 18
1995 "Your Tattoo" The Hits, Chapter One 47
1996 "Meant To Be" Politics, Religion And Her 5
1996 "Vidalia" Politics, Religion And Her 10
1997 "Politics, Religion And Her" Politics, Religion And Her 28
1997 "Fit To Be Tied Down" Politics, Religion And Her 29
1998 "Love Of My Life"A, B Labor Of Love 2
1998 "Matches" Labor Of Love 22
1998 "Honky Tonk America" Labor Of Love 31
1999 "One Day Left To Live" Labor Of Love 35
1999 "Maybe Not Tonight" (w/ Lorrie Morgan) Maybe Not Tonight 17
1999 "When You Love Someone" Maybe Not Tonight 37
2000 "Me And Maxine" Maybe Not Tonight 35
2001 "He Drinks Tequila" (w/ Lorrie Morgan) I Finally Found Someone 39
2003 "I Want My Money Back" I Want My Money Back 33
2003 "I've Never Been Anywhere" I Want My Money Back 58
2006 "Tennessee Girl" Honky Tonk Boots 43
2006 "Baby's Got Her Blue Jeans On" Honky Tonk Boots -
Cadillac Style
Sammy Kershaw Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I got mules up the pike and my car's an old relic
I get Chevrolet pay but I got a big smile
'Cause my little baby loves me Cadillac style
Well I don't have a condo in Panama City
You could say I'm a member of the poor boy committee
But I kinda' feel rich when I've been with her awhile
Well about ten-thirty Lord she puts me in drive
Turns all the lights down and man alive
All eight cylinders are firin' in line
Never out of gas and I'm always on time
Well I ain't Goldfinger and I ain't Joe Fashion
And you can't buy much with the checks I'm cashin'
So people if you wonder why I'm ridin' with a smile
It's 'cause my little baby loves me Cadillac style
Well about ten-thirty Lord she puts me in drive
Turns all the lights down and man alive
All eight cylinders are firin' in line
Never out of gas and I'm always on time
Well I ain't Goldfinger and I ain't Joe Fashion
And you can't buy much with the checks I'm cashin'
So people if you wonder why I'm ridin' with a smile
It's 'cause my little baby loves me Cadillac style
Yeah my little baby loves me Cadillac style
Yeah my little baby loves me Cadillac style
The song begins with Sammy Kershaw acknowledging that on the surface he may not seem like a successful, smooth-talking ladies' man like Burt Reynolds or Tom Selleck, and the car he drives is not glamorous like theirs. He also mentions that he may not have much money, but he has a huge smile on his face because his significant other loves him just the way he is, and they have their own special style – "Cadillac style".
He goes on to explain that when he's with her, he feels rich and blessed, even though he doesn't have material wealth. He talks about how around ten-thirty, she puts him in drive and they go for a ride in his car, turning down the lights and enjoying each other's company. He compares their relationship to a well-tuned car with all eight cylinders firing, always on time and never running out of gas.
Overall, the message of the song is that love is more important than material possessions or societal status. Sammy is content with his life and his love, and that's all that matters.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I ain't Burt Reynolds and I ain't Tom Selleck
I am not a famous, wealthy actor like Burt Reynolds or Tom Selleck.
I got mules up the pike and my car's an old relic
I have old-fashioned means of transportation, like mules, and my car is also old and outdated.
I get Chevrolet pay but I got a big smile
Although I don't make a lot of money, I am happy with what I have.
'Cause my little baby loves me Cadillac style
My significant other loves me with a lavish, luxurious kind of love, like that of driving in a Cadillac.
Well I don't have a condo in Panama City
I don't have a luxurious home or residence in a popular vacation spot like Panama City.
You could say I'm a member of the poor boy committee
I am not wealthy and am part of the group of people who struggle financially.
But I kinda' feel rich when I've been with her awhile
When I am with my significant other, I feel like I have all the riches in the world.
'Cause my little baby loves me Cadillac style
My significant other loves me with a lavish, luxurious kind of love, like that of driving in a Cadillac.
Well about ten-thirty Lord she puts me in drive
Around 10:30 PM, my significant other takes control of the situation and leads me in the right direction.
Turns all the lights down and man alive
She creates a romantic mood by dimming the lights and making the atmosphere cozy.
All eight cylinders are firin' in line
Our passion for each other is strong and aligned with each other's desires.
Never out of gas and I'm always on time
Our love and passion for each other is never diminished or lacking, and we are always on the same page.
Well I ain't Goldfinger and I ain't Joe Fashion
I am not a wealthy, highly fashionable person like Goldfinger or Joe Fashion.
And you can't buy much with the checks I'm cashin'
I don't make a lot of money and can't buy many luxuries with what I have.
So people if you wonder why I'm ridin' with a smile
If anyone is wondering why I am so happy, it's because of the love and affection I receive from my significant other.
It's 'cause my little baby loves me Cadillac style
My significant other loves me with a lavish, luxurious kind of love, like that of driving in a Cadillac.
Yeah my little baby loves me Cadillac style
My significant other loves me with a lavish, luxurious kind of love, like that of driving in a Cadillac.
Yeah my little baby loves me Cadillac style
My significant other loves me with a lavish, luxurious kind of love, like that of driving in a Cadillac.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CHAPIN HARTFORD, JIM FOSTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Bevzilla88
Well, I ain't Burt Reynolds and I ain't Tom Selleck;
I got bills up the pike and my car's an old relic.
I get Chevrolet pay but I've got a big smile
'Cause my little Baby loves me Cadillac style!
Well, I don't have a condo in Panama City.
You could say I'm a member of the Poor Boy Commitee.
But I kinda feel rich when I've been with her a while
'Cause my little Baby loves me Cadillac style!
Well, about ten thirty, Lord, she puts me in drive,
Turns all the lights down and man, alive!
All eight cylinders are firin' in line,
I'm never out of gas and I'm always on time!
Well, I ain't Goldfinger and I ain't Joe Fashion
And you can't buy much with the checks I'm cashin'.
So, people, if you wonder why I'm a-ridin' with a smile
It's 'cause my little Baby loves me Cadillac Style.
Well, about ten thirty, Lord, she puts me in drive
Turns all the lights down and man, alive!
All eight cylinders are firin' in line,
I'm never out of gas and I'm always on time!
Well, I ain't Goldfinger and I ain't Joe Fashion,
And you can't buy much with the checks I'm cashin'.
So, people, if you wonder why I'm a-ridin' with a smile,
It's 'cause my little Baby loves me Cadillac style.
Yeah, my little Baby loves me Cadillac Style!
Well, my little Baby loves me Cadillac style!
TangyLid
"I got bills out the pocket, my cars an old relic"
Love songs that stay relevant through time.
TangyLid
@Michael Luciano thank you. Killer line 👌🏻
Michael Luciano
Up The Pike**
nemesisgenius
Sammy Kershaw hit #1 on the Billboard country songs chart with his debut smash "Cadillac Style" on 1-25-92!!
Riley Lawson
Still lovin this going into 2021! When country was country!
Johnny Parsons
Great song, they need to make stuff like this nowadays.
Brandon Donald
Yep they do but for some reason people these days just don't have the talent anymore
John Spataro
Hell yeah but its everybody loves me haha
cash carter
Good old South Carolina country boy through and through. You can't help but look up to him like a true southern icon with lots of respect and dignity for all Southerners. His music is dedicated to the everyday Workin Man. That's why they all love him and I've never heard one person say anything bad about him. God loves you Sammy.
Timothy Poole
He was born in Kaplan, La. David Ball was born in Sc