The song became Strait's 41st #1 single on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, setting a new record for most #1 singles on that chart. Previously, Conway Twitty held that record with 40 #1 singles.
At the Academy of Country Music awards in 2007, "Give It Away" won both the Single of the Year and Song of the Year awards; the song also won Song of the Year honors at the Country Music Association Awards the same year. "Give It Away" received a nomination for Best Male Country Vocal Performance at the 2008 Grammy Awards.
Give It Away
George Strait Lyrics
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And I could tell she was leavin'
And I thought, "Aw, she'll be back"
'Til she turned around and pointed at the wall and said
"That picture from our honeymoon
That night in 'Frisco Bay
Just give it away"
"And that big four poster king sized bed
Where so much love was made
Just give it away"
She said, "Just give it away"
Just give it away
There ain't nothing in this house worth fightin' over
Oh, and we're both tired of fightin' anyway
So just give it away
So I tried to move on
But I found that each woman I held
Just reminded me of that day, hmm
When that front door swung wide open
She flung her diamond ring
Said, "Give it away
Just give it away"
And I said, "Now honey
Don't you even want your half of everything?"
She said, "Give it away
Just give it away"
Just give it away
There ain't nothing in this house worth fightin' over
Oh, and we're both tired of fightin' anyway
So just give it away
So, I'm still right here where she left me
Along with all the other things
She don't care about anymore, hmm
Like that picture from our honeymoon
That night in 'Frisco Bay
She said, "Give it away"
Well, I can't give it away
That big four poster king sized bed
Where all our love was made
She said, "Give it away"
Well, I can't give it away
I've got a furnished house
A diamond ring
And a lonely, broken heart
Full of love
And I can't even give it away
The song "Give It Away," written by Bill Anderson, Buddy Cannon, and Jamey Johnson and performed by George Strait, tells the emotional story of a man going through a divorce. The song starts with the man noticing that his wife is packing her bags and leaving him. He thinks that she will come back, but she tells him to give away everything in the house, including their honeymoon picture and bed. She leaves him with a broken heart and a lonely life. The chorus repeats multiple times, emphasizing the idea that there is nothing left in the house worth fighting for and that the couple is tired of fighting anyway so everything should be given away.
The first verse of the song establishes the sadness that the man is feeling, knowing that his wife is leaving him. The second verse shows the aftermath, with the man trying to move on but failing miserably because everything he touches reminds him of her. Even when he asks her if she wants her half of everything, she tells him to give it all away. The final verse has the man still in their home, surrounded by things that she no longer cares for, including the honeymoon photo and the bed where they shared so much love. He cannot let go of these things, despite her urging him to give them away.
One possible interpretation of the song is that the couple has reached a point where they cannot stand each other anymore, and there are no more chances for them to reconcile. The woman's demands for him to give away everything in the house including their honeymoon photo and bed, signify that she wants to wipe out everything related to their marriage. The repeated chorus also indicates that there is nothing left for them to fight over besides material possessions since their love is gone.
Line by Line Meaning
She was stormin' through the house that day
She was moving quickly and aggressively through the house on that day
And I could tell she was leavin'
It was apparent to me that she was exiting the house
And I thought, 'Aw, she'll be back
I had the conviction that she would come back eventually
'Til she turned around and pointed at the wall and said
But that notion vanished when she abruptly spun around and gestured towards the wall while vocalizing
"That picture from our honeymoon
She directed her attention to that photograph from our honeymoon
That night in 'Frisco Bay
The occasion when we were in San Francisco Bay
Just give it away"
She suggested that I give it to someone else
She said, "Give it away"
She repeated her instruction of giving it to another person
"And that big four poster king sized bed
She also drew my attention to the large bed with a four-poster frame that accommodated two people and was fit for royalty
Where so much love was made
The spot where we expressed our deep affections for each other countless times
Just give it away"
She urged me to donate it to someone else
She said, "Just give it away"
She emphasized that I should relinquish it to a deserving person
Just give it away
There is no need to quarrel over worldly possessions and therefore the best course of action is to bestow them upon someone else
There ain't nothing in this house worth fightin' over
There is nothing of material value in the house that necessitates a conflict
Oh, and we're both tired of fightin' anyway
Besides, both of us are already exhausted from all the squabbling
So just give it away
For the sake of peaceful resolution, we should just distribute everything and part ways
So I tried to move on
I attempted to progress and let go of the past
But I found that each woman I held
However, I realized that every woman I was romantically involved with
Just reminded me of that day, hmm
Seemed to evoke memories of that day with her
When that front door swung wide open
The moment when the front entrance swung open widely
She flung her diamond ring
She slung her diamond ring
Said, "Give it away
She uttered the words 'give it away' once again
Just give it away"
And repeated it for emphasis
And I said, "Now honey
I replied, 'Now honey
Don't you even want your half of everything?"
Don't you desire your portion of everything as well?
She said, "Give it away
She responded, 'Give it away
Just give it away"
And restated her previous request
I've got a furnished house
Now, I own a well-equipped domicile
A diamond ring
And a diamond ring
And a lonely, broken heart
But also a soul that is dejected, shattered and alone
Full of love
Though overflowing with love and compassion
And I can't even give it away
And even if I wanted to, I still can't distribute this immense love inside me
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bill Anderson, Buddy Cannon, Jamey Johnson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Shannon Beeler
on The Fireman
Tara we know how much you miss spending the 4th of July with David, so we thought this may make you feel a little better! Love ya!