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.
High
Trace Adkins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Try not to smoke too many cigarettes
I stay away from Mary Jane
These are my choices
Ain't gonna judge you if you do
So don't you judge me if I don't
I got my reasons, my demons and my past
Yeah the truth is
I get high
Drivin' down the freeway
Just knowin' that it's Saturday
And I got no place to be
I get high
Standin' in the spotlight
No words for what it feels like
When you sing these songs back to me
If you ask me now
I'll tell you this is how
I get high
Sometimes this world can be too much
Somedays I feel like bein' out of touch
And I see a sunset that takes my breath away
And I find hope again
Set there and drink it in
I get high
Drivin' down the freeway
Just knowin' that it's Saturday
And I got no place to be
I get high
Standin' in the spotlight
No words for what it feels like
When you sing these songs back to me
And if you ask me now
I'll tell you this is how
I get high
I get high
Standin' in the spotlight
No words for what it feels like
When you sing my songs back to me
And if you ask me now
I'll tell you this is how
I get high
Yeah this is how I get high
The song "High" by Trace Adkins is a reflection on the different ways he finds moments of peace and joy. The lyrics explain that Trace Adkins chooses not to indulge in vices such as smoking and drugs. He sings, "Ain't no whiskey in this glass, try not to smoke too many cigarettes, I stay away from Mary Jane, these are my choices." Despite this, he makes it clear that he will not judge others for their choices either. The song goes on to explain that being in the spotlight and seeing the audience sing his songs back to him gives him a natural high, as well as seeing a beautiful sunset. Trace Adkins sings, "Sometimes this world can be too much, some days I feel like being out of touch, and I see a sunset that takes my breath away, and I find hope again, sit there and drink it in, I get high." Overall, the song sends the message that everyone has their own way of finding happiness, and for Trace Adkins, it's through the simplicity of life's pleasures.
Line by Line Meaning
Ain't no whiskey in this glass
I choose not to drink alcohol.
Try not to smoke too many cigarettes
I try to limit my smoking habits.
I stay away from Mary Jane
I choose not to use marijuana.
These are my choices
I make these decisions based on my own personal values and beliefs.
Ain't gonna judge you if you do
I respect your right to make your own choices.
So don't you judge me if I don't
I expect the same respect in return.
I got my reasons, my demons and my past
I have my own personal struggles and challenges that have led me to make these choices.
But hey the truth is
Despite these challenges, I am still truthful with myself and others.
Yeah the truth is
I am honest about my choices and why I make them.
I get high
While I don't use drugs or alcohol, there are still things that give me a natural high.
Drivin' down the freeway
Sometimes just cruising down the highway is enough to give me a boost.
Just knowin' that it's Saturday
The sense of freedom and relaxation that comes with a weekend day can lift my spirits.
And I got no place to be
Having no obligations or responsibilities can be a freeing experience.
Standin' in the spotlight
Performing in front of an audience can be an exhilarating experience.
No words for what it feels like
It's hard to describe the feeling of being in the moment and connecting with a crowd.
When you sing these songs back to me
Knowing that my music has touched someone else and hearing them sing along is a powerful experience.
Sometimes this world can be too much
Life can be overwhelming and stressful at times.
Somedays I feel like bein' out of touch
Occasionally I need to disconnect from the world and find my own peace.
And I see a sunset that takes my breath away
Taking in the beauty of nature can be a calming and grounding experience.
And I find hope again
Moments of beauty and peace can give me the strength to keep going and face challenges.
Set there and drink it in
Taking the time to fully immerse myself in a beautiful moment can be a form of self-care.
Yeah this is how I get high
Through simple experiences like these, I find my own form of happiness and fulfillment.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, OLE MEDIA MANAGEMENT LP, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: ANGIE BRADY, GRAHAM MURPHY, CHRIS O'BRIEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind