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.
That's My Story
Collin Raye Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She glared at me over her coffee cup.
She said: "Where you been?" so I thought real hard,
And said: "I fell asleep in that hammock in the yard."
She said: "You don't know it boy but you just blew it."
An' I said: "Well that's my story and I'm stickin' to it."
"That's my story.
"Well, I ain't got a witness and I can't prove it.
"But that's my story and I'm stickin' to it."
I got that deer in the headlight look.
She read my face like the cover of a book.
And said: "Don't expect me to believe all that static,
"'cause just last week, I threw that hammock in the attic."
My skin got so thin you could see right through it.
And I stuttered: "Well that's my story and I'm stickin' to it."
"That's my story." (That's my story.)
"Oh, that's my story." (That's my story.)
"Yeah, I ain't got a witness and I can't prove it,
"But that's my story and I'm stickin' to it."
You know the time comes when a wise man knows
The best thing that he can do is just look her in the eye
And beg for mercy and face the bitter truth.
"Well honey, me and the boys played cards all night,
"There wasn't no hanky panky, not a woman in sight.
"And I know I shoulda called and, baby, I'm real sorry.
"Let's get a cellular phone and then you won't have to worry.
"You know how much I love you and darlin' I'm ready to prove it.
"And that's my story and I'm stickin' to it.
"That's my story." (That's my story.)
"Oh, that's my story." (That's my story.)
"Yeah, I ain't got a witness and I can't prove it,
"But that's my story and I'm stickin' to it."
"You know I ain't gonna do a thing,
"Darlin', unless you approve it.
"Well that's my story and I'm stickin' to it."
In "That's My Story," the song's protagonist seems to have come home after a wild night out, and his significant other is none too pleased. The song opens up with the woman glaring at him over her coffee cup, demanding to know where he'd been. The man is initially caught off-guard, and isn't sure what to say. He ends up telling a less-than-credible story about falling asleep in the hammock in the yard, despite the fact that his partner had put the hammock away in the attic the week prior.
There's a palpable tension in the song, as the man seems to know he's digging himself into a deeper hole with each word that comes out of his mouth. But even as his story falls apart, he continues to insist that it's true, repeating the refrain, "that's my story and I'm stickin' to it." At one point, he seems to acknowledge the futility of his situation, acknowledging that sometimes the best thing to do is just to "look her in the eye/And beg for mercy and face the bitter truth." Near the end of the song, he tries to calm his partner down by promising to get a cellular phone so she can always reach him, and reiterating how much he loves her.
Line by Line Meaning
I came in as the sun came up.
I arrived home at sunrise.
She glared at me over her coffee cup.
She looked at me with an angry expression while drinking her coffee.
She said: "Where you been?" so I thought real hard,
She asked me where I have been, so I took a moment to think about it.
And said: "I fell asleep in that hammock in the yard."
I told her that I fell asleep in the hammock in the yard.
She said: "You don't know it boy but you just blew it."
She told me that I messed up.
An' I said: "Well that's my story and I'm stickin' to it."
I responded with a statement saying that I am sticking to my story.
"That's my story.
"Oh, that's my story.
"Well, I ain't got a witness and I can't prove it.
"But that's my story and I'm stickin' to it."
I repeated my claim with a catchy phrase, that it is my story and I am sticking to it, even though I have no evidence to prove it.
I got that deer in the headlight look.
I had a look of surprise and fear.
She read my face like the cover of a book.
She could tell exactly what I was thinking from the expression on my face.
And said: "Don't expect me to believe all that static,
She told me not to expect her to believe all my excuses.
"'cause just last week, I threw that hammock in the attic."
She said she put the hammock away just the previous week.
My skin got so thin you could see right through it.
I felt very exposed and vulnerable.
And I stuttered: "Well that's my story and I'm stickin' to it."
I nervously repeated my story, despite her disbelief.
"That's my story." (That's my story.)
"Oh, that's my story." (That's my story.)
"Yeah, I ain't got a witness and I can't prove it,
"But that's my story and I'm stickin' to it."
I repeated my earlier statement, emphasizing that I am standing by my story even though I have no proof to back it up.
You know the time comes when a wise man knows
The best thing that he can do is just look her in the eye
And beg for mercy and face the bitter truth.
Sometimes it is best to accept the consequences of your actions and apologize for your mistakes.
"Well honey, me and the boys played cards all night,
"There wasn't no hanky panky, not a woman in sight.
"And I know I shoulda called and, baby, I'm real sorry.
"Let's get a cellular phone and then you won't have to worry.
"You know how much I love you and darlin' I'm ready to prove it.
"And that's my story and I'm stickin' to it.
I apologized and explained what I was actually doing. I also suggested getting a cell phone so we can stay in touch. I reassured her of my love and that my story remained unchanged.
"That's my story." (That's my story.)
"Oh, that's my story." (That's my story.)
"Yeah, I ain't got a witness and I can't prove it,
"But that's my story and I'm stickin' to it."
I repeated my earlier statement, admitting that I have no witness or proof, but will still stand by my story.
"You know I ain't gonna do a thing,
"Darlin', unless you approve it.
"Well that's my story and I'm stickin' to it.
I promised to not do anything that she does not approve of and reiterated that my story remains the same.
Lyrics ยฉ Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: C. ALEX HAWKINS, LEE ROY PARNELL, TONY HASELDEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Brian Brown
As a fan of all music the '90s produced great music across multiple genres. This is but one of the story telling country songs that is timeless.
TinaMfam
Amen
Timothy Walters
Love this song. Last week I was shoveling snow and this came on the radio I sang all the words out loud and my neighbor looked at me gave me the nod and started singing with me.
Joe Nania
YES INDEED !
Christopher Glass
Love this song & I approve it thatโs my story and Iโm sticking to it!!! Amen &amen
Robin Young
I have been a huge fan since I was a little girl. I finally got to see him 10 years ago! The best experience ever!!
Herry Burr
๐๐๐ hey ๐
Chris McCurdy
This is great country music that has a life lesson. Always tell the truth.
simple_enigma
Especially when you ask a wonan how many guys she slept with
KMHrock89
I had the privilege of running sound for Collin recently, heโs a great guy. ๐