Preacher Man

Album: Son of a Preacher Man (2009)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This is about Rich's preacher father, of whom the Country singer sings, "seems like I spend my life, trying to live up to him."
  • Rich's partner in Big & Rich, Big Kenny Alphin, took an 18 month break for rehab of a neck injury he suffered when he was hit by a drunk driver in 2001. Rich told Billboard magazine: "That's a long time (off) for me. I had a lot of songs I'd written that would never be on a Big & Rich record, cause they're too personal to me - songs about my dad, songs about my family, songs about personal views I have. So I took that 18 months and went and recorded a solo project." That project was Son of a Preacher Man, Rich's first solo album for three years.
  • Rich told AOL's The Boot about the background of this song: "Imagine being the most hardcore, rock and roll, honkeytonk singer in Nashville... the wildest kid in town. But your dad is a fire and brimstone, Bible-banging preacher. That dynamic between me and my dad... he's never been judgmental, but I've never recorded a song that offended him. I've played him songs that he's said, 'Nah, I'd rather you not say that,' so I didn't record them. That's how much of an impact my dad has had on me. So for me -- being a guy raised in church, I've got a King James Bible in one hand and Crown Royal and Coca Cola in the other. That's just me. I'm a hell-raising Christian."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Mike Scott of The Waterboys - "Fisherman's Blues"

Mike Scott of The Waterboys - "Fisherman's Blues"They're Playing My Song

Armed with a childhood spent devouring books, Mike Scott's heart was stolen by the punk rock scene of 1977. Not surprisingly, he would go on to become the most literate of rockers.

Does Jimmy Page Worship The Devil? A Look at Satanism in Rock

Does Jimmy Page Worship The Devil? A Look at Satanism in RockSong Writing

We ring the Hell's Bells to see what songs and rockers are sincere in their Satanism, and how much of it is an act.

Subversive Songs Used To Sell

Subversive Songs Used To SellSong Writing

Songs about drugs, revolution and greed that have been used in commercials for sneakers, jeans, fast food, cruises and cars.

Rick Astley

Rick AstleySongwriter Interviews

Rick Astley on "Never Gonna Give You Up," "Cry For Help," and his remarkable resurgence that gave him another #1 UK album.

David Clayton-Thomas of Blood, Sweat & Tears

David Clayton-Thomas of Blood, Sweat & TearsSongwriter Interviews

The longtime BS&T frontman tells the "Spinning Wheel" story, including the line he got from Joni Mitchell.

Justin Hayward of The Moody Blues

Justin Hayward of The Moody BluesSongwriter Interviews

Justin wrote the classic "Nights In White Satin," but his fondest musical memories are from a different decade.