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.
Oh Holy Night
Jo Dee Messina Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It is the night of our dear Savior's birth
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Till he appeared and the soul felt it's worth
A thrill of hope, the weary soul rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn
Fall on your knees, oh hear the angel voices
Oh night divine, oh night, oh night divine
Mmm hmm...
Hallelujah...
The thrill of hope, the weary soul rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn
Fall on your knees oh hear the angel voices
Oh night divine, oh night, when Christ was born
Oh night divine, oh night, oh night divine
The first verse of Jo Dee Messina's song, "O Holy Night," sets the scene for the birth of Jesus, with the stars shining brightly in the night sky. The lyrics then acknowledge the state of the world before Christ's arrival, where the world was lost in sin and error. However, the soul finally felt its worth upon the appearance of the Savior. The second verse acknowledges the hope that Christ brings, and how even the most weary soul rejoices at the thought of a new and glorious day. The final lyrics encourage the listener to fall to their knees and hear the angelic voices that announce the arrival of Christ, on this divine night.
The song "O Holy Night" was written in 1847 by Placide Cappeau, a wine merchant and poet from France. The melody was composed by Adolphe Adam, a French composer. The song quickly became a Christmas favorite, and was even performed by Union troops during the American Civil War.
One of the notable moments involving this song came in 1906, when Reginald Fessenden, a Canadian inventor, broadcasted the song over the radio, making it the first song to ever be played over the airwaves.
In 2012, Celine Dion released a rendition of "O Holy Night" which became a #1 hit on the Canadian charts. Mariah Carey, Josh Groban, and Christina Aguilera are among other singers who have recorded versions of this holiday classic.
Chords for "O Holy Night" are:
C F C G C
O holy night the stars are brightly shining
C F C G C
It is the night of our dear Savior's birth
C G Am F G
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
C F G C
Till he appeared and the soul felt its worth
C F C G C
A thrill of hope the weary soul rejoices
C F C G C
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn
C G Am F G
Fall on your knees, oh hear the angel voices
C F G C
Oh night divine, oh night, when Christ was born
Line by Line Meaning
O holy night the stars are brightly shining
The holiness of this night is emphasized by the brightly shining stars that light up the sky.
It is the night of our dear Savior's birth
This night holds great significance, as it marks the birth of our beloved Savior.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
For a long time, the world had been consumed by sin and mistakes, longing for salvation and redemption.
Till he appeared and the soul felt it's worth
When Christ finally appeared, it restored the soul's worth and brought a sense of value back to people's lives.
A thrill of hope, the weary soul rejoices
The hope that comes with the arrival of Christ brings joy to the soul, especially to those who have been suffering or feeling weary.
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn
A new dawn signifies the start of a promising new day, one that is filled with glory and hope, thanks to Christ's arrival.
Fall on your knees, oh hear the angel voices
The appearance of angels is significant, and people ought to kneel in reverence and listen carefully to what they have to say.
Oh night divine, oh night, when Christ was born
This incredible night was a divine moment in history, as it marked the birth of Christ, our Lord and Savior.
Hallelujah...
This is an exclamation of worship to God and the savior who was born on this holy night.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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