Country music star Blake Shelton‘s first job as a 15-year-old was far from glamorous! The Voice coach got his first taste of the real world by roofing houses in his hometown of Ada, Oklahoma with his stepfather as his boss.
“I did it for two summers,” Shelton shared with PEOPLE in a past interview, “It made me want to be a country singer.”
We can see how climbing around a roof in the hot sun could be a real turn-off. After graduating from high school at 17-years-old, the star relocated to Nashville, Tennessee to pursue a country music career.
In 2001, Shelton signed with Giant Records and released “Austin” as his debut single. Shortly after that song was released, the record label closed, and Shelton was transferred over to Warner Music Nashville. “Austin” became Shelton’s first number one hit on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs) charts and spent five weeks at that position. Warner released Shelton’s self-titled debut album and it also produced Top 20 hits “All Over Me” and “Ol’ Red.”
We’re glad that Blake didn’t find his calling in the roofing business! Check out his official “Austin” music video below.
“Austin” Lyrics
She left without leavin’ a number
Said she needed to clear her mind
He figured she’d gone back to Austin
‘Cause she talked about it all the time
It was almost a year before she called him up
Three rings and an answering machine is what she got
If your callin’ ’bout the car I sold it
If this is Tuesday night I’m bowlin’
If you’ve got somethin’ to sell your wastin’ your time, I’m not buyin’
If it’s anybody else wait for the tone you know what to do
And P.S. if this is Austin I still love you
The telephone fell to the counter
She heard but she couldn’t believe
What kind of man would hang on that long
What kind of love that must be
She waited three days and then she tried again
She didn’t know what she’d say
But she heard three rings and then
If it’s Friday night I’m at the ball game
And first thing Saturday if it don’t rain
I’m headed out to the lake and I’ll be gone all weekend long
But I’ll call you back when I get home on Sunday afternoon
And P.S. if this is Austin I still love you
Well this time she left her number
But not another word
When she waited by the phone on Sunday evening
And this is what he heard
If your callin’ ’bout my heart it’s still yours
I should have listened to it a little more
Then it wouldn’t have taken me so long
To know where I belong
And by the way boy this is no machine your talkin’ to
Can’t you tell this is Austin and I still love you
I still love you
