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.
Muddy Waters
Trace Adkins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sunday morning sunlight hurt my eyes
It's a long way from where I been back to my home town
But there's a man in me I need to drown
Baptize me in that muddy water
Wash me clean in amazing grace
I ain't been living like I aughta
Made my way to the church at the end of the dirt road
Dragging what was left of my soul
I could see the saints out back on the river bank
And I could hear forgiveness calling out my name
Baptize me in that muddy water
Wash me clean in amazing grace
I ain't living like a aughta, no
Baptize me in that muddy water
Baptize me in that muddy water
Yeah, wash me clean that muddy water, water
In that muddy water
Baptize me
The opening lines of Trace Adkins's song "Muddy Water" describes the emotions of a man who has returned to his hometown after being away for a long time. The journey back home was a difficult one, as he had to rely on an eighteen-wheeler that dropped him off at the city limits sign. The Sunday morning sunlight hurt his eyes, indicating that he may have been up all night or for some time before he embarked on this trip. The lines "But there's a man in me I need to drown" may suggest that he was dealing with some inner demons, and the mud and the water that he seeks to cleanse himself in, symbolizes the purification of his soul.
As the song progresses, he heads towards a church at the end of a dirt road, dragging what was left of his soul. He could see the saints out back on the riverbank, which could be interpreted as a metaphor for finding his support network in the churchgoers. He hears forgiveness calling out his name, which suggests that he seeks redemption and wants to start afresh. The chorus "Baptize me in that muddy water, Wash me clean in amazing grace, I ain't been living like I aughta, Baptize me in that muddy water" reinforces the idea of purification, washing away his sins and being reborn.
Overall this song presents a powerful image of a man seeking redemption by returning to his roots, turning to religion in his hometown, and using the symbolic mud and water to cleanse his soul. Through his journey, he hopes to find the forgiveness he needs to leave the past behind and start afresh.
Line by Line Meaning
Eighteen wheeler dropped me off at that city limits sign
I arrived at the edge of the city through an 18-wheeler and the bright Sunday morning sun blinded me.
It's a long way from where I been back to my home town
My journey back to my hometown was a long distance from where I presently find myself.
But there's a man in me I need to drown
I have some unpleasant memories from the past that need to be dealt with by fully submerging or drowning the former version of me.
Baptize me in that muddy water
I want to be immersed in dirty water for immersion or cleansing rituals.
Wash me clean in amazing grace
Shower me with God's grace and redeem me from my sins.
I ain't been living like I aughta
I have not been doing what is expected of me as a virtuous and righteous individual.
Made my way to the church at the end of the dirt road
I found my way to the church located at the very end of a dusty and rugged lane.
Dragging what was left of my soul
I went there limping, with what's left of my soul.
I could see the saints out back on the river bank
I observed the revered members of the church at the rear, near the river bank.
And I could hear forgiveness calling out my name
I could feel forgiveness calling out to me personally.
Yeah, wash me clean that muddy water, water
Yes, I affirmatively implore you to baptize me in dirty water for my redemption and cleanse me of my sins.
Baptize me
Final plea to baptize and redeem me.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ANTHONY TYLER KENNEY, FRED K. YOUNG, GREGORY GLEN MARTIN, MARK S. ORR, RICHARD OREN YOUNG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind