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 -
Haunted Heart
Sammy Kershaw Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Take a left on a Lost Highway
And make a right on Memory Lane
Drive until you feel the pain
And at the river of tears take one last turn
And cross the bridge that just won't burn
A run down house is love's graveyard
Well my haunted heart can't rest in peace
It's buried with her memory
And it's a living hell here after dark
All alone with a haunted heart
Late at night a slamming door
Shadows move across the floor
Footsteps fall on silent stairs
I hear her call but no one's there
Her photograph hangs by the bed
A grim reminder love is dead
A love I killed just won't depart
It's living in my haunted heart
Well my haunted heart can't rest in peace
It's buried with her memory
And it's a living hell here after dark
All alone with a haunted heart
I said I'm all alone with a haunted heart
In Sammy Kershaw's song "Haunted Heart," the lyrics depict a heartbroken narrator who is haunted by his past relationship. He advises to "go down the road called Yesterday" and take a journey down memory lane until you feel the pain. The singer's memories are haunting him, and he is longing for a way to escape the reality of the heartbreak. He details a journey down the "Lost Highway" of the past until reaching the "river of tears" where the bridge won't burn, and the pain is still felt. The "run-down house" where his love's grave lies is where his haunted heart resides.
In the second verse, the house where his love's memory resides is portrayed as a living hell, where after dark, the singer is all alone with a haunted heart. The slamming door, shadows, and footsteps are all whispers of the haunting memories that he cannot escape. The photograph by the bed is a grim reminder that the love is dead, and the singer is responsible for killing it. The love, however, won't depart and continues to live in his haunted heart.
The repetitive nature of the song where the singer describes the haunting of the past love and the pain it has caused him, creates an emotional journey for the listener. The song's haunting melody and poignant lyrics are a continuous reminder that heartbreak can leave behind scars that can be difficult to shake off.
Line by Line Meaning
Go down the road called Yesterday
Think back to the past
Take a left on a Lost Highway
Get lost in thoughts of what could have been
And make a right on Memory Lane
Remember the good times
Drive until you feel the pain
Think until it hurts
And at the river of tears take one last turn
Acknowledge your emotions
And cross the bridge that just won't burn
Confront the past and move on
A run down house is love's graveyard
Memories of love linger in old, abandoned places
That's where you'll find my haunted heart
My heart is troubled by lost love
Well my haunted heart can't rest in peace
I can't let go of the past
It's buried with her memory
My love has died with her
And it's a living hell here after dark
The pain is constant
All alone with a haunted heart
I suffer alone with my memories
Late at night a slamming door
Sudden reminders of love lost
Shadows move across the floor
Memories are never forgotten
Footsteps fall on silent stairs
A sign of an unfulfilled presence
I hear her call but no one's there
My love lingers even in the silence
Her photograph hangs by the bed
A constant reminder of love lost
A grim reminder love is dead
Love no longer exists
A love I killed just won't depart
My actions led to the end of our love
It's living in my haunted heart
My heart is filled with painful memories
I said I'm all alone with a haunted heart
I suffer alone with my broken heart
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: KIM WILLIAMS, WILLIAM BROCK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@christinapennington5403
Lyrics. Enjoy
Go down the road called Yesterday
Take a left on a Lost Highway
And make a right on Memory Lane
Drive until you feel the pain
And at the river of tears take one last turn
And cross the bridge that just won't burn
A run down house is love's graveyard
That's where you'll find my haunted heart
Well my haunted heart can't rest in peace
It's buried with her memory
And it's a living hell here after dark
All alone with a haunted heart
Late at night a slamming door
Shadows move across the floor
Footsteps fall on silent stairs
I hear her call but no one's there
Her photograph hangs by the bed
A grim reminder love is dead
A love I killed just won't depart
It's living in my haunted heart
Well my haunted heart can't rest in peace
It's buried with her memory
And it's a living hell here after dark
All alone with a haunted heart
I said I'm all alone with a haunted heart
@nmc5h8MIZ
When the topic of 90s country music comes up, I don't know why Sammy doesn't come up more often. So underrated!
@robertbryant379
This is when country music singers were still country
@kylesyverson4048
Sammy Kershaw is iconic. Very underrated! Saw him live and he didnt skip a beat.
@MissRailfan
I saw him few yrs ago with Aaron tippin and Collin Raye. They r funny together. I saw Sammy for the 1st time 10yrs ago I'd say.
@user-tx6fs4do8q
Sammy Kershaws' music brings back , so many memories . I saw him in concert a few years ago and was very impressed !
@MrHalfpint32
I hope Sammy sings and performs as long as he's able. What a voice and entertainer! One of my all time favs
@dianehayse1816
So sad...this is how love goes so many times.
@williambanks8103
When country music was the real deal!
@federicofloris9196
Truth is people like Sammy, Clay Walker and Travis Tritt should have been way bigger than they were, should have been dominating ACM and CMA awards for years and years.
@emoneyg33
Im a black man and i agree!!!