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.
The Chance
Julie Roberts Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Filled with secrets she hid
And in a dusty old attic, one mornin' I read
About a woman I never met
Who had dreams like mine
With every page I turned, the words came alive
Wish I could roll out of town like a run-away train
I'll never sit on the sidelines of life, I'll dance every dance
If I just had the chance
A tear fell on that faded page
'Cause this was somebody else
Not the mama I knew who never thought of herself
But the times, they were different then
And lines just didn't get crossed
And these words that she wrote, they somehow got lost
Wish I could roll out of town like a run-away train
I'll do as I dare, let them call me insane
I'll never sit on the sidelines of life, I'll dance every dance
If I just had the chance
The chance that she never had
Is now the gift that is mine
And our here on this road, I'm makin' up for lost time
Yeah, I am my mother's child
As I roll out of town like a run-away train
I'll do as I dare, let them call me insane
I'll never sit on the sidelines of life, I'll dance every dance
While I still have the chance
I'll never sit on the sidelines of life, I'll dance every dance
While I still have the chance
Julie Roberts's song The Chance is a touching tribute to the dreams of a woman never met, who is described as having similar dreams like the singer. The lyrics describe finding a book filled with secrets and reading about a woman whose words come alive with every page turned. The singer wishes to live life without fear, to run away and be called insane. The pages of the book bring tears to the singer's eyes because this woman was not the mother she knew, who never thought of herself. The singer recognizes that times were different then and lines didn't get crossed. However, the words written by this woman got lost.
The lyrics then take an uplifting turn when the singer realizes that the chance this woman never had is now hers, and she is making up for lost time. She recognizes that she is her mother's child and will roll out of town like a runaway train, daring to be called insane. The singer promises to never sit on the sidelines of life and dance every dance while she still has the chance.
The Chance is a deeply personal song for Julie Roberts. When her mother passed away, she discovered a journal that her mother had kept as a teenager. The journal was filled with dreams of traveling and living a life outside of her small-town roots. The journal inspired Roberts to pursue her own dreams of becoming a country music artist. The song was co-written by Roberts and Don Schlitz and was released on her second studio album of the same name in 2006.
Line by Line Meaning
I found a book that my mama kept
I discovered a book that my mother had hidden away
Filled with secrets she hid
The book contained her untold stories and secrets
And in a dusty old attic, one mornin' I read
One day in the morning, I read the book in an old and dusty attic
About a woman I never met
The book was about a woman I had never known
Who had dreams like mine
The woman had similar dreams to mine
With every page I turned, the words came alive
As I read further, the words became more vivid and alive
Wish I could roll out of town like a run-away train
I wish I could leave town quickly, like a runaway train
I'll do as I dare, let them call me insane
I will take risks and do as I please, even if people think I'm crazy
I'll never sit on the sidelines of life, I'll dance every dance
I will actively participate in life and live it to the fullest
If I just had the chance
If I had the opportunity or permission to do so
A tear fell on that faded page
A tear fell while reading the old and worn out page
'Cause this was somebody else
The woman in the book was not the same person my mother was to me
Not the mama I knew who never thought of herself
The woman in the book was different from the selfless mother I knew
But the times, they were different then
The time the woman in the book lived in was different from the present time
And lines just didn't get crossed
Certain lines or boundaries were not crossed back then
And these words that she wrote, they somehow got lost
The woman's words and dreams were not fulfilled or forgotten
The chance that she never had
The opportunity that the woman in the book never had
Is now the gift that is mine
That opportunity is now mine and I consider it a gift
And our here on this road, I'm makin' up for lost time
I am making up for lost time now that I have this chance
Yeah, I am my mother's child
I am my mother's daughter and share her dreams and desires
While I still have the chance
While I still have the opportunity and time to do so
Lyrics © Spirit Music Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DEANNA BRYANT, LIZ HENGBER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
JulieRobertsOfficial
My new album “Ain’t in No Hurry” will be available on October 28! Preorder autographed copies at http://JulieRoberts.com or Pre-Save here: https://onerpm.link/844081526017
DJ STACKTRACE
Awesome!!!
spqa2004
I hadn't heard this song in about 10 years. A couple weeks ago i thought about it and played it on my way home. I almost bawled a couple times. Even after i parked at my apartment and listened to it a third time, it hit me. I thought of my mother and grandmothers. I thought about their own sacrifices and i wondered if there were any regrets in their lives that may have halted them from knowing deeper joy. I thought of my father and his life and how certain events changed his life: some for the better, others for the opposite.
DJ STACKTRACE
It's a great song, isn't it? One of my favorites for sure. Lots of meaning behind it. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
ReddyorNot
I realized my mom was a person and not just my "mom."
farron gilley
I think Julie Roberts should be doing really good, with the voice she has. ❤️ Heartbreaking Song; Farron Gilley Happy Thanksgiving!
Emory Parrish
Beautiful song... makes me think of my mom! Thanks for uploading.
Ms. Beagle
Thanks hon. Love you.
Violet Bloom
🥺 still in love with this song❤️
QuanDrico Rutledge-Wade
One of my Favorites, from my hometown of Lancaster, SC. Jule and her Sister Marie are 2 of the Prettiest, Sweetest Girls ever!❤