Raised on George Jones and Tammy Wynette, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash and Emmylou Harris, she sang harmonies as a toddler, eventually thinking she'd make a career of it. Following the murder-suicide of her parents (perpetrated by her father) in 1986, she moved into her aunt and uncle's home.
Not long afterwards, sister Shelby Lynne moved to Nashville for a career in music, and after her high school graduation, Moorer followed. She sang harmonies with her sister for a while but returned to Alabama to earn a degree in public relations. She skipped the graduation ceremony to move back to Nashville.
Her song "A Soft Place to Fall" was tapped for Robert Redford's The Horse Whisperer in 1998, and she also appeared in the movie. Because the ballad earned her an Academy Award nomination, she performed it on the 1999 Oscars ceremony. However, none of her singles from her debut "Alabama Song" or its follow-up "The Hardest Part" received much radio airplay, nor achieving chart success though both projects were highly praised by critics.
When Brown moved from MCA to sister label Universal South, Moorer followed. Her 2002 album "Miss Fortune" earned more raves, but didn't meet sales expectations. She almost got another big break by recording the duet "Picture" with Kid Rock after Sheryl Crow had bowed out. However, Crow changed her mind, and the Rock/Crow-version became a huge radio hit. Yet, the song was credited on the charts to both Crow and Moorer. In addition, the CD single featuring Moorer sold 500,000 copies and is certified Gold by the RIAA. Her ballad "Tumbling Down" (from Miss Fortune) was featured on the soundtrack of the popular 2002 film The Rookie.
Her live album album "Show"(2003) was recorded in one night (two performances) at the 12th and Porter in Nashville and despite popular belief, it features the first recorded collaboration by both Moorer sisters.
After releasing Show and a DVD on Universal South, Moorer moved to independent label Sugar Hill Records. With a slightly rougher edge than past efforts, The Duel was released in April 2004.
After a divorce between Moorer and Primm, she eventually married Steve Earle, after serving as his opening act on a European tour. Earle produced her 2006 album, "Getting Somewhere". Moorer wrote all the songs, with the exception of one co-written with Earle. She and Earle were nominated for a Grammy award in the category Best Country Collaboration with Vocals, for the song "Days Aren't Long Enough" from Earle's "Washington Square Serenade".
Moorer released the Buddy Miller-produced "Mockingbird" in February 2008; an album mainly of covers of songs by female singer/songwriters including her sister, Shelby Lynne.
Her latest studio album "Crows" (2010), features her first departure from the Contemporary Country style of her earlier albums, instead changing to a Pop and Contemporary Singer/Songwriter style.
http://allisonmoorer.com
Down To Believing
Allison Moorer Lyrics
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It looked like diamonds and pearls
It was so much of it I wore a little in my hair
Everyone said silly girl
Coming down it wasn't easy but we tried our best
Said we used it up and didn't put any back
Now you look so surprised cause there ain't none left
I guess it comes down to believing
And whether we do or we don't
Guess it comes down to staying or leaving
And whether we will or we won't
Staring down at the ground ain't gonna help us none
There's no need in making this hard
Hey life's too long to wake up everyday without someone
Who likes all your scratches and scars
I guess it comes down to believing
And whether we do or we don't
Guess it comes down to staying or leaving
And whether we will or we won't
Anybody ever loved anybody knows this is part of the deal
Just have to hold on for ever after
It's all gone
Then I guess it comes down to believing
And whether we do or we don't
I guess it comes down to staying or leaving
And whether we will or we won't
And whether we will or we won't
And whether we will or we won't
The lyrics of Allison Moorer's song "Down To Believing" speaks about finding something precious, using it up without replenishing it, and then realizing it's all gone. The first verse describes the discovery of something akin to diamonds and pearls while up in the clouds. It was plenty, but the singer didn't keep enough of it. And now the people around her are calling her silly because she didn't keep any back. In the second verse, the singer describes the difficulty of coming back down and the surprise when they realize that they've used it all up. And now, with nothing left, the singer is disappointed with the way things turned out. The chorus emphasizes the importance of belief, and the tough decision of whether to leave or stay. The final verse focuses on the fact that love and happiness are hard, but meaningful. The singer thinks that holding on forever is just a part of the deal.
Line by Line Meaning
We found it hanging from a cloud that time we went up there
We discovered something so beautiful and impossible to grasp, almost like a dream
It looked like diamonds and pearls
It was something rare and precious, even more remarkable than diamonds and pearls
It was so much of it I wore a little in my hair
It was so abundant that I figuratively wore a small piece of it as a symbol of my possession and pride
Everyone said silly girl
Others who didn't understand its allure were dismissive of my attachment to it
Coming down it wasn't easy but we tried our best
Once it was time to let go of this wondrous thing, we struggled to come back to reality, but we gave our all to make it happen
Said we used it up and didn't put any back
We consumed it without replenishing what we took, leading to its depletion
Now you look so surprised cause there ain't none left
You act shocked and confused that what you took for granted is now completely gone, leaving you with nothing
And you're just empty-hearted and sad
You are now devoid of the happiness and wonder that thing brought, feeling only emptiness and sorrow
I guess it comes down to believing
Ultimately, it's a matter of faith or trust in something greater or deeper than ourselves
And whether we do or we don't
Our belief in something can shape our thoughts, actions, and emotions, affecting our lives in profound ways
Guess it comes down to staying or leaving
We have a choice to either stick with what we believe or abandon it, even when it's difficult or painful
And whether we will or we won't
Ultimately, it's up to us to decide what we will do, based on what we truly believe
Staring down at the ground ain't gonna help us none
Fretting and worrying won't solve anything or improve our situation
There's no need in making this hard
We shouldn't complicate things further or create unnecessary obstacles
Hey life's too long to wake up everyday without someone
Life is too precious and fleeting to face each day alone or without someone who cares for us
Who likes all your scratches and scars
We all have flaws or imperfections, and it's comforting to be with someone who accepts us despite them
Anybody ever loved anybody knows this is part of the deal
Anyone who has ever loved or been loved knows that enduring hardships and challenges is a natural part of any relationship
Just have to hold on for ever after
We must persevere and hold on, no matter what, if we want to experience lifelong love and fulfillment
Then I guess it comes down to believing
Once again, what we believe shapes our actions and the outcomes we experience in life
And whether we do or we don't
As before, our beliefs are within our control, and they hold the key to our well-being and happiness
And whether we will or we won't
Ultimately, we must be resolute and committed to our beliefs and to the people we share our lives with
And whether we will or we won't
This refrain is a reminder that the choice is always ours to make, and that our decisions have consequences that we must own
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: KEITH GATTIS, ALLISON MOORER, AUDLEY FREED
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind