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.
Voices
Sturgill Simpson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When it's dark and the sky is pouring acid like a fountain
And the Memories like coal dust stain the window of my eyes
So ask them no more questions they can't sell you no more lies
I hear voices all around me in society's depression
Over and over they recite their first impression
The rivers are all crying but the ocean cannot speak
How I wish somebody'd make these voices go away
Seems they're always talking but they ain't got much to say
A picture's worth a 1000 words but a word ain't worth a dime
And we all know they'll go on talking til the end of time
Don't call it a sign of the times when it's always been this way
Forked tongues and voices behind curtains with no name
They plot their wicked schemes setting fate for all mankind
With evil that can fill God's pretty skies with clouds that burn and blind
How I wish somebody'd make these voices go away
Seems they're always talking but they ain't got much to say
A picture's worth a 1000 words but a word ain't worth a dime
And we all know they'll go on talking til the end of time
In Sturgill Simpson's song "Voices," he speaks about the voices he hears in his head, and the voices of society that are constantly talking but have nothing of value to say. The first verse sets the scene of Sturgill being on a mountain and hearing a voice when it is dark and raining acid. The memories from his past seem to haunt him, and he warns not to ask any questions because the answers will only be lies. The second verse refers to the depression of society and how the voices around us perpetuate negativity. Sturgill talks about how the rivers are crying, but the ocean cannot speak until it crashes onto uncharted shores. He expresses his wish for these voices to go away, as they seem to talk just for the sake of talking and have nothing important to say.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a voice that I can hear sometimes out here on the mountain
The singer hears a voice occasionally when they are on the mountain.
When it's dark and the sky is pouring acid like a fountain
The voice is heard in dark skies when it's raining heavily.
And the Memories like coal dust stain the window of my eyes
The singer has memories that stick with them and affect how they view the world.
So ask them no more questions they can't sell you no more lies
The artist advises not to ask questions to those who are only capable of telling lies.
I hear voices all around me in society's depression
The artist hears many voices in a society that is struggling.
Over and over they recite their first impression
The voices keep repeating their initial judgement over and over again.
The rivers are all crying but the ocean cannot speak
The environment is hurting, but it's not able to voice its pain as the ocean cannot speak.
Until her waters crash into uncharted shores so dark and bleak
The environment's pain won't be visible until it reaches uncharted territories and causes destruction.
How I wish somebody'd make these voices go away
The artist desires for the voices around them to stop.
Seems they're always talking but they ain't got much to say
The voices seem to be constantly speaking, but they don't contribute much of value.
A picture's worth a 1000 words but a word ain't worth a dime
A picture can convey more than a word can, and words don't hold much value.
And we all know they'll go on talking til the end of time
The artist knows that the voices will continue to go on forever.
Don't call it a sign of the times when it's always been this way
The singer believes that the current state is not a recent development but rather a recurring pattern.
Forked tongues and voices behind curtains with no name
The deceitful and anonymous voices are hiding behind a veil.
They plot their wicked schemes setting fate for all mankind
The anonymous voices are planning evil deeds that will affect everyone.
With evil that can fill God's pretty skies with clouds that burn and blind
The voices' evil deeds can affect nature and harm God's creations.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: John Sturgill Simpson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@hoboking7563
There's a voice that I can hear sometimes out here on the mountain
When it's dark and the sky is pouring acid like a fountain
Memories like coal dust stain the window of my eyes
So ask them no more questions they can't sell you no more lies
I hear voices all around me in society's depression
Over and over they all recite their first impression
The rivers are all crying but the ocean cannot speak
Until her waters crash into uncharted shores so dark and bleak
How I wish somebody'd make these voices go away
Seems they're always talking but they don't have much to say
A picture's worth a 1000 words but a word ain't worth a dime
And we all know they'll go on talking til the end of time
Don't call it a sign of the times when it's always been this way
Voices behind curtains forked tongues that have no name
They plot their wicked schemes setting fate for all mankind
With evil that can fill God's pretty skies with clouds that burn and blind
How I wish somebody'd make these voices go away
Seems they're always talking but they don't have much to say
A picture's worth a 1000 words but a word ain't worth a dime
And we all know they'll go on talking til the end of time
@inquisitiveyes
There's a voice that I can hear sometimes out here on the mountain
When it's dark and the sky is pouring acid like a fountain
And the memories like coal dust stain the window of my eyes
So ask them no more questions they can't sell you no more lies
I hear voices all around me in society's depression
Over and over they recite their first impression
And the rivers are all crying but the ocean cannot speak
'Til her waters crash into uncharted shores so dark and bleak
How I wish somebody'd make them voices go away
Seems they're always talking but they ain't got much to say
A picture's worth a thousand words but a word ain't worth a dime
We all know they'll go on talking til the end of time
Don't call it a sign of the times when it's always been this way
Forked tongues and voices behind curtains with no name
Well they plot their wicked schemes setting fate for all mankind
With evil that can fill God's pretty skies with clouds that burn and blind
How I wish somebody'd make them voices go away
Seems they're always talking but they ain't got much to say
A picture's worth a thousand words but a word ain't worth a dime
We all know they'll go on talking til the end of time
@johnjackson1486
One of the best songs of the times, write this one in stone for the records. Genuine badass human
@kevinrenegar8757
This is one the coolest songs I’ve ever heard. I LOVR Sturgill but just came across ‘Voices’. WOW!!
@joandramillhouse3554
Reminds me of modern Day Wayland Jennings ❤
@laurieannwelchbranning8832
Bringing Back the Real Country Music of Life..Reality..as well as Creed Fisher! 🇺🇸💛 That'd be 1 Helluva Duo Concert!! Amen🇺🇸
@MrCatatonic
I keep coming back here. I'm an older man now, from the mountain.
@hoboking7563
There's a voice that I can hear sometimes out here on the mountain
When it's dark and the sky is pouring acid like a fountain
Memories like coal dust stain the window of my eyes
So ask them no more questions they can't sell you no more lies
I hear voices all around me in society's depression
Over and over they all recite their first impression
The rivers are all crying but the ocean cannot speak
Until her waters crash into uncharted shores so dark and bleak
How I wish somebody'd make these voices go away
Seems they're always talking but they don't have much to say
A picture's worth a 1000 words but a word ain't worth a dime
And we all know they'll go on talking til the end of time
Don't call it a sign of the times when it's always been this way
Voices behind curtains forked tongues that have no name
They plot their wicked schemes setting fate for all mankind
With evil that can fill God's pretty skies with clouds that burn and blind
How I wish somebody'd make these voices go away
Seems they're always talking but they don't have much to say
A picture's worth a 1000 words but a word ain't worth a dime
And we all know they'll go on talking til the end of time
@ericbauer8531
Country music is back
@michaelhedgepeth5106
Eric Bauer I reckon
@hamsicle
He's got such a great voice
@Hastee
Forked tounges behind curtains… he knows his shit