Their first studio album, Horse of a Different Color, was released in 2004. This album produced four straight Top 40 country hits, including the number 11 "Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)", plus collaborations with Cowboy Troy, Gretchen Wilson, and Martina McBride. Comin' to Your City was released in November 2005 followed by another Top 20 single the Vietnam War-inspired "8th of November", and two more Top 40 hits. Joining the duo on this album were Cowboy Troy, Wilson, and Kris Kristofferson. Between Raising Hell and Amazing Grace, released in 2007, produced their only No. 1 single, "Lost in This Moment". Both before and during the duo's hiatus, Rich has worked as a producer and songwriter for several other artists.
After this album, both members went on hiatus and released solo albums in 2009 — Big Kenny's The Quiet Times of a Rock and Roll Farm Boy and Rich's Son of a Preacher Man. These also produced the duo's first Top 40 solo entries — Big Kenny with "Long After I'm Gone" and Rich with "Shuttin' Detroit Down". In 2010, Big Kenny released his second solo country album, Big Kenny's Love Everybody Traveling Musical Medicine Show Mix Tape, Vol. 1 and in 2011, Rich released the extended plays For the Kids and Rich Rocks, the latter of which included the Top 40 country single "Country Done Come to Town". Big & Rich reunited in May 2011 to release "Fake ID", a cut from the soundtrack to the 2011 film Footloose. A year later, the duo released their fourth album, Hillbilly Jedi, which produced the Top 20 hit "That's Why I Pray. In July 2013, Rich announced that the duo had begun work on their fifth studio album, Gravity, which was released independently. Another independent album, Did it For the Party, was announced in 2017 for release in September, led by the single "California.
That's Why I Pray
Big & Rich Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Man on the TV's gone insane, everybody's just laughing
People 'cross the world holding on
The earth caved in, the ocean came down crashing
My neighbor lost his house 'cause he can't find a job
Don't you dare pledge allegiance, don't you dare speak of God
Speak of GodOh! Oh! Oh! Oh!
Now I'm begging for forgiveness
I wanna make a difference even in the smallest way
I'm only one person, but I can feel it working
I believe in better days
That's why I pray
Some stupid video posted as a joke, somebody's life gets ruined
Out of everything we can create
Where is the cure to keep us safe from losing
Babies having babies 'cause their parents are always gone
Somehow we have forgotten how to make a house a home
How to make a house a home
Oh! Oh! Yeah! Yeah!
I'm begging for forgiveness, I wanna make a difference
Even in the smallest way
I'm only one person, but I can feel it working
I believe in better days
That's why I pray, yeah
That's why I pray, yeah
These demons from my past haunt me every night
And I just can't get through it
If I could forget them on my own, I'll let go and just move on
And that's why I pray, yeah yeah
That's why I pray, I pray, I pray, I pray
Yes I'm begging for forgiveness (I'm begging for forgiveness)
I just wanna make a difference (just wanna make a difference)
I believe (I believe) in better days
That's why I pray
Big & Rich's heartfelt song "That's Why I Pray" is a thought-provoking piece about the world's societal and moral issues. The song's composition is articulated in a way that challenges individuals to reflect on the impact they could have on the world's struggles. The lyrics show the effect of the world's tumultuous events on individuals; for example, the news of a man going insane causes laughter instead of empathy, which is disheartening to the songwriter. It is said that the man on the television's decline reflects the adverse effects of globalization on local economies; hence, people lost their jobs, and some lost their homes. The songwriter highlights the hypocrisy of ignoring God's existence in times of crisis and nationalism.
Despite the chaos in the world, the songwriter still hopes for a better future. The song's recurring chant, "That's why I pray," is an insistent reminder that although the world is full of issues, prayer could help to shift things. He recognizes that prayer can't solve all the problems but believes that it is a worthy act that could make a difference. The songwriter believes that everyone could contribute to making things better, however small, and encourages individuals to make an effort towards change. He then sings about forgetting past mistakes and letting go of grudges before asking for forgiveness, for himself and the world.
Overall, "That's Why I Pray" is an emotional call to arms for people to reflect on their actions and how they can influence the world positively. The song encourages people to pray, but more importantly, to take actions that aim for justice, equality, and fairness.
Line by Line Meaning
Man on the TV’s gone insane, everybody’s just laughing
The media has become distorted and people are becoming complacent towards serious issues.
People ’cross the world holding on
Despite the chaos in the world, people still have hope for a better future.
The earth caved in, the ocean came down crashing
Natural disasters have devastated many people's lives.
My neighbor lost his house ’cause he can’t find a job
Unemployment is a growing problem that is affecting people's livelihoods.
Don’t you dare pledge allegiance, don’t you dare speak of God
There are restrictions in society that threaten people's freedom of expression.
Speak of God
The mention of religion has become a controversial topic in society.
Now I’m begging for forgiveness
The singer is acknowledging his past mistakes and seeking forgiveness.
I wanna make a difference even in the smallest way
The singer desires to contribute towards making the world a better place, no matter how small the impact may be.
I’m only one person, but I can feel it working
The singer understands that individual efforts can make a difference when it comes to creating positive change in the world.
I believe in better days
The singer is optimistic about the future and believes that things will eventually get better.
Some stupid video posted as a joke, somebody’s life gets ruined
The harmful effects of online content can negatively impact people's lives.
Out of everything we can create, where is the cure to keep us safe from losing
Despite humanity's progress, important issues such as finding a cure for diseases still need to be addressed.
Babies having babies ’cause their parents are always gone
Absentee parenting can have detrimental consequences for children.
Somehow we have forgotten how to make a house a home
The value of creating a loving and stable home environment has been lost in modern society.
These demons from my past haunt me every night
The singer is struggling with personal issues from their past.
And I just can’t get through it
The singer is finding it difficult to cope with their personal demons.
If I could forget them on my own, I’ll let go and just move on
The singer desires to overcome their personal struggles, but recognizes that they cannot do it alone.
But heaven knows I am only human
The singer recognizes their own limitations and imperfections.
Yes I’m begging for forgiveness (I’m begging for forgiveness)
The singer reiterates their plea for forgiveness.
I just wanna make a difference (Just wanna make a difference)
The singer continues to express their desire to participate in creating positive change in the world.
I believe (I believe) in better days
The singer maintains hope that the future will be brighter.
That’s why I pray
Prayer is the means through which the singer is seeking comfort and guidance in their efforts to create a better world.
Yeah yeah
An expression of agreement and emphasis.
I pray, I pray, I pray
Repetition of prayer as a recurring theme in the song.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Danelle Leverett, Sarah Buxton, Blair Daly
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind