Sammy Kershaw – Third Rate Romance

About The Song

“Third Rate Romance” is a song written by Russell Smith, originally recorded by Jesse Winchester with the Rhythm Aces in 1974. Sammy Kershaw covered the song, releasing it on his third studio album Feelin’ Good Train on Mercury Records in 1994. Kershaw’s version was issued as a single in June 1994, peaking at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart and No. 67 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking one of his notable hits during his peak commercial period.

The recording took place in Nashville, produced by Keith Stegall, with a traditional country arrangement featuring steel guitar, fiddle, and Kershaw’s distinctive vocal delivery. The session included musicians such as Brent Mason on electric guitar and Paul Franklin on steel guitar, contributing to the song’s lively yet slightly humorous tone. The track runs 3:23 on the album, with the single version maintaining the same length for radio play. Feelin’ Good Train, released on October 25, 1994, reached No. 9 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and was certified gold, selling over 500,000 copies.

The lyrics narrate a casual encounter between a man and a woman at a ritzy restaurant, leading to a low-budget motel rendezvous, with lines like “Sittin’ in a tiny table in a ritzy restaurant / She was starin’ at her coffee cup.” The story unfolds with the woman’s nervous admission, “I’ve never really done this kind of thing before—have you?” to which the man replies, “Yes I have, but only a time or two.” The original version by the Amazing Rhythm Aces, released in 1975 on their album Stacked Deck, reached No. 11 on the U.S. country chart and No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100, establishing the song’s crossover appeal.

The music video, directed by Michael Merriman, premiered in 1994, depicting Kershaw and a female character in a comedic take on the song’s storyline, set in a restaurant and motel. It was released to support the single’s promotion. Kershaw’s cover followed the success of his earlier hits like “She Don’t Know She’s Beautiful,” which topped the country chart in 1993, and fit into his string of Top 10 singles in the mid-1990s. The song was later included on his 2003 compilation Best of Sammy Kershaw: 20th Century Masters.

The track was released in various formats, including CD and cassette singles, with B-sides like “Southbound” from the same album. It was performed live during Kershaw’s 1994-1995 tour, showcasing his ability to blend humor with country storytelling. The song’s origins trace back to the Amazing Rhythm Aces, formed in 1974 in Memphis, with Russell Smith’s songwriting reflecting a blend of country and rock influences.

Video

Lyric

Sittin’ in a tiny table in a ritzy restaurant
She was starin’ at her coffee cup
He was tryin’ to keep his courage up
By applyin’ booze

And talk was small when they talked at all
They both knew what they wanted
There was no need to talk about it
They were old enough to scope it out
And keep it loose

She said, “You don’t look like my type
But I guess you’ll do”
Third rate romance, low rent rendezvous
And he said, “I’ll even tell you that I love you
If you want me to”
Third rate romance, low rent rendezvous

When they left the bar
They got in his car
And they drove away
He drove to the Family Inn
She didn’t even have to pretend
She didn’t know what for

Then he went to the desk
And made his request
While she waited outside
Then he came back with the key
And she said, “Give it to me
And I’ll unlock the door”

She kept sayin’, “I’ve never really done this kind of thing before, have you?”
Third rate romance, low rent rendezvous
And he said, “Yes I have, but only a time or two”
Third rate romance, low rent rendezvous

Third rate romance, low rent rendezvous
Third rate romance, low rent rendezvous