It's said that the musical urge in Kellogg started with a mixture of his dad's records (Cat Stevens/Jim Croce) and his sister's (Mötley Crüe/Bon Jovi). The songwriting of the former and the showmanship of the latter was the beginning of the musical attitude that pervades Kellogg's work today. Kellogg got his start recording and touring while attending the University of Massachusetts Amherst from 1994-1998. He independently released several solo albums before being signed to Universal Records in 2004.
www.stephenkellogg.com
Southern State of Mind
Stephen Kellogg Lyrics
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Everything looks different now and nothings as it seems
And the thought occurs to me, as mad hatter takes the wheel
That for all the words that we exchanged we still don't know how to feel
Til I cross montgomery and I lose my sense of time
Just for a second I forget it all
Make my way across the next state line
I'm in a southern state of mind
Wonderin' if anyone notices how much I care to see
Another street car now as the weaving sun goes down on me
My southern bell, well, shes chompin' on a georgia peach
And all my wildest high strung dreams appear within my reach
Til I cross montgomery and I lose my sense of time
Just for a second I forget it all
I make my way across the next state line
I'm in a southern state of mind
I'm in a southern state of mind
When my love goes north,
And my heart goes south.
When I can hear the words
But I cant get them from my mouth
Til I cross montgomery and I lose my sense of time
Just for a second I forget it all
I make my way across the next state line
Well, I'm in a southern state of mind
I'm in a southern state of mind
I'm in a southern state..
The opening lines of Southern State of Mind narrate the experience of the singer - Stephen Kellogg - driving down the highway all the way to New Orleans where he comes across dead dogs strewn across the roads. The presence of these dead animals, coupled with the fact that everything looks different now, makes him realize that "nothings as it seems". As Kellogg drives down the road, he becomes overcome by a sense of alienation and disconnect from the world around him. He recognizes that despite all the words that he has exchanged with people, he still doesn't know how to feel.
However, when he crosses Montgomery, he loses his sense of time and starts forgetting everything that was troubling him all this while. Crossing the state line, he enters a southern state of mind. The transformative power of the southern spirit allows him to forget his problems and bask in the beauty of the Southern landscape. The warm yellow sunlight, the swaying Georgia peach trees, and the presence of a southern belle all evoke in him a sense of comfort and a feeling of hope that he can accomplish anything that he wants to.
In essence, Southern State of Mind is a song that showcases the power of the Southern spirit to transform one's mood and outlook towards life. The song suggests that no matter how disconnected we feel from the world, as long as we hold onto the things that make us happy, we can always find our way back to that "southern state of mind".
Line by Line Meaning
Dead Dogs on the highway all the way to New Orleans,
The journey to New Orleans is grim, with many dead dogs on the highway.
Everything looks different now and nothings as it seems
The surroundings have changed, and nothing is what it appeared to be before.
And the thought occurs to me, as mad hatter takes the wheel
The singer is experiencing a strange and surreal situation, represented by the mad hatter taking the wheel.
That for all the words that we exchanged we still don't know how to feel
Despite communication, the singer and others involved are still unsure about their emotions.
Til I cross montgomery and I lose my sense of time
Crossing Montgomery causes the singer to lose track of time.
Just for a second I forget it all
The brief distraction enables the singer to forget their worries momentarily.
Make my way across the next state line
The journey continues, moving onto the next state.
I'm in a southern state of mind
The singer's thoughts and emotions are influenced by the southern location.
Wonderin' if anyone notices how much I care to see
The singer is curious if others are aware of their eagerness to explore the area.
Another street car now as the weaving sun goes down on me
A street car passes by as the sun sets, creating a picturesque scene.
My southern bell, well, shes chompin' on a georgia peach
The singer's love interest is enjoying a Georgia peach, adding to the southern ambiance.
And all my wildest high strung dreams appear within my reach
The setting inspires the singer with the belief that their greatest aspirations are attainable.
When my love goes north,
The singer's love has departed to the north.
And my heart goes south.
Despite the absence of their love, the singer's emotions remain in the southern state.
When I can hear the words
The singer is capable of understanding the spoken word.
But I cant get them from my mouth
Despite comprehension, the singer struggles to verbalize their thoughts and feelings.
Well, I'm in a southern state of mind
The singer's thoughts and emotions remain linked to the southern location.
I'm in a southern state of mind
The chorus repeats, emphasizing the singer's strong connection to the southern state of mind.
Contributed by Levi T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.