Kenny Alphin made his name (literally) after moving to Nashville, where he rechristened himself Big Kenny and found platinum success as one half of the country duo Big & Rich. Known for their rowdy humor and willingness to embrace multiple genres, Big & Rich scored their first string of hits with 2004’s Horse of a Different Color. Such experience allowed Big & Rich to establish an audience quickly, and Horse of a Different Color sold more than three million copies as a result. In addition to co-writing much of his own band’s material, Big Kenny penned songs for other artists, including the title track for Gretchen Wilson’s Here for the Party and the chart-topping single “Last Dollar (Fly Away)” for Tim McGraw.
“Under the Sun” is the second song on his album Live a Little and it is one of my new favorites. This song shows that there is a place where dreams come true and where fun and happiness lie. This would be a great song to listen to at the beach or while reading a magazine and dreaming past days/memories at the beach.
“Under the Sun” – Big Kenny
Flipping through a magazine curlers in her hair
Waiting for her nails to dry in the beauty parlor chair
Soon she’s turning thirty something discontent with life
Then she turns to page one-thirty-five
And it says
There is a place where dreams come true
Just call and we’ll reserve a room for you
Somewhere under the sun
There is happiness and fun
There is love for everyone
Somewhere under the sun
Somewhere under the sun
Staring out the window of the twenty-second floor
Another meeting phones are ringing surely there is more
Then he sees a vision out the corner of his eye
On a flashing neon billboard sign
And it says
There is a place where dreams come true
Just call and we’ll reserve a room for you
Somewhere under the sun
There is happiness and fun
There is love for everyone
Somewhere under the sun
Somewhere under the sun
She was caught in traffic and his keys they were misplaced
They made it to the airport, both just minutes late
She dropped her attache as she was walking to the bar
He reached to help and bumped her heart
There is a place where dreams come true
Maybe now they’ll call and reserve a room for two
Somewhere under the sun
There is happiness and fun
There is love for everyone
Somewhere under the sun
Somewhere under oh
Somewhere under the sun
There is happiness and fun
There is love for everyone
Somewhere under the sun
Somewhere under the sun
Somewhere under the sun
DIVING DEEP
With everything going on with Covid-19 at the moment, an escape to somewhere peaceful and wonderful is definitely on my to-do list.
Sometimes we have those days where we just want a vacation. Where we are in need of a vacation. Big Kenny sums this up in his song. We are, in our own way, looking for an escape. A place of peace and relaxation. A place filled with happiness, sun, and where our worries and care can leave our mind, even if for only a second.
There are times in our lives when we don’t know what step next is, and other times we don’t need to know. It’s not meant for us to. And isn’t that the fun in life? The mystery?
Big Kenny does a fabulous job of giving writing and performing a feel good, heartwarming song about the good times that we will have and that will come again. When we can go to the beach with our friends and family and not have to worry about wearing a mask, “Somewhere under the sun, There is happiness and fun, There is love for everyone.”
This song is meant to give us hope, when it feels like there is none. It helps to give us patience for a better future and it shows ultimately that happiness can be found anywhere. Beach or no beach, pool or no pool, there is life beyond the four walls that some of us are trapped behind and once we begin to take advantage and be grateful for that, that is when our happiness and fun can truly begin. “There is a place where dreams come true” because there is a place where dreams come true. Sometimes that place is Disney World, other times it’s playing a board game with friends or sitting around a campfire with family. This song serves as a good reminder, showing listeners that happiness can be found anywhere.
Where would you escape to if you could?