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.
Shamrock
Sturgill Simpson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Plain to see by his confirmation
That he came from finest stock
Daddy was a black mammoth jack
Mama was a thoroughbred mare
Had four white feet on a buckskin coat
Blonde mohawk in his hair
Didn't need no kick to go
With ol' Dood up top
Deep in the saddle
Hollering "Whoa boy, whoa"
"Whoa boy, whoa"
Only ever had one rider
Anyone else was getting bucked
Cross any kind of land
Through the rain, and snow, and muck
Sure footed as a billy goat
With thirty-three inch ears
Clog dance on a snake with his front two feet
And give the coyotes the rear
Kick so hard it'd send 'em up
And out the stratosphere
Make a coyotes fly so far
It wouldn't land until next year
From the hightop to the holler
No-place that Sham can't go
With ol' Dood up top
Deep in the saddle
Hollering "Whoa boy, whoa"
"Whoa boy, whoa"
Ain't scared to jump that river
Jump clear across that creek
Steed don't need no shoes
When his hooves is one foot thick
Leather and tack can't hold him back
And he'll bite right through the bit
Rope bridle made of boring line
Was the only thing that fit
Hot on the bandits trail
Fence posting through the snow
Ol' Dood up top
High in the saddle
Hollering "Go boy, go"
"Go boy, go"
"Go boy, go"
"Go boy, go"
The song "Shamrock" by Sturgill Simpson is a tribute to a legendary horse, who was possibly owned by the singer's grandfather. The lyrics describe the exceptional qualities Shamrock possessed, from his impressive size of nineteen hands, to his breed which consisted of a thoroughbred mare and a black mammoth jack. His confirmation, or appearance and structure, was evident of his distinguished lineage. With his pristine buckskin coat, four white feet, and a blonde mohawk, Shamrock was an exceptional sight.
The lyrics go on to describe Shamrock's superior capabilities, such as his exceptional strength that didn't require a whip to go faster. The singer's grandfather, also known as "Dood," was the only rider who dared to mount Shamrock. The horse was known for being incredibly agile and sure-footed, able to cross any terrain with ease. He was even able to dance on a snake with his front two feet, while the rear kicked coyotes so hard that they would fly off into the stratosphere. The singer also pays tribute to Shamrock's endurance, mentioning that he could go anywhere, from the highest mountaintops to the deepest valleys, without ever showing any signs of tiring.
Overall, "Shamrock" is a lively, upbeat song that tells a captivating story of a legendary horse and his rider. Through its powerful lyrics, the song pays tribute to an animal who was once a symbol of strength, resilience, and unyielding spirit, while also highlighting the important bond between a man and his trusty steed.
Line by Line Meaning
Never was a finer breed than the steed who was Shamrock
Shamrock was an exceptional breed of horse
Plain to see by his confirmation
Shamrock was impressive in appearance, evident by his confirmation
That he came from finest stock
Shamrock's bloodline was of the highest quality
Daddy was a black mammoth jack
Shamrock's father was a black donkey
Mama was a thoroughbred mare
Shamrock's mother was a purebred horse
Had four white feet on a buckskin coat
Shamrock had four white feet and a light-colored coat with black spots
Blonde mohawk in his hair
Shamrock had a distinctive hairstyle
Stood about nineteen hands
Shamrock was very tall
Didn't need no kick to go
Shamrock had a lot of energy and did not need to be kicked to move forward
With ol' Dood up top
Shamrock's rider was named Dood
Deep in the saddle
Dood was riding Shamrock with full command
Hollering "Whoa boy, whoa"
Dood was commanding Shamrock to stop by yelling "Whoa boy, whoa"
Only ever had one rider
Shamrock was only ridden by one person
Anyone else was getting bucked
If anyone besides Dood tried to ride Shamrock, they would be thrown off
Cross any kind of land
Shamrock was capable of traversing any terrain
Through the rain, and snow, and muck
Shamrock could handle tough weather conditions
Sure footed as a billy goat
Shamrock was very nimble and agile
With thirty-three inch ears
Shamrock had very long ears
Clog dance on a snake with his front two feet
Shamrock could kick a snake with his front two feet
And give the coyotes the rear
Shamrock could kick a coyote very far
Kick so hard it'd send 'em up
Shamrock's kicks were very powerful
And out the stratosphere
Shamrock's kicks were so powerful, they could send coyotes into the sky
Make a coyotes fly so far
Shamrock's kicks were able to launch coyotes great distances
It wouldn't land until next year
Coyotes launched by Shamrock's kicks would travel very far
From the hightop to the holler
Shamrock could travel through all kinds of terrain
No-place that Sham can't go
Shamrock could go anywhere
Ain't scared to jump that river
Shamrock was not afraid to jump over a river
Jump clear across that creek
Shamrock could jump over a creek with ease
Steed don't need no shoes
Shamrock did not require horseshoes
When his hooves is one foot thick
Shamrock had very thick hooves
Leather and tack can't hold him back
Shamrock was very strong and could not be held back by leather or tack
And he'll bite right through the bit
Shamrock was so strong he could bite through the bit placed in his mouth
Rope bridle made of boring line
The only type of bridle Shamrock would wear was made of rope
Was the only thing that fit
The rope bridle was the only thing that would fit Shamrock
Hot on the bandits trail
Dood and Shamrock were pursuing a group of bandits
Fence posting through the snow
Dood and Shamrock were riding very quickly through the snow
High in the saddle
Dood was riding Shamrock with great confidence and skill
Hollering "Go boy, go"
Dood was urging Shamrock to move forward by yelling "Go boy, go"
"Go boy, go"
Dood continued to urge Shamrock to move forward
"Go boy, go"
Dood continued to urge Shamrock to move forward
"Go boy, go"
Dood continued to urge Shamrock to move forward
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: John Sturgill Simpson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind