Raye first attracted Nashville's attention as the lead vocalist on a string of independent singles in the 1980s. Billed as The Wrays, the act released a couple of singles on Mercury Records in the mid-80s before breaking up. Epic Records signed Raye as a solo act in 1990. A year later, the nostalgic ballad Love, Me hit No. 1, and by 2000, he charted 21 Top 10 hits for Epic. His first four studio albums, as well as his Greatest Hits, have been certified platinum. His best-known hits include Little Rock, about a recovering alcoholic, and I Think About You, about watching his teenage daughter grow up.
Little Rock
Collin Raye Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Along the way I lost me and you
I needed a new town for my new start
I'm sellin' VCRs in Arkansas at a Walmart
I haven't had a drink in 19 days
My eyes are clear and bright with-out that haze
I like the preacher from the Church of Christ
I think I'm on a roll
Here in Little Rock
I'm solid as a stone
Wait and see
I got just one small problem
Here in Little Rock
Without you
Baby I'm not me
Without you
Baby I'm not me
I don't know why I held it all inside
You must've thought I never even tried
You know your daddy told me when I left
Jesus would forgive, but a daddy don't forget
Lyin' here upon this motel bed
Thoughts of you explode within my head
Like a castle built upon the sand
I let love crumble in my hand
In Collin Raye's song "Little Rock," the lyrics describe the singer's journey of self-destruction and ultimately, redemption. He admits to disappearing and losing himself and his loved one along the way. He needed a fresh start and ended up selling VCRs in a Walmart in Arkansas. He confesses to having a drinking problem but has been sober for 19 days. He likes the local preacher and apologizes for crying during their last conversation.
The chorus speaks to the singer feeling like he's on the right path in Little Rock, being "solid as a stone," and having just one small problem - the absence of his loved one. He admits that he's not himself without them. In the final verse, he reflects on holding everything inside and his loved one possibly thinking he never even tried. He realizes that while Jesus may forgive, his loved one's father may not forget. He ends the song lying in a motel bed, haunted by thoughts of his loved one, and realizing that he let love "crumble in his hand," much like a "castle built upon the sand."
Line by Line Meaning
I know I've disappeared a time or two
I admit that I have gone away from us on a few occasions
Along the way I lost me and you
During those moments, I have lost the love and the essence of both of us
I needed a new town for my new start
I had to move to a new place to begin again
I'm sellin' VCRs in Arkansas at a Walmart
For now, I am selling VCRs in Arkansas, working at Walmart
I haven't had a drink in 19 days
I have kept myself sober for 19 days now
My eyes are clear and bright with-out that haze
I feel clearer and more alive without alcohol in my system
I like the preacher from the Church of Christ
I appreciate the teachings of the preacher from the Church of Christ
I'm sorry that I cried when I talked to you last night
I apologize for breaking down in tears during our conversation last night
I think I'm on a roll
I feel like I am making progress
Here in Little Rock
In this town I am in
I'm solid as a stone
I am strong and steadfast
Wait and see
Just wait and observe
I got just one small problem
However, there is still one issue I need to resolve
Without you
If I do not have you beside me
Baby I'm not me
I feel incomplete without you
I don't know why I held it all inside
I cannot explain why I kept everything bottled up
You must've thought I never even tried
I think you assumed that I did not even make an effort
You know your daddy told me when I left
When I left, your father advised me
Jesus would forgive, but a daddy don't forget
While Jesus may forgive, your dad will not forget what happened
Lyin' here upon this motel bed
As I lay on this motel bed
Thoughts of you explode within my head
All I can think of is you
Like a castle built upon the sand
Our love was doomed because it was not built on a strong foundation
I let love crumble in my hand
I was the one who caused our love to fall apart and fade away
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BOB DIPIERO, GERALD HOUSE, GERRY HOUSE, LEE JACOBS, PATRICK J MC MANUS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@joshuabrooks4907
He really did have an impressive list of hits back in the day. I mean, he had
1. I want you bad (and that ain't good)
2. That's my story (and I'm stickin' to it)
3. My kind of girl
4. Little red rodeo
5. Anyone else
6. I think about you
7. One boy, one girl
8. Couldn't last a moment
9. Not that different
10. Someone you used to know
11. I can still feel you
12. That was a river
13. In this life
14. What if Jesus comes back like that?
15. Love remains
16. Love, me
@robertmccoy4016
Thanks to Collin Raye and this song, on March 27, 1995, I started taking it one day at a time. Since then, not a single drop of alcohol has passed my lips. Thank you.
@TYMZTABLZ
I'm headed to day 1 soon, congrats on the day by day so far.
@Sassy2992
Great job. 38 years for me
@robertmccoy4016
Good for you!@@Sassy2992
@insylum
1083 days here. Was a black out drunk for 23 years. honestly never would have or could have stopped till I admitted I was helpless.. the Lord took it away after my last bad blackout, that morning I prayed that prayer was the beginning of my new life. All glory goes to Jesus, my quitting did not come from my end that's for sure. I've not had the desire since.
@lindahill8755
My boyfriend was the executive producer for this video, and I was the stylist for Collin. It is my favorite song of his. I had no idea that it had touched so many lives...
@michaelsmith32329.
Hello Linda.. how are you doing?
@hmp4521
That’s awesome love to here more behind the scenes details
@lyndapaganmusselman9996
I hate country but this song I make am exception for.
@txtamaman
That's amazing! My band used to do this song and it killed, even in edgier clubs