Roberts began performing country music as a child. When she was in junior high and high school, she toured with her family, playing at festivals in North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. She also performed at area nursing homes (where she developed an appreciation for blues music); and worked at Carowinds (a theme park in Charlotte, North Carolina) and Dollywood.
A graduate of Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, Roberts began working for Mercury Records, later becoming assistant to label head Luke Lewis. During her tenure there, she began perfecting her singing skills and recorded a demo tape. Producer Brent Rowan liked what he heard and invited Lewis to hear the tape. Lewis liked what he heard, but it was only after he asked for the singer's identity that he learned it was Roberts.
Roberts was signed to Mercury Records, and her self-titled album was released in 2004.
A second album for Mercury, Men & Mascara, followed in 2006. This album produced two non-charting singles in its title track and a cover of Saving Jane's "Girl Next Door".
Her influences include Dolly Parton, Barbara Mandrell and Tanya Tucker.
Break Down Here
Julie Roberts Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
An' I'll be dang'd if the rain ain't pourin' down
There's somethin' smokin' underneath the hood
It's a-bangin' and a-clangin' an' it can't be good
An' it's another fifty miles to the nearest town
Everythin' I own's in the back in a hefty bag
I'm outta cigarettes an' I'm down to my last drag
Nothin' up ahead or in the rear view mirror
Out in the middle of nowhere, knowin'
I'm in trouble if these wheels stop rollin'
So, God help me, keep me movin' somehow
Don't let me start wishin' I was with him now
I made it this far without cryin' a single tear
I'd sure hate to break down here
Under fifty thousand miles ago
Before the bad blood an' busted radio
He said I was all he had ever needed
But love is blind an' little did I know
You were just another dead end road
Made with pretty lies an' broken dreams
Baby, leavin' you is easier than bein' gone
I don't know what I'll do if one more thing goes wrong
I'd sure hate to break down here
Nothin' up ahead or in the rear view mirror
Out in the middle of nowhere, knowin'
I'm in trouble if these wheels stop rollin'
So, God help me, keep me movin' somehow
Don't let me start wishin' I was with him now
I made it this far without cryin' a single tear
An' I'd sure hate to break down here
Oh, no
I'd sure hate to break down here
With nothin' up ahead or in the rear view mirror
Out in the middle of nowhere, knowin'
I'm in trouble if these wheels stop rollin'
So, God help me, keep me movin' somehow
Don't let me start wishin' I was with him now
I made it this far without cryin' a single tear
An' I'd sure hate to break down
It's too late to turn around
I'd sure hate to break down here
The song "Break Down Here" by Julie Roberts is about a woman who is driving alone on a desolate road, with her gas gauge nearing empty and a smoking car, and feeling helpless and in need of help. She is aware that she is far from any help, which makes her feel anxious, and constantly prays for her car to keep rolling as the thought of breaking down in such a remote area is torture for her. The woman seems to be fleeing from someone, probably an ex-boyfriend, with whom she has had a challenging relationship with a lot of deceit and disappointments. She left him because she realized he was taking advantage of her love and living in a toxic relationship with him was harder than leaving.
The song paints the picture of the pain and stress that comes with bouncing back after a broken relationship. She is in a dark and treacherous situation, but she tries to remain optimistic and trusts in God to help her survive. Roberts uses the repeated phrase "I'd sure hate" in the chorus to emphasize her sense of vulnerability and desperation. The use of imagery throughout the song, such as the empty road, the smoking engine, and the rain, helps to illustrate the woman's desperate and lonely situation.
Line by Line Meaning
Mile marker 203, the gas gauge leanin' on the edge of "E",
The car is running low on gas near mile marker 203 and is dangerously close to empty.
An' I'll be dang'd if the rain ain't pourin' down.
It is raining heavily, adding to the stressful situation.
There's somethin' smokin' underneath the hood,
There is an issue with the car engine, and smoke can be seen coming from under the hood.
It's a-bangin' and a-clangin' an' it can't be good,
The car is making alarming and concerning noises that indicate there is a serious problem with the engine.
An' it's another fifty miles to the nearest town.
The nearest town is a far distance away, and it will be difficult to reach it given the car's current condition.
Everythin' I own's in the back in a hefty bag;
All of the belongings the person owns are in a bag in the back of the car, making the situation more stressful since everything they have is with them in the vehicle.
I'm outta cigarettes an' I'm down to my last drag.
The person is out of cigarettes, and they are smoking the last one they have.
I'd sure hate to break down here,
The person is worried about their car breaking down in the middle of nowhere.
Nothin' up ahead or in the rear view mirror.
There is no help in sight in either direction, and the person is completely alone.
Out in the middle of nowhere, knowin'.
The person is stranded in an isolated and unfamiliar location.
I'm in trouble if these wheels stop rollin'.
If the car stops moving, the person will be in serious trouble and could be stranded for a long time.
So, God help me, keep me movin' somehow.
The person is praying for divine intervention to keep the car moving and prevent a complete breakdown.
Don't let me start wishin' I was with him now.
The person is worried about feeling regretful for leaving someone behind and wishes they were with them instead of being alone in this situation.
I made it this far without cryin' a single tear.
Despite the stressful and emotional situation, the person has managed to keep it together and not break down emotionally.
Under fifty thousand miles ago,
Less than fifty thousand miles ago, the person had a significant other who they left behind.
Before the bad blood an' busted radio,
Before the relationship ended on bad terms and before the car radio was broken.
He said I was all he had ever needed.
In the past, the significant other said that the person was everything that they needed in life.
But love is blind an' little did I know,
The person realizes that they were too blinded by love to see the faults in the relationship and their significant other.
You were just another dead end road,
The relationship was a dead end and was not going to lead to any positive outcomes for the person.
Made with pretty lies an' broken dreams.
The relationship was based on false promises and unrealistic dreams that were never fulfilled.
Baby, leavin' you is easier than bein' gone.
The person finds it easier to leave the significant other behind than to stay in a stagnant and unfulfilling relationship.
I don't know what I'll do if one more thing goes wrong.
The person is barely holding it together and feels like they will break if anything else goes wrong in this situation.
It's too late to turn around.
The person cannot go back to their significant other, even if they wanted to.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Jess Brown, Patrick Jason Matthews
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Red River
When artists like this don't explode.....there is something wrong with the music industry.... She should have been as big as Carrie....Miranda.....etc.
Vigilante
Skip carrie, but ADD : Jessica Andrews, Sara Evans, Faith Hill, Julie Roberts..
Teresa Wilson
IV always thought she had one of the prettiest voices in country music. 100% needs to be rereleased again.
VeeTee
She dedicated this song to her mom who was making a transition from disturbing life to a happier new life and closer to her daughter. So much love, strength, and support is locked in the lyrics!
LeighAnne Stephenson
I’ve never heard that before and I’ve been a fan of hers for 20 years. Well I should say I’ve been a fan of this song anyways. But what a cool thing to learn. This song means everything to me. My life in a song. I listened to this song nonstop moving from NC to OH to start over completely along with no one I even knew in OH. Just had to get away from him. So happy I did it too. ❤😊
Rudi channel
Talita cribe
Dirrtyvictory
I'll never understand why she didn't explode on the music scene. I know she was sick & I think she had problems with her label, but she is fantastic and deserved more recognition.
Violet Miller
+Dirrtyvictory You are so right. She really deserved more attention. She is great. I remember when this song came out. Either CMT or GAC did a little documentary on her making it and other stuff. It's a real shame we don't hear from her anymore.
Dirrtyvictory
+Alysha Thank you.
carla ann mangine
Agreed!