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 -
Don't Go Near The Water
Sammy Kershaw Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Honey do you remember?
You let the screen door slam when you stepped off the front porch
Hear ya mama calling don't be late
And I'd hear ya daddy holler son she's my only daughter
You stick your nose in the honeysuckle down by the gate
I can still hear ya mama calling don't go near the water
But we didn't go near the water
A love ran deep so young and sweet
And the nights got hotter and hotter
We're sure enough gettin' our feet wet mama
But we didn't go near the water
We hear a rockin' chair squeekin' as we sneaked up the back stairs
Mama waitin like a grizzly bear
We had to get the honeysuckle out of your hair
But in the morning light you'd look her right in the eye
You wouldn't lie
We didn't go near the water
We fell right in way over our heads
But we didn't go near the water
A love ran deep so young and sweet
And the nights got hotter and hotter
We're sure enough gettin' our feet wet mama
But we didn't go near the water
Your mama used to worry about that big muddy river
She should've worried about me
Cause we were sure enough gettin' our feet wet mama
But we didn't go near the water
We didn't go near the water
Didn't go near the water
Yeah
The song "Don't Go Near The Water" by Sammy Kershaw is a nostalgic and romantic ballad that recounts a young love affair that takes place in the country. The lyrics, full of vivid imagery, describe the carefree days of youth, spent running around, playing outside, and falling in love with the girl next door. The main refrain, "Your mama used to worry about that big muddy river," refers to a common cautionary message parents would give their children who lived near bodies of water, warning them of the dangers of drowning. In this case, however, the singer and his love interest have a strong connection that keeps them from going near the water; they fall in love naturally and deeply, without any parental warnings or restrictions weighing them down.
The song uses a variety of techniques to evoke a sense of time and place, such as the detail in the descriptions of the characters and the setting, the use of regional accents (like "ya" instead of "you"), and the repetition of the phrase "we didn't go near the water." The song also captures the thrill and fear of young love, as the couple tries to navigate their feelings while dodging the watchful eyes of their parents. Despite the challenges they faced, though, the love between them never waned, as evidenced by the line "A love ran deep so young and sweet/And the nights got hotter and hotter."
Overall, "Don't Go Near The Water" is a wistful and romantic song that celebrates the joys of young love and the freedom of growing up in the countryside. Through its vivid storytelling and nostalgic tone, the song invites the listener to look back on their own youthful experiences and remember the excitement and wonder of falling in love for the first time.
Line by Line Meaning
Your mama used to worry about that big muddy river
The singer's love interest's mother used to be concerned about the danger of the nearby river.
Honey do you remember?
The singer is asking his love interest if she remembers a particular memory.
You let the screen door slam when you stepped off the front porch
The love interest was in a hurry to leave the house and accidentally let the door slam loudly.
Hear ya mama calling don't be late
The love interest's mother is calling her daughter to remind her not to be late.
And I'd hear ya daddy holler son she's my only daughter
The love interest's father would shout at the singer to remind him that his daughter is his only child.
You stick your nose in the honeysuckle down by the gate
The love interest stopped to smell the honeysuckle flowers near the fence.
I can still hear ya mama calling don't go near the water
The love interest's mother warned her to stay away from the dangerous river.
We fell right in way over our heads
The singer and his love interest fell deeply in love.
But we didn't go near the water
Despite their love, the couple didn't approach the dangerous river.
A love ran deep so young and sweet
Their love was intense and pure, although they were still very young.
And the nights got hotter and hotter
Their love grew more passionate over time.
We're sure enough gettin' our feet wet mama
The singer acknowledges that they are getting into a serious relationship.
But we didn't go near the water
Despite their commitment to each other, they remained cautious and didn't come close to the river.
We hear a rockin' chair squeekin' as we sneaked up the back stairs
As they tiptoed up the stairs, the couple could hear the sound of a rocking chair creaking.
Mama waitin like a grizzly bear
The love interest's mother was watching out for them, like a fierce grizzly bear.
We had to get the honeysuckle out of your hair
The couple had to remove traces of the honeysuckle flowers from the love interest's hair to avoid getting caught.
But in the morning light you'd look her right in the eye
Despite their sneaking around, the couple were still honest with each other.
You wouldn't lie
The singer assures his love interest that he would never lie to her.
Your mama used to worry about that big muddy river
The danger of the river was a constant concern for the love interest's mother.
She should've worried about me
The singer believes that the love he and his partner share is much stronger than any danger they may encounter.
We didn't go near the water
The couple never approached the dangerous river.
Didn't go near the water
Reiterating that their love was safe and strong, and they had no reason to put themselves in harm's way.
Lyrics ยฉ BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CHAPIN HARTFORD, JIM FOSTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@roberthicks5443
My mama always loved Sammy Kershaw, but i didn't realize how right mama could be till i was grown. Ol sammy is solid country GOLD, and if you listen carefully to his voice, at times you'd mistake him for George Jones
@jamieauthement6913
I was little when this song was coming out. I can't believe my parents allowed me to sing this. As I grew up, I realized the meaning and love it even more than I did as a kid
@JamesSmith-jq6om
I was 9 and I knew this song word for word pretty much after the first handful of times I heard it,but I had a completely innocent perception of the song,not knowing what it was really about then. Which is probably why my mom didn't care at all that I sang along to it every time I heard it.
@jadedstar3682
LMAO. You were young and innocent
@mistyhoyle9391
Born in 1990...same here ๐คฃ
@mistyhoyle9391
Of course a few years later lol
@thomashawkinshibbs3541
True story ๐บโค๏ธ๐ฏโ๏ธ
@scarwalker9454
I told my new puppy yesterday โdonโt go near the water girlโ. Then this fucking song played in my head ALL DAY! I woke up thinking about itโฆโฆso, here I am now ๐
Thanks Sammy ๐๐ป
Catchy tune.
@biseushery1236
ะฏ ะถะธะฒั ะฒ ะ ะพััะธะธ, ะฝะพ ั ะพะฑะพะถะฐั ัะปััะฐัั ะฐะผะตัะธะบะฐะฝัะบะธะต ะบะฐะฝััะธ-ะฟะตัะฝะธ. ะัะพะฑะตะฝะฝะพ ั ัะฐััะพ ัะปััะฐั ะฟะตัะฝะธ ะกัะผะผะธ ะะตััะพั, ะธ ะฟะตัะฝะธ ะะถะพะฝะฝะธ ะััะฐ. ะะพะพะฑัะต ะกัะผะผะธ ะะตััะพั ะธ ะะถะพะฝะฝะธ ะัั - ััะพ ัะถะต ะปะตะณะตะฝะดั ะฐะผะตัะธะบะฐะฝัะบะพะน ะบะฐะฝััะธ-ะผัะทัะบะธ ๐๐ค
@garytroy3937
Country music has changed growing up I listen to George jones, George strait, Arron tippin, and a lot more of great TRUE COUNTRY MUSIC SINGERS.but now a days it's all about how tight there jeans are and perfect bodies, ITS NOT COUNTRY ANYMORE ...... God bless America.!!!! Bring our true country music back...