Career
Carly Pearce was born in Taylor Mill, Kentucky. She dropped out of school when she was 16 and moved to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee in order to perform at Dollywood five times a week, in addition to contributing to bluegrass music compilation albums. She moved to Nashville, Tennessee when she was 19. She signed a developmental deal with Sony Music Nashville in 2012, which was ultimately unsuccessful.
In 2016, she was a featured vocalist on Josh Abbott Band's "Wasn't That Drunk", which charted in the top 40 of Country Airplay. Pearce also toured with the band to perform the song, including a performance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!
The song's success led to her working with songwriter and producer busbee on her solo debut single "Every Little Thing". After this song received airplay on Sirius XM's "The Highway" channel, Pearce gained a contract with Big Machine Records, which released the single to country radio on February 22. The song also received a music video, which features Pearce performing the song live at Brown Owl Studio. On October 13th, 2017 her first studio album named after the title track "Every Little Thing" was released.
At the time of its release, Pearce established herself further with further musical projects. This included touring with Luke Bryan, Thomas Rhett, and Blake Shelton. Her next single release, "Hide the Wine", was spawned from her 2017 album. It became Pearce's second major hit, reaching number 13 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart in 2018. The same year, she issued a single that was to be the lead release of her upcoming second studio album. Entitled "Closer to You", the song was released in November 2018 and reached the top 40 of the Billboard country charts.
In October 2019, Pearce released a second single from her upcoming second studio album. The song, "I Hope You're Happy Now", was a duet with country artist Lee Brice. The song was her second to reach the number one spot on the Billboard Country Airplay chart. After taking time to marry singer Michael Ray, her self-titled second studio album was issued in February 2020. It would be Busbee's final production project before his death in 2019. It debuted at number six on the Top Country Albums list and number 73 on the Billboard 200.
In June 2020, Pearce revealed that she was recording new music and that her next single will not be a track off of her second album. In September 2020, she released the single, "Next Girl". In February 2021, Pearce released her first extended play, “29”. The album's name was derived from personal setbacks she endured during her twenty ninth year. These events included her divorce from singer, Michael Ray, and the death of her long-time producer, Busbee. The EP received praise from critics, with American Songwriter calling it an "exquisite seven song collection.". Following its release, "Next Girl" reached the top 15 of the Billboard country airplay chart
In June 2021, Pearce was invited by Dolly Parton to become a cast member of the Grand Ole Opry. A month later, she announced the release of her third studio album titled 29: Written in Stone alongside the promotional single "Dear Miss Loretta", a tribute to Loretta Lynn featuring Patty Loveless. The album was a continuation of her 2021 EP. It was officially released in September 2021. It reached number nine on the Billboard country albums chart and number 83 on the Billboard 200. The disc received positive reviews from critics, including AllMusic, which praised her "vulnerability" and Variety, which highlighted its traditional musical sound. The disc spawned the 2021 single, "Never Wanted to Be That Girl", a duet with Ashley McBryde. It became Pearce's third single to top the Billboard Country Airplay chart. In October 2022, Pearce headlined two sold-out shows at the Ryman Auditorium. The album's third single "What He Didn't Do" reached number one on the Aircheck/Mediabase chart, becoming the first woman in 80 weeks to top the country radio charts with a solo track.
In early 2023, Pearce won her first accolade from the Grammy Awards for her performance on "Never Wanted to Be That Girl". In March 2023, Pearce's first live album was released titled 29: Written in Stone (Live from Music City). It featured the entirety of her previous album, along with several additional tracks and special guests.
In 2024, Pearce announced the release of her next studio album Hummingbird. The original release was scheduled for June 14, but Pearce pushed the release date to June 7 to correspond with CMA Fest. Hummingbird rose to number 31 on the US country albums chart. Its lead single "We Don't Fight Anymore" (featuring Chris Stapleton), reached the US country top ten in 2024.
I Need a Ride Home
Carly Pearce Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I ain't been drinking
But it's been one of those days
That's got my head spinning
I been rushing around till I'm dizzy
Feeling lonely in the crowd of the city
It ain't 3 AM
And I ain't been drinking
But I need a ride home
To that little town where I'll always be sixteen years old
I need a two lane, can't pass, foot on the gas, go real slow
A little magic, little static on the radio
Mom and Daddy sitting on the front porch waving hello
Yeah I need a ride home
I wanna hear the click of that old transmission
I need a quick trip
Oh, back to that table in the kitchen
I wanna see that little creek rushing
Right next to those fields full of nothing
I need a strong shot of something I've been missing
Yeah I need a ride home
To that little town where I'll always be sixteen years old
I need a two lane, can't pass, foot on the gas, go real slow
A little magic, little static on the radio
Mom and Daddy sitting on the front porch waving hello
Yeah I need a ride home
It ain't 3 AM
And I ain't been drinking
But it's been one of those days
That's got me thinking
I need a ride home
To that little town where I'll always be sixteen years old
I need a two lane, can't pass, foot on the the gas, go real slow
A little magic, little static on the radio
Mom and Daddy sitting on the front porch waving hello
Yeah let's go
I need a ride home
Oh I need a ride home
Carly Pearce's song "I Need A Ride Home" is about longing for the comfort of her childhood home and the simpler times. In the first verse, she describes how her day has thrown her for a loop, and she feels lonely despite being surrounded by people. She then expresses her desire to go back to her hometown where she can find solace and familiarity. She longs for the feeling of driving down a two-lane road with her foot on the gas, listening to the static on the radio and being greeted by her parents sitting on the front porch when she arrives. The second verse deepens this nostalgia by recalling the sights and sounds of her hometown, mentioning the creek and the fields. In the chorus, she restates her desire for a ride home and repeats the sentiment that she needs to feel like she's sixteen again, surrounded by the magic of her childhood.
This song is a poignant reminder of the power of nostalgia and yearning for comfort in times of stress or uncertainty. It also showcases Carly Pearce's ability to convey complex emotions through her lyrics and the emotive quality of her voice.
Line by Line Meaning
It ain't 3 AM
The time is not 3 AM
And I ain't been drinking
The singer has not been consuming alcohol
But it's been one of those days
It has been a day that has caused emotional turmoil
That's got my head spinning
The day has caused confusion and distress
I been rushing around till I'm dizzy
The artist has been busy to the point of becoming physically disoriented
Feeling lonely in the crowd of the city
The city environment has caused feelings of isolation despite being amongst many people
But I need a ride home
The singer requires transportation to return to their childhood home
To that little town where I'll always be sixteen years old
The artist desires to return to a place where they feel forever youthful
I need a two lane, can't pass, foot on the gas, go real slow
The artist wants a slow and mindful drive on a quiet, country road
A little magic, little static on the radio
The artist wants the car radio to play music that feels enchanted and nostalgic
Mom and Daddy sitting on the front porch waving hello
The singer wants to be greeted by their parents upon arrival at home
Yeah I need a ride home
The artist reiterates their need for transportation to return home
I wanna hear the click of that old transmission
The singer desires to hear the sound of an old car part as a sensory reminder of their past
I need a quick trip
The singer wants a brief but meaningful journey
Oh, back to that table in the kitchen
The singer yearns to return to their childhood kitchen table, where memories were made
I wanna see that little creek rushing
The artist wants to witness the flow of water in a nearby creek as a grounding presence
Right next to those fields full of nothing
The artist wishes to view empty fields for the sake of simplicity and emptiness
I need a strong shot of something I've been missing
The singer wants to experience an intense emotional sensation that has been absent from their life
Yeah let's go
The singer is ready to depart for their journey home
Oh I need a ride home
The artist repeats their desire for transportation to return home
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Downtown Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Matt Jenkins, Hillary Lindsey, Ashley Glenn Gorley
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@rockpaperscissors82
As I hoped, "Every Little Thing" was just the beginning to a promising career. Keeping it real and keeping it country. Let's prove to Nashville that this is what we want to hear on the radio!
@mellaineburns7852
Be honest or at least try
@azrael3758
Thirty seconds into the song and I love it already.
@txpicalyeun624
Just got home from an Eric Church concert. She opened for him. Absolutely love her songs now ❤️
@tidefanman1
Absolutely love this song. As a singer myself, I travel way to much. Sometimes I just wanna get back home, when I was 16. Things simpler then. Great song
@melindapemberton999
I NEED A RIDE HOME IS A SPECIAL SONG FOR ME I REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME MY BOYFRIEND GIVE ME A RIDE HOME I LOVE THIS SONG THANKS FOR SHARING THIS SONG WITH ME AND ALL YOUR OTHER FANS
@rhilton5581
This song makes me think of my old ford truck and just riding with the windows down, passing fields and the smell of the river
@toriwoulard9262
I miss my family back in Mississippi. I’m so far away from home. (Tears)
@laurensiegrist199
I moved right after I turned 17 to a big city, and this song always brings me home.
@juliamm50
SO SO SO SO GOOD CARLY IM IN TEARS