Simpson was born in Jackson, Breathitt County, Kentucky, the only child of a secretary and a state policeman who formerly worked undercover narcotics. Due to his father's work, Simpson's family moved to Versailles, outside Lexington, where Simpson graduated from Woodford County High School. Simpson's mother's family were coal miners. Simpson is the first male on his mother's side of the family to not work in a strip mine or deep mine. After three years in the United States Navy, Simpson spent time in Japan, then lived in Everett, Washington, and then moved back home to Lexington, Kentucky.
As of August 2017, he has released three albums as a solo artist. He released two albums independently, High Top Mountain in 2013 and Metamodern Sounds in Country Music in 2014. His second album is notable for being nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Americana Album, being listed 18th on Rolling Stone's "50 Best Albums of 2014," and also being named among "NPR's 50 Favorite Albums of 2014." His third studio album, A Sailor's Guide to Earth, was released on Atlantic Records and was Simpson's first major-label release, later earning him Best Country Album at the 59th Grammy Awards while also being nominated for Album of the Year.
Simpson is often compared to Waylon Jennings and the Outlaw Country genre of country music. Shooter Jennings says, "Sturgill isn't imitating at all, and he sounds like my favorite era of my dad, the Seventies, when he would sing quieter and more conversational. That's what struck me about Sturgill from Day One. And still does." Simpson himself counts Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, Keith Whitley, and Marty Robbins as much bigger influences on his sound than Waylon Jennings. Simpson has also stated he tries to base his career around that of Dwight Yoakam. Indeed, Country Music Television noted that Simpson had "a voice that recalls Merle Haggard [and] guitar licks that bring Buck Owens to mind." His overall sound was described by Indiewire as "a mesmerizing and sometimes bewildering mix of traditional country sounds, contemporary philosophy, and psychedelic recording-studio wizardry.
Ol' Dood
Sturgill Simpson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And our witness had been sworn
'Bout a man born in Hardburly back in June of '29
Must have got that Marlin-Mahlon muzzle day he was born
Things he could do with that rifle
Blow the balls off a bat
Reload, and shoot it one more time
Sham, and Sam, a tomahawk, and that flintlock's all he need
Finding food, and finding trouble, and always taking heat
Any man who crossed him was surely gonna bleed
And he'd stretch you up and burn you
For calling him half-breed
Left the varnish off his words
Feared no beast, no man
Didn't want to end up in his debt
'Cause he'd damn sure get paid
He was harder than the nails hammered Jesus' hands
He was the one they called Dood
Son of a mountain miner and a Shawnee maiden
Wore a size seventeen ring, had hands like a bear
And if he got 'em on you, he's taking that top hair
His grandfather taught him how to hunt, how to live off the land
Taught him how to take a scalp when you kill a man
He was a deadly warring daddy with the gun gleam in his eye
'Til he found him a good woman, calmed down the rage
He built a home from the land
With the hands the good lord gave him
And ol' Dood got his own food
Had no need for the 'scrip
That old coal company paid
Left the varnish off his words
Feared no beast, no man
And if either came upon him
They'd damn sure get slayed
He was harder than the nails hammered Jesus' hands
He was the one they called Dood
Son of a mountain miner and a Shawnee maiden
Son of a mountain miner and a Shawnee maiden
"Ol' Dood" by Sturgill Simpson is a song that tells the story of a man named Dood, who was born in Hardburly in 1929. He was skilled in using his Marlin-Mahlon rifle and was known to be able to blow a bat's balls off with it. Dood was a deadly fighter and didn't fear any man or beast. If anyone crossed him or insulted him, they would surely bleed. Dood's size seventeen ring and bear-sized hands made him an even more intimidating figure. He had a flintlock, a tomahawk, and a monster of a mule named Sham and Sam, who aided him in his endeavors.
Dood's grandfather taught him how to hunt and live off the land. He also taught him how to take a scalp when he killed a man. Dood was a deadly warring daddy with the gun gleam in his eye until he found a good woman and calmed down his rage. He built his own home with the hands that the good lord gave him and didn't need the coal company's payment.
The lyrics of the song celebrate the legendary figure of Ol' Dood, who was part Shawnee and part mountain miner. He was a skilled marksman and fighter, but he was also a man who could build a home and provide for himself. The song is a tribute to the rugged individualism and self-reliance that were hallmarks of the American West.
Line by Line Meaning
One and all had heard the stories
The legendary tales of Ol' Dood were known by everyone
And our witness had been sworn
People knew firsthand about Ol' Dood's deeds and had sworn to their truth
'Bout a man born in Hardburly back in June of '29
The man known as Ol' Dood was born in 1929 in Hardburly, Kentucky
Must have got that Marlin-Mahlon muzzle day he was born
Ol' Dood was skilled with a gun from a young age, possibly due to being born with a Marlin-Mahlon muzzle
Things he could do with that rifle
Ol' Dood was a highly skilled marksman and knew how to use his rifle
Blow the balls off a bat
Ol' Dood was so skilled with his rifle, he could shoot the balls off a bat with ease
Reload, and shoot it one more time
Ol' Dood was so quick with his rifle, he could reload and shoot again in rapid succession
Had a monster of a mule, was a mighty fine steed
Ol' Dood owned a powerful mule that was a great ride
Sham, and Sam, a tomahawk, and that flintlock's all he need
Ol' Dood had his trusty tomahawk, Sham and Sam, and his flintlock rifle, which was all he needed to survive
Finding food, and finding trouble, and always taking heat
Ol' Dood was skilled at finding food, but always found himself in trouble and danger
Any man who crossed him was surely gonna bleed
Ol' Dood had a fierce temper and anyone who crossed him was bound to end up hurt
And he'd stretch you up and burn you
Ol' Dood would torture his enemies by tying them up and burning them alive
For calling him half-breed
Ol' Dood was of mixed race (mountain miner and Shawnee maiden) and would retaliate harshly against anyone who made fun of him for it
Left the varnish off his words
Ol' Dood was always honest and straightforward with people
Feared no beast, no man
Ol' Dood was fearless and unafraid of even the most dangerous animals and people
Didn't want to end up in his debt
People were wary of owing Ol' Dood favors or money because they knew he would collect it, no matter what
'Cause he'd damn sure get paid
Ol' Dood was not one to let debts go unpaid and would always find a way to collect what he was owed
He was harder than the nails hammered Jesus' hands
Ol' Dood was a tough, hard man who could withstand anything
He was the one they called Dood
Ol' Dood was known by everyone in the area by that name
Wore a size seventeen ring, had hands like a bear
Ol' Dood had hands that were massive, like those of a bear, and wore a large ring
And if he got 'em on you, he's taking that top hair
Ol' Dood was not above scalping his enemies if he felt they deserved it
His grandfather taught him how to hunt, how to live off the land
Ol' Dood's grandfather taught him valuable skills for survival, including hunting and living off the land
Taught him how to take a scalp when you kill a man
Ol' Dood's grandfather also taught him the gruesome technique of taking a scalp as a trophy after killing someone
He was a deadly warring daddy with the gun gleam in his eye
Ol' Dood was a fierce and skillful fighter, always ready to use his gun in a fight
'Til he found him a good woman, calmed down the rage
After Ol' Dood found a good woman to settle down with, he mellowed out and was less prone to violence
He built a home from the land
Ol' Dood built a home for himself and his family using the resources around him
With the hands the good lord gave him
Ol' Dood used his own two hands to build his home, relying on his own strength and abilities
And ol' Dood got his own food
Ol' Dood was skilled at hunting and gathering his own food, and didn't need to rely on anyone else for sustenance
Had no need for the 'scrip
Ol' Dood didn't need to rely on the company store (also known as the 'scrip) for goods or supplies
That old coal company paid
Ol' Dood didn't work for the coal company and was free from their control
And if either came upon him
If Ol' Dood encountered a dangerous animal or person
They'd damn sure get slayed
Ol' Dood was not afraid to kill in self-defense, and anyone who posed a threat to him would be dealt with swiftly and ruthlessly
Son of a mountain miner and a Shawnee maiden
Ol' Dood was the son of a man who worked in the mines and a Shawnee woman, and his mixed heritage was a point of pride for him
Son of a mountain miner and a Shawnee maiden
Ol' Dood was proud of his mixed heritage and identified strongly with both his mother's Shawnee background and his father's work in the mines
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: John Sturgill Simpson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind