Following an early incarnation as a relatively straightforward roots rock outfit, they morphed into a raucous, sleazy, tongue-in-cheek party band obsessed with sex and food; in fact, fried chicken became a crucial part of their live performances, whether it was used in eating contests or tossed into the audience. Southern Culture may play chiefly to an underground-rock audience, but their gonzo tributes to the South aren't as smug as some of their peers working similar territory, since the band has genuine roots in the area. Southern Culture on the Skids were founded by guitarist/singer Rick Miller in the college town of Chapel Hill, NC, in 1985. Growing up, Miller had split time between Henderson, NC, where his father ran a mobile-home factory, and Southern California, where his mother lived, and where he first discovered surf and rockabilly. After earning a degree in art from the University of North Carolina, Miller started the first incarnation of Southern Culture on the Skids with original lead vocalist Stan Lewis, bassist Leslie Lands and drummer Chip Shelbys.
Lewis brought a distinct Cramps influence to the band, although their style was still much more subdued than it would later become. This quartet lineup released an EP called Voodoo Beach Party on the local indie label Lloyd Street, followed later in 1985 by an eponymous full-length debut.As the band drifted more and more into country territory, co-founder Lewis split; two more members were added on accordion and pedal steel, but the band's new direction alienated much of its local following, and the first version of Southern Culture split not long after. In 1987, Miller regrouped with a new, smaller lineup featuring bassist and sometime vocalist Mary Huff and drummer Dave Hartman, both of whom had grown up together in Roanoke, VA. (Lewis, Land, and Shelby would later reunite as Stan Lewis and the Rockin' Revellers, and performed on a mostly local basis.) The new Southern Culture spent a few years honing their sound and releasing the very occasional single. Finally, in 1991, they returned to the LP format with Too Much Pork for Just One Fork, which was issued on the ill-fated Moist label.
Too Much Pork established the group's lyrical obsessions, and featured the first recording of their fried-chicken anthem "Eight Piece Box," a concert favorite.Southern Culture's next album, the rawer-sounding 1992's For Lovers Only, began to win them a wider following thanks to better distribution from the band's new label, Safe House. Among other fan favorites, it featured Huff's first major vocal showcase, a cover of the Jo Anna Neel country obscurity "Daddy Was a Preacher but Mama Was a Go-Go Girl." The half-live, half-studio EP Peckin' Party followed on Feedbag in 1993, as did the 10" Girlfight EP on Sympathy for the Record Industry. The more laid-back, country-flavored full-length Ditch Diggin' appeared on Safe House in 1994, featuring covers of the Louvin Brothers and Link Wray.
In 1995, Geffen subsidiary DGC signed Southern Culture on the Skids to a major-label contract, which was consummated the following year with Dirt Track Date. Although Dirt Track Date included re-recordings of several of the band's most popular past songs, it received generally enthusiastic reviews and sold over a quarter of a million copies.After another indie EP, this time the Mexican wrestling tribute Santo Swings!/Viva del Santo on Estrus Records, Southern Culture issued their second major-label album, Plastic Seat Sweat, in 1997, which marked the debut of new keyboardist/multi-instrumentalist Chris "Cousin Crispy" Bess. However, they got lost in the shuffle of the big-time label mergers, and wound up without a record deal for a while. After regrouping with 1998's self-released, horror-themed Zombiefied EP, the band returned to action on TVT with 2000's full-length Liquored Up and Lacquered Down, which marked a return to the country-tinged sound of Ditch Diggin'. A brief recording hiatus followed, but the band returned in early 2004 with Mojo Box, recorded in Miller's home studio and released by Yep Roc. In 2007, the band released Countrypolitan Favorites, which contained covers of some of the most classic country and rockabilly songs. In 2010, they released their 7th studio album, The Kudzu Ranch, deriving its title from the ranch where the songs were recorded, and the kudzu engulfing parts of its acreage.
Soul City
Southern Culture on the Skids Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If your d*ck is big or your d*ck is tiny
it don't matter if your wig's on straight
if you show up early and you party too late
cause it's soul city it's soul city
the shoes are big but the women are bigger
and the pantyhose make em' look like winners
rolled up hiked up by the knees
cause it's soul city it's soul city
yo little joint with a roof on top
sitting on a stack of cinderblocks
it's soul city yeah it's soul city
it's soul city yeah it's soul city
it don't matter if your pants are shiny
if your d*ck is big or your d*ck is tiny
it don't matter if your wig's on straight
if you show up early you party too late
cause it's soul city it's soul city
yo little joint with a roof on top
sitting on a stack of cinderblocks
soul city yeah soul city yeah
The Southern Culture on the Skids song Soul City celebrates a particular type of party atmosphere that they call "soul city." The song is essentially an ode to a specific place and time where everyone can let loose and enjoy themselves without worrying about superficial things like appearance or punctuality. The lyrics express the idea that everyone is welcome in Soul City, no matter how they look or how they act. The emphasis is on having a good time, and the music itself is upbeat and energetic, reflecting the joyful spirit of the party atmosphere.
The first part of the song talks about how appearances don't matter in Soul City. A person's pants might be shiny or their wig might be on straight, but what really counts is their willingness to let loose and have a good time. The song then goes on to describe some of the people who populate Soul City. The women are said to be "bigger" than the shoes, and they wear pantyhose that make them look like winners. The party dress is in full effect, and the smell of the breeze adds to the overall festive atmosphere. The chorus, with its refrain of "it's soul city, yeah," emphasizes the sense of community and camaraderie that is present at this gathering.
The song concludes with a description of the physical setting of Soul City. It is a "little joint" that sits atop a stack of cinderblocks. This image seems to suggest that Soul City is a place that is not fancy or high-class, but rather one that is down-to-earth and accessible to everyone. The repetition of the chorus at the end of the song reinforces this sense of inclusiveness and celebration.
Line by Line Meaning
It don't matter if your pants are shiny
The level of shine your pants have does not determine your worth in Soul City
If your d*ck is big or your d*ck is tiny
The size of your genitalia is irrelevant in this city
it don't matter if your wig's on straight
The condition of your hairpiece has no bearing on your acceptance in Soul City
if you show up early and you party too late
Arriving early and staying late to party is encouraged in this city
cause it's soul city it's soul city
This is Soul City
the shoes are big but the women are bigger
The footwear may be large but the women of Soul City are even more impressive
and the pantyhose make em' look like winners
The women's attire, including pantyhose, accentuates their beauty and confidence
rolled up hiked up by the knees
The style of the pantyhose involves rolling them up and hiking them up to the knees
they got the party dress on can you smell my breeze
The women are dressed to party and exuding a confident aura
yo little joint with a roof on top
This is a small venue with a roof on top
sitting on a stack of cinderblocks
The venue is situated on a stack of cinderblocks
it's soul city yeah it's soul city
This is Soul City
it don't matter if your pants are shiny
The level of shine your pants have does not determine your worth in Soul City
if your d*ck is big or your d*ck is tiny
The size of your genitalia is irrelevant in this city
it don't matter if your wig's on straight
The condition of your hairpiece has no bearing on your acceptance in Soul City
if you show up early you party too late
Arriving early and staying late to party is encouraged in this city
cause it's soul city it's soul city
This is Soul City
yo little joint with a roof on top
This is a small venue with a roof on top
sitting on a stack of cinderblocks
The venue is situated on a stack of cinderblocks
soul city yeah soul city yeah
This is Soul City
Contributed by Tyler K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.