When Naomi Judd found herself pregnant, she quickly got married but not to the father of her first child, daughter Christina Ciminella. Christina, born May 30, 1964, became known as Wynonna Judd when the mother-daughter duo stormed the country charts in the 1980s.
After Naomi Judd divorced, she moved from Hollywood, back to Morrill, Ky., with Wynonna and another daughter Ashley. There, she worked as a nurse in a local infirmary. Outside working and school hours, she and the children would sing anything from bluegrass to showbiz standards for their own amusement. However, when Wynonna nurtured aspirations to be a professional entertainer, her mother lent her encouragement, to the extent of moving the family to Nashville in 1979. Naomi's contralto subtly underlined Wynonna's tuneful drawl.
In addition to many performances on Ralph Emery's morning television show, Naomi elicited an audition for RCA Records while tending a hospitalized relation of label producer Brent Maher. With a past that read like a Judith Krantz novel, the Judds -- so the executives considered -- would have more than an even chance in the country market. An exploratory mini-album, which contained proved the executives correct. The single "Had a Dream (From the Heart)" peaked at No. 17 in 1984. Later that year, the Judds scored their first of 14 No. 1 hits with "Mama He's Crazy."
Self-composed songs included Naomi's 1989 composition "Change of Heart," dedicated to her future second husband (and former Elvis Presley backing vocalist) Larry Strickland. Meanwhile, Maher co-wrote hits such as 1985's Grammy-winning "Why Not Me," "Turn It Loose," "Girls Night Out," "Grandpa (Tell Me 'Bout The Good Ol' Days)" and "Rockin' With the Rhythm of the Rain."
Most Judds records exhibited an acoustic bias and a penchant for star guests that included the Jordanaires on "Don't Be Cruel," Emmylou Harris on "The Sweetest Gift," Mark Knopfler on his "Water of Love" and Bonnie Raitt playing slide guitar on the album Love Can Build a Bridge. In 1988, the pair became the first female country act to found their own booking agency (Pro-Tours), but a chronic hepatitis infection forced Naomi to retire from the concert stage two years later.
The Judds toured America in a series of farewell concerts before Wynonna began her solo career. Wynonna got off to a strong start, as her first two singles both went to #1. Her 1994 single "Girls With Guitars" featured Naomi (as well as Lyle Lovett) on backup vocals.
In 1998, The Judds appeared in a commercial for the retail chain Kmart, singing Wynonna's single "Woman To Woman".
In 1999, Wynonna reunited with her mother for a New Year's Eve concert in Phoenix. The following year, the duo recorded four new tracks for a bonus disc issued with Wynonna's album New Day Dawning, and undertook a multi-city tour. The results were issued as the album Reunion Live. A 2004 single, "Flies On The Butter (You Can't Go Home Again)" was recorded with Naomi; however, the single was credited as "Wynonna with Naomi Judd" instead of "The Judds".
Love Can Build A Bridge
The Judds Lyrics
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With no shoes upon my feet
To share with you the last bite
Of bread I had to eat
I would swim out to save you
In your sea of broken dreams
When all your hopes are sinkin'
Let me show you what love means
Love can build a bridge
Between your heart and mine
Love can build a bridge
Don't you think it's time?
Don't you think it's time?
I would whisper love so loudly
Every heart could understand
That love and only love
Can join the tribes of man
I would give my heart's desire
So that you might see
The first step is to realize
That it all begins with you and me
Love can build a bridge
Between your heart and mine
Love can build a bridge
Don't you think it's time?
Don't you think it's time?
(Don't you think it's time?)
When we stand together
It's our finest hour
We can do anything (anything), anything (anything)
Keep believin' in the power
Love can build a bridge
Between your heart and mine
Love can build a bridge
Don't you think it's time?
Don't you think it's time?
Yeah, yes, I do
Oh, love can build a bridge (oh, love and only love)
Between your heart and mine (between your heart and mine)
Love can build a bridge (love and only love)
Don't you think it's time?
Oh, don't you think it's time?
Mmm
Don't you think it's time?
Love and only love
Hey
Love and only love
The lyrics to The Judds' song Love Can Build A Bridge is inspirational and empowering. The song expresses a willingness to sacrifice and endure hardships for love, as the opening verse states that the singer would walk across the desert without shoes or share food to the point of hunger with the person they love. The narrative continues by stating that they would jump into an ocean filled with the broken dreams of their loved one, indicating that they would go through great lengths to save them.
When the chorus starts, the lyrics shift to a more powerful and optimistic tone, reminding us that love can connect hearts and transcend all boundaries, whether cultural, ethnic or religious. Love breaks down divisions and can unite people, communities and even nations. The song suggests that once we come together, we can achieve great things, as the lyrics state "when we stand together, it's our finest hour, we can do anything, anything, keep believing in the power."
The overall message is clear, hopeful and positive, providing a significant emotional release to the power of love. The Judds have created a song that remains a timeless classic because it reminds us that love is an essential part of our humanity.
Line by Line Meaning
I'd gladly walk across the desert
With no shoes upon my feet
To share with you the last bite
Of bread I had to eat
I am willing to face any hardship and give up everything I have for you.
I would swim out to save you
In your sea of broken dreams
When all your hopes are sinkin'
Let me show you what love means
I will never abandon you even if you feel lost and hopeless. I will show you the power of love.
I would whisper love so loudly
Every heart could understand
That love and only love
Can join the tribes of man
Love has the power to unite all people and transcend boundaries. It is the universal language that everyone can understand.
I would give my heart's desire
So that you might see
The first step is to realize
That it all begins with you and me
I am willing to sacrifice everything for you to understand that the foundation of love is mutual respect and cooperation.
When we stand together
It's our finest hour
We can do anything (anything), anything (anything)
Keep believin' in the power
Our unity is our strength. We can overcome any obstacles as long as we believe in the power of love.
Love can build a bridge
Between your heart and mine
Love can build a bridge
Don't you think it's time?
Don't you think it's time?
Love has the power to connect us and heal our brokenness. It's time to embrace love and let it guide us towards a brighter future.
(Don't you think it's time?)
It's time to change our ways and start building bridges instead of walls. We need to embrace love and compassion.
Oh, love can build a bridge (oh, love and only love)
Between your heart and mine (between your heart and mine)
Love can build a bridge (love and only love)
Don't you think it's time?
Oh, don't you think it's time?
Love is the only thing that can bridge the gap between us and bring us closer together. It's time to embrace love and let it guide us towards a better tomorrow.
Mmm
Don't you think it's time?
Let's start building bridges of love and understanding. It's time to make a change for the better.
Love and only love
Hey
Love and only love
Love is the most powerful force in the universe. It has the power to overcome hate and division. Let's embrace love and change the world.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: John Barlow Jarvis, Naomi Ellen Judd, Paul Overstreet
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind