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."
Cant Stand The Rain
Lady Antebellum Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You know we've all seen a cloud or two
But I meant it when I promised I would have your back through sky black or blue.
Do you remember how we swore forever till the sweet or the bitter end
Well, this is what they mean when they say you got the real thing in a friend.
With arms open wide
I'll be your umbrella when you just can't stand the rain
I wanna be your shelter when you just can't stand
When you just can't stand the rain
I don't know where the road you're on is gonna end up
Or what this crazy world will put you through.
But don't you worry about me, baby
You just go and do what you gotta do.
I'll still be here for you
With arms open wide
I'll be your umbrella when you just can't stand the rain
I'm there by your side,
I wanna be your shelter when you just can't stand
When you just can't stand the rain
When you can't take it even one more day
No, I'm never too far away
Even when you feel like you're out there on your own,
No you're not alone, no
Oh, no
With arms open wide
I'll be your umbrella when you just can't stand the rain
I'm there by your side,
I wanna be your shelter when you just can't stand
When you just can't stand the rain
Oh yeah
When you just can't stand the rain
When you just can't stand the rain
Lady Antebellum's song Can is a touching ode to friendship and loyalty. The lyrics describe a promise made by the singer to always be there for their friend through thick and thin, even when life's storms seem too much to bear. The metaphor of an umbrella and shelter is used to illustrate the protection and comfort the singer wants to provide for their friend. The lyrics suggest that even though life's journey can be uncertain and unpredictable, the bond of true friendship endures and provides a constant source of support and love.
The first stanza of the song highlights the idea that everyone experiences hardships in life, but the true value of a friend is tested when those trials hit. The second verse emphasizes that even though the singer doesn't know where their friend's road will lead, they will always be there waiting, providing solace and encouragement. The chorus is a repetition of the promise to be a friend's shelter, even when it feels like they are facing the storm alone.
The last stanza of the song reveals the ultimate message: no matter how difficult life can be, the power of friendship can be an enduring source of strength and support, providing refuge from life's troubles. The lyrics are a testament to the importance of having close friends that can help us stand strong through every obstacle.
Overall, Can is a heartfelt and touching tribute to the power of friendship and support. It is a reminder that even though life can be unpredictable and difficult, we can always count on our true friends to be there for us.
Line by Line Meaning
The storms of life are gonna blow through, baby
Life can be tough and unpredictable, but I'm here for you no matter what.
You know we've all seen a cloud or two
I know you've been through hard times too.
But I meant it when I promised I would have your back through sky black or blue.
I made a promise to be here for you through thick and thin, no matter how tough things get.
Do you remember how we swore forever till the sweet or the bitter end
We promised to stick together through the good and bad times, for better or for worse.
Well, this is what they mean when they say you got the real thing in a friend.
When people say you have a true friend, they mean someone who will be there for you when you need them the most.
With arms open wide
I am ready and willing to help you, no matter what.
I'll be your umbrella when you just can't stand the rain
I am here to protect you from life's hardships.
I'm there by your side,
I am here to support you and help you through tough times.
I wanna be your shelter when you just can't stand
I want to be your safe haven when everything else seems to be falling apart.
When you can't take it even one more day
When life is pushing you to your limits, I am here to help you hold on.
No, I'm never too far away
I am always here to support you, no matter how far apart we may be.
Even when you feel like you're out there on your own,
Even in your toughest moments when you feel alone, I am here to remind you that you are not.
No you're not alone, no
You have me by your side and I will never leave you to go through tough times alone.
Oh, no
When you just can't stand the rain
When life's problems become too much for you, I am here to help.
Oh yeah
When you just can't stand the rain
When life becomes overwhelming, I am here to help and support you through it all.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOSH KEAR, CHARLES KELLEY, HILLARY SCOTT, DAVE HAYWOOD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind