The trio originally formed in Nashville, Tennessee, in 2006 by Charles Kelley (lead and background vocals), Dave Haywood (background vocals, guitar, piano, mandolin) and Hillary Scott (lead and background vocals).
Scott is the daughter of country music singer Linda Davis, and Charles Kelley is the brother of pop artist Josh Kelley. It was these family connections and music industry ties that helped launch the band. Kelley moved to Nashville in mid-2005 from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where he had been working construction with his brother John. Trying to become a successful solo country artist, Kelley convinced his old middle-school classmate, Haywood, to move to Nashville from Georgia in 2006 so they could write music together. Shortly thereafter, Scott recognized Kelley from MySpace, and they started to talk at a Nashville music club. Kelley later invited Scott to join him and Haywood in the new group, which assumed the name Lady Antebellum. The name Antebellum comes from when the group were photographing "antebellum" homes. The antebellum ('pre-war') architectural style describes the large plantation homes in the American South. While photographing the houses one of the group said that there's a great band name in there, and they adopted the Lady Antebellum name shortly after. The trio then began performing at local venues in Nashville before being signed in July 2007 to a recording contract with Capitol Records Nashville. In an interview with Sirius Satellite Radio, Scott claimed she was rejected from the hit show American Idol two times, not even making it past the first round.
Shortly after the trio signed to the label, adult contemporary artist Jim Brickman chose Lady Antebellum to sing on his 2007 single Never Alone, which reached #14 on the Billboard adult contemporary charts. In mid-2007, Lady Antebellum also wrote a song for the MTV reality television series The Hills.
Their solo debut single Love Don't Live Here was released in September of 2007, with a music video for the song following in December. This song was the lead-off single to the band's self-titled debut album. Released on April 15, 2008, Lady Antebellum was produced by Paul Worley and Victoria Shaw, a Nashville songwriter and former solo artist. Love Don't Live Here reached #3 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. The album itself was the first album by a new duo or group to debut at Number One on the Billboard Top Country Albums charts.
A second single, Lookin' for a Good Time, was issued in June 2008 and peaked at #11 in December. In addition, Lady Antebellum was signed as an opening act on Martina McBride's "Waking Up Laughing Tour" in 2008. Lady Antebellum also contributed the song I Was Here to the AT&T Team USA Soundtrack, a song which peaked at #24 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 based on downloads. In December 2008, their rendition of Baby, It's Cold Outside peaked at #3 on the same chart. Their third official single, I Run to You, was released in January 2009. It eventually became the trio's first Number One in July 2009.
On October 7, 2009 their debut album was certified platinum by the RIAA for shipments of one million copies in the United States.
In August 2009, the group released their fourth single, Need You Now, the lead-off single and title track to their second studio album. It debuted at #50 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and became their second Number One hit on the charts for the week of November 28, 2009. The song also reached a peak of #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was a number-one hit on the Hot Adult Contemporary chart, making it a crossover hit. A second single, American Honey, was released to radio on January 11, 2010 and would become their third #1 hit. Our Kind of Love was released as the third single from the album on May 31, 2010 and became a #1 single in September, 2010.
The album debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 and Top Country Albums charts for the week of Feb. 2, 2010, selling 480,922 copies in the first week. Four weeks after the album's release, it was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.
The week of January 9, 2011, the group ventured into the studio to begin recording for their third studio album. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Kelley said, "We actually just went ahead and decided we’re gonna take two, two and a half months straight in the studio to create this thing and not have all this distraction. Hopefully that will be a good thing". He goes on to say that the group has around 50 songs which they plan to choose from along with songs from other songwriters. However, he singles out a song called Dancing Away With My Heart as one the band is particularly excited about, a song that the group co-wrote with Josh Kear, who previously wrote with the group on their hit Need You Now.
On May 2, 2011, the group released the first single from their upcoming album, titled Just a Kiss. The group performed the single on stage on American Idol's result show on May 5, 2011.
On June 11, 2020, amid the George Floyd protests, the band announced they would rename themselves "Lady A" in order to avoid racist connotations with Civil War history, as the original name was based on the Antebellum South. The band stated on social media that they were "deeply sorry for the hurt this has caused and for anyone who has felt unsafe, unseen or unvalued."
01. Long Stretch of Love
Lady Antebellum Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're water and whiskey burn
We kiss, we fight, make up all night
You're the blessing and the curse
But I don't ever wanna break this chain
I don't ever wanna walk away
'Cause I ain't ever gonna find another lover
Over and over and over we say that we're through
But I come right back to you
There's a long stretch of love
Coming down the line
Have you like I want, ever rolling
Baby, you'll be mine
Have you right here, beside you
When these good times get tough
Baby, we're in for a long stretch of love
You lift me up, you bring me down
You make me feel alive
You send my heart in overdrive
Every time you kill the lights
Over and over and over we play this game
Win or lose, we never change
There's a long stretch of love
Coming down the line
Have you like I want, ever rolling
Baby, you'll be mine
Have you right here, beside you
When these good times get tough
Baby, we're in for a long stretch of love
(Oh) Long stretch of love
(Oh) Long stretch of love
(Oh) Long stretch of love
Over and over and over we play this game
Win or lose, we never change
There's a long stretch of love
Coming down the line
Have you like I want, ever rolling
Baby, you'll be mine
Have you right here, beside you
When these good times get tough
Baby, we're in for a long stretch of love
(Oh) Long stretch of love
(Oh) Long stretch of love
(Oh) Long stretch of love (Ooh baby)
But I don't ever wanna break this chain
I don't ever wanna walk away
From this long stretch of love
"Long Stretch of Love" by Lady Antebellum is a song that tells a story of a tumultuous relationship that has its ups and downs. The verses describe the contrast between the two lovers, with one being "initial fire and ice" while the other is "water and whiskey burn." Despite their differences, they are inseparable and keep coming back to each other. The chorus talks about the future of their relationship, as there's a "long stretch of love" coming down the line. The lyrics suggest that there may be tough times ahead, but they are committed to each other and want to stay together.
The song's bridge talks about the power dynamic within their relationship. One person lifts the other up, but also brings them down. Despite the rollercoaster of emotions, they both feel alive and in love. "Long Stretch of Love" is an ode to relationships that may not always be smooth sailing but are worth fighting for. It's about two people who know each other's flaws and still choose to love each other.
Line by Line Meaning
Your hit initial fire and ice
You are dynamic and unpredictable
You're water and whiskey burn
You are intoxicating and irresistible
We kiss, we fight, make up all night
Our relationship is passionate and intense
You're the blessing and the curse
You bring me joy and pain
But I don't ever wanna break this chain
I am committed to this relationship and don't want to lose it
I don't ever wanna walk away
I don't want to give up on us
'Cause I ain't ever gonna find another lover
I know that I won't find someone else like you
Make me feel this way
Who makes me feel the way you do
Over and over and over we say that we're through
We have arguments and breakups
But I come right back to you
I can't stay away from you
There's a long stretch of love
Our love will endure for a long time
Coming down the line
It's on the way, it's approaching
Have you like I want, ever rolling
I want to have you with me, on this journey of life, always moving forward
Baby, you'll be mine
You belong to me, and we will be together
Have you right here, beside you
I'll always be by your side
When these good times get tough
We'll be together even in difficult times
Baby, we're in for a long stretch of love
Our love will last a long time
You lift me up, you bring me down
You have a huge influence on my emotional state
You make me feel alive
You make me feel like I'm truly living
You send my heart in overdrive
You make my heart race with excitement
Every time you kill the lights
When we're together, everything else fades away
Over and over and over we play this game
We have a pattern of breaking up and getting back together
Win or lose, we never change
Regardless of the outcome, we'll always be the same
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Round Hill Music Big Loud Songs
Written by: CHARLES KELLEY, DAVE HAYWOOD, HILLARY SCOTT, JOSH KEAR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@BirdYoumans
Their voices are always just magic together.
@renhoyze
Their harmonics are amazing 😍
@ginniekinz5401
IKR, I LOOOOVE IT! Can't get enough, ever!
@SuperLovebug8
747 is their best album yet I love every single song and their harmonies are just beautiful
@AnaxofRhodes
Country needs more songs like this.
@theboombody
I felt this should have been a bigger radio hit.
@3alex1210264
THIS MAY BE MY FAVORITE SONG FROM [747]!!!
Not 100% their fans, but this album is PERFECT. =]
@maribethhewitt6192
Incredible song! I cannot figure out why this wasn't a bigger hit.
@Hakusan75
Because most people don't like songs that take skill to perform, it would seem.
@derekcole7642
+Haku0705 wrong its the fact a country song can not become a hit nowadays unless it involves trucks, beer, partying and banging someone else's lover. I'm being serious: cruise, kick the dust up, this is how we roll, holy, if my truck could talk, or red solo cup