South Carolina often gets the short end of the stick in contemporary popular culture, which tends to focus more heavily on their more urban and more modern neighbor of a similar name. For that reason, many of the classic ‘Carolina’ songs are really about the northern half. In spite of that, South Carolina has its fair share of homesick ballads (Hickory Wind by The Byrds) and hearfelt goodbyes (From South Carolina by Her Space Holiday), not to mention a nice little shoegazy jam (Carolina by Girls).
But I decided to pick some of the state’s native sons, and almost certainly the biggest act to emerge from the state in recent years. Silly name notwithstanding, Hootie were one of the quintessential mid 90s rock bands, who emerged ‘out of nowhere’ into every household in the country, but only after spending the better part of a decade incubating in the bars and clubs of Charleston.
This song, written soon after the death of Darius Rucker’s mother is a paean in her memory, and to the memory of growing up in the state. In these moments of pain, when you feel like a stranger in your own home, you struggle to understand what it all means. Searching for meaning, you turn back to the only thing you can be sure about: “I don’t know where I’m going; I only know where I’m from.”
I would vote for Hickory Wind by The Byrds (really, by Gram Parsons!)
Her Space Holiday — From South Carolina Moving pledge to someone with dyed black hair, to always be there all the way from South Carolina to San Francisco. What more could you ask for, really?