Billy first became known to fans in the early 1990s with his appearance on "Star Search." He later earned a recording contract with Liberty Records and rose to national stardom with a string of Top 10 hits on Billboard magazine's country singles chart. His debut song, 1991's "Only Here For a Little While," rose into the Top 5, while the follow up, "Somewhere in My Broken Heart," repeated the feat. "Somewhere in My Broken Heart" won the 1992 Academy of Country Music award for Song of the Year; he also took home the ACM's New Male Vocalist award..
Dean's string of hits continued in the early- and mid-1990s, with songs like "You Don't Count the Cost" (1991); "Only the Wind," "Billy the Kid" and "If There Hadn't Been You" (all 1992); "Tryin' to Hide a Fire in the Dark" (1993); "We Just Disagree" (a remake of the 1970s Dave Mason hit) (1993); "It's What I Do" and "That Girl's Been Spying on Me" (both 1996).
In 1991 Dean wrote and sang the theme song to the ABC animated television series Wild West C.O.W.-Boys of Moo Mesa. It is titled "Up on the Mesa".
During the late 1990s, his career slowed down a bit, although he made several television appearances, including "One Life to Live" and "Wings." He and Alison Krauss sang backup on Kenny Rogers' 2000 single "Buy Me a Rose". At the time, the song made Kenny the oldest artist to score a country #1; it also marked the only time that Dean reached the top of the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.
In 2004, Dean was signed to Asylum Curb, where he began a comeback with the single "Thank God I'm a Country Boy" (a remake of John Denver's classic). In early 2005, he released the album Let Them Be Little, which featured both "Thank God I'm a Country Boy" and the title track. "Let Them Be Little" was co-written by Richie McDonald, who at the time was the lead singer of Lonestar; Lonestar also recorded the song on their 2005 album Let's Be Us Again. Dean's version of the song became his first Top Ten hit on the country charts in nearly nine years.
Innocent Bystander
Billy Dean Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When you came in dressed to kill
I knew right then, I was in trouble
But not of my own free will
Now I have to say in my defense
I ain't done nothin' wrong
Just circumstantial evidence
Is all you got me on
I was just an innocent bystander
Caught up in love
And since when was that a crime
If sayin' that I'm wanting you is slander
And you're all I'm thinkin' of
Then I'll gladly do my time
There's no jury, their right mind
Would convict someone like me
Cause the way you walk, the way you talk
I could plead insanity
But I'm prepared to tell the whole truth now
I don't need no alibi
You just put me on that witness stand
And I will testify
I was just an innocent bystander
Caught up in love
And since when was that a crime
If sayin' that I'm wanting you is slander
And you're all I'm thinkin' of
Then I'll gladly do my time
I was just an innocent bystander
Caught up in love
And since when was that a crime
If sayin' that I'm wanting you is slander
And you're all I'm thinkin' of
Then I'll gladly do my time
I was just an innocent bystander
The lyrics in Billy Dean's song, Innocent Bystander, tell the story of a person who finds themselves in trouble with the law despite being innocent. The song begins with the author minding their own business when they encounter someone dressed to kill, indicating that this person is attractive and perhaps dangerous. The author realizes that they are in trouble, but not of their own free will. The author is then forced to defend themselves, claiming to have done nothing wrong and insisting that the evidence against them is circumstantial.
The author explains that they were just an innocent bystander who got caught up in love. They claim that loving someone should never be seen as a crime, and they are willing to do their time if necessary. The author further argues that no one would ever convict someone like them, given the circumstances. They are so smitten with the person that they are willing to plead insanity, and they are prepared to take the stand and testify.
The overall message in this song is that love can make people do crazy things, but this should not be criminalized. The author is willing to face the consequences of their actions, as they were acting out of love, not malice or wrongdoing.
Line by Line Meaning
I was mindin' my own business
I was not thinking or doing anything concerning you or your affairs
When you came in dressed to kill
When you entered the area looking very attractive
I knew right then, I was in trouble
I realized instantly that I was going to face problems
But not of my own free will
I didn't choose to have this problem, it was forced upon me
Now I have to say in my defense
I must explain myself to defend my actions
I ain't done nothin' wrong
I haven't done anything illegal or immoral
Just circumstantial evidence
All you have against me are coincidental facts
Is all you got me on
It's the only thing you can use to accuse me
There's no jury, their right mind
Any reasonable judge and jury
Would convict someone like me
Would find me guilty
Cause the way you walk, the way you talk
Because your mannerisms and behavior are so alluring
I could plead insanity
I could say that I'm mentally disturbed
But I'm prepared to tell the whole truth now
But I'm willing to give an honest account of what happened
I don't need no alibi
I don't require anyone to prove my location or innocence at the time
You just put me on that witness stand
You can question me in court
And I will testify
And I will answer truthfully
I was just an innocent bystander
I was present but not involved or responsible for the situation
Caught up in love
Overwhelmed by romantic feelings for you
And since when was that a crime
And when did having feelings for someone become illegal
If sayin' that I'm wanting you is slander
If stating that I am attracted to you is considered a false and damaging statement
And you're all I'm thinkin' of
And you are constantly on my mind
Then I'll gladly do my time
Then I will accept any punishment I receive with willingness
Lyrics © DAVID GATES D/B/A KIPAHULU MUSIC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DAVID GATES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind