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.
Swinging For The Fence
Billy Dean Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bottom of the 9th, it was up to me
The bunt sign, a man on 3rd
Tie the game, Coach? That's absurd
I made my mind up at the plate, if I see that fast ball
Well, I just might have to swing away
I had to take that home run cut
My life just don't make sense
If I ain't swinging for the fence
Home girl, major league
Everybody said she's too good for me
Prom night, she had a date
But I asked her to dance anyway
Then I gave her a kiss on her front porch swing
Then she thought it was funny
When I said, "Someday I'm gonna buy you a ring"
Big deal, so what
If it takes everything I got
My life just don't make sense
If I ain't swinging for the fence
Home game, minor league
She up in the stands still pulling for me
The bunt sign, a man on 3rd
I'm looking for that inside curve
But he came hard with his fast ball, last time I saw
It was heading out over center-field wall
Yeah, big deal, so what
Now they want to pay me a million bucks
My life just don't make sense
If I ain't swinging for the
Big deal, so what
I had to take that home run cut
My life just don't make sense
If I ain't swinging for the fence
Swinging for the fence
Swinging for the fence
Cold beer, hot dogs
The song "Swinging For The Fence" by Billy Dean is a metaphorical representation of the idea of taking risks and going all out to achieve one's goals in life. The song opens with Billy in a little league game where he gets the opportunity to tie up the game, but the coach gives him a bunt sign which he finds absurd. Instead, he decides to take a risk and swing for the fence even though the safe option is to bunt. The line "If I see that fast ball, well, I just might have to swing away" implies that Billy is willing to go all out and take risks to achieve what he desires, even though it may not be the safest or most practical option.
The second verse talks about Billy's love interest, who everyone believes is too good for him. Despite the odds against him, Billy takes a risk and asks her to dance at prom. He even goes further to promise to marry her someday, reinforcing the idea of taking risks to achieve one's goals in life.
The chorus emphasizes the idea of going all out to achieve one's dreams without holding anything back. The final verse sees Billy in the minor league game with his girlfriend up in the stands rooting for him. He faces a particular challenge where he is looking for an inside curve, but he gets a surprise fast ball. He takes a risk and swings for the fence, hitting a home run that sets him up for a million-dollar contract.
Line by Line Meaning
Home game, little league
I was playing in a little league home game.
Bottom of the 9th, it was up to me
It was the bottom of the 9th inning and I was the one who had to make the play.
The bunt sign, a man on 3rd
My coach signaled for me to bunt because there was a man on 3rd base.
Tie the game, Coach? That's absurd
I didn't want to just tie the game, I wanted to win it.
I made my mind up at the plate, if I see that fast ball
I made the decision to swing away at the plate if I saw a fast ball.
Well, I just might have to swing away
I was willing to take a chance and swing hard in order to try and hit a home run.
Big deal, so what
I didn't care about what other people thought or said about me.
I had to take that home run cut
I took the risk of swinging hard in order to try and hit a home run.
My life just don't make sense
I felt strongly that if I didn't take risks and swing for the fences, my life wouldn't have any meaning or purpose.
If I ain't swinging for the fence
If I'm not taking big risks and aiming high, then what's the point?
Home girl, major league
I met a girl who was out of my league.
Everybody said she's too good for me
Others thought that she was too good and that I didn't stand a chance.
Prom night, she had a date
She already had a date for prom night.
But I asked her to dance anyway
I took a chance and asked her to dance, even though she was with another guy.
Then I gave her a kiss on her front porch swing
I shared a romantic moment with her on her front porch swing.
Then she thought it was funny
She found my statement about buying her a ring someday to be amusing.
When I said, "Someday I'm gonna buy you a ring"
I made a promise to her that I would someday buy her a ring and marry her.
Home game, minor league
I was playing a minor league home game.
She up in the stands still pulling for me
My girlfriend was in the stands cheering me on again.
I'm looking for that inside curve
I was hoping to hit a pitch that was difficult for pitchers to throw.
But he came hard with his fast ball, last time I saw
The pitcher threw a hard and fast pitch that I didn't expect.
It was heading out over center-field wall
I ended up hitting a home run that went over the center-field wall.
Now they want to pay me a million bucks
I achieved my dream of playing in the major leagues and being a successful player.
Swinging for the fence
I realized that taking big risks and aiming high is what led to my success and happiness.
Swinging for the fence
I continued to take risks and aim high, knowing that it was the way to achieve my goals.
Cold beer, hot dogs
This line doesn't have a deeper meaning and is just a reference to the experience of attending a baseball game.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: BILLY H. DEAN, RAY BARNETTE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind