Raised in Velma, Oklahoma, Diffie worked in a foundry while playing local nightclubs in Oklahoma and moved to Nashville in 1986 to work for Gibson Guitar Corporation.
His first album arrived in 1990 when country music was thriving commercially and creatively. His first single, a sensitive traditional country ballad, Home, reached No. 1, although Diffie quickly counted on novelty hits to sustain his career. For instance, his other No. 1 hits are Pickup Man, Bigger Than the Beatles, Third Rock From the Sun and If the Devil Danced (In Empty Pockets). Toward the end of the 1990s, Diffie lost his chart momentum and left Epic Records following his 2001 album, In Another World. Subsequently, he toured with Mark Chesnutt and Tracy Lawrence on the Rockin' Roadhouse tour.
In 2013, Diffie collaborated with Aaron Tippin and Sammy Kershaw on the album All in the Same Boat, and cut the single "Girl Riding Shotgun" with D Thrash of the Jawga Boyz. This was followed in 2019 by a vinyl album called Joe, Joe, Joe Diffie.
Diffie passed away from complications of coronavirus (COVID-19) on March 29, 2020.
Are We Even Yet
Joe Diffie Lyrics
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Add it up and we're just two fools
And on, and on, and on, and on, it goes
You hurt me, and I hurt you woman
Like two kids we're keepin' score
Am I one, two or three heartaches ahead
Are we even yet
Do we even know if we're holdin' on or lettin' go
Nobody wins, when we can't forgive and forget
Are we even yet
My words hurt, and cause you pain
Tear drops fall like pourin' rain
You cry and cry, love dies and dies some more
Revenge is sweet, when you don't talk
I'm afraid you're gonna walk
What will it take to take back the things we've said
Are we even yet
Are we even yet
Do we even know if we're holdin' on or lettin' go
Nobody wins, when we can't forgive and forget
Are we even yet
The lyrics of Joe Diffie's "Are We Even Yet" depict the tumultuous nature of a romantic relationship where both parties have hurt each other and are keeping score of the wrongdoings. The lines "That's one for me, and one for you/Add it up and we're just two fools" suggest that both partners are equally guilty of causing pain to each other, and neither can claim a moral high ground. The phrase "And on, and on, and on, and on, it goes" indicates that this cycle of hurt and retaliation continues endlessly, and neither party is willing to let go of their grievances.
The chorus of the song poses a question, "Are we even yet?" which implies that the partners are trying to keep score of their wrongdoings against each other, and neither can claim to have settled the score. The lines "Nobody wins, when we can't forgive and forget" suggest that both parties are suffering due to their inability to forgive and move on from the past hurts. The use of the phrase "holding on or letting go" indicates that the couple is struggling with their decision to stay together or break up.
The lyrics "My words hurt, and cause you pain/Tear drops fall like pourin' rain/You cry and cry, love dies and dies some more" depict the emotional turmoil in the relationship where harsh words and actions cause pain and heartbreak. The line "Revenge is sweet when you don't talk" suggests that the partners are seeking revenge by withholding communication and affection.
Overall, the lyrics of "Are We Even Yet" convey the message that a relationship cannot survive without forgiveness and understanding. The constant cycle of hurt and retaliation leads to emotional pain and suffering, and both parties need to let go of their grievances to move forward.
Line by Line Meaning
That's one for me, and one for you
We have hurt each other equally
Add it up and we're just two fools
We are both foolish for hurting each other
And on, and on, and on, and on, it goes
Our cycle of hurting each other continues
You hurt me, and I hurt you woman
We have hurt each other emotionally
Like two kids we're keepin' score
We are both keeping track of each other's wrongs
Am I one, two or three heartaches ahead
I wonder if I am ahead or behind in causing pain
Are we even yet
Have we made up for the pain we caused each other?
Are we even yet
Have we reached our equilibrium in our relationship?
Do we even know if we're holdin' on or lettin' go
We are unsure if we want to stay and fix things or walk away
Nobody wins, when we can't forgive and forget
Both of us lose when we hold onto grudges and can't move on
My words hurt, and cause you pain
The things I say to you hurt your feelings
Tear drops fall like pourin' rain
You cry a lot because of the hurt I caused you
You cry and cry, love dies and dies some more
Our love is dying because of the hurt we are causing each other
Revenge is sweet, when you don't talk
It feels good to hurt the other person back when we don't communicate
I'm afraid you're gonna walk
I fear that you will leave me because of the pain I caused you
What will it take to take back the things we've said
We need to apologize and take back the hurtful things we said to each other
Contributed by Ethan F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.