King of Country Music
Reign of Strings: A Musical Legacy Beyond Gender
Lyrics
God is in the garden, devil's in the dirt
Contrasting forces of good (God) and evil (devil) present in life's surroundings.
Eve is picking apples, Adam's blaming her
Reference to the biblical story of Adam and Eve, highlighting blame and consequences.
Daddy was a guitar, mama was a gun
Metaphorical depiction of the speaker's musical heritage, with a guitar-playing father and a mother symbolized as a gun.
The king of country music, the daughter
The speaker identifies herself as the "king of country music," challenging gender norms in the genre.
Not the son
Emphasizing her identity as the daughter, not conforming to the expected male role in country music.
The daughter, not the son, the daughter
Repetition underscoring the unconventional nature of a female being the "king" of country music.
Not the son could the king of country
-Music be the daughter, Not the son?
-Got me some cows and I got me some chickens
Listing possessions and a guitar as tools for standing up against those who challenge her.
Got me a dog and a guitar for picking fights
-With folks who try to cut
-The string on my kite that's right
-No Southern drawl and no grit's from grandma
Contrasting the speaker's roots with the stereotypical Southern drawl, asserting her unique origin.
Eight thousand miles more south of Alabama
-You can bet
Expressing confidence despite being relatively unknown, anticipating future recognition.
Most famous girl ain't no one heard of yet
-Heh, but I'm all set
-God is in the garden, devil's in the dirt
Reiteration of the opening lines, reinforcing the theme of dualities and questioning gender norms.
Eve is picking apples, Adam's blaming her
-Daddy was a guitar, mama was a gun
-The king of country music, the daughter
-Not the son
-The daughter, not the son, the daughter
-Not the son could the king of country
-Music be the daughter, Not the son?
-Miss Kitty Wells was the first show I opened
Recalling the speaker's early exposure to country music, highlighting the learning process and Nashville experience.
Ten years old singing Will the Circle
-Be Unbroken next to her
-Sometimes that country music
-Pedigree is earned you watch and learn
-Nashville trailer park, I was seventeen
Describing the speaker's journey in the music industry, facing challenges and trying to gain recognition.
Family band, Opryland
-Playing sets between writing songs
-Slipping demo tapes in laundry bags of stars
-You don't get far
-God is in the garden, devil's in the dirt
Repeating the chorus, emphasizing the speaker's identity and challenging expectations in country music.
Eve is picking apples, Adam's blaming her
-Daddy was a guitar, mama was a gun
-The king of country music, the daughter
-Not the son
-The daughter, not the son, the daughter
-Not the son could the king of country
-Music be the daughter, Not the son?
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