Messina debuted in 1996 with the single "Heads Carolina, Tails California". Her album was certifified Gold by the RIAA. Her second album, I'm Alright produced five Top 10 Country hits between 1998 in 1999 and sold over a million copies in America. Since her debut, six of her singles have peaked at #1 on the Billboard Country singles chart and five of her albums have received a certification by the RIAA or the CRIA.
She was raised in Holliston, Massachusetts, by Vincent and Mary Messina, and had two sisters, Terese and Marianne, as well as a brother named Vincent. Messina had a variety of Country music influences, which included Patsy Cline, Reba McEntire, and The Judds. She soon started performing live, and by age 16 she was playing local clubs with a rhythm section made up of her brother and sister. The family band played up until Messina was in her late teens.
Realizing that living in the Northeast would limit her chances of achieving Country music stardom, Messina moved to Nashville at age 19. To support herself, Messina worked various temp jobs, including computer programming and accounting. In her spare time, she entered talent contests around Nashville.
One win led to a regular gig on the radio show Live at Libby's, which in turn caught the interest of producer Byron Gallimore, who helped her assemble a demo tape. Gallimore was also working with the young Tim McGraw around the same time, and Messina befriended him. Backstage at one of his concerts, Messina met an executive from his label, Curb, and jokingly suggested that they needed a redhead. With the help of fellow Curb producer James Stroud, Messina was then signed to the record label. Gallimore and McGraw would later become co-producers of Messina's studio albums under Curb.
In 2022, Cole Swindell had a major hit with a remake of "Heads Carolina, Tails California" entitled "She Had Me At Heads Carolina." In the music video, Jo Dee plays a small part as the bartender in a Karaoke bar.
Bye Bye
Jo Dee Messina Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Maybe I read you wrong thinkin' you could be my Mr. Right
I was puttin' my heart and soul on the line
Said you needed some time, just a little more time to make up your mind
Well, it's been long enough
Time is up
Bye bye love, I'll catch you later
I ain't never lookin' back and that's a fact
I've tried all I can imagine
I've begged and pleaded in true lover's fashion
I've got pride I'm takin' it for a ride
Bye bye, bye bye my baby, bye bye
Don't think all those tears are gonna hold me here like they've done before
You'll find what's left of us in a cloud of dust on highway 4
Baby, what did you expect me to do
Just sit around and wait on you?
Well, I'm through watchin' you just skate around the truth
And I know it sounds trite
I've seen the light
Bye bye love, I'll catch you later
Got a lead foot down on my accelerator and the rear view mirror torn off
'Cause I ain't never lookin' back and that's a fact
I've tried all I can imagine
I've begged and pleaded in true lover's fashion
I've got pride I'm takin' it for a ride
Bye bye, bye bye my baby, bye bye
I'd lost the game I guess
I did my best to win the part
Now I'm leavin' here with what's left of my heart
Bye bye, I'll catch you later
Got a lead foot down on my accelerator and the rear view mirror torn off
'Cause I ain't never lookin' back, you can count on that
I've tried all I can imagine
I've begged and pleaded in true lover's fashion
I've got pride I'm takin' it for a ride
Bye bye, bye bye my baby, bye, bye bye
Bye bye
Oh baby
Oh
Bye bye, bye bye my baby, bye bye
In Jo Dee Messina's "Bye Bye," the singer is saying goodbye to a love she had real hope for. The opening of the song paints a picture of the beauty of the moment, but she quickly reveals her true feelings. She admits her misjudgment in thinking her lover could be her “Mr. Right.” The singer further explains that she has put herself on the line and is now tired of waiting for him to come around. The time for waiting is over and in a final act of self-respect, the singer is taking control of her life by leaving the man behind.
The chorus is incredibly repetitive, but it delivers a powerful message to her ex-lover. Her decision to leave is final, and she is not looking back. She knowns that leaving will be difficult, but she cannot stay and wait for someone who is unwilling to commit. She has tried everything she can to make the relationship work, even begging and pleading, but the love just isn't mutual. She has pride, and that pride is now forcing her to say goodbye to a man who can't match her level of commitment.
In summary, "Bye Bye" is a powerful message from the singer to her ex-lover. She waited patiently for him to make a commitment, but he failed to come forward. Realizing that she deserves better, the singer channels her pride and takes control of her life by leaving him in the dust.
Line by Line Meaning
Boy you sure look good there standin' in the doorway in the sunset light
You look attractive in the sunset light.
Maybe I read you wrong thinkin' you could be my Mr. Right
I thought you were the perfect match for me, but maybe I was wrong.
I was puttin' my heart and soul on the line
I was giving you everything I had emotionally.
Said you needed some time, just a little more time to make up your mind
You said you needed more time to decide on your feelings for me.
Well it's been long enough
I've waited long enough for you to make a decision.
Time is up
The time I gave you to decide has passed.
Bye bye love I'll catch you later
I am ending our relationship and moving on.
Got a left foot down on my accelerator and the rear view mirror torn off
I am leaving this relationship behind and not looking back.
I ain't never lookin' back and that's a fact
I am very sure of my decision and will not be changing my mind.
I've tried all I can imagine
I have done everything I could to make this work.
I've begged and pleaded in true lover's fashion
I have expressed my love and desire to make things work in every way possible.
I've got pride I'm takin' it for a ride
I am choosing to hold onto my pride and self-respect and move on.
Don't think all those tears are gonna hold me here like they've done before
Your past attempts to guilt me into staying will not be successful this time.
You'll find what's left of us in a cloud of dust on highway 4
Our relationship has ended and you will not find me waiting for you.
Baby what did you expect me to do
I cannot wait around for you to make a decision indefinitely.
Just sit around and wait on you
I have to move on with my life instead of waiting around for you.
Well I'm through watchin' you just skate around the truth
I am done with your indecisiveness and unwillingness to commit to me.
And I know it sounds trite
I am aware that my decision to leave may seem overused.
I've seen the light
I have realized that leaving this relationship is the best course of action for me.
I'd lost the game I guess
Our relationship was not successful and I have come to terms with that.
I did my best to win the part
I tried my hardest to make the relationship work.
Now I'm leavin' here with what's left of my heart
I am leaving the relationship feeling hurt and emotionally drained.
Oh baby
An expression of regret for the end of the relationship.
Bye bye, bye bye my baby, bye bye
A final goodbye to the person who was once my love.
Lyrics © HIPGNOSIS SONGS GROUP, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Phillip G Vassar, Rory Michael Bourke
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@joedirt2556
I've got literally a butt load of songs "OVER" 800 of course there or some that are different versions of or live performances of the same song
So many groups and individuals that iv got it all organized into male group/singers and female/group/singers alphabetically and groups with both male and female lead singers then male and female singers in which there is just one song of theirs I've written down
Any who I guess one group of I had to pick would be the Irish group the cores
1 breathless which I have a lot of versions written down
2 what can I do
3 run away
4 angle
5 so young
6 mystery of you
7 joy of life "instrumental
8 summer sunshine
That's just some from them
They even have a few which they do in Irish gaelic
@jessicaisdreaming
Boy you sure look good there standin' in the doorway in the sunset light
Maybe I read you wrong thinkin' you could be my Mr. Right
I was puttin' my heart and soul on the line
Said you needed some time, just a little more time to make up your mind
Well it's been long enough
Time is up
Bye bye love I'll catch you later
Got a left foot down on my accelerator and the rear view mirror torn off
I ain't never lookin' back and that's a fact
I've tried all I can imagine
I've begged and pleaded in true lover's fashion
I've got pride I'm takin' it for a ride
Bye bye, bye bye my baby, bye bye
Don't think all those tears are gonna hold me here like they've done before
You'll find what's left of us in a cloud of dust on highway 4
Baby what did you expect me to do
Just sit around and wait on you
Well I'm through watchin' you just skate around the truth
And I know it sounds trite
I've seen the light
Bye bye love I'll catch you later
Got a left foot down on my accelerator and the rear view mirror torn off
'Cause I ain't never lookin' back, and that's a fact
I've tried all I can imagine
I've begged and pleaded in true lover's fashion
I've got pride I'm takin' it for a ride
Bye bye, bye bye my baby, bye bye
I'd lost the game I guess
I did my best to win the part
Now I'm leavin' here with what's left of my heart
Bye bye, I'll catch you later
Got a left foot down on my accelerator and the rear view mirror torn off
'Cause I ain't never lookin' back you can count on that
I've tried all I can imagine
I've begged and pleaded in true lover's fashion
I've got pride I'm takin' it for a ride
Bye bye, bye bye my baby, bye bye
Bye bye
Oh baby
Oh
Bye bye, bye bye my baby, bye bye
@kanemadsen6608
One of the best choruses I have ever heard in my LIFE. The way she sings over the notes is awesome. Her voice is incredible. I'm not even afraid to turn this sucker up at a red light!! LOL
@jdcrowell8596
Back when singers could actually sing and didn't need all this computer voice modulation crap they are doing now
@kassiesabourin6494
its crazy how i forgot this song exists. There are so many songs I grew up listening too and when I accidentally hear them on youtube or the radio, my whole heart lights up.
@joedirt2556
Me I got a humongous as heck list of music songs written down on a detailed organized list
This particular song is on it along with some of her other ones
@kassiesabourin6494
Joe Dirt awww nice!! What are some of your favorites on that list? I wonder if I know them as well
@joedirt2556
I've got literally a butt load of songs "OVER" 800 of course there or some that are different versions of or live performances of the same song
So many groups and individuals that iv got it all organized into male group/singers and female/group/singers alphabetically and groups with both male and female lead singers then male and female singers in which there is just one song of theirs I've written down
Any who I guess one group of I had to pick would be the Irish group the cores
1 breathless which I have a lot of versions written down
2 what can I do
3 run away
4 angle
5 so young
6 mystery of you
7 joy of life "instrumental
8 summer sunshine
That's just some from them
They even have a few which they do in Irish gaelic
@Techn9cian123
John Michael Montgomery’s songs “sold” and “be my baby tonight” are some good ones.
@bettykunesh2735
❤
@zaccoats
She is ridiculously underrated and somewhat forgotten by many but she had countless hits on the radio that were Bangersssss
@QuentinNeill
ReDICulously underrated
💯