After signing a contract with the Atlantic Records label Lava Records in 1994, his first major-label album, Honor Among Thieves, was issued in 1995. His second album, Misguided Roses, spawned I'll Be, a major single in 1998. Two more albums (Messenger and Far from Over) followed, but at the end of 2001, he split from Lava. In 2003 he released a collection of acoustic versions of songs both old and new called The Austin Sessions via ATC Records, a Nashville-based independent record label (at which McCain was the first artist signed following its creation in 2001). Mid-2004 saw the arrival of his first studio album in three years, entitled Scream & Whisper, which was released on another indie label, DRT Entertainment.
He has released two DVDs to date. The first was through ATC records in late 2002, called Mile Marker: Songs and Stories from the Acoustic Highway, and it consisted of interviews, live performances, and other material. The other was in late 2004, Tinsel & Tap Shoes. It was his first live concert DVD, recorded at The House of Blues in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
A new CD was released in April, 2006 titled, Lost in America. Edwin recently signed a contract with Vanguard Records. This album (#8) is said to be a true "rock 'n roll" collection.
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Grits Ain't Groceries
Edwin McCain Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Grits ain't grocery,
Eggs ain't poultry,
And Mona Lisa was a man
All around the world, I'd rather be a fly
I'd light on my baby and stay with my woman till I die
With a toothpick in my hand I'd dig a ten foot ditch
Because you know I love you baby
Oh you know I love you baby yeah
Now if I don't love you baby I tell you
Grits ain't grocery,
Eggs ain't poultry,
And Mona Lisa was a man
All around the world I've got blisters on my feet
I'm trying to find my baby and bring her home with me
You better run into me baby and be convinced
If you don't run it to me right now woman
You ain't got no sense
Because you know I love you baby
Oh you know I love you baby yeah
Well if I don't love you baby I tell you
Grits ain't grocery,
Eggs ain't poultry,
And Mona Lisa was a man
All around the world I never will forget
I lost all my money, my woman, and my pet
But I've got to have you baby and I will settle for nothing less
Give up all my good time baby and stay for happiness
Because you know I love you baby yeah
Oh you know I love you baby yeah
Well if I don't love you baby I tell you
Grits ain't grocery,
Eggs ain't poultry,
And Mona Lisa was a man
In Edwin McCain's song "Grits Ain't Groceries," the lyrics convey a deep sense of love and devotion towards the singer's partner. The repeated line "If I don't love you baby, Grits ain't grocery, Eggs ain't poultry, And Mona Lisa was a man" serves as a metaphorical expression of the singer's intense feelings.
The phrase "grits ain't grocery, eggs ain't poultry" is used to emphasize the significance of the love the singer has for their partner. Grits and eggs are basic food items, and by suggesting that they are not enough without love, the singer establishes the central theme that without their love, nothing else in the world holds meaning or value.
The line "Mona Lisa was a man" further emphasizes the singer's devotion to their partner. It suggests that nothing can be trusted or believed in without love. Even something as universally acknowledged as the famous painting Mona Lisa can be questioned if their love is not present.
Throughout the song, the singer expresses a willingness to go to great lengths for their partner. They mention being a "fly" to be close to their partner, digging a ten-foot ditch, fighting lions with a switch, and enduring blisters on feet to find and bring their partner home. These actions symbolize the singer's unwavering commitment and determination in the pursuit of their love.
Overall, the song "Grits Ain't Groceries" highlights the power and importance of love in the singer's life, asserting that without it, even the most basic and widely accepted things lose their significance.
Line by Line Meaning
If I don't love you baby
If I don't have deep affection for you, baby
Grits ain't grocery,
Grits are not equivalent to grocery items
Eggs ain't poultry,
Eggs are not the same as poultry products
And Mona Lisa was a man
And the famous artwork Mona Lisa was actually a man
All around the world, I'd rather be a fly
If given the option, I would prefer to be an inconspicuous fly
I'd light on my baby and stay with my woman till I die
I would land on my loved one and remain devoted to my partner until my last breath
With a toothpick in my hand I'd dig a ten foot ditch
Using only a toothpick, I would excavate a trench measuring ten feet in depth
And run all through the jungle fighting lions with a switch
I would sprint through the jungle, engaging in combat with lions armed solely with a switch
Because you know I love you baby
Because you are aware that I hold deep affection for you, baby
Oh you know I love you baby yeah
Oh, you are well aware that I love you, baby, without a doubt
Now if I don't love you baby I tell you
Now, if I do not possess love for you, baby, I truthfully inform you
All around the world I've got blisters on my feet
No matter where I go in the world, my feet endure painful blisters
I'm trying to find my baby and bring her home with me
I am exerting effort to locate my beloved and return her with me
You better run into me baby and be convinced
It would be wise for you, baby, to approach me and become fully convinced
If you don't run into me right now woman
If you do not come to me immediately, woman
You ain't got no sense
You lack any form of logic or reasoning
All around the world I never will forget
No matter where I go in the world, I will never forget
I lost all my money, my woman, and my pet
I experienced the loss of all my wealth, my significant other, and my beloved pet
But I've got to have you baby and I will settle for nothing less
However, I must possess you, baby, and I will accept nothing inferior
Give up all my good time baby and stay for happiness
I am willing to sacrifice all my previous pleasures, baby, and remain for true joy
Because you know I love you baby yeah
Because you are aware of my profound love for you, baby, indeed
Oh you know I love you baby yeah
Oh, you are well aware that I love you, baby, without a doubt
Well if I don't love you baby I tell you
Well, if I do not possess love for you, baby, I truthfully inform you
Grits ain't grocery,
Grits are not equivalent to grocery items
Eggs ain't poultry,
Eggs are not the same as poultry products
And Mona Lisa was a man
And the famous artwork Mona Lisa was actually a man
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind