Stone was born and raised in Atlanta, GA, and learned guitar at the age of five from his mother, also a country singer. As a teenager, he performed in skating rinks in his hometown and later moved on to playing area bars while working long hours as a mechanic during the day.
It took Stone several years to be “found” by his soon-to-be manager who helped him finally land a record deal with Epic. His self-titled debut was released in 1990 and broke him in a big way with the despairing lead single "I'd Be Better Off (In a Pine Box)," which shot into the country Top Five. Stone landed three more Top Ten hits from the album, including "Fourteen Minutes Old," "These Lips Don't Know How to Say Goodbye," and his first number one, "In a Different Light."
He quickly completed a follow-up album, I Thought It Was You, for release in 1991, which solidified his persona as country music’s suave song stylist and became his second straight million-seller on the strength of three Top Five hits: the title track, "Come In Out of the Pain," and a second number one in "A Jukebox With a Country Song."
Stone’s third album, 1992’s From the Heart, spun off one hit after another: "Warning Labels" and "Made for Lovin' You" went Top Ten, while "Too Busy Being in Love" and "Why Didn't I Think of That" topped the charts.n 2004, Doug Stone started a new chapter in his career and his life. After a brief hiatus from recording, a renewed interest in Doug's music by fans and radio made Doug one of the highlights at the 2004 Country Radio Seminar (CRS). The week of CRS, Doug joined Lofton Creek Records and reunited with a member of his former management team, Martha (Taylor) Borchetta who worked with Doug in the 90s.
Stone’s first album with Lofton Creek Records, In A Different Light, re-releases the original title track and “Why Didn’t I Think of That” from Stone’s library of hits. The album also contains Stone’s version of timeless classics as he artfully blends the traditional spirit of “Only You,” “Tell It Like It is,” “Georgia On My Mind” and “Crazy Love” with that famous Doug Stone style. The eight original songs on this album will both tug on heartstrings and invoke smiles—a task that only Stone can perform with such style and grace. With this new album, Lofton Creek Records is honored to place Doug Stone back in the spotlight.
Not Me
Doug Stone Lyrics
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To the days when you were mine
I'd wrap you up with these two arms
And never let you go
I'd say the things I didn't say
The words that might have made you stay
I'd build my world around you, not me
I was always somewhere else
Thinkin' only of myself
Livin' just to chase a dream
A dream that was a doubt
I should've seen the warnin' signs
I never paid 'em any mind
Everybody saw it comin', not me
I kept reachin' for the stars and shootin' for the moon
When all along I had them in my hand
Little did I know how fast my world could slip away
It took losin' you for me to understand
That all you ever wanted was
Just to be a step above
All the things that stood between
The love we should have had
I can't say that I blame you now
For holdin' on to what you've found
I guess I'm why you're with him now
I guess I'm why you're with him, not me
The lyrics to Doug Stone's song "Not Me" are a reflection on a past relationship that has ended, and the singer's regret for not having appreciated it while he had it. The song begins with the singer expressing his desire to turn back time and to have never let go of his former partner. He recognizes that he did not do enough to hold onto her and that he should have prioritized her feelings over his own goals and ambitions. Stone sings "I'd build my world around you, not me," indicating that he wishes he had put her first and made her the center of his life.
As the song progresses, the singer reflects on how he was always preoccupied with his own pursuits and didn't pay enough attention to his partner's needs or desires. He admits that he ignored warning signs that the relationship was deteriorating and that he didn't see what was coming. The chorus emphasizes his realization that he was always searching for something that he already had but didn't appreciate: "I kept reachin' for the stars and shootin' for the moon, when all along I had them in my hand."
The final verse is a lament for what could have been, with Stone acknowledging that his partner has moved on to someone else. He recognizes that he is to blame for losing her and that he hopes she has found the love and happiness that he failed to give her. Overall, "Not Me" is a song about regret and the importance of valuing the people we love while we have them.
Line by Line Meaning
If I could only turn back time
If only I could go back to the past
To the days when you were mine
When you and I were still together
I'd wrap you up with these two arms
I'd hug you tightly
And never let you go
And never let you leave my arms
I'd say the things I didn't say
I'd express the feelings I kept inside
The words that might have made you stay
The words that could've convinced you to stay
I'd build my world around you, not me
I'd focus on building a life centered around you, not myself
I was always somewhere else
I was never fully present
Thinkin' only of myself
Focusing solely on my own desires and needs
Livin' just to chase a dream
Living only to pursue a goal
A dream that was a doubt
A goal that I wasn't sure I could achieve
I should've seen the warnin' signs
I should've noticed the indications of our relationship failing
I never paid 'em any mind
I never took them seriously or considered their significance
Everybody saw it comin', not me
Everyone else could see the end of our relationship approaching, but I couldn't
I kept reachin' for the stars and shootin' for the moon
I aimed for lofty goals
When all along I had them in my hand
When I already had what I wanted
Little did I know how fast my world could slip away
I didn't realize how quickly I could lose everything
It took losin' you for me to understand
It took losing you for me to comprehend my mistakes
That all you ever wanted was
That your only wish was
Just to be a step above
To have a relationship that surpassed mediocrity
All the things that stood between
All the obstacles that hindered
The love we should have had
The type of love we deserved to have
I can't say that I blame you now
I can't fault you for your actions
For holdin' on to what you've found
For not letting go of what you've obtained
I guess I'm why you're with him now
I assume that I'm the reason you're with your current partner
I guess I'm why you're with him, not me
I'm the reason why you're with him instead of me
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: BYRON HILL, DAN EARNEST ORTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind