Renegade Picker
Steve Young Lyrics


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Yeah, I was born down in Dixie
And I grew up in the South
Listening to good music
And that’s what’s I’m all about
All I wanted was a guitar, the road
And a good drink of liquor
There wasn’t but one thing for me to be
And that’s a renegade picker

And I’m a renegade picker
Partly hippie and partly kicker
Been around, been around
I may never settle down

And when I was a little boy
They used to make me go to school
But they soon give me up
For a guitar fool
And all the little girl’s mama’s
They used to drive me from the door
They’d say Honey we don’t want
That boy around no more

He’s just a renegade picker
Partly hippie, partly kicker, too
He’ll get around, get around
But he won’t never settle down

Well I’ve played all your honky tonks
From Texas to Alabam’
Well I’ve seen me some hard times
But I’ve been up more than down
Though there were sometimes people
With a gun or a knife
But when they heard me sing
I guess that saved my life

It saved a renegade picker
Partly hippie partly kicker too




Yeah let him go, let him go
Want to hear him sing some more

Overall Meaning

The song "Renegade Picker" by Steve Young is an autobiographical song that describes his life as a musician who loves to play the guitar and travel the road. He sings about his roots in the South and his love for good music. For him, the only thing he ever wanted was to be a renegade picker – someone who plays the guitar with passion and without any boundaries. He sees himself as a mix of a hippie and a kicker, someone who's been around the block but not quite ready to settle down.


As a little boy, he was made to go to school, but his love for the guitar was too strong. He was called a "guitar fool" and shunned by some of the girls' parents. Steve sings about how he's played in all types of bars from Texas to Alabama, and how he's seen hard times. But every time he picked up the guitar and sang, it saved his life.


Overall, the song tells the story of Steve's life, his struggles, and his love for the music that defines him. He's a renegade picker who has found his calling in life and will use music to express himself and touch people's lives.


Line by Line Meaning

Yeah, I was born down in Dixie
I was born in the southern United States.


And I grew up in the South
I was raised in the southern region of the country.


Listening to good music
I enjoyed listening to music.


And that’s what’s I’m all about
That's my passion.


All I wanted was a guitar, the road
I wanted to play music and travel.


And a good drink of liquor
And have good times with alcohol.


There wasn’t but one thing for me to be
There was only one thing I wanted to be.


And that’s a renegade picker
I wanted to be a musician who doesn't conform to traditional rules.


And I’m a renegade picker
I am a rebellious musician.


Partly hippie and partly kicker
I have a mix of hippie and country influences.


Been around, been around
I've traveled extensively.


I may never settle down
I may not stay in one place for very long.


And when I was a little boy
When I was a child.


They used to make me go to school
My guardians made me go to school.


But they soon give me up
But they eventually gave up on me.


For a guitar fool
Because I was obsessed with playing guitar.


And all the little girl’s mama’s
Mothers of the little girls in town.


They used to drive me from the door
They used to shun me from their homes.


They’d say Honey we don’t want
They'd say things like 'We don't want'


That boy around no more
They didn't want me around.


He’s just a renegade picker
I'm just a rebellious musician.


Partly hippie, partly kicker, too
I have a mix of different influences.


He’ll get around, get around
I'll travel and tour.


But he won’t never settle down
I won't ever stay in one place for too long.


Well I’ve played all your honky tonks
I've played gigs at all sorts of places.


From Texas to Alabam’
All over the southern United States.


Well I’ve seen me some hard times
I've gone through difficult situations.


But I’ve been up more than down
But I've had more good experiences than bad.


Though there were sometimes people
Although there were some instances where people


With a gun or a knife
Were violent and threatening.


But when they heard me sing
But my music ended up soothing them.


I guess that saved my life
Which probably ended up saving me from harm.


Yeah let him go, let him go
Let me continue doing what I love.


Want to hear him sing some more
I want to listen to more of his music.




Contributed by Isaac N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Kim Young


on Lonesome, On'ry and Mean

The lyrics posted here are not actually correct and I don't understand why they are not. If you listen to Steve's vocal you will hear what they should be. This song is truly about getting clean and sober, according to what Steve told me!

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