Expert: Mel Priddle - 12/31/2007

Question
I heard a song called "Kay" on XM Radio's Channel 6 on 12/29/07. I didn't catch the artist's name, but I loved it. I remember a repeating refrain, which was: "Kay, I'm livin', but I'm dyin' lookin' out at Music City from my cab." Can you please give me more info. on this song. I loved it!

Answer
Hello Joyce,

"Kay" was a 1969 release by John Wesley Ryles (Columbia 44682), reaching #9 in the charts. In 1978 Ryles remade “Kay” (ABC 12375), and had another chart hit with it, though nowhere near as successful as the first time around. More recently it has been recorded by Daryle Singletary (with a few slight lyric changes).

As the story goes, Kay is the name of the taxi driver's former girl friend. They were a young couple in Houston, but Kay had singing talent and getting to Nashville (“Music City”) was her big ambition. He sold everything to bring her there and she became famous, but he got dumped in the process. He winds up driving a cab to make ends meet and while driving around he is tortured hearing her latest hit songs on the radio.


Kay, with all your singin’ talent, back in Houston Nashville’s all you talked about
I sold everything I owned to bring you here, now you’ll be famous, there’s no doubt              
Last week you knocked 'em out in New York, tonight Chicago’s goin’ wild
Your record on the jukebox don’t sound bad
Kay, I’m livin’ yet I’m dyin’, starin’ out at Music City from my cab

Caution lights blink out their warning, some old Big Ben clock chimes three am
Starvin’ hound dogs search the trash can, my gas tank could use ten dollars worth again
All those chuckholes here on Main Street jar my ribcage, I could cuss
The crowd of nightlife people look so sad
Kay, I’m livin’ yet I’m dyin’, starin’ out at Music City from my cab

Two young soldiers from Fort Campbell told me how they hate that war in Vietnam
Sirens echo through an alley and some woman said somebody stabbed a man
I rushed Miss Teenager to the doctor, she begged to give the child my name
I’ve lost count the cups of coffee that I’ve had
Kay, I’m livin’ yet I’m dyin’, starin’ out at Music City from my cab

Two rose petals on my front seat fallen from the bouquet Jimmy took to June
Jim kept mumblin’ through his teardrops, "God she’ll leave this world with flowers in her room"
Kay, I showed some drunk your picture and he made a smart remark
I hit him in the mouth, boy was I mad
Kay, I’m livin’ yet I’m dyin’, starin’ out at Music City from my cab

Guitars, organs, horns, violins, and pianos, how they play
Grinding out the latest sounds from Music City, USA
Kay, although I know I lost you to the swingin’ music world
I kiss pictures of those happy times we had
Kay, I’m livin’ yet I’m dyin’, starin’ out at Music City from my cab

Kay, I’m livin’ yet I’m dyin’, starin’ out at Music City from my cab


Glad to be of help. Cheers.........Mel.






Glad to be of help. Cheers.........Mel.