The Paris, IL, native was visiting Nashville for the first time early in his sophomore year at Chicago's Elmhurst College. He was at the Station Inn, an historic bluegrass/country venue where many of the greats of both worlds have played. His cousin Terry, a veteran of Dolly Parton's band and now a member of the Grascals, was playing with a band called the Sidemen, and a mesmerized Brett was in the crowd.
"There was something so real and truthful about the songs they were playing," he says. “What happened next came as a shock.”
"He asked me to come up on stage and told me to pick a song to play with the band," says Brett. I said, 'Amarillo By Morning,' and when I heard that fiddle intro, chills shot up my spine. I sang it for the crowd there and it was a magical experience. That was the point where I thought, 'This is it. This is something I've got to do.'"
By the start of the next school year, he had transferred to Middle Tennessee State University and begun the round of writers' nights and writing appointments that led him eventually to a record deal.
The talent that let him turn that dream into reality—the depth of his writing and the sheer power of his smoky and expressive baritone—are both apparent in his first single. "Raymond" is the poignant tale of a nursing home employee mistaken by a patient with Alzheimer's for her deceased son, who was killed at war. It is a song whose inspiring reaffirmation of their mutual humanity is affecting listeners deeply. The single rings true for Eldredge as his Grandmother currently struggles through the disease.
"There are a lot of things I'll play live where people will say, 'I like that,' or 'That's a really cool song,'" Brett says, "but when I do this one, I get the chance to tell people how special a thing it's been in my life, and it always touches someone. A lot of people know someone with Alzheimer's and people react in a really emotional way to it."
Brett has earned a reputation as much for the strength of his writing as for his world-class voice. He and co-writer Pat McLaughlin landed a song called "I Think I've Had Enough" on Gary Allan's latest album, Get Off On The Pain, and one of his frequent collaborators is Country Music Hall of Famer and Grand Ole Opry stalwart Bill Anderson.
"He's one of my favorite people to write with," says Brett. "I love the fact that he believes in country music so much, because it's something I really believe in. My dream, as I find my place in country music, is one day to be an Opry member."
Brett heard all kinds of music growing up, and became a particular fan of the classic pop singers he heard in his grandfather's car.
"I heard a lot of Frank Sinatra, who is still a favorite of mine, and Ray Charles and Bobby Darin," he says. "When my mother convinced me to sing 'Mack The Knife' at a talent show, I got hooked on singing in public."
That was in Paris, a town of 9,000 with "cornfields and factories and lake right in the middle." Brett, his older brother and his parents—a traveling grain salesman and a nurse—lived on the lake and, says Brett, "We were on the water every day, from the time I was so little they could pull me on water skis in a paddle boat until I left for college at 18." Sports were a big part of his life, and he played basketball, baseball and football in high school.
He also sang everywhere he could, often the Big Band music of Sinatra, earning spending money and learning to work a stage. His appreciation for country music became a passion when he turned 16 and he and a friend rode around listening to a Brooks & Dunn greatest hits album.
"There was something about it that just struck me," he says. "I couldn't get enough of it. Ronnie Dunn is one of my favorite singers of all time—I love the soul in his voice—and one of the main reasons I got into this in the first place."
Brett spent two years in Chicago, where his older brother lived, performing with a school jazz band and with a Big Band around the region.
"One of the coolest gigs," he says, "was at the Field Museum, I was singing in front of a 12-piece band under this huge Tyrannosaurus Rex statue near some mammoths. It was quite the experience."
Then came that fateful visit to Nashville and his transfer to MTSU. He studied classic country stylists like Ray Price and George Jones, and later Vince Gill, absorbing everything he could.
"I was driving back and forth Nashville every day from Murfreesboro, which is thirty miles away," he says. "I had a guitar Terry had given me, which was originally a gift from Dolly, and I'd pretty much lock myself in my room and make myself learn songs. I would play writers' nights all around Nashville. There might be two people, there might be 40 or 50. I'd go play my songs and see what people liked and what they didn't. I'd screw up royally in front of them, but I learned."
He earned a degree, which, he says, "made Mom and Dad happy, and then I moved on to what I really wanted to do.
A staff writer for hit producer/publisher Byron Gallimore heard him at a writers' night and introduced him to Byron, who signed him.
"I wrote for about two years, developing my craft and writing with everyone I could. In the beginning, Byron just let me kind of find myself, because that takes a while. As you write more you starting homing in on what you sound good on. Eventually, Byron said, 'You've got something here' and we went in and started cutting songs. We did a showcase, and Carole Ann Mobley from Warner Music Nashville said, 'We've gotta sign this kid'. Mobley and Craig Kallman then signed Brett to Atlantic Records, making him the first official signing for the new imprint.
As he worked with his band tightening his show, he was offered a particularly gratifying gig.
"I opened for Blake Shelton at The Ryman and it was the coolest experience. I flew back from this house gig and all of a sudden I'm thrown into playing the Mother Church of Country Music, something I always dreamed of doing. I was operating on almost no sleep, but stepping out on that stage where everybody who's anybody in country music has been meant the world to me."
He remains active in sports, playing basketball and volleyball and playing on an intramural softball team in Nashville, and rooting for the Cubs and Bears. Meanwhile, he is dedicated to improving his craft.
"As a songwriter," he says, "my aim is to portray a little bit of me and my life along with the stories of other people and turn them into something that can really touch somebody's heart and soul. We sit down on Music Row every day and write songs and every once in a while a song like ‘Raymond’ comes from such a real place. I hope it's that real to other people and that I can make them feel the way I felt when I wrote it and when I sing it."
Judging from audience reaction, that’s exactly what he’s doing.
If You Were My Girl
Brett Eldredge Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You stop every heart when you start that smile
But somehow you're still lonely
Oh let me show you why you're the only one I wanna give my heart to
If you give me the chance, oh I'll show you it's alright
Oh watch your life
To pick you up, I'd lay you down
I'd make you feel like you're all I need
In this whole world
Ah, if you were my girl
If you were my girl
You wouldn't be staring at the ceiling
With a half broke heart wondering if that feeling is ever
Going to fade away
I'd change all that if you let me today
'Cause I've never wanted anything
The way I want you next to me
For all my life
Come on let's ride
I'll pick you up, I'll lay you down
I'd hold you 'til you come unwound
I'd make you feel like you're all I need
In this whole world
Ah, if you were my girl
If you were my girl
For the first time maybe ever, who am I kidding
Girl I've never felt the way I feel, oh it's so real
Let me pick you up, and lay you down
Hold you 'til you come unwound
I'll make you feel like you're all I need
In this whole world
If you were my girl
If you were my girl
If you were, if you were my girl
If you were my girl
Oh if you were, if you were my girl
If you were, if you were my girl
The lyrics of Brett Eldredge's "If You Were My Girl" focuses on a man's desire for a woman who seems to be lonely despite being beautiful and captivating. He recognizes her loneliness and offers to be the one to change that if given the chance. He promises to be there for her, to pick her up and help her ease her pain, to make her feel like she is all he needs in this world, and to show her that it's alright. Eldredge's lyrics convey a deep longing and desire for a meaningful and lasting connection with this woman.
The chorus is especially powerful as he repeats the words "If you were my girl" four times, emphasizing his desire to be with her. He believes that if he is given the chance to be with her, he can show her what she has been missing in life and make her feel loved and fulfilled. The song conveys a sense of vulnerability, longing, and hopefulness, as the singer puts himself out there and takes a chance on love.
Overall, "If You Were My Girl" is a beautiful song that showcases Eldredge's talent as both a songwriter and a vocalist. With its heartfelt lyrics, soulful melody, and powerful chorus, it's a song that has the potential to resonate with anyone who has ever longed for a deep and meaningful connection with someone else.
Line by Line Meaning
You light up every street light
Your radiant presence illuminates the surroundings so much that it feels like every lamp post is lit up when you're around.
You stop every heart when you start that smile
Your smile is so captivating that it literally halts the beating of every heart in the vicinity.
But somehow you're still lonely
Despite being so charming, it seems like you're feeling isolated and desolate.
Oh let me show you why you're the only one I wanna give my heart to
I want to prove to you that you're the only person I want to invest my emotions in and build a meaningful relationship with.
If you give me the chance, oh I'll show you it's alright
If you're willing to take a chance on us, I can guarantee that everything will be alright and we'll be really happy together.
Oh watch your life
Just sit back and see how your life changes for the better once you let me in and allow me to love you.
To pick you up, I'd lay you down
I'd go to any extent to be there for you and take care of you, whether it means picking you up when you're down, or simply being there to comfort you when you need it.
I'd hold you 'til you come unwound
I would embrace you tightly until you feel calm and relaxed, even when you're experiencing stress or anxiety.
I'd make you feel like you're all I need
I'd make you feel like you're the most important person in the world to me, and I wouldn't need anyone else as long as I have you by my side.
In this whole world
I truly believe that you're the only person who can complete me and make me truly happy, no matter what else is going on in the world.
You wouldn't be staring at the ceiling
If you were with me, you wouldn't be up all night worrying or feeling lonely and depressed by yourself and staring at the ceiling.
With a half broke heart wondering if that feeling is ever
You wouldn't be feeling emotionally broken and wondering if you'll ever find a love that's genuine and fulfilling.
Going to fade away
You wouldn't have to worry about losing the spark or passion in our relationship, because my love for you is authentic and unwavering.
I'd change all that if you let me today
I'm ready and willing to put in the effort to make you feel loved and appreciated, if you're willing to give us a chance and let me into your heart.
'Cause I've never wanted anything
I've never yearned for anything as much as I've wanted to be with you, and I'm certain that it's worth pursuing.
The way I want you next to me
I want you to be by my side always, because you complete me and make my life so much better just by being here.
For all my life
I want to be with you for the rest of my life, because nothing brings me more joy and satisfaction than loving you.
Come on let's ride
Let's embark on this journey of love and companionship together, and experience all the joys and trials that come with it.
For the first time maybe ever, who am I kidding
I've never felt like this before, or at least I've never admitted it to myself before, because I'm foolish and didn't realize what I was missing out on until I met you.
Girl I've never felt the way I feel, oh it's so real
I'm experiencing a level of love and attraction that's completely foreign to me, but it's undeniable and genuine, and I can feel it in every fiber of my being.
If you were, if you were my girl
If you choose to be with me and become my girlfriend, I promise to love and cherish you beyond words, because you have my heart and my soul.
If you were my girl
You're the person I want to spend the rest of my life with, and nothing in this world would make me happier than being with you as my loving partner.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BRETT ELDREDGE, JON NITE, ROSS COPPERMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
dalia quaas
"If You Were My Girl"
You light up every street light
You stop every heart when you start that smile
But somehow you're still lonely
Oh let me show you why you're the only one I wanna give my heart to
If you give me the chance, oh I'll show you it's alright
Oh watch your life
To pick you up, I'd lay you down
I'd hold you 'til you come unwound
I'd make you feel like you're all I need
In this whole world
Ah, if you were my girl
If you were my girl
You wouldn't be staring at the ceiling
With a half broke heart wondering if that feeling is ever
Going to fade away
I'd change all that if you let me today
Cause I've never wanted anything
The way I want you next to me
For all my life
Come on let's ride
I'll pick you up, I'll lay you down
I'd hold you 'til you come unwound
I'd make you feel like you're all I need
In this whole world
Ah, if you were my girl
If you were my girl
For the first time maybe ever, who am I kidding
Girl I've never felt the way I feel, oh it's so real
Let me pick you up, and lay you down
Hold you 'til you come unwound
I'll make you feel like you're all I need
In this whole world
If you were my girl
If you were my girl
If you were, if you were my girl
If you were my girl
Oh if you were, if you were my girl
If you were, if you were my girl
Jerry Gavin
I'm convinced Brett can't make a bad song.
Esther Maggard
Totally agree 💯
Carol Rufo
I agree🥰
Karri Morrison
I agree with you i just seen him in concert with Luck Bryan on June 10 he can't make a bad song
Jewel Heiss
I agree with you Jerry Gavin. I know you commented a year ago, but I haven't heard a bad song sung by Brett Eldredge.
Sandy Clark
+Jerry Gavin Brett sings from the heart.
Sabrina Berry
my son is in the marines and he is stationed in Spain right now and Brett just performed for them, and he got his picture taken with him and his band, so he is not only talented but a great guy
Donna L. Carl Kuchinski
that's so wonderful!
Jewel Heiss
Thank your son for his service for me if you don't mind. I know this was a year ago when you said this but oh well.
Melissa Cheadle
literally in love with this album💖💖