Story Behind the Song: ‘Where Corn Don’t Grow’
It was a hit for Travis Tritt, but “Where Corn Don’t Grow” is Mark Alan Springer’s story. The songwriter grew up on a family farm in Arkansas, and after leaving for college, he “ran away from his roots.” In the song, the protagonist leaves the farm for the city and finds that “the weeds are high where corn don’t grow.”
In a conversation with Bart Herbison of Nashville Songwriters Association International, Springer looked back on his roots and the inspiration for “Where Corn Don’t Grow.”
Country music is about real life, and you grew up in a town called Weiner, Ark., on a farm.
I actually lived about nine miles out of town, so I wasn’t a city boy (laughs).
You grew up in roots America, and after you had some success ... you wrote your life story with Roger Murrah, a song called “Where Corn Don’t Grow.” How did your life turn into that song?
We were row croppers. I was raised on a farm, and we were a true family farm. My mother actually, during the harvest and planting, drove a tractor, so all of us would drive. But on the days where just the men were in the field, mom would cook a big dinner, with three meals a day. Daddy would always take a nap right after lunch, so I’d sit out on the front porch. They were long days. I always dreaded getting on that tractor. We didn’t have cabs in those days, so the heat and the dust and diesel. You always think you want to do something more in life, and I did. That was kind of what the song was about. But as you mature, and go through life, you realize those were actually the good old days. Maybe a little more difficult than some areas, but those are fond memories, and I think that’s what the song’s about, the maturing process of a young man that wants to do something else. Even on a personal note for me, I tend to run away from my roots. You want to be cool when you’re in college.
I think you did then, but you embrace them right now.
At that point I did (run), but then I realized that I am country. That’s who I is (laughs), and I started really writing from the heart and my past, and the way I grew up. That’s when I think country music, radio and artists embraced what I did. That was a good lesson for me, to be who you are and be proud of that.
At this time, the cut you want is Travis Tritt. Take me through the time it was written to how Travis chose it.
It’s interesting. It was recorded by several people. Waylon (Jennings) recorded it. ... Steve Wariner recorded a really good version of it. Joe Diffie had a good version. And then Travis obviously took it and they really got behind the song ... with Travis’ edge to the song, I think it really took on a different life. It’s one of those songs that got a lot of the peers, other songwriters complimented that song because of its depth.
Tell me about when your Daddy heard that song. He had to be so proud.
Oh yeah. Dad just had back surgery. He’s 83, and he’s not getting around really good. But obviously he took a lot of pride in that because I was raised well.