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.
Peace Sign
Jo Dee Messina Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I hate to say it out loud, but I was just dumb
I thought we had something special
Just last night, I used the word "love"
He started his e-mail
With "I've got a few things to say"
"We're just not good together
Okay
If that's the way you wanna do it
If that's the way you wanna walk away
I'm not coming undone
I've got nothing but love
You put the f-u in fun
It's all good
I'm not trying to fight
I'm not wasting my time
I'm just saying goodbye
One finger shy of the peace sign
You thought that you could delete me
A few sorry words on a page
To you, it was so complicated
Me just taking up your precious space
If that's the way you wanna do it
If that's the way you wanna walk away
I'm not coming undone
I've got nothing but love
You put the f-u in fun
It's all good
I'm not trying to fight
I'm not wasting my time
I'm just saying goodbye
One finger shy of the peace sign
I thought I knew you well
It goes to show that you just can't tell
I'm not coming undone
I've got nothing but love
You put the f-u in fun
It's all good
I'm not trying to fight
I'm not wasting my time
I'm just saying goodbye
One finger shy of the peace sign
Oh, yeah
One finger shy of the peace sign
The song "Peace Sign" by Jo Dee Messina is about a breakup that happened through an email. The singer feels hurt and betrayed that her partner, who she thought she had a special relationship with, would end it with just a few words on a page. She expresses her hurt and anger towards him, but also shows that she is not going to dwell on the breakup, she's not trying to fight, and saying goodbye with just one finger shy of the peace sign. She implies that she's not going to let his actions get her down, and that she's moving on.
The lyrics in this song show how easy it can be to end a relationship through technology, and how hurtful it can be at the same time. It also shows the singer's resilience and strength in the face of heartbreak. This song also speaks to the idea of letting go of toxic relationships, even if it hurts, and taking control of your own life.
Line by Line Meaning
I wouldn't call it a breakup
It was not much of a breakup
I hate to say it out loud, but I was just dumb
It's hard to admit, but I made a mistake
I thought we had something special
I believed our relationship was unique and meaningful
Just last night, I used the word "love"
I told him I loved him last night
He started his e-mail
He began his email
With "I've got a few things to say"
He started with 'I need to tell you some things'
"We're just not good together
He said 'we're just not right for each other'
"Take care and have a good day"
He ended his email with 'take care and have a good day'
If that's the way you wanna do it
If that's how you want it to be
If that's the way you wanna walk away
If that's how you want to end things
I'm not coming undone
I'm not going to fall apart
I've got nothing but love
All I have is love for him
You put the f-u in fun
You made everything fun until the end
It's all good
Everything is okay
I'm not trying to fight
I don't want to argue
I'm not wasting my time
I don't want to waste my time arguing
I'm just saying goodbye
I'm just saying goodbye
One finger shy of the peace sign
I'm almost at peace with the situation but not quite there yet
You thought that you could delete me
You thought that you could just erase me from your life
A few sorry words on a page
A few words that try to express regret
To you, it was so complicated
To you, our relationship was difficult and complex
Me just taking up your precious space
You saw me as just taking up your valuable time and space
I thought I knew you well
I believed I had a good understanding of who you are
It goes to show that you just can't tell
But it turns out you can never really know someone fully
Oh, yeah
Oh, yeah
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Amy Dalley, James Elwood LeBlanc
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@aprilnurs05
Right on! Women be strong enough to be able to walk away with confidence!
@ruthnoelmarie...9061
Never heard this one...🙏🏻💜✝️
#KeepThePeace #KeepTheFaith
@dalger1639
Love this song
@colleenhunter2754
i love you Jo Dee!
@allisonadams9639
Oh I love it!!!
@pamelahorad5508
Love it
@himtnran
Omg! Like that so happened to me too!
@ChuckBryant
There's no explaining love
@MamaRaspberry
I know I've felt like this before. Had a guy that thought it wad cool to treat me like crap so this is what I said to him basically. Then found an amazing man that I've been with for 11 years now, 2 kids & we are happily married. Ironically the guy who treated me bad, moved to the town I live in to track me down cause he wanted me back. LMAO! That was a great twist of fate. . . for me!
@amymacleod6977
What a great song .... <3