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.
Stand Beside Me
Jo Dee Messina Lyrics
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He said he had to find himself out on the road
I guess when love goes wrong, you've gotta learn to be strong
So I worked two jobs and I moved three times
I ended up south of Memphis, workin' down in Riverside
I may not be so lucky in love
But the one thing I'm sure of
Not in front of or behind me
Give me two arms that wanna hold me, not own me
And I'll give all the love in my heart
Stand beside me
Be true, don't tell lies to me
I'm not lookin' for a fantasy
I want a man who stands beside me
I didn't expect to see him, one hot July morning
His hair was longer but his eyes were the same old blue
He said, "I've missed you for so long, oh baby, what can I do?"
I said, "I want a man that stands beside me
Not in front of or behind me
Give me two arms that wanna hold me, not own me
And I'll give all the love in my heart"
Oh, It's hard to tell him, "No" when I want him so bad
But I've got to be true to my heart
This time, ooh-ooh
I'm not lookin' for a fantasy
I want a man who stands beside me
I want a man
Who stands beside me
Stand beside me
Oh-oh, stand beside me
Oh-oh
The lyrics to Jo Dee Messina's "Stand Beside Me" tell the story of a woman who has been through a tough break-up and is now looking for a man who will stand by her rather than try to control or overshadow her. The first verse recounts the pain of being left behind by a partner who needed to find himself, and the struggle to move on and establish a life of her own. Despite not being lucky in love, the singer remains sure of what she wants in a relationship - someone who will stand beside her, not in front of her or behind her. The chorus emphasizes this desire for equality and mutual support, with two arms that hold her without possessing her.
In the second verse, the singer unexpectedly runs into her ex-partner after time has passed, but she remains true to her principles and turns him down, despite how much she still wants him. The song ultimately celebrates the strength and independence that comes with knowing what you want in a partner and standing up for yourself.
Line by Line Meaning
He left me cryin' late one Sunday night outside of Boulder
My boyfriend left me in tears on a Sunday night outside Boulder
He said he had to find himself out on the road
He wants to find himself by traveling
I guess when love goes wrong, you've gotta learn to be strong
One has to be strong when loved ones leave unexpected
So I worked two jobs and I moved three times
To forget my past, I did the toughest job and moved to different places
I ended up south of Memphis, workin' down in Riverside
Finally, I ended up working in Riverside located in Memphis south.
I may not be so lucky in love
I may not be lucky in finding love.
But the one thing I'm sure of
But I am confident about one thing
I want a man that stands beside me
I want a partner who will stand by my side
Not in front of or behind me
He should not be superior or inferior to me
Give me two arms that want to hold me, not own me
He should embrace me with care and love, not possess me
And I'll give all the love in my heart
And in return, I will shower him with all my love
Be true, don't tell lies to me
He should never lie to me and always be truthful
I'm not lookin' for a fantasy
I don't need an unreal illusion of perfect love
I didn't expect to see him, one hot July morning
He came to me unannounced, one hot July morning
His hair was longer but his eyes were the same old blue
Although his hair was longer, his eyes were still the same blue color
He said, 'I've missed you for so long, oh baby, what can I do?'
He asked me what he could do to make up for his absence
Oh, It's hard to tell him, 'No' when I want him so bad
It's tough to decline his advances when I still have feelings for him
But I've got to be true to my heart
However, I have to be faithful to my emotions
I want a man who stands beside me
Ultimately, I need someone who can lay down their life for me and support me always.
Stand beside me, oh-oh
Stand beside me now and forever
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Stephen Allen Davis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@amymacleod6977
The talent this woman has, is off-the charts <3
@listen2100
Why are your comments seen and kot mine .
@kasiebuzick
This beautiful woman is so underrated. 2020 almost 2021 and still listening. From teens to 30s this woman is still on my playlist
@OdinX316
FACT!!! Same here I Love her music her energy and that voice is Angelic!!
@naquiyankee
Am I the only one who thinks that Jo Dee Messina is so underrated? I think she deserves better
@jenniferwellman5311
naquiyankee You’re 100% correct
@brianseohio
Most definitely!
@VictorJonesDaniels
I agree 100%
@mcgary5178
Hello hit me up on my email
mgary8565@gmail.com
Thank you
@rootman9627
No you are not. I saw her in a free concert in Largo FL. promoting this album, I was immediately a fan, hadn't even heard of her before. She's phenomenal