Diamond Rio released their debut, Diamond Rio, in 1991. It spawned five Top 10 Country hits, including the #1 hit "Meet in the Middle", and went platinum. Their second album, Close to the Edge, released the following year, had three Top 10 singles and went gold. In 1994, their third album was released. Love a Little Stronger wasn't very successful commercially, but did produce another Top 5 single in the title track.
The mid-90's marked both a low point in album-naming creativity and a high point in chart success. Their fourth album, innovatively titled IV and released in 1996, spun off three Top 5 singles. (One of these, "It's All In Your Head", featured a video with Martin Sheen as a fiery preacher engaged in snake handling, mirroring the lyrics of the song.) In 1997, Diamond Rio released its first greatest hits album, entitled Greatest Hits. The album had two brand-new songs: "How Your Love Makes Me Feel" hit #1, and "Imagine That" became yet another top 5 hit. In 1998, Unbelievable was released, giving the band two more top 5 singles. The title track also reached the top 40 on the Pop charts. In 2001, the band released One More Day, whose title track became another chart-topper. The following year, the band released Completely, whose lead track, "Beautiful Mess", became their 4th #1 hit. The album also spawned another #1 single in "I Believe". December 30th, 2005 found Diamond Rio playing their new single In God we Still Trust during halftime of the Vitalis Sun Bowl between UCLA and Northwestern University in El Paso, Texas. Their second Greatest Hits album is scheduled to be released May 9th, 2006.
Sawmill Road
Diamond Rio Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Were raised up on the path
Of righteousness
Made a solemn vow that
We'd always be close
And never wander far from
Sawmill Road
The world began to change
One by one we outgrew
Those childhood games
Momma cooked and cleaned
And worried 'bout our souls
We got into beer and cars
And rock 'n' roll
[Chorus]
We knew Jesus was the answer
And Elvis was the king
Blue Suede Shoes and Rock of Ages
Were the songs we learned to sing
Innocence went out of style
And we just watched it go
Yesterday got left beneath
The dust on Sawmill Road
Billy Joe went to Saigon
For Uncle Sam
Now I go to see him,
He don't know who I am
Once a year I get a card
From Mary Beth
She's with husband number four
Somewhere out west
I still live in this old house
Where we were raised
On this red dirt road
The county never paved
Now I watch my kids
And worry 'bout their souls
And pray they'll never wander
Far from Sawmill Road
[Chorus]
Me and Billy Joe and Mary Beth
Were raised up on the path
Of righteousness.
The lyrics to Diamond Rio's "Sawmill Road" are a poignant reflection on the passage of time, the loss of innocence, and the changing nature of friendship. The song is told from the perspective of the singer, who along with his childhood friends Billy Joe and Mary Beth, were raised on the path of righteousness. They made a solemn vow to always be close and never wander far from Sawmill Road. As they grew older, however, the world began to change, and the trio drifted apart. They outgrew their childhood games, and innocence went out of style, leaving only memories of the days when they were young and carefree.
The chorus of the song speaks to the contrast between the past and the present. The trio knew that Jesus was the answer and Elvis was the king. They sang songs like "Blue Suede Shoes" and "Rock of Ages", but these innocent pleasures were left behind as they grew older. The passage of time left them feeling disconnected from one another, with Billy Joe in Saigon for Uncle Sam, the singer living in their childhood home, and Mary Beth on her fourth husband somewhere out west. The song speaks to the universal experience of growing up and growing apart, and of the bittersweet memories that remain.
Overall, the lyrics to "Sawmill Road" are a powerful reminder of the fleeting nature of youth and the irrevocable passage of time. The song captures the spirit of a generation and speaks to the importance of friendship and loyalty, even as we move further away from our childhoods.
Line by Line Meaning
Me and Billy Joe and Mary Beth
The singer and two childhood friends, Billy Joe and Mary Beth, are being introduced.
Were raised up on the path of righteousness
The three friends grew up being raised under strict, moral values.
Made a solemn vow that we'd always be close and never wander far from Sawmill Road
They promised each other to always stay close and return to the neighborhood they grew up in.
As the years went by the world began to change
As the three friends grew older, they witnessed the world changing around them.
One by one we outgrew those childhood games
They began to mature and leave behind the innocent pastimes of childhood.
Momma cooked and cleaned and worried 'bout our souls
Their mothers took care of them, and tried to instill the values and beliefs that they grew up with.
We got into beer and cars and rock 'n' roll
As they got older, the friends started getting into more mature things like alcohol, cars and rock music.
We knew Jesus was the answer and Elvis was the king
They believed that Jesus was the salvation, and Elvis Presley was the king of rock and roll.
Blue Suede Shoes and Rock of Ages were the songs we learned to sing
They learned to appreciate Elvis' music along with Christian songs.
Innocence went out of style and we just watched it go
They realized that the childlike innocence and purity of past times was no longer valued and missed it.
Yesterday got left beneath the dust on Sawmill Road
The good old memories were left behind and were no longer important to them.
Billy Joe went to Saigon for Uncle Sam
Billy Joe was drafted into the army and sent to Saigon in Vietnam.
Now I go to see him, he don't know who I am
Now that Billy Joe is back from war, he's not the same person he was and doesn't recognize the singer.
Once a year I get a card from Mary Beth, she's with husband number four somewhere out west
Mary Beth has been married multiple times, and each year the singer gets a card from her giving an update about her current location.
I still live in this old house where we were raised
The singer still resides in the same house that he grew up in.
On this red dirt road the county never paved
Their neighborhood is not ver wealthy and their streets were never paved.
Now I watch my kids and worry 'bout their souls
The artist is now a parent and he tries to instill the same values in his children that his mother did with him.
And pray they'll never wander far from Sawmill Road
The singer hopes his children won't forget their roots and will always stay close to the neighborhood they grew up in.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: HOGIN, MCBRIDE, TRUMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind