From the year 2001 to 2004, Cyrus starred in the television show Doc. The show was about a country doctor who moved from Montana to New York City. In late 2005, he also began to co-star in the Disney Channel series, Hannah Montana, with daughter Miley Cyrus. The show has been on the air for three seasons.
The I'm American Songfacts reports that Billy Ray Cyrus’ twelfth studio album, I'm American is a collection of patriotic songs. It was initially scheduled to be released in November 2010, but after being pushed back numerous times, it finally came out on June 28, 2011.
Back To Memphis
Billy Ray Cyrus Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To be surrounded by all this sand
To fear the echoes of live rounds
And to never sleep when the sun goes down
So I'm writing you this letter
To say I miss you more than ever and to promise you this
When I make it back to Memphis
And never let you go
And girl I promise you a kiss
For every day we've missed
'Til I make it back to Memphis
I'll have to say I think we've done some good
If I had to do it all again I know I would
There's still a few shots every now and then
But they say this thing is finally coming to an end
So this might be my final letter
I say the sooner the better cause I'm ready to come home
When I make it back to Memphis
I'm gonna take you in my arms
And never let you go
And girl I promise you a kiss
For every day we've missed
'Til I make it back to Memphis
She reads his letters everyday, then she puts them all away
Next to his medal and a flag, that she would gladly give back
If it would bring him back to Memphis
So he could take her in his arms
And never let her go
Cause she's still waiting for a kiss
For every day they've missed
'Til he made it back to Memphis
Back to Memphis
The lyrics of Billy Ray Cyrus's song 14 Back to Memphis convey the longing of a delta man to return to his beloved after serving in war. Despite being surrounded by sand and living in an environment where the sound of live rounds causes fear, the man writes a letter to his loved one declaring his love for her and his promise of a kiss for each day they have been apart. He reflects on the war, acknowledging that though there were some good things they achieved, he would not mind doing it all over again to be with her. He anticipates the end of the war so that he can return home to Memphis and take his love in his arms, never letting her go.
The lyrics of the song paint the picture of a man pining to return home to his past and make amends for lost time. The lines "She reads his letters every day/ then she puts them all away/ next to his medal and a flag/ that she would gladly give back" show the love interest's deep yearning for her partner's return. The chorus of the song emphasizes this longing for one another, ending with the desire to finally be together in Memphis.
In summary, 14 Back to Memphis is a song about the love, longing, and sacrifice of a man serving in war and the woman waiting for him to return home to Memphis. The song's lyrics evoke a sense of hope and anticipation, of the desire to reunite after prolonged separation and loss.
Line by Line Meaning
It ain't natural for a delta man
Living in a desert far from home is not something a delta man is accustomed to
To be surrounded by all this sand
Being encircled by sand instead of lush greenery is not what he prefers
To fear the echoes of live rounds
Hearing sounds of live ammunition strikes fear in his heart
And to never sleep when the sun goes down
Being vigilant at night is something he cannot avoid
So I'm writing you this letter
He's communicating his deepest feelings to his loved one
To say I miss you more than ever and to promise you this
His intense longing for his beloved prompts him to make a vow
When I make it back to Memphis
He's coming back to reunite with his loved one in Memphis
I'm gonna take you in my arms
He intends to hold her tight when they meet again
And never let you go
He doesn't plan on putting any distance between them again
And girl I promise you a kiss
He pledges to make up for lost time with many kisses
For every day we've missed
He wants to cram in a lot of affection to compensate for their time apart
'Til I make it back to Memphis
He's willing to wait patiently until he can come back to her in Memphis
I'll have to say I think we've done some good
He believes their efforts have been fruitful
If I had to do it all again I know I would
Despite the strain and hardships of being away, he would do it all again for his country
There's still a few shots every now and then
Despite the war nearing its end, there are still a few shots being fired
But they say this thing is finally coming to an end
Reports state that the war is nearing its conclusion
So this might be my final letter
This note could be his last written communication
I say the sooner the better cause I'm ready to come home
He's looking forward to getting back to his homeland as soon as possible
She reads his letters every day, then she puts them all away
His letters are treasured by his beloved, who reads them often
Next to his medal and a flag, that she would gladly give back
His medal and flag remind her of his sacrifices for the country, which she's proud of, but she would prefer him by her side
If it would bring him back to Memphis'
She would return the cherished possessions if it meant he'd come back
So he could take her in his arms
Her utmost desire is to be held by him again
And never let her go
She wants to be near him always and never be apart again
Cause she's still waiting for a kiss
She anxiously awaits many kisses from him
For every day they've missed
Her heart yearns for affection to compensate for all the time they missed together
'Til he made it back to Memphis
She promises to wait patiently until he returns to her in Memphis
Lyrics © BACKSCRATCHER MUSIC PUB., GRAMILY ENTERTAINMENT
Written by: RUSTY TABOR, T.W. HALE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind