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.
Played Out
Sturgill Simpson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And here comes the rain
Been chewing on willow bark
To hold back the pain
Putting juice in the wound
Letting it drain
Holes in my buckskins
Been pushing too hard
And going insane
Lord, don't let this journey
Be all in vain
'Cause I'm played out
Down to my last draw
This biting feeling
Starting to gnaw
It's the saddest picture
You ever saw
Laid out and riding
Rough, ragged and raw
Staying up on the ridge
Trying to keep the high ground
Shoulder is throbbing
And I'm wearing down
Shamrock's head is bobbing
And I don't hear the hound
After five days and nights
Following his sound
Sam done went silent
He's nowhere to be found
Oh, wait, I see him
Lying dead on the ground
Oh, he's played out
Thorn stuck and blood raw
Torn plum all to pieces
He's done worn off his paw
Then old Sam let out
His last dying big call
So I dug him a grave
And covered it all
In Sturgill Simpson's song "Played Out," the opening lines set the tone for the rest of the song, as the singer has lost the trail and rain is on its way. The singer is in pain and discomfort, and we learn he's been chewing on willow bark to help alleviate the pain. Despite his current circumstances, he persists, even as he describes putting juice in the wound to let it drain. We come to see the singer has been pushing himself too hard and feels like he's going insane, but he expresses the hope that the journey won't be all in vain.
As the singer goes on, he talks about feeling "played out," and how he's down to his last draw. He's in pain and is starting to feel desperate. He shares how he's laying out, ragged and raw, on the trail, and how he can barely keep going. He recounts the loss of his hunting dog, Sam, who he eventually finds lying dead on the ground. The singer is clearly sad and exhausted, as we come to the end of the song with him digging Sam's grave and covering it all.
Overall, "Played Out" is a song that speaks to the struggle and pain of pushing oneself too hard while on a journey, with a clear theme of loss and exhaustion. The lyrics are haunting and vivid, painting a picture of someone in deep fatigue and hurt, yet always seeking to push through.
Line by Line Meaning
Trail's gone cold
I have lost my way and don't know how to proceed.
And here comes the rain
The situation is getting worse and more difficult to deal with.
Been chewing on willow bark
I am using any means necessary to relieve pain.
To hold back the pain
I am trying to prevent myself from feeling any more hurt.
Putting juice in the wound
I am trying to make the situation better, but it's only making it worse.
Letting it drain
I am coping with the pain by allowing it to run its course.
Holes in my buckskins
My clothes are ragged and torn from hard use.
Still wet and bloodstained
The clothes have seen a lot of wear and use, but I refuse to give up.
Been pushing too hard
I have been working excessively and it's taking its toll on my body and sanity.
And going insane
I am struggling to hold it together mentally and emotionally.
Lord, don't let this journey
I am on a path that I believe in, and I don't want it to be a waste of time.
Be all in vain
I don't want my effort to be for nothing, I hope it'll be worthwhile.
'Cause I'm played out
I am exhausted emotionally, mentally, and physically.
Down to my last draw
Things have come to a point where I can't make any more mistakes.
This biting feeling
I am feeling the effects of the pain I endured.
Starting to gnaw
The suffering has slowly started to work its way deeper into me.
It's the saddest picture
The situation has become sad and disturbing.
You ever saw
It is a sight that you wouldn't want to see, it is hard to watch.
Laid out and riding
Despite my condition, I am still trying to keep going and make progress.
Rough, ragged and raw
My appearance and performance show the overwhelming effects of hard work and exhaustion.
Staying up on the ridge
I am trying to keep a vantage point to keep moving safely.
Trying to keep the high ground
I am doing my best to stay on top and not let my situation bring me down.
Shoulder is throbbing
I am hurting badly and feel the pain intensely.
And I'm wearing down
I am getting weaker and less capable of handling the situation.
Shamrock's head is bobbing
I am trying to keep my animal partner going as well.
And I don't hear the hound
I have lost my sense of direction and focus while pursuing my task.
After five days and nights
I have been at this for a while, and it is starting to wear on me.
Following his sound
I am trying to stay on track and stick to the path I need to follow to succeed.
Sam done went silent
Things have taken a turn for the worst, and I can't figure out what's going on.
He's nowhere to be found
I don't know where to look, and I don't have many options left.
Oh, wait, I see him
I have suddenly found a glimmer of hope.
Lying dead on the ground
My hopes have just been dashed, and I have suffered a significant setback in my journey.
Oh, he's played out
My animal partner is dead due to exertion and exhaustion.
Thorn stuck and blood raw
He died a painful death while helping me along the way.
Torn plum all to pieces
He was an essential asset to me that has now been reduced to nothing.
He's done worn off his paw
He has worked himself to death trying to help me along this journey.
Then old Sam let out
My animal partner lets out one final call before passing away.
His last dying big call
He gave everything he had left in him to me before leaving this world.
So I dug him a grave
I gave him the respect and burial he deserved, given the sacrifices he made for me.
And covered it all
I made sure that he would be at peace and covered the grave with dirt and love.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: John Sturgill Simpson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind