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.
I'm Alright
Jo Dee Messina Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I knew we'd meet again, another time, another place
Can't believe it's been so many years
You'd better grab a chair and a couple of beers
Lookin' good in your three piece suit
You know I always knew you'd take the business route
You were always the one who followed the light
And you look like you're doing alright, yeah
Been singing for my rent and singing for my supper
I'm above the below and below the upper
I'm stuck in the middle where money gets tight
But I guess I'm doing alright
I'm all, I'm all, I'm alright
It's a beautiful day, not a cloud in sight
So I guess I'm doing alright
I'm all, I'm all, I'm alright
I got a good old friend here with me tonight
And I guess I'm doing alright
Well, we had a lot of dreams when we were younger
They thought we were crazy, but we had the hunger
We kept a lot of friends, skipped a lot of class
Been on top of the world and knocked on our
We lost touch, we lost in love
We lost our minds when things got tough
But beating time is a losing fight
And I guess I'm doing alright
Oh, I'm all, I'm all, I'm alright
It's a beautiful day, not a cloud in sight
So I guess I'm doing alright
I'm all, I'm all, I'm alright
I got a good old friend here with me tonight
And I guess I'm doing alright
Well, I guess I'm doing alright, alright
Well, I hate to see this evening end
God only knows when I'll see you again
Just send a fax or send me a letter
Or give me a call, that would even be better
Give the kids a kiss for me
And say hello to the family
And tell 'em all my future's looking bright
Well, I miss 'em but I'm doing alright
I said I miss 'em but I'm doing alright
Oh, I'm all, I'm all, I'm alright
It's a beautiful day, not a cloud in sight
So I guess I'm doing alright
I'm all, I'm all, I'm-m-m alright
Got a good old friend here with me tonight
And I guess I'm doing alright
Well, I guess I'm doing alright
I'm doing alright, mm
The lyrics of Jo Dee Messina's "I'm Alright" tell a story of two old friends who reunite after a long time. The singer expresses joy at meeting an old friend again and reminiscing about their past. Jo Dee mentions how she has been making a living from singing, "singing for my rent and singing for my supper." She also mentions how she is stuck in the middle financially, but despite that, she is doing alright.
She talks about her past with her friend, how they used to be wild and crazy, on top of the world, and sometimes knocked on their ass. They lost touch and love, but now they are reunited, and she feels like she is doing alright with her friend's company.
The lyrics of the song also express gratitude for the present and a hopeful outlook for the future. The song's overall message is that even though things may not be perfect, the singer is alright and content with where they are in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Well it's been a long time, glad to see your face
It's great to see you again after such a long time.
I knew we'd meet again another time, another place
I always knew we'd meet again someday.
Can't believe it's been so many years
I'm shocked that it's been so long.
We better grab a chair and a couple of beers
Let's sit down and have a drink together.
You're lookin' good in your three piece suit
You look great in your suit.
You know I always knew you'd take the business route
I always knew you would become a businessman.
You were always the one who followed the light and
You've always been the one to follow your dreams.
You look like you're doing alright
It seems like things are going well for you.
I've been singing for my rent and singing for my supper
I've been singing to make a living.
I'm above the below and below the upper
I'm stuck in the middle class.
I'm stuck in the middle where the money gets tight
I'm struggling to make ends meet.
But i guess I'm doing alright
But I'm managing to survive.
I'm all, I'm all, I'm alright
I'm doing fine.
It's a beautiful day, not a cloud in sight
Today is a beautiful day.
So I guess I'm doing alright
So I must be doing okay.
Oh, oh I'm alright
Oh, I'm doing okay.
Got a good ole friend here with me tonight
I have a good friend keeping me company.
Well we raised a lot of hell when we were younger
We used to have a lot of fun when we were young.
They thought we were crazy but we had the hunger
People thought we were crazy, but we were just ambitious.
We kept a lot of friends and skipped a lot of class
We had a lot of friends, and we used to skip classes.
Been on top of the world and knocked on our ass
We've had both success and failure.
Lost touch, we lost in love
We lost contact with each other, and we lost love too.
And lost our minds when things got tough
When things got difficult, we became overwhelmed.
But beating time is a losing fight
Trying to beat time is an impossible battle.
But I guess I'm doing alright
But I'm holding up okay.
Well I hate to see this evening end
I don't want this night to end.
God only knows when I'll see you again
Only God knows when we'll meet again.
Send a fax or send me a letter
Send me a message through any means possible.
Or give me a call that will even be better
I would love to receive a call from you.
Give the wife a kiss for me
Please give your wife a kiss for me.
And say hello to the family
And please say hello to your family for me.
Tell them all my future's looking bright and I miss them
Let them know that my future is looking good and that I miss them.
But I'm doing alright
But I'm managing to survive.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Bluewater Music Corp.
Written by: Kim Richey, Larry Gottlieb, Thomas Michael Angelo
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@brandonreina5582
Cymric I was correct. I've had enough of Ezra Charles and Herb Alpert.
(After seeing Austin & Mathew listening to Ezra Charles and Herb Alpert)
Brad & Tracey: Ezra Charles and Herb Alpert are no longer allowed in this house. Destroy those stupid music CDs. Put a ban on man music.
Whitney: I'll take those stupid music CDs.
Shayna: What about Austin & Mathew?
Brad & Tracey: Bring those stupid brothers to a mental institution in Houston.
Shayna: Which mental institution?
Brad & Tracey: The Menninger Clinic. They're watching way too much Adult Swim, listening to way too much Ezra Charles and playing way too much Grand Theft Auto V. They deserve to be punished.
Shayna: Give me that XBOX 360.
Austin: It's mine.
Shayna: Brad & Tracey, come to Austin's room and beat the beezus out of this stupid brother.
(Brad & Tracey point a pipe in front of Austin)
Brad & Tracey: Good try, Austin, but not good enough.
@ryancastle1364
Growing up I had terrible OCD and anxiety. My mother would always sing this when ever she knew I was having an episode. No matter what this song will always hold a special place in my heart.
@daverichardson7994
Jo Dee Messina is wearin leather pants in this video wow !
@mlip78
That's a good mom!
@jadedstar3682
@@daverichardson7994 LMAO
@jessefields8271
I have anxiety too and this song helps me as well!
@jadedstar3682
Weed helps with anxiety too
@davidtokyocarlisle79
To everyone who's asking "Where's Jo Dee? Why did she quit singing?" Google her...She took a break because she was battling cancer. She has a new song out, "Bigger Than This" & she's touring again.
@thomashawkinshibbs3541
😂
@adrianjuarez1162
@@thomashawkinshibbs3541uhh okay?
@stephengill4049
Besides Cole she fell off