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.
Race You to the Bottom
Billy Dean Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You think you got what it takes'
Let's see how bad you want it
Hey, that's how the system works
You better get used to it
How low are you willing to go
To make it to the top
'Cause I won't ever stop
I know what sells, I know it well
I ain't afraid of selling out
I'm all about the bottom line
'Cause ain't that what it's all about
Power, sex, money
(Power, sex, money)
Whatever they can think of next
It's just a game
And if you want in
I'll race you to the bottom
Whoever dies with the most wins
I'll race you to the bottom
In the bar, in my car
I'm workin' overtime
While you're on vacation
Or at your kid's graduation night
Well, that's what it takes to get a break
It's dirty and low down
Who cares if it ain't fair
What makes the world go round is
Power, sex, money
(Power, sex, money)
Whatever they can think of next
It's just a game
And if you want in
I'll race you to the bottom
Whoever dies with the most wins
Greed is good
Yeah, that's what they say
It's just misunderstood
Hey, don't blame me
I didn't make it that way
Whatever they can think of next
It's just a game and if you want in
I'll race you to the bottom
Whoever dies with the most wins
I'll race you to the bottom
Power, sex, money
I'll race you to the bottom
Power, sex, money
I'll race you to the bottom
Hey, sweet cheeks
Are you willing to work a little late tonight
If you want that promotion
You gotta go around me
What you willin' to do for me
Ain't nobody gonna know
You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours
The lyrics of "Race You to the Bottom" by Billy Dean delve into the cutthroat and competitive nature of the music industry, and perhaps more broadly, the world of success and ambition. The singer recognizes the ruthless nature of the system and urges the listener to embrace it in order to achieve their goals. The opening lines challenge the listener, asking them how far they are willing to go and how strongly they desire success. The line "Let's see how bad you want it, hey, that's how the system works, you better get used to it" implies that one must be willing to sacrifice and compromise in order to make it to the top.
The chorus reinforces this message, emphasizing the importance of being willing to go to extreme lengths, even at the expense of one's morals or values, in the pursuit of success. The repeated line "Power, sex, money, whatever they can think of next, it's just a game" underscores the idea that in this world, success is achieved through tactics such as power play, manipulation, and the pursuit of material wealth.
The second verse portrays the contrast between the singer's relentless work ethic and the listener's complacency or aversion to hard work. The lines "In the bar, in my car, I'm workin' overtime, while you're on vacation or at your kid's graduation night" highlight the lengths the singer is willing to go to get ahead. The verse reinforces the notion that success comes to those who are willing to put in the extra effort and make personal sacrifices.
The bridge introduces the idea that greed is often justified and glamorized in society. The line "Greed is good, yeah, that's what they say, it's just misunderstood, hey, don't blame me, I didn't make it that way" suggests that the singer is aware of the morally questionable nature of their actions, but feels compelled to participate because that's how the system is designed.
Overall, "Race You to the Bottom" explores the harsh realities of the music industry, where success is often achieved through cutthroat competition, compromising values, and relentless ambition.
Line by Line Meaning
Where you see yourself going'
What are your aspirations and goals?
You think you got what it takes'
Do you believe you have the necessary skills and qualities?
Let's see how bad you want it
Let's test your level of desire and determination
Hey, that's how the system works
That's the way the system operates
You better get used to it
You should become accustomed to it
How low are you willing to go
To what extent will you compromise your values or ethics
To make it to the top
In order to achieve success and reach the highest level
You better want it badder than me
Your desire for success should surpass mine
'Cause I won't ever stop
Because I will persevere indefinitely
I know what sells, I know it well
I understand what captures public attention and interest
I ain't afraid of selling out
I am not hesitant to compromise my principles for success
I'm all about the bottom line
My focus is solely on financial profit and success
'Cause ain't that what it's all about
Because isn't that the ultimate goal
Power, sex, money
The driving forces in society
(Power, sex, money)
(Power, sex, money)
Whatever they can think of next
Anything new or novel they come up with
It's just a game
It's simply a manipulative and strategic contest
And if you want in
And if you want to participate
I'll race you to the bottom
I'll compete with you to reach the lowest point
Whoever dies with the most wins
The person who has accumulated the most at the end is considered victorious
In the bar, in my car
In various places where I can pursue success
I'm workin' overtime
I'm putting in extra effort and time
While you're on vacation
While you're enjoying leisure time
Or at your kid's graduation night
Or during a significant event for your child
Well, that's what it takes to get a break
That's the level of commitment required to achieve success
It's dirty and low down
It's deceitful and morally reprehensible
Who cares if it ain't fair
Why should it matter if it's unjust
What makes the world go round is
What drives society is
Greed is good
The pursuit of excessive material wealth is beneficial
Yeah, that's what they say
That's the common belief or mantra
It's just misunderstood
It is simply not properly comprehended or interpreted
Hey, don't blame me
Hey, it's not my fault
I didn't make it that way
I am not responsible for its current condition
Hey, sweet cheeks
Hey, attractive person
Are you willing to work a little late tonight
Are you prepared to stay back at work for a while this evening
If you want that promotion
If you desire to be promoted
You gotta go around me
You need to find a way to bypass or surpass me
What you willin' to do for me
What are you willing to do in exchange for my favor or assistance
Ain't nobody gonna know
Nobody will find out
You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours
If you do me a favor, I'll do you a favor in return
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BILLY H. DEAN, RAY BARNETTE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind