By 
- Lil Nas X had a surprise viral hit in 2019 with the "Old Town Road" remix featuring Billy Ray Cyrus.
- The song earned three nominations at the 2020 Grammys.
- According to an interview Lil Nas X did with Time, the lyrics send a message of perseverance and loneliness inspired by his personal life.
If you went on social media in 2019, chances are you saw something about viral musical sensation Lil Nas X, also known as the 20-year-old rapper behind "Old Town Road"—the song everyone loves to love (and hate). And now, it's earned three nominations at the 2020 Grammys, adding to Nas X's total of six nominations. His others include Best Rap/Sung Performance for "Panini", Best Album of the Year, and Best New Artist.
"I’m just getting started as an artist," he told the L.A. Times, "and I know there is so much more to come, but the nominations gave me more validation than I already had given myself."
And as if we needed anymore good news, the Recording Academy confirmed that Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus would be performing “Old Town Road All-Stars" at the ceremony. What's the "All-Stars" all about? Apparently, Diplo, BTS, and Mason Ramsey will be taking the stage along with other unspecified "surprise guests." So, FYI, the show airs on Sunday, January 26 at 8 p.m. ET—because you're definitely not going to want to miss all that.
More From Oprah Daily
"Old Town Road" broke records as the longest-ever song to be at the top of the Billboard Top 100 charts, spending 17 weeks at number one. It's also the top Google-searched song of 2019.
"I am so thankful that this blessing has been placed upon me," the country-rapper wrote in a celebratory Instagram post. "This song has changed my life and the way i see the world around me in less than a year. thank you to every single person who has been apart of this journey. as i said before, it’s just the beginning!"
It was quite a summer for the chart-topper, as he released a second single called "Panini" and proudly came out as gay at the end of Pride Month with a series of tweets. "dead*ss thought i made it obvious,'" he wrote.
And as his hit song undeniably gets stuck in your head, you may find yourself questioning the meaning behind the catchy lyrics: "I'm gonna take my horse to the old town road/I'm gonna ride 'til I can't no more." The tune melds country and hip-hop, creating "country trap," a sound that has the music industry and fans alike arguing what, exactly, qualifies as "country." The track initially made it to Billboard's "Hot Country Songs" list, but a week later, Billboard removed it from the country chart and has since defended their choice. But with the latest record-breaking development, that's long behind Lil Nas X.
Regardless, the star seemed to have sent a clear response to any haters with a remix of "Old Town Road" featuring bona fide country mainstay Billy Ray Cyrus—a move that only created more hype around the song after its initial release. But take away the controversy and the admittedly contagious hook, and you're left with some decidedly country-style lyrics.
When zeroing in on those catchy lyrics—which also include the defiant line "Can't nobody tell me nothin'"—X has revealed that the song represents something far more meaningful than you'd expect.
According to Time, just last year the young artist was staying at his sister's home after he dropped out of college, a decision that left his parents less-than-pleased. He'd spend his days self-promoting his music, but soon, even that situation began to fall apart.
"'Old Town Road' came after a period of feeling like I was out of options," he told Time. "I was living with my sister. She was pretty much fed up with me being there. That’s where the chorus lyric came from. It was me saying, 'I want to leave everything behind....' The 'can’t nobody tell me nothing' part is referring to my parents: wanting me to go back to school, not thinking it’s that likely for [me] to make it."
X also explained his words to The New York Times.
“I felt like a loner cowboy,” he said. “I wanted to take my horse to the Old Town Road and run away. The horse is like a car. The Old Town Road, it’s like a path to success. In the first verse, I pack up, ready to go.”
Well, there you have it. What is currently the most-talked-about song in the U.S. has a pretty relatable backstory—no matter if you actually like it or not. Nearly all of us have been in that place where we feel lost or misunderstood, and an outlet is always needed to express those feelings.
X's vice just so happened to take form in a controversial genre-mixing, conversation-starting, unforgettable viral hit.
Check out the full lyrics to "Old Town Road" below, via Billboard.
Yeah, I'm gonna take my horse to the old town road
I'm gonna ride 'til I can't no more
I'm gonna take my horse to the old town road
I'm gonna ride 'til I can't no more (Kio, Kio)
I got the horses in the back
Horse tack is attached
Hat is matte black
Got the boots that's black to match
Ridin' on a horse, ha
You can whip your Porsche
I been in the valley
You ain't been up off the porch, now
Can't nobody tell me nothin'
You can't tell me nothin'
Can't nobody tell me nothin'
You can't tell me nothin'
Ridin' on a tractor
Lean all in my bladder
Cheated on my baby
You can go and ask her
My life is a movie
Bull ridin' and boobies
Cowboy hat from Gucci
Wrangler on my booty
Can't nobody tell me nothin'
You can't tell me nothin'
Can't nobody tell me nothin'
You can't tell me nothin'
Yeah, I'm gonna take my horse to the old town road
I'm gonna ride 'til I can't no more
I'm gonna take my horse to the old town road
I'm gonna ride 'til I can't no more
I got the...
For more ways to live your best life plus all things Oprah, sign up for our newsletter!
McKenzie Jean-Philippe is the editorial assistant at OprahMag.com covering pop culture, TV, movies, celebrity, and lifestyle. She loves a great Oprah viral moment and all things Netflix—but come summertime, Big Brother has her heart. On a day off you'll find her curled up with a new juicy romance novel.
