Martina McBride released her honky tonk-flavored debut album The Time Has Come in 1992. Her first big hit was the single "My Baby Loves Me" from her more pop-oriented second album, 1993's The Way That I Am. She became even more visible in 1994 with the crossover success of her anti-domestic violence anthem "Independence Day", also from this album.
In 1995 McBride released the album Wild Angels; "Safe in the Arms of Love" and the title track were country hits, later being her first #1 hit. Her 1997 album Evolution sold over two million units, and included an adult contemporary crossover hit in "Valentine" as well as four number one or number two country hits. The album Emotion came out in 1999; "I Love You" was a big hit in both country and adult contemporary circles. So was the socially conscious "Love's the Only House", a trend that would continue with 2003's "This One's for the Girls", which would become the theme song for the 2005 NCAA Women's Basketball championship tournament. [1] This was followed by the hit singles "How Far" (written by fellow country singer Jamie O'Neal) and "God's Will".
The Long Distance Lullaby Songfacts states that Eleven was Martina's first album for Republic Nashville, ending a 20 year association with RCA. Label head Scott Borchetta encouraged her to write more songs for the record than she had on any of her previous 10 albums, and she ended up co-writing six of the 11 tracks. Eleven was released October 11, 2011.
As of 2005 McBride is generally recognized as one of the top female singers in popular music; with her strong and pure soprano voice she has been labelled "the Céline Dion of country music." Also in 2005 she released a 18-track CD of classic country music standards, which landed at #1 on the Billboard Country Album Chart in its opening week and received much critical acclaim for its authenticity towards traditional country.
She is a four-time Country Music Association Female Vocalist of the Year winner (a record she holds with Reba McEntire), three-time Academy of Country Music Female Vocalist of the Year winner and a Grammy Award winner. This left-hander performed The Star-Spangled Banner at Game 3 of the 2004 World Series.
"Independence Day" is used as the introductory music for Sean Hannity's popular talk radio show. McBride has appeared at benefit events organized by Hannity, but has declined to take an active political stance. [2] McBride has performed free for fans, such as in a July 3, 2004 show in Owensboro, Kentucky to celebrate the grand opening of the new Independence Bank headquarters.
Recently she helped out contestants on the Canadian version of "American Idol". The winner worked on a song with McBride as well as went on tour with her across Canada.
Martina has sold over 13 million albums in USA alone.
Independence Day
Martina McBride Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Though she looked a little worried and weak
She tried to pretend he wasn't drinkin' again
But daddy left the proof on her cheek
And I was only eight years old that summer
And I always seemed to be in the way
So I took myself down to the fair in town
On Independence Day
Well, word gets around in a small, small town
They said he was a dangerous man
But mama was proud and she stood her ground
She knew she was on the losin' end
Some folks whispered, some folks talked
But everybody looked the other way
And when time ran out there was no one about
On Independence Day
Let freedom ring, let the white dove sing
Let the whole world know that today
Is a day of reckoning
Let the weak be strong, let the right be wrong
Roll the stone away, let the guilty pay
It's Independence Day
Well, she lit up the sky that fourth of July
By the time that the firemen come
They just put out the flames
And took down some names
And send me to the county home
Now I ain't sayin' it's right or it's wrong
But maybe it's the only way
Talk about your revolution
It's Independence Day
Let freedom ring, let the white dove sing
Let the whole world know that today
Is a day of reckoning
Let the weak be strong, let the right be wrong
Roll the stone away, let the guilty pay
It's Independence Day
Roll the stone away
It's Independence Day
Martina McBride's song "Independence Day" tells the story of a young girl who witnesses her father physically abuse her mother. The song begins with the singer recalling how she saw her mother with a bruised cheek, trying to hide the fact that her father had been drinking again. The singer then reveals that she was only eight years old at the time and often felt like she was in the way. So she went to the town fair on Independence Day to get away from the situation at home.
The song then shifts to the aftermath of the abuse, where the small-town community looks the other way, despite rumors that the father is a dangerous man. The mother refuses to leave her husband and, ultimately, dies by setting their house on fire. The singer is sent to a county home and realizes that the situation may not have been right, but it was the only way for her mother to achieve her independence.
Overall, the song reflects the struggle many people face in abusive relationships, the ways in which communities can turn a blind eye, and the strength it takes to break free.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, she seemed all right by dawn's early light
At the start of the day, the woman appeared to be okay
Though she looked a little worried and weak
However, there were signs she was struggling
She tried to pretend he wasn't drinkin' again
The woman attempted to ignore her husband's alcoholism
But daddy left the proof on her cheek
Unfortunately, her husband left visible evidence of physical abuse on her face
And I was only eight years old that summer
At that time, the artist was just a child
And I always seemed to be in the way
Despite being young, they felt like a burden or a nuisance
So I took myself down to the fair in town
The singer took themself to a local event
On Independence Day
Specifically on July 4th, the holiday celebrating America's freedom
Well, word gets around in a small, small town
The rumor mill runs quickly in small communities
They said he was a dangerous man
People spoke negatively about the husband and his behavior
But mama was proud and she stood her ground
Despite the gossip, the woman stood up for herself and stayed with her husband
She knew she was on the losin' end
The woman realized she was in a difficult situation
Some folks whispered, some folks talked
Different people expressed their opinions in various ways
But everybody looked the other way
Ultimately, most people ignored the family's problems
And when time ran out there was no one about
When things reached a breaking point, no one was there to help
On Independence Day
This tragic event happened on July 4th
Let freedom ring, let the white dove sing
Symbolic of wishing for peace and liberty
Let the whole world know that today
The desire for everyone to be aware of the importance of this moment
Is a day of reckoning
A day where justice will be served
Let the weak be strong, let the right be wrong
Showing a desire for balance and the ability for the underdogs to succeed
Roll the stone away, let the guilty pay
A call for those who've committed wrongful acts to be held accountable
It's Independence Day
A juxtaposition of the holiday's joyful and tragic associations
Well, she lit up the sky that fourth of July
On that specific 4th of July, something significant happened
By the time that the firemen come
The authorities arrived too late
They just put out the flames
The firefighters could only stop the fire from spreading
And took down some names
They collected information about what happened
And send me to the county home
The singer was taken to a group home following the tragedy
Now I ain't sayin' it's right or it's wrong
The artist isn't making any moral judgments in this story
But maybe it's the only way
However, the lyrics suggest that this tragedy was an inevitable outcome
Talk about your revolution
Referring to the changes that happened as a result of this event
It's Independence Day
The song's chorus representing the story's central message
Roll the stone away
Referring to religious imagery of resurrection and rebirth
It's Independence Day
Reiterating the chorus's message with a more hopeful tone
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Gretchen Peters
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind