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.
These Are The Days
Jo Dee Messina Lyrics
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I wake up to the sunshine out my
window and the passin?sound of a homeless man
Singin?an ol?Cole Porter song
The faucet leaks, the TV's on the blink again
But my restless dreams are still intact
Even though it's takin?way too long
And I'm thinkin?to myself, whoa
These are the days you will remember for the rest of your life
These are the memories you'll pack in a box and pull ‘em out sometimes
So pick your flowers, count the seconds, roll the dice
But baby, don't wait ‘till its too late
Put a smile on your face
These are the days
Outside the people rush to get ahead for checks, promotions and fancy cars
Happiness is just around the bend
Old Mrs. Jones sits out and suns her face, and as I walk by I hear her say
This is as good as it gets
There goes the business suit who owns this whole damn block
His roller coaster never stops
I want to say to him
These are the days you will remember for the rest of your life
These are the memories you'll pack in a box and pull ‘em out sometimes
So pick your flowers, count the seconds, roll the dice
But baby, don't wait ‘till its too late
Put a smile on your face
These are the days
In Jo Dee Messina’s soulful song These Are The Days, she encourages listeners to cherish every moment of their lives. From the opening lyrics, the song establishes a theme of appreciating what one has, regardless of any shortcomings or difficulties. The song’s protagonist has a leaky faucet and a broken TV set, but still manages to hold onto her dreams, represented by the “hundred dollars in a coke tin on [her] shelf”. Meanwhile, the hustle and bustle of the outside world continues, with people rushing to get ahead and own fancy cars. But even in her struggles, the singer takes solace in the slower pace of life, as exemplified by elderly Mrs. Jones enjoying a sunny day outside.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the transient nature of life, urging listeners not to wait until it's too late to enjoy the memories and experiences that shape one’s life. This theme is reinforced by references to the passing of time, such as “count the seconds” and “roll the dice”, suggesting that each moment is precious and should be appreciated.
Overall, These Are The Days presents an optimistic and hopeful view of life, urging people to enjoy and cherish every moment, even those that may seem mundane or challenging. The song’s soulful lyrics and catchy melody serve as a powerful reminder to appreciate the good things in life.
Line by Line Meaning
I wake up to the sunshine out my window and the passin?sound of a homeless man
I start my day with the warmth of the sun shining into my room and the distant sound of a homeless man singing.
Singin?an ol?Cole Porter song
The homeless man is singing an old song by Cole Porter.
The faucet leaks, the TV's on the blink again
The faucet is leaking and, once again, the TV is not working correctly.
But my restless dreams are still intact
Despite these issues, I still hold onto my dreams and aspirations.
Even though it's takin?way too long
Even though it's been a long and difficult journey.
Got a hundred dollars in a coke tin on my shelf
There's only a hundred dollars in a coke tin on my shelf.
And I'm thinkin?to myself, whoa
And I can't help but think to myself, wow.
These are the days you will remember for the rest of your life
These moments are the ones that will stay with you forever.
These are the memories you'll pack in a box and pull ‘em out sometimes
These memories are the ones you'll cherish and revisit throughout your life.
So pick your flowers, count the seconds, roll the dice
Enjoy the little things, cherish every moment, and take chances in life.
But baby, don't wait ‘till its too late
Don't wait until it's too late to appreciate these moments.
Put a smile on your face
Try to stay happy and positive despite life's challenges.
Outside the people rush to get ahead for checks, promotions and fancy cars
People outside are rushing to get promotions, bigger paychecks, and luxury cars.
Happiness is just around the bend
Happiness is always within reach and around the corner.
Old Mrs. Jones sits out and suns her face, and as I walk by I hear her say
As I walk by, I see Old Mrs. Jones sitting outside enjoying the sun and she says to me.
This is as good as it gets
This moment is as good as it gets, and we should enjoy it as much as we can.
There goes the business suit who owns this whole damn block
The man in the business suit who owns the entire block walks by.
His roller coaster never stops
His life is like a roller coaster that never stops.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: STEPHANIE KAY BENTLEY, MARY HOLLADAY LAMAR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind