Three years later Cryner returned on a new label, MCA, with her second album, Girl of Your Dreams. The album was produced by Tony Brown, head of MCA Records. The second album featured a more straight-ahead, contemporary country. As with the first, Cryner wrote five of the songs on the album, with the other five coming from outside songwriters, including her cover of "Son of a Preacher Man". The album was heralded by the first single and video, "I Just Can't Stand To Be Unhappy," which was written by noted songwriter Hugh Prestwood and entered the country charts on October 14, 1995. It peaked at #63 on the Hot Country Singles & Tracks. The second single and video, "You'd Think He'd Know Me Better," entered the charts on March 2, 1996 and peaked at #56. A third single and video, Cryner's autobiographical "I Didn't Know My Own Strength," was released in late summer 1996 but failed to chart. Cryner was dropped from MCA when the album failed to sell.
Cryner continued writing songs for other artists, including Trisha Yearwood's "Real Live Woman" (#16), Lorrie Morgan's "You'd Think He'd Know Me Better" (#66), Suzy Bogguss' "Nobody Love, Nobody Gets Hurt" (#75), and Lee Ann Womack's "Stronger Than I Am." She also regularly plays at The Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, Tennessee, a tavern/restaurant that features singer/songwriters.
Son of a Preacher Man
Bobbie Cryner Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And When His daddy would visit
He'd come along
When They gathered round
And started talkin'
That's When Billy
Would Take Me Walkin'
A-through the back yard
Then He'd Look Into My Eyes
Lord Knows To My Surprise.
The Only One
Who Could Ever Reach Me
Was The Son Of a Preacher Man
The Only Boy
Who Could Ever Teach Me
Was The Son Of a Preacher Man
Yes He Was, He Was,
Oooh, Yes He Was.
Being good isn't always easy
No matter how hard I try
When He Started
Sweet-talkin' to Me
He'd come and tell Me
Everything is all right
He'd Kiss And Tell Me
Everything is all right
Can I get away again tonight?.
The Only One
Who Could Ever Reach Me
Was The Son Of a Preacher Man
The Only Boy
Who Could Ever Teach Me
Was The Son Of a Preacher Man
Yes He Was, He Was,
Oooh, Yes He Was.
(Yes He Was!).
How Well I Remember
The look that was in His Eyes
Stealin' Kisses From Me
On The Sly
Takin' time to make time
Tellin' Me that He's all Mine
Learnin' from each other's knowing
Lookin' To See
How Much We've Grown.
The Only One
Who Could Ever Reach Me
Was The Son Of a Preacher Man
The Only Boy
Who Could Ever Teach Me
Was The Son Of a Preacher Man
Yes He Was, He Was,
Oooh, Yes He Was.
The Only One
Who Could Ever Reach Me
Was The Son Of a Preacher Man
The Only Boy
Who Could Ever Teach Me
Was The Son Of a Preacher Man
Yes He Was, He Was,
Oooh, Yes He Was.
Oh Yea, Ah Hah, Oh Yea!.
Bobbie Cryner's "Son of a Preacher Man" tells the story of a young woman who falls for a boy who happens to be a preacher's son. Billy-Ray, the boy in question, takes her for walks in the backyard during his father's visits. It is during these walks that they start to explore their feelings for each other. The young woman admits that it was the son of a preacher man who could ever reach and teach her. She feels a sense of guilt since being good is not always easy for her, but Billy-Ray reassures her that everything is going to be alright. They steal kisses on the sly and take time to make time, learning from each other as they grow.
Line by Line Meaning
Billy-Ray Was a Preacher's Son
The singer is recalling the title character, Billy-Ray, who is the son of a preacher.
And When His daddy would visit
When Billy-Ray's father would come to visit their home.
He'd come along
Billy-Ray would also be present when his father visited.
When They gathered round
Whenever the people gathered around for a talk or get-together.
And started talkin'
When conversations commenced.
That's When Billy
This is when Billy-Ray would take the initiative.
Would Take Me Walkin'
Billy-Ray would take the singer for a walk.
A-through the back yard
They would walk through the backyard.
We'd go walkin'
They would take a walk together.
Then He'd Look Into My Eyes
During their walk, Billy-Ray would look deep into the artist's eyes.
Lord Knows To My Surprise.
The singer was pleasantly surprised by the attention Billy-Ray gave to her.
The Only One
Billy-Ray is the only person who has had this impact.
Who Could Ever Reach Me
Billy-Ray was able to connect with the singer deeply.
Was The Son Of a Preacher Man
Billy-Ray, as the son of a preacher, was someone who didn't have a lot of expectations set on him and was able to be his own person.
The Only Boy
Billy-Ray is the only male who has had a profound effect on the singer.
Who Could Ever Teach Me
Billy-Ray was able to teach the artist a lot about life and love.
Yes He Was, He Was,
The artist is affirming that Billy-Ray truly was the only one who could understand her.
Oooh, Yes He Was.
She reiterates that Billy-Ray was indeed the one for her.
Being good isn't always easy
The singer admits that living a virtuous life isn't easy.
No matter how hard I try
Despite her best efforts, the artist finds it difficult to always do the right thing.
When He Started
Billy-Ray was the one who initiated this course of action.
Sweet-talkin' to Me
Billy-Ray would speak in a very smooth and charming manner to the artist.
He'd come and tell Me
Billy-Ray would visit and reassure the singer that everything was okay.
Everything is all right
Billy-Ray would assure the artist that nothing was amiss.
He'd Kiss And Tell Me
Billy-Ray would reveal his deepest feelings to the singer and be physically affectionate with her.
Can I get away again tonight?.
The singer questions whether she will be able to spend more time with Billy-Ray.
How Well I Remember
The singer is reminiscing about past events.
The look that was in His Eyes
She remembers looking into Billy-Ray's eyes with great fondness.
Stealin' Kisses From Me
Billy-Ray and the artist shared playful, surreptitious kisses.
On the Sly
Very sneakily and carefully, so they wouldn't get caught by anyone.
Takin' time to make time
They took time to build their relationship and truly get to know each other.
Tellin' Me that He's all Mine
Billy-Ray expressed his devotion to the artist and assured her that she was the only one for him.
Learnin' from each other's knowing
They learned a lot from each other about their experiences and lives.
Lookin' To See
They sought to ascertain how much they had changed and how much they had grown together.
The Only One
Repetition of the first verse which confirms Billy-Ray's importance.
Who Could Ever Reach Me
Billy-Ray was the only person who managed to connect with the artist deeply.
Yes He Was, He Was,
The singer is reaffirming the truth that Billy-Ray was the only one for her.
Oooh, Yes He Was.
She is repeating her conviction that Billy-Ray was her soulmate.
Oh Yea, Ah Hah, Oh Yea!.
Reiteration of the bridge, with an expression of affirmation and happiness.
Contributed by Charlie A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@jamestidgwell8948
So glad to hear about Bobbie again. Wonderful singer and just as beautiful in person as she is in her videos. I went to her fan club party in Nashville in '96 and I must say, you will never find a nicer or more down to earth person. So pleased to see she's back
@saltydog3714
You do such a great job on this old favorite...real feeling....many thanks!
@tinkertim360
I always loved to listen to Bobbie sing, I hope she is doing well.
@latokatn506
Bobbie Was IMO Over looked She was Super Talent