Morgan was born in Kingston Springs, Tennessee and grew up in rural Tennessee. He became an Emergency medical technician at age 18. A few years later, he joined the Army and was stationed in South Korea. He would later see combat as part of Operation Just Cause in Panama in 1989. During his deployment in Korea, Morgan wrote a number of songs and won various military singing and songwriting contests. He is a vocal supporter of the US military, performing for service-personnel in the Middle East and elsewhere.
Upon his return home to Tennessee, he worked various jobs to support his family, including working as a construction worker, a security guard and a sheriff's deputy. He would later land a job in Nashville singing demos for other songwriters and publishing companies.
The demos led to releasing his first album with Atlantic Records, the self-titled Craig Morgan in 2000. In 2003, Morgan signed with Broken Bow Records and released his second album, I Love It. It featured the single "Almost Home", which broke into the Top 10 and earned Morgan a Songwriter Achievement Award from the Nashville Songwriters Association International.
In 2005, Morgan released his third album, My Kind of Livin', which included the smash hit "That's What I Love About Sunday." A four-week number one hit in the early spring of 2005, it was the biggest country music song of that year according to Billboard. The album also included the #2 hit "Redneck Yacht Club". Also included was "I Got You", which Craig had originally penned for Keith Urban, but decided to cut himself instead. "Little Bit Of Life", the lead-off single and title track of his fourth album, is currently climbing the charts.
The Song
Craig Morgan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Barry Tolbert, Lookout Lane
He was white knuckling a diamond ring
And fumbling for the dome light
Sherry Lynn knows somethings up
'Cause Berry ain't ever been stuck
For words like he is tonight
Since they pulled over, her hearts been beatin' faster
[Chorus]
Simple words put into lines
Just a melody and rhyme
But at that moment seemed so strong
How can a piece of poetry
Knock a grown man to his knees
And lead him by the heart to where he belongs
Then it came on
The song
[Verse 2]
Larry Pearson had a crutch
One more was never enough
He'd say "I can quit anytime"
The whole town knew his name
They'd all say what a shame
He's wastin' away his life
A strangers quarter dropped into that corner jukebox
It's been almost two years and guess what made him stop
[Chorus]
Simple words put into lines
Just a melody and rhyme
But at that moment seemed so strong
How can a piece of poetry
Knock a grown man to his knees
And lead him by the heart to where he belongs
Like the song
Its more than just a song
In Craig Morgan's song "The Song," the first verse tells the story of Barry Tolbert, who seems nervous and at a loss for words while driving with his girlfriend Sherry Lynn. Sherry Lynn senses something is up, but it's not until a powerful and meaningful song comes on the radio that Barry finds the courage to ask her to marry him. The chorus marvels at the power of a song - how simple words and a melody can create such a profound impact on one's emotions and actions. In the second verse, we learn about Larry Pearson, a man who struggles with addiction and is wasting away his life. But it's not until a stranger drops a quarter into the jukebox and a song plays that Larry is finally able to turn his life around and stop the cycle of addiction.
Morgan's "The Song" is a poignant reminder of the power of music and how it can deeply affect us. The chorus states that "it's more than just a song," as it has the capability to move us, heal us, and change us. The song also highlights the importance of connections and how music can bring people together, whether it's through falling in love, healing from addiction, or simply enjoying a tune with friends.
Line by Line Meaning
Barry Tolbert, Lookout Lane
Introducing Barry Tolbert and the location of Lookout Lane.
He was white knuckling a diamond ring
Barry was gripping the diamond ring tightly and nervously.
And fumbling for the dome light
Barry was trying to turn on the dome light but was struggling to do so.
Sherry Lynn knows somethings up
Sherry Lynn senses that something is wrong or unusual.
'Cause Berry ain't ever been stuck
Barry is usually confident and eloquent, so this is unusual behavior for him.
For words like he is tonight
He is having trouble finding the right words to say.
Since they pulled over, her hearts been beatin' faster
Sherry Lynn's heart rate has increased since they stopped.
Without that song, who knows, he might have never asked her
The song played a crucial part in Barry's decision to propose to Sherry Lynn.
Simple words put into lines
The lyrics of the song are straightforward and easily understandable.
Just a melody and rhyme
The song consists of a simple melody and rhyming words.
But at that moment seemed so strong
At the time the song was played, its meaning and impact were profound.
How can a piece of poetry
The song can be interpreted as poetic in nature.
Knock a grown man to his knees
The song had a profound emotional impact on the listener.
And lead him by the heart to where he belongs
The song helped Barry realize that he wanted to propose to Sherry Lynn.
Then it came on
The song started playing.
Larry Pearson had a crutch
Larry Pearson had a dependency on a certain substance or behavior.
One more was never enough
Larry was addicted and would always want more.
He'd say "I can quit anytime"
Larry would make excuses for his addiction and claim he could stop whenever he wanted.
The whole town knew his name
Larry's addiction was well-known and public knowledge.
They'd all say what a shame
People in the town would express their regret or disappointment about Larry's addiction.
He's wastin' away his life
Larry's addiction was preventing him from living a fulfilling life.
A strangers quarter dropped into that corner jukebox
A stranger put a coin into the jukebox in the corner.
It's been almost two years and guess what made him stop
It's been almost two years since Larry's addiction ended, and the song was the trigger for him to quit.
Like the song
The song has the power to inspire and evoke emotions and can have a profound impact on people.
Its more than just a song
The song has deeper meaning and significance beyond just being a piece of music.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: CRAIG MORGAN, PHIL O'DONNELL, TIMOTHY PAUL OWENS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind