Brooks & Dunn's music covers the full range of modern country music, and their chart-topping hits have included everything from the Ronan Keating-penned ballad "The Long Goodbye," through the Rivers Rutherford-written "Ain't Nothing About You," to the gospel music-influenced "Believe." They are also associated with being pioneers of the line dance craze of the mid-1990s. One of their hits, "Boot Scootin' Boogie" - the video for which was made in Tulsa, Oklahoma - is most emblematic of this style.
Both band members write, sing, and play guitar. One or both artists writes or co-writes a large majority of their material, and self-penned successes include the 2004 smash "Red Dirt Road" which the duo wrote together. Both artists have served as song-writers for other artists too. Ronnie Dunn co-wrote country superstar Toby Keith's song "Don't Leave I Think I Love You" which appeared on his 2003 album Shock'n Y'all. Dunn's vocal performances have tended to be released as radio singles: recent hits "You Can't Take the Honkytonk Out of The Girl," "Red Dirt Road," "It's Getting Better All The Time," "That's What It's All About," "Play Something Country," and "Believe" all feature Ronnie Dunn singing lead vocals.
Brooks & Dunn are renowned for their high-energy stage shows. Recent tours have featured Australian country singer Keith Urban, fellow duo Montgomery Gentry, and successful country newcomer Gretchen Wilson. Their latest Deuces Wild tour of 2005 featured fellow country duo Big and Rich. In 2006, the duo opened for the Rolling Stones at their Omaha, Nebraska show.
The duo's songs have been used by President George W Bush as his official campaign songs in both his election and re-election campaigns. In 2000, the then Texas Governor chose the blue-collar line-dance-friending hit of the mid-1990s, "Hard Workin' Man," and in 2004, the President selected the (pre-9/11) hit patriotic "Only in America." Brooks & Dunn both supported the President's re-election campaign, performing at a Republican rally featuring Laura Bush on the eve of the election.
Their latest album is Hillbilly Deluxe which features the number 1 single "Play Something Country."
On August 10, 2009, the duo issued a statement on their website announcing that they were splitting up after 20 years of making music together. The split was amicable, with a final album in September 2009 and a final tour in 2010.
On December 3, 2014, it was announced that Brooks & Dunn will reunite and perform a series of concerts in Las Vegas, Nevada with Reba McEntire throughout mid-late 2015. In 2016, they were selected as one of 30 artists to perform on "Forever Country", a mash-up track featuring the artists performing a medley of "Take Me Home, Country Roads", "On the Road Again", and "I Will Always Love You", which was released in celebration of 50 years of the CMA Awards.
I Used to Know This Song by Heart
Brooks & Dunn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm goin' out on an afternoon vacation
They all know where I'm gonna go
The sun is shining down and
There is no one else around now
Wish you were here to hear me say
This is gonna be my greatest day
[Chorus]
How far would I go
How long would I stay
To see it all
To carry it all back with me again
How hard would I try
Just to hear everybody say
This is gonna be my greatest day
Standing here, looking out on the world
And for a second nobody is looking back at me
I never even notice where they go
Brooks & Dunn's song "I Used to Know This Song by Heart" is a nostalgic tune that reflects on the good old days. The song's narrator expresses the desire to take an afternoon vacation, driving around in his car with the windows rolled down. As he drives, he wishes someone special was there to share the moment with, and hopes that this will be his greatest day. The chorus then questions how far he would go, how long he would stay, and how hard he would try to make this day the best ever.
The song encapsulates the idea of nostalgic memories and how they can still hold a strong emotional connection as time passes. The singer reminisces about how he used to know this song "by heart" and understand the lyrics perfectly, reflecting on how much has changed since then. As the song progresses, it captures the feeling of loneliness, despite being surrounded by people, accentuated by the melancholy guitar riffs that draw the listener into the singer's emotions.
Overall, "I Used to Know This Song by Heart" is a powerful song about nostalgia, the desire to hold onto the past, and the fleeting nature of memories. It's an ode to the joys of life and the inevitable melancholy that comes with time.
Line by Line Meaning
I've got the keys to the car
I have control over the direction of my life
I'm goin' out on an afternoon vacation
I am taking a break from the stresses of life
They all know where I'm gonna go
People have come to expect certain patterns and behaviors from me
The sun is shining down and
The conditions are perfect for a positive experience
There is no one else around now
I am alone with my thoughts and feelings
Wish you were here to hear me say
I long for someone to share my joy with
This is gonna be my greatest day
I am hopeful and optimistic for what lies ahead
[Chorus]
This experience is so significant to me that I am willing to go to great lengths for it
How far would I go
What sacrifices am I willing to make?
How long would I stay
How committed am I to seeing this through?
To see it all
To experience everything this moment has to offer
To carry it all back with me again
To take the positive feelings and memories with me
How hard would I try
What obstacles am I willing to overcome?
Just to hear everybody say
The approval and validation of others is important to me
This is gonna be my greatest day
I am reaffirming my hope and enthusiasm for this experience
Standing here, looking out on the world
I am taking in the beauty and possibilities of life
And for a second nobody is looking back at me
I feel invisible or disconnected from others
I never even notice where they go
I am so consumed with my own experience that I am not aware of those around me
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JERRY LYNN WILLIAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind