Along with his work in Hootie & the Blowfish, Rucker recorded one studio album, entitled Back to Then, on Hidden Beach Recordings in 2002. In 2008, he signed to Capitol Nashville and charted his first solo single, "Don't Think I Don't Think About It", the first single from his first country album Learn to Live. Rucker has been a member of Hootie & the Blowfish since their original formation in 1989. He met fellow band members, Mark Bryan, Jim "Soni" Sonefeld, and Dean Felber, while attending the University of South Carolina.
In 2001, he made his solo R&B debut album The Return of Mongo Slade for Atlantic Records. Because of contractual changes, it was never released by the label. Hidden Beach Recordings, an independent label, acquired the masters from Atlantic, releasing the album as Back to Then in July 2002. Rucker also portrayed a singing cowboy in a television commercial for the fast food chain Burger King, promoting their TenderCrisp Bacon Cheddar Ranch sandwich in 2005; in the commercial, he sang a parody of "Big Rock Candy Mountain".
In early 2008, Rucker signed to Capitol Records Nashville as the beginning of a career in country music. His first country single, "Don't Think I Don't Think About It" (which he co-wrote with Clay Mills) debuted at #51 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs charts for the week of May 3, 2008, and it served as the lead-off single to an upcoming album for Capitol, Learn to Live.
For this album, Rucker worked with Frank Rogers, a record producer who has also produced for Brad Paisley and Trace Adkins. Rucker also made his Grand Ole Opry debut in July 2008. The single reached number one in September,[24] making Rucker the first solo, African-American artist to chart a number one country hit since Pride's "Night Games" in 1983.
Rucker sings to a crowd during an Operation Pacific Greetings tour concert. Learn to Live was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on February 6, 2009 and received a platinum certification on August 7, 2009. The album's second single, "It Won't Be Like This for Long", spent three weeks at the top of the country chart in mid-2009. Its follow-up, "Alright", became Rucker's third straight number one hit, making him the first singer to have his first three country singles reach number one since Wynonna in 1992. The album's fourth single, "History in the Making" was released in September and peaked at number three. The singles also crossed over to the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at 35, 36, 30, and 61.
Rucker's entry into the country world was met with some intrigue, largely because of his history as a rock musician and because he is African-American. Billboard magazine said that "there's a sense of purpose that makes Rucker feel like a member of the country family, rather than calculating interloper." Rucker made visits to various country stations around the US, explaining that he was aware that he was the "new kid on the block." Mike Culotta, the program director of the Tampa, Florida radio station WQYK-FM expected that Rucker would be "somebody who would have entitlement," but instead said that "Darius engaged everybody." When Rucker found that "Don't Think I Don't Think About It" went to number one, he cried. On November 11, 2009, Rucker won the Country Music Association New Artist of the Year award (formerly known as the Horizon Award), making him the first African American to do so since the award was introduced in 1981. Only one other African American has won at the CMAs: Charley Pride, who won entertainer of the year in 1971 and male vocalist in 1971 and 1972.
Rucker released his second country album, titled Charleston, SC 1966, on October 12, 2010. The title is inspired by Radney Foster's solo debut album, Del Rio, TX 1959. Its first single was "Come Back Song," which Rucker wrote with Chris Stapleton and Casey Beathard. It was his fourth country number one as well as a number 37 hit on the Hot 100. The album's second single was "This", which was released to radio in November 2010 and also reached number one in the country chart. Rucker wrote it with Rogers and Kara DioGuardi. "I Got Nothin'" was the album's third single, peaking at number 18. Also included on the album is a duet with Brad Paisley titled "I Don't Care". Charleston, SC 1966 received a gold certification.
On December 14, 2011, CBSnews.com reported that Rucker was working on a third country album with recording set to begin January 2012 followed by the release of the album early in the year. The album's lead-off single, "True Believers", made its chart debut in September. On October 12, 2012, Rucker told Broadway's Electric Barnyard that his album would also be titled True Believers. "True Believers" peaked at number 18. Its second single is a cover of Bob Dylan's "Wagon Wheel" (previously made famous by Old Crow Medicine Show), featuring backing vocals from Lady Antebellum. "Wagon Wheel" reached number one on the Country Airplay chart in May 2013. True Believers was released on May 21, 2013. The album's third single, "Radio", was released to country radio on July 22, 2013. The album's fourth single, "Miss You", was released to country radio on February 3, 2014.
On October 2, 2012, Darius Rucker was invited to join the Grand Ole Opry. Halfway through his set at the Opry that night he answered questions from the audience which included a question from Brad Paisley. Paisley said: "I have two questions. One, are you still the worst poker player in the world? And two, would you like to become the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry?" Rucker accepted, and it became official on October 16.
Rucker was a featured performer at the C2C: Country to Country festival in London on March 17, 2013. On News Years Day, January 1, 2013 he sang the National Anthem at the Outback Bowl in Tampa Florida. On May 11, 2013, Rucker was the speaker at the commencement ceremony for the University of South Carolina in Columbia. Before his speech, he received an honorary Doctorate of Music degree. Rucker also sang the national anthem at the NBA finals on June 16, 2013.
On December 6, 2013, it was announced that Rucker's version of Wagon Wheel had earned him a nomination for Best Country Solo Performance for the 56th Annual Grammy Awards. At the awards ceremony on January 26, 2014, Rucker won, becoming only the third African American recording act (the first being Charley Pride, the second being The Pointer Sisters) to win a vocal performance Grammy Award in a country music category.
On August 25, 2014, Rucker released a brand new single titled "Homegrown Honey" to country radio and to digital retailers. It serves as the lead single to his fourth country studio album, Southern Style, to be released on March 31, 2015. On September 15, 2014, it was announced that Rucker had completed his first Christmas album and that it would be released on October 27, 2014. Included is a collaboration with Sheryl Crow on "Baby, It's Cold Outside".
Butterfly
Darius Rucker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Weeping willows looked down where we lay
Orange blossoms I smell in your hair
Butterfly, flutter by, butterfly by
Waterfalls send your ripples to us
Here on the shore of the lemonade lake
Pond lilies play hide and seek with the fish
Roaring mountain is standing close by
Covered with snowdrops and glistening with dew
I hear the sound of a small hummingbird
I took your hand and I waltzed off with you
Come to the top of the mountain with me
Jump on a cloud and we'll float to and fro
Seeing the countryside covered with grass
And the top of the mountain with candy-floss and snow
Butterfly lazily drinking the sun
Lavishly sprinkled and painted with gold
Here in the land of the mist and the lake
Me and my true love will never grow old
In Darius Rucker's song "Butterfly," he paints a picturesque scene of two lovers meeting on the shore of a lemonade lake. The weeping willows serve as a canopy while the orange blossoms in the woman's hair provide a fragrant aroma. The image of a fluttering butterfly adds to the peaceful ambiance of this natural setting. As the song progresses, we discover that the couple is not alone. Waterfalls, pond lilies, fish, rabbits, mountains with snowdrops, and hummingbirds all play a role in this symphony of nature. The singer takes his lover's hand, and they dance away to the music provided by the hummingbird's wings. His invitation to climb the mountains and jump on the clouds where the couples can see the view of the countryside covered with grass and topped with candy-floss and snow becomes more apparent as he declares that he won't grow old with his true love in the land of the mist and the lake.
Line by Line Meaning
We met on the shore of a lemonade lake
Our love story began in a scenic place, next to a refreshing lake with lemonade-like water.
Weeping willows looked down where we lay
We were embraced by the serene presence of trees that drooped as if they were watching over us.
Orange blossoms I smell in your hair
I perceive the pleasant aroma of flowers on your hair, a subtle indication of your beauty.
Butterfly, flutter by, butterfly by
The flight of a butterfly represents the fleeting nature of beauty and the moments we're sharing.
Waterfalls send your ripples to us
The sound and energy of the waterfalls reflect the passion between us, enhancing our connection.
Here on the shore of the lemonade lake
We're situated on a picturesque waterfront surrounded by natural beauty.
Pond lilies play hide and seek with the fish
We're witnessing a playful yet peaceful interaction between plants and animals, symbolizing the harmony of the environment.
Rabbit run, run rabbit, rabbit run by
The image of a running rabbit adds to the naturalness and energy of our surroundings.
Roaring mountain is standing close by
A majestic mountain provides a remarkable background, symbolizing strength and resilience.
Covered with snowdrops and glistening with dew
The snow and dew add to the mountain's beauty, complementing its formidable presence.
I hear the sound of a small hummingbird
The hummingbird's delicate sound reflects the subtlety and fragility of our love story.
I took your hand and I waltzed off with you
I embraced your hand with joy and danced, celebrating our union and love.
Come to the top of the mountain with me
I invite you to explore life from a higher perspective, embracing a new dimension of love and beauty.
Jump on a cloud and we'll float to and fro
Let's dream of flying and explore limitless horizons together, enjoying the freedom of love.
Seeing the countryside covered with grass
We're marveling at the beauty of nature, which reminds us of the blessings of life.
And the top of the mountain with candy-floss and snow
The summit of the mountain looks like a scene from a fairy tale, with fluffy candy-floss and pristine snow everywhere.
Butterfly lazily drinking the sun
Like the butterfly, we're taking our time and enjoying the simple things in life, such as the sun and the surroundings.
Lavishly sprinkled and painted with gold
The butterfly's wings are a natural canvas of art, representing the effortless beauty of nature.
Here in the land of the mist and the lake
We're situated in a magical land of mystery and charm, where anything is possible.
Me and my true love will never grow old
Our love will endure the test of time, and we'll always cherish the moments we shared.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: AARON KAMIN, BEAU BLACK, SIMON WILCOX
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind