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 -
Metropolis
Sammy Kershaw Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Took the stop sign down, it was shot up anyhow
One night I ran right through it, in my Chevrolet
Both police cars came, but I got away
It was a boom town back in Â'62
Till the coal ran out and the drought came though
And they dammed the river that we all use to fish
Left the city limit sign laying in the ditch
Run plum over it
Leaving Metropolis
Well I found myself in a big high rise with a concrete yard
Ain't safe after dark, guess this old boy drove too far
Met a girl, fell in love, got married and she's due in May
Says we're gonna need more space, I said I know just the place
Where we can walk down to the country store and we won't even have to lock our door
And we can still get air and water there for free
She said, Â"That sounds good to me.Â"
It was a boom town back in Â'62
Till the coal ran out and the drought came though
And they dammed the river that we all use to fish
Population 404 and when we pull in it'll be three more
And there's a city limit sign laying in the ditch
That I need to fix
Back in Metropolis
Almost in Metropolis
Coming up on Metropolis
I'm back in Metropolis
The song Metropolis by Sammy Kershaw tells the story of a man who reflects on his past in his hometown of Metropolis. The song begins with the man talking about how they put up a red light in the heart of the town and took down the stop sign that was previously there. The man had run through the stop sign in his Chevrolet, and even though two police cars came, he was able to evade them. He then talks about how Metropolis was a boom town back in '62 but the coal ran out and the drought came through, which depleted the town's natural resources. Further, the town's river was dammed, and its population reduced from 405 to 404 after the man ran over the city sign and left it in the ditch while leaving the town for good.
The song then describes how the man moved to a big high rise with a concrete yard, where he met a girl, fell in love, and got married. While his wife was pregnant and they needed more space, the man thought of returning to his hometown because he knew of a place that could offer them the kind of life they needed. They could walk down to the country store without having to lock their doors, and they would still get air and water there for free. As they approach Metropolis again, the man says that when they pull into the town, their population will increase to 407 from 404, indicating that they are the new additions to the town.
Overall, the song appears to celebrate simplicity and rural living and reflects on the nostalgia the man feels for his small-town upbringing, appreciating the sense of community and freedom he had while there.
Line by Line Meaning
Well they finally put that red light up in the heart of town
The town has developed over time and now has a signal light in the center of town.
Took the stop sign down, it was shot up anyhow
The stop sign was removed since it was full of bullets.
One night I ran right through it, in my Chevrolet
The singer of the story recklessly drove through the new red light in their car at night.
Both police cars came, but I got away
The police tried to catch the artist but they managed to escape.
It was a boom town back in Â'62
In 1962, the town was thriving and successful.
Till the coal ran out and the drought came though
The town's revenue and agriculture were affected due to the coal running out and a drought.
And they dammed the river that we all use to fish
The local river was blocked with a dam preventing the townsfolk from fishing.
Population 405 and I made it 404 one night
The artist caused a casualty and brought the town's population to 404.
Left the city limit sign laying in the ditch
The sign that marked the town limit was left abandoned on the roadside.
Run plum over it
The city limit sign was destroyed by the artist's car as they ran it over.
Leaving Metropolis
The singer left the town of Metropolis soon after the accident.
Well I found myself in a big high rise with a concrete yard
The artist moved to a big city and found themselves in an apartment complex.
Ain't safe after dark, guess this old boy drove too far
The singer realized that the city wasn't as safe and peaceful as their hometown.
Met a girl, fell in love, got married and she's due in May
The singer met someone, fell in love, got married, and their partner is expecting a child in May.
Says we're gonna need more space, I said I know just the place
Their partner expressed the need for more space and the singer knew of just the right place.
Where we can walk down to the country store and we won't even have to lock our door
The artist suggests moving to a peaceful country town where people still trust each other.
And we can still get air and water there for free
The artist implies that the country town has clean and fresh air and water, unlike the city.
She said, Â'That sounds good to me.Â'
Their partner liked the idea and agreed to it.
That I need to fix
The singer feels the need to revisit their hometown and fix the city limit sign.
Almost in Metropolis
The artist is approaching their hometown of Metropolis.
Coming up on Metropolis
The artist is getting closer to reaching their hometown of Metropolis.
I'm back in Metropolis
The artist returns to their hometown of Metropolis.
Contributed by Nolan Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.