Born in Taft, Texas, LaRue actually spent the majority of his adolescence north of the Red River, where he was raised in Southeastern Oklahoma . He never really pictured himself doing anything else but making good music, so LaRue eventually made his way to the state’s Red Dirt hotbed of Stillwater, where he began to develop his individualized style from a widespread range of influences.
From Willie Nelson to Ray Charles, to The Grateful Dead and Kris Kristofferson, LaRue’s emerging style impressively blends varied elements of country, blues, and soulful rock into cohesive, vocal driven performances. His abilities earned the immediate respect of then “up and coming” peers including Cody Canada, Mike McClure, Jason Boland, and other cohorts of the revitalizing Texas and Red Dirt circuits (now electrifying audiences nationwide.)
In 2002, both fans and industry took good notice of LaRue after he spearheaded The Organic Boogie Band and released ”Downtown,” which was recorded in private sessions at Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa and mixed in a trailer on the side of a cliff in Bartlesville,OK. It was just the beginning, as the debut cemented LaRue’s following and inspired a move to New Braunfels, Texas, where a vibrant music community and a persistent touring schedule spawned a vast response.
Fans anxiously awaited the August 2005 release of Stoney LaRue-the Red Dirt Album, which hit the Billboard sales charts in its debut week. A far cry from the mixing trailer on the cliff, The Red Dirt Album was recorded with a tight circle of players and professionals in a studio setting. The record was a pinnacle effort for LaRue and has inarguably established his triple threat status as a truly gifted vocalist, player, and performer.
Armed with golden ear musicianship, an amusing wit, and soulful magnetism, LaRue’s shows are infused with an uplifting quality, a cathartic barroom brand of spirituality, where venues are complimented for good bar “feng shui,” and where time and dimension can be traversed via emotive lyrics and melodic riffs. A charismatic performer, LaRue’s flawless vocals can draw a crowd to a open mouth level of sonic mesmerization, and next have them singing “Forever Young” so loudly that you can’t hear anything else.
At 28 years old, Stoney LaRue now performs close to 300 dates a year at top festivals and venues across the nation and even the Caribbean, sharing bills with renowned acts like Lee Ann Womack, Gary Allan,Dierks Bentley, Cross Canadian Ragweed, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Radney Foster, and others. With a newly assembled band that includes Jeremy Bryant (drums), Jesse Fritz (bass), Rodney Pyeatt (guitar), and Steve Littleton (keys), Stoney LaRue is poised for his upcoming addition to the famed Live at Billy Bob’s series and even greater horizons to come.
The music is undeniably inside of Stoney LaRue, but he’s the type of artist that doesn’t HAVE to point it out to you, his belief in the music is strong enough that it just powers through transparently. Stoney LaRue is not trying to be anybody but the artist that he is, and his sincerity just seeps out, spills off the stage, and overtakes any room.
Box #10
Stoney LaRue Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He's gonna make it in the city playin' guitar in the studio
Well he hadn't been there an hour, when he met a Broadway flower
You know she took him for his money and left him in a cheap hotel
Well it's easy for you to see that that country boy is me
Tell me how am I ever gonna break the news to the folks back home
I was gonna be a great success
Oh but that sure ended up a mess
Hello Mom and Dad I hate to call collect
But I ain't got a cent to my name
And I'm sleepin' in the hotel doorway
And tonight they say it's gonna rain
If I could only get me some money
You know I'd be back on my feet again
Send it in care of the Sunday Mission
Box number ten
Outta Southern Illinois they're still worried 'bout their boy
But this boy's goin' home soon's he get's a fare
Well as soon as I got the bread
I got a pipe upside my head
You know they left me in an alley
Took my money and my guitar, too
Hello Mom and Dad I hate to call collect
But I ain't got a cent to my name
And I'm sleepin' in this hotel doorway
And tonight they say it's gonna rain
If I could only get me some money
You know I'd be back on my feet again
Send it in care of Sunday Mission
Box number ten
Send it in care of Sunday Mission
Box number ten
The song "Box #10" by Stoney LaRue follows the story of a country boy who sets out to make it big in the city playing guitar in the studio. However, upon arrival, he meets a woman who takes advantage of him, leaving him in a cheap hotel with no money. The song expresses his struggle and desperation to get back on his feet and return home to face his family, who he knows will be disappointed in him. He hopes to receive money through the Sunday Mission's PO Box #10 to help him get back home.
The song "Box #10" highlights the struggles that many aspiring artists face when they leave their hometowns to pursue their dreams. It shows how the allure of the city can sometimes lead to poor decision-making and the importance of being cautious when trying to make it in a new place. The lyrics also showcase the difficulties of trying to live on minimal resources in an unfamiliar environment.
Line by Line Meaning
Well out of Southern Illinois come a down home country boy
There was a boy from Southern Illinois who had a simple, rural background.
He's gonna make it in the city playin' guitar in the studio
The boy believed he could achieve success in the city playing guitar as a professional musician.
Well he hadn't been there an hour, when he met a Broadway flower
Soon after arriving in the city, the boy met a woman who was beautiful and sophisticated, with connections to Broadway.
You know she took him for his money and left him in a cheap hotel
The woman the boy met conned him out of his money and abandoned him in a low-quality hotel.
Well it's easy for you to see that that country boy is me
The boy telling the story is acknowledging that he was the young man from Southern Illinois who travelled to the city.
Tell me how am I ever gonna break the news to the folks back home
The boy is worried and unsure how to explain to his family that he failed to achieve his dreams in the city.
I was gonna be a great success
The boy had big ambitions and believed he had the talent and drive to become a successful musician in the city.
Oh but that sure ended up a mess
Despite his best efforts, the boy's attempt to make it in the city as a musician turned into a disaster.
And in the process I got messed up too
The boy's failure in the city caused him personal problems, affecting his health or causing emotional distress.
Hello Mom and Dad I hate to call collect
The boy is calling his parents, but he feels guilty about using a collect call and adding to their financial burden.
But I ain't got a cent to my name
The boy is broke and has no money left to his name.
And I'm sleepin' in the hotel doorway
The boy is homeless and forced to sleep outside in a doorway of the cheap hotel where he was abandoned.
And tonight they say it's gonna rain
The boy is worried about the weather, as it may make his situation sleeping outdoors even worse.
If I could only get me some money
The boy is hoping for some financial assistance to help him get back on his feet and return home.
You know I'd be back on my feet again
The boy is expressing confidence that he could regain his independence and get back to a stable life if he had some financial support.
Send it in care of the Sunday Mission
The boy knows a local organization that can help the homeless and advises his family to send money there.
Box number ten
The boy tells his family to address the money to a specific box number at the Sunday Mission for it to reach him.
Writer(s): James Croce
Contributed by Maya W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Will S
I love Jim Croce and had my doubts about a relatively unknown cover of this amazing song, but I must admit Stoney kind of put his own touches on it and delivered a great song. I'm impressed and will continue to see what else he comes up with. It's hard to impress a Croce fan with a cover but well done.
Alec Holland
Completely agree.
Ben Dalen
I'll be 31yrs old in a week and I'm a Huge JIM CROCE Fan even though noone my age knows who the hell he is.
Armament & Axes
I always loved this song, I love the way you rocked it ! I am going to play this with my jamming buddies , I think they will like it !
rhondall65
Hi Stoney, just want you you know how much I LOVE your music. It means soo much to me. Thanks Alot !!!! 💙💙💙
John Miraglia
Thank you boys. Awesome version. Thanks!!
Cliff Hooker
Love this guy's music
Lane Hancock WVO
Jim Croce is possibly one of my biggest influences in music, which is kinda crazy leading the cowboy life I been, happy to see you reviving such a classic with your own country twang
Nate Horan
My favorite Croce song. You did awesome on this.
Sarah Denkins
You guys did very good! Honoring are Jim Croce! He was my dad's favorite,I love him too@!!