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 -
Yard Sale
Sammy Kershaw Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Real estate sign says sold
Family picnic table holds all that it can hold
Holds all that it can hold
On the grass and on the sidewalk
Well there must be half the town
Ain't it funny how a broken home
Can bring the prices down
(CHORUS)
Oh they're sortin through
What's left of you and me
Paying yard sale prices
For each golden memory
Oh I never thought
I'd ever live to see
The way they're sorting through
What's left you and me
You left two summer dresses
In the backyard on the line
A lady just brought them to me
Says she thinks they'll fit just fine
Well there goes the baby's windup
And the mirror from the hall
I'd better take just one last look
Before they take it all
CHORUS
Well i wonder what you'd say
If you could see
The way they're sorting through
What's left of you and me
In Sammy Kershaw's song Yard Sale, the singer describes a scene where his possessions are being sold at a yard sale after a breakup. The scene is set with a cardboard sign announcing the sale and a real estate sign indicating that the house has been sold. The picnic table, which is described as holding all it can hold, is hosting the various items for sale. The singer notes that the number of people at the sale is significant, as nearly half of the town seems to be present. The singer is taken aback by how the breakdown of a home can lead to such low prices for personal possessions.
As the singer watches the attendees sorting through the items, he reflects on the memories attached to each item being sold. He notes that the buyers are paying yard sale prices for each golden memory, referring to how the possessions were once treasured but now being sold for much less than their original value. The chorus repeats this sentiment, expressing disbelief at the scene, with the singer never thinking he'd live to see the way they're sorting through what's left.
The song also includes specific references to the items being sold, such as two summer dresses, the baby's windup, and a mirror from the hall. These references provide insight into the sorts of memories that the singer is attached to and serves to make them relatable to the listener. At the end of the song, the singer wonders what his ex-partner would think if they could see the scene.
Line by Line Meaning
Cardboard sign says yard sale
There is a simple cardboard sign indicating that a yard sale is taking place
Real estate sign says sold
There is also a sign indicating that the real estate property has been sold
Family picnic table holds all that it can hold
A family's picnic table is being used to display all of the items for sale
Holds all that it can hold
The table is completely full, unable to hold any more items
On the grass and on the sidewalk
Items for sale are being displayed both on the grass and on the sidewalk
Well there must be half the town
A lot of people from the town seem to be attending the yard sale
Ain't it funny how a broken home
The singer is contemplating how a broken home can result in people selling their possessions at a yard sale
Can bring the prices down
The value of the items for sale is reduced due to their association with a broken home
Oh they're sortin through
People are sifting through the items for sale
What's left of you and me
The items for sale are remnants of a previous relationship between the artist and the person they are singing about
Paying yard sale prices
The items are being sold for low prices commonly found at yard sales
For each golden memory
Each item for sale is associated with a cherished memory from the past
Oh I never thought
The singer is surprised by the sight of their possessions being sold
I'd ever live to see
It was unexpected for the singer to witness others sorting through their possessions
The way they're sorting through
The singer is observing how people are handling and choosing items to purchase at the yard sale
You left two summer dresses
The artist is expressing that their former partner left behind two summer dresses
In the backyard on the line
The summer dresses were most likely hung to dry on a clothesline in the backyard
A lady just brought them to me
A woman just purchased the summer dresses from the yard sale
Says she thinks they'll fit just fine
The woman who purchases the dresses thinks they will fit her well
Well there goes the baby's windup
Someone has purchased the baby's windup toy
And the mirror from the hall
A mirror from the house has been sold
I'd better take just one last look
The artist is feeling a bit sentimental and wants to take one final glance around the yard sale
Before they take it all
The singer wants to ensure they've grabbed everything they want from the sale before the remaining items are taken away
Well i wonder what you'd say
The artist is curious about what their former partner would think if they saw their things being sold
If you could see
The singer is considering how their former partner's perspective may change if they saw what remained of their relationship being sold at a yard sale
The way they're sorting through
The singer is once again observing how people are handling the items for sale and discussing the potential impact seeing this would have on their former partner
What's left of you and me
The items for sale are the last tangible remnants of their relationship
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Major Bob Music, Inc. / Rio Bravo Music, Inc. / Castle Bound Music, Inc. / Hanna Bea Songs
Written by: DEWAYNE BLACKWELL, LARRY BASTIAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@stevenmolen1995
Sammy is one of the most underrated Country singers of all time...great song/video...
@nicholasblake4358
he'd unbelievable..... now we got Morgan Wallen hahahahah
@youtuber3328
please read my comment
@youtuber3328
please read my comment
@brianblithe2271
REAL GOV. OF LOU FOR ME
@williamotter5419
@@youtuber33282 2:11 :07
@MichaelJohnson-yx8tr
One of the most underrated artists of the nineties
@badhabit3737
You only know what this song means when you've lived it ..
@SteveMudflapMcGrew
So true. So very true
@rocknroll7316
I haven't lived it but it still moves me