First #1 Hit: The Midnight Oil (1973)<… Read Full Bio ↴Birthday: December 25th, 1948
First #1 Hit: The Midnight Oil (1973)
From 1980 to 1981, she and her two sisters hosted the last successful variety show, "Barbara Mandrell & the Mandrell Sisters", on NBC.
In 1984, she and her two children were involved in a severe automobile accident, leaving her with serious injuries. All three were taken to Baptist Hospital in Nashville.
After giving her final concert performance at the Grand Old Opry House on October 23rd, 1997, she later moved into acting on the short lived soap opera, "Sunset Beach" on NBC.
In October 2006, she was honored with the release of a new tribute album "She Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool: A Tribute To Barbara Mandrell" on BNA Records.
Happy Birthday Dear Heartache
Barbara Mandrell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
One year since he went away
So, happy birthday dear heartache
You're one year old today
There'll be the cake tonight
One candle I'm gonna light
So, happy birthday dear heartache
When he walked out, I felt my heart break
That's when you came to me, dear heartache
You made my heart your home
Now look, how big you've grown
Looks like each guest is here
The blues, the memories and the tears
So, happy birthday dear heartache
Same time, same place next year
So, happy birthday dear heartache
Same time, same place next year
The lyrics of Barbara Mandrell's song, "Happy Birthday Dear Heartache", speak of the singer's pain and her constant companion, heartache. She mentions that it has been a year since her lover has left her, and she is marking this occasion with a celebration that acknowledges the one constant in her life since then: her heartache. She sings of how she has nurtured and grown attached to this heartache that entered her life when her lover left her, giving it a special place in her heart.
The analogy of heartache as an entity in the singer's life is a poignant one, as she reminisces on how heartbreak has become a permanent part of her life. Although it's one year on from the initial heartbreak, the pain and sadness are still present, as shown by the presence of the guests of the celebration - the blues, memories and tears. The chorus is repeated, signaling that the singer knows that she'll be in the same place next year, with the same feelings of longing and love.
Line by Line Meaning
It's just a year today
Exactly one year has passed since my heartbreak.
One year since he went away
He left me one year ago, marking the start of my pain.
So, happy birthday dear heartache
I'm sarcastically wishing my heartbreak a "happy birthday" as a way to acknowledge its ongoing presence in my life.
You're one year old today
This marks the one-year anniversary of my broken heart, as if it were a living entity to be celebrated and mourned like a child.
There'll be the cake tonight
I'm not actually having a celebration - this is a metaphorical way of acknowledging the date of my heartbreak.
One candle I'm gonna light
I'll light a lone candle, symbolizing my love that still burns for the person who broke my heart.
Old love still burns tonight
Even after a year, my feelings still haven't died down completely.
When he walked out, I felt my heart break
The moment he left me was when my heartbreak began.
That's when you came to me, dear heartache
I'm personifying my heartbreak as a companion that's stuck with me ever since he left.
You made my heart your home
My heartbreak has become so familiar that it feels like it's taken up residence within me.
Now look, how big you've grown
After a year, my heartbreak has only become stronger and more present in my life.
Looks like each guest is here
My emotions are all present to commemorate the anniversary of my heartbreak.
The blues, the memories and the tears
These emotions are all associated with my heartbreak, and on this date, they all resurface.
Same time, same place next year
This line confirms that I expect to still be dealing with this heartbreak and marking its anniversary next year, too.
Contributed by Mason B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Midnight Ventures
Talk about a sad, gut-wrenching song. We all have that one love...that still bothers us. I can so relate. Amazing oldie here.
joesamplen
One of my all time favorite, thanks for posting :)
Dave Wollenberg
Barbara hit #3 on ACC, 4-28-84. God bless ya, Miss Mandrell!
MrBuzzSargent
Barbara is such a wonderful talent and so pretty. Not sure how I missed this tune but I just heard it on WPCV on the Sunday Classic Show. Fantastic !
Connie Martin
I once heard her husband say this was his favorite song of hers.
David Fowler
My favorite Barbara Mandrell song.
Deanna Cava
love this song
CJ Mahusay
Wow! Sad but beautiful song 😍
Julia Wild
I love to sing, but sometimes I have to put the music away and simply cry for love lost. And yet, this is not a bad thing. " When we love deeply, we grieve deeply." (Dr. Cort Flint.) Somehow, in our grief, we find something beautiful, ever- lasting, beyond words and time...this is Love. We grieve as have untold millions before us. Take heart...we are ONE in our capacity to feel sorrow and ONE in our capacity to feel Love. Let no one rob you of the capacity to feel the latter. We were made to love...not hate.
John Matos
What a pretty face when she was younger......still looks good..great song great singer.