His musical interest came at an early age, when his father taught him to play the guitar. In high school, he joined a gospel music group called the New Commitments. He was also a member of Future Farmers of America (FFA). Later, Adkins went on to study petroleum technology at Louisiana Tech University, where he also played football. After graduation, he took up work at an oil rig. He lost the pinky finger on his left hand in an accident, and asked doctors to reattach the finger at an angle so that he could continue to play guitar. After working on the oil rigs for a few years, Adkins embarked on what he calls his "true musical education" -- playing one honky-tonk after another. While singing at Tillie's & Lucy's Pub in Nashville, Adkins was spotted by a Capitol Records executive and was signed to the label.
Adkins's first single, There's a Girl in Texas, was released in 1996, reaching the Top 20 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts. It was followed by the release of his debut album, Dreamin' Out Loud, later that year. The album produced several hit singles, including his first Top 5 single, Every Light in the House, his first Number One in (This Ain't) No Thinkin' Thing, and another Top 5 hit in I Left Something Turned on at Home. The latter single was also a Number One hit in Canada. His second album, Big Time, produced a Top 5 in The Rest of Mine, but subsequent singles proved less successful. A change in management delayed the release of Adkins's third album, but the album (More...) was eventually released in late 1999. Although the album's title track reached Top 10, More... failed to achieve gold status.
On July 5, 2001, Adkins was charged with driving under the influence in Nolensville, Tennessee. The singer pled guilty and was sentenced to 11 months in jail; however, the sentence was suspended after 48 hours. In addition, he had to pay $350 in fines, and his driver's license was suspended for one year. Shortly afterward, he was injured in a tractor accident and had to temporarily cancel touring. He later entered a 28-day alcohol rehabilitation program in Nashville, shortly after the release of his fourth album, Chrome. Chrome was the first album of Adkins's to reach the Top 5 on the country albums charts. Its title track reached Top 10 in late 2002.
In 2003, Adkins released two albums: a Greatest Hits collection and Comin' on Strong. The same year, he was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry. He also made appearances as the center square on the game show Hollywood Squares, and did voice-overs in commercials for fast-food chain KFC. Only one single, Then They Do, was released from the Greatest Hits compilation. Comin' on Strong, which succeeded the Greatest Hits album, produced two singles: the Top 5 single Hot Mama, and Rough & Ready, which peaked at #13.
Adkins and Travis Tritt played the roles of prison convicts in a February 2004 episode of the television series "Yes, Dear".
In 2005, Adkins released Songs About Me. The album's second single, Arlington, generated controversy over its content (a first-person account of a fictional soldier who was about to be buried in Arlington National Cemetery). It was followed by Honky Tonk Badonkadonk, which became a highly successful crossover hit, bringing Adkins into the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 for the first time.
2006 saw the release of Adkins's seventh studio album, Dangerous Man. Swing, the album's lead-off single, peaked at #20, while the follow-up Ladies Love Country Boys became Adkins's first Number One single on the country charts since (This Ain't) No Thinkin' Thing in 1997. The album's final release, I Wanna Feel Something, proved unsuccessful on the charts and as a result, Adkins announced that he would stop supporting the single.
In August 2007, Adkins released a single entitled I Got My Game On. Originally, the song was planned to be the lead-off to a new album, tentatively titled Game On; however, Adkins decided not to release a full album, and instead released his second Greatest Hits compilation, American Man: Greatest Hits, Vol. 2, for which I Got My Game On served as the lead-off single. The album has also produced Adkins' fastest-climbing single to date in its second single, You're Gonna Miss This.
You're Gonna Miss This has also become his third Number One hit on the Hot Country Songs, as well as the most successful single to date on the Billboard Hot 100 (#12), Billboard Pop 100 (#19), and Hot Digital Songs charts (#8).
He also released his first book, entitled A Personal Stand: Observations and Opinions from a Free-Thinking Roughneck.
Adkins was a January-March 2008 contestant on NBC's The Celebrity Apprentice. Each celebrity contestant on the show was playing for money for his or her own selected charity. Adkins was playing for the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network, which provides education, advocacy and research support to families dealing with the daily nightmare of serious and/or life-threatening food allergies. The musician chose the charity because his 6-year-old daughter, Brianna, suffers from life-threatening reactions to peanuts, milk and eggs. Adkins made it to the finale as one of the two finalists. Donald Trump ultimately "hired" Adkins' rival, tabloid editor Piers Morgan, who had his own charity.
Adkins appeared on the May 2nd, 2008 episode of CBS's The Young and the Restless playing himself and singing an acoustic version of "You're Gonna Miss This" to the characters of Nicholas and Phyllis.
In 2008, Trace Adkins released the single Muddy Water the lead single from X, which was released on November 25.
Adkins made his acting debut in the 2008 film "An American Carol".
To bring in 2009, Adkins will be performing with .38 Special and Lynyrd Skynyrd in both Pikeville, Kentucky and Nashville, Tennessee on the same night, New Year's Eve. The show will begin in one city and close in the other. The order for the Nashville show, at the Sommet Center, is Trace Adkins, followed by .38 Special, followed by Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Away In a Manger
Trace Adkins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No crib for His bed
The little Lord Jesus
Laid down His sweet head
The stars in the bright sky
Looked down where He lay
The little Lord Jesus
The cattle are lowing
The poor Baby wakes
But little Lord Jesus
No crying He makes
I love Thee, Lord Jesus
Look down from the sky
And stay by my side
'Til morning is nigh
Be near me, Lord Jesus
I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever
And love me I pray
Bless all the dear children
In Thy tender care
And take us to heaven
To live with Thee there
The song "Away in a Manger" is a classic Christmas carol that reflects on the story of the birth of Jesus Christ in a manger in Bethlehem. Trace Adkins's rendition of the song has a soothing and peaceful tone, which captures the essence of the original message. The opening lines of the song describe how the little Lord Jesus was born in a manger without a crib to be laid on. The scene is simple and humble, reflecting the poverty of the family and the lack of resources available to them. The second verse of the song describes how the stars shone bright in the sky, and the little Lord Jesus was peacefully asleep on the hay, surrounded by the richness of nature.
The third verse of the song captures the imagery of the cattle lowing and the baby waking up, but the little Lord Jesus not crying. This presents Jesus as a symbol of hope and resilience, even in the midst of hardship and adversity. The final two verses of the song express heartfelt prayers and appeals to the Lord Jesus to bless and protect all children and to remain close to those who believe in Him. The overall message of the song is one of reverence, faith, and hope in the face of adversity and uncertainty.
Line by Line Meaning
Away in a manger
In a place where animals typically reside
No crib for His bed
There was no proper bed for the Lord to sleep on
The little Lord Jesus
The tiny son of God
Laid down His sweet head
Resting his gentle head in peace
The stars in the bright sky
The brilliant celestial bodies shining in the firmament
Looked down where He lay
Gazed upon the place where He rested
The little Lord Jesus
The tiny son of God
Asleep on the hay
Resting on the prickly dried up grass
The cattle are lowing
The cows are mooing
The poor Baby wakes
The little child awakens from his slumber
But little Lord Jesus
Yet, the tiny son of God
No crying He makes
Does not cry aloud or complain despite waking up in a rough place
I love Thee, Lord Jesus
Expressing love for the Holy Child born in the manger
Look down from the sky
From the heavens above, take a look at us
And stay by my side
Remain close to me
'Til morning is nigh
Until the next day breaks
Be near me, Lord Jesus
Be close to me, Holy Child
I ask Thee to stay
I beg of you not to leave
Close by me forever
Stay with me for eternity
And love me I pray
I beseech you to shower me with love and affection
Bless all the dear children
Shower blessings on all children
In Thy tender care
Under your official caring eye
And take us to heaven
Take our souls to the kingdom of God
To live with Thee there
To reside with the Holy One in paradise
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BLIND BOYS OF ALABAMA, CHRIS GOLDSMITH, JOHN CHELEW
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind