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 weβre 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."
Ocean
Lady Antebellum Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And feel like theyβ²re world away?
I can see your sad story eyes
So how do you have no words to say?
All I want is to fall in deeper than I've ever been
Why wonβ²t you let me?
I can handle your heart, so help me
So much beauty at my feet
All I wanna do is swim, but the waves keep crashin' in
No, I'm not afraid to drown
Take me out, take me down
Iβ²m so tired of the shore
Let me in, baby
Youβ²re an ocean, beautiful, and blue
I wanna swim in you
Like a lighthouse I've been shininβ² bright
Through the dark for the both of us
And "I've done it outta love" is not enough
But God, how I wish it was
And I donβ²t wanna find out
How much lonely I can take before you lose me
Baby, look at me and swear you won't lose me
Here you are, next to me
So much beauty at my feet
All I wanna do is swim, but the waves keep crashinβ² in
No, I'm not afraid to drown
Take me out, take me down
I'm so tired of the shore
Let me in, baby
Youβ²re an ocean, beautiful, and blue
I wanna swim in you
I canβ²t let it go for months in your arms
But they come back again
The waves, the wave
The waves, the waves
The waves, the waves
The waves, the waves
Here you are, next to me
So much beauty at my feet
All I wanna do is swim, but the waves keep crashin' in
No, Iβ²m not afraid to drown
Take me out, take me down
I'm so tired of the shore
Let me in, baby
Youβ²re an ocean, beautiful, and blue
I wanna swim in you
In the song Ocean by Lady Antebellum, the anonymous person keeps a distance from the singer but is still close enough to be seen. The singer can sense a sadness in their companion's eyes and wonders why they have no words to say. The singer wants to fall deeper in love but feels like their companion is holding back. Despite this, the singer believes that they can handle their companion's heart if only they would allow them in. The singer desires to move closer and be part of this world of beauty, yet they feel like they are drowning due to the waves continuously crashing in.
The singer continues to shine like a lighthouse for the both of them even though their love is not enough. The lyrics suggest a willingness to continue to be there for their companion, as long as they promise not to lose the singer. Here, the song Ocean is a metaphor for the ebb and flow of a relationship. The waves of emotions, including love, hurt, and happiness, keep coming and going.
The singer longs to leave the safety of the shore, represented in this song as their comfort zone, and dive into the deep blue ocean, symbolic of the unknown and risky territory of love to which they have been invited. The song is a cry for the singer's partner to let them in and allow them to love and learn what it means to be in love. Overall, the song is a bittersweet reflection on the joys and sorrows of relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
How can someone stand so damn close
Despite being physically close to someone, there can still be a feeling of emotional distance.
And feel like theyβ²re world away?
Despite being physically close to someone, there can still be a feeling of emotional distance.
I can see your sad story eyes
The singer notices the sadness in the other person's eyes and senses that they have a story to tell.
So how do you have no words to say?
Despite the sadness the artist sees, the other person seems unable or unwilling to express their feelings.
All I want is to fall in deeper than I've ever been
The artist wants to develop a deeper emotional connection with the other person.
Why wonβ²t you let me?
The singer wonders why the other person is holding back from forming a deeper connection.
I can handle your heart, so help me
The singer believes that they are capable of dealing with the other person's emotions, and they ask for the other person's assistance in opening up.
Here you are, next to me
The artist is physically close to the other person, but still feels a sense of emotional distance.
So much beauty at my feet
The artist is surrounded by natural beauty that they appreciate.
All I wanna do is swim, but the waves keep crashin' in
The artist wants to experience the beauty around them, but keeps encountering obstacles and challenges that prevent them from fully enjoying it.
No, I'm not afraid to drown
Despite the previous line, the singer is willing to take risks in order to experience the beauty of the world around them.
Take me out, take me down
The artist wants to be fully immersed in the beauty they see, even if it means experiencing discomfort or danger.
Iβ²m so tired of the shore
The singer expresses a weariness with their current situation in life.
Let me in, baby
The singer asks the other person to let them into their emotional world.
Youβ²re an ocean, beautiful, and blue
The other person is compared to an ocean β deep, mysterious, and beautiful.
I wanna swim in you
The artist desires to fully immerse themselves in the emotional world of the other person.
Like a lighthouse I've been shininβ² bright
The artist has been a source of guidance and support for the other person in difficult times.
Through the dark for the both of us
The singer has helped guide both themselves and the other person through difficult times.
And "I've done it outta love" is not enough
The singer believes that their love for the other person should be enough to sustain their relationship, but realizes that it alone may not be enough.
But God, how I wish it was
Despite the previous line, the artist expresses a deep desire for their love to be enough to sustain their relationship.
And I donβ²t wanna find out
The artist expresses a fear of discovering how much pain they can handle before walking away from the relationship.
How much lonely I can take before you lose me
The artist fears that if the other person does not let them in emotionally, they will eventually leave the relationship out of loneliness and despair.
Baby, look at me and swear you won't lose me
The singer seeks reassurance from the other person that they will not be abandoned emotionally.
I canβ²t let it go for months in your arms
The artist expresses a desire to stay close to the other person and not let go of their emotional connection even for a moment.
But they come back again
Despite the previous line, the singer acknowledges that emotional struggles will continue to arise in their relationship.
The waves, the wave
A repetition of the idea that emotional struggles are like waves in an ocean, constantly coming and going.
Here you are, next to me
Once again expressing the physical closeness of the two people but emotional distance.
So much beauty at my feet
Still surrounded by natural beauty, but unsatisfied with their own emotional world.
All I wanna do is swim, but the waves keep crashin' in
The desire to be fully immersed and connected to the beauty of the world around them, but constantly encountering obstacles.
No, Iβ²m not afraid to drown
The singer's willingness to take risks despite the obstacles in their way.
Take me out, take me down
Desire to fully immerse themselves in the emotional world of the other person, even if it is uncomfortable or dangerous.
I'm so tired of the shore
The artist is once again weary of their current situation in life.
Let me in, baby
The repetition of the desire to be let into the emotional world of the other person.
Youβ²re an ocean, beautiful, and blue
The beauty and vastness of the other person's emotional world.
I wanna swim in you
The desire for full immersion into the other person's emotional world.
Writer(s): Sarah Buxton, Abe Stoklasa, Tofer Brown (2)
Contributed by Juliana C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@napatsorn.c
Lyricsπ
How can someone stand so damn close
And feel like they're worlds away?
I can see your sad story eyes
So how do you have no words to say?
All I want is to fall in deeper
Than I've ever been, why won't you let me?
I can handle your heart, so help me
Here you are, next to me
So much beauty at my feet
All I wanna do is swim
But the waves keep crashing in
No, I'm not afraid to drown
Take me out, take me down
I'm so tired of the shore
Let me in, baby
You're an ocean beautiful and blue
I wanna swim in you
Like a lighthouse I've been shining bright
Through the dark for the both of us
And "I've done it outta love" is not enough
But God, how I wish it was
And I don't wanna find out
How much lonely I can take before you lose me
Baby, look at me and swear you won't lose me
Here you are, next to me
So much beauty at my feet
All I wanna do is swim
But the waves keep crashing in
No, I'm not afraid to drown
Take me out, take me down
I'm so tired of the shore
Let me in, baby
You're an ocean beautiful and blue
I wanna swim in you
I can let go
From moments in your arms
But they come back again
The waves, the waves, the waves, the waves
The waves, the waves, the waves, the waves
Here you are, next to me
So much beauty at my feet
All I wanna do is swim
But the waves keep crashing in
No, I'm not afraid to drown
Take me out, take me down
I'm so tired of the shore
Let me in, baby
You're an ocean beautiful and blue
I wanna swim in you
@ElizabethC1986
Lyrics:
How can someone stand so damn close
And feel like they're worlds away?
I can see your sad story eyes
So how do you have no words to say?
All I want is to fall in deeper
Than I've ever been, why won't you let me?
I can handle your heart, so help me
Here you are, next to me
So much beauty at my feet
All I wanna do is swim
But the waves keep crashin' in
No, I'm not afraid to drown
Take me out, take me down
I'm so tired of the shore
Let me in, baby
You're an ocean, beautiful and blue
I wanna swim in you
Like a lighthouse, I've been shinin' bright
Through the dark for the both of us
And, "I've done it outta love" is not enough
But God, how I wish it was
And I don't wanna find out
How much lonely I can take, before you lose me
Baby, look at me and swear you won't lose me
Here you are, next to me
So much beauty at my feet
All I wanna do is swim
But the waves keep crashin' in
No, I'm not afraid to drown
Take me out, take me down
I'm so tired of the shore
Let me in, baby
You're an ocean beautiful and blue
I wanna swim in you
I can't let it go
From moments in your arms
But they come back again
The waves, the waves, the waves, the waves
The waves, the waves, the waves, the waves
Here you are, next to me
So much beauty at my feet
All I wanna do is swim
But the waves keep crashin' in
No, I'm not afraid to drown
Take me out, take me down
I'm so tired of the shore
Let me in, baby
You're an ocean beautiful and blue
I wanna swim in you
@omyui
@Mac Monroy let's put the whole verse so It's easier to explain.
"Like a lighthouse I've been shining bright
Through the dark for the both of us
And "I've done it outta love" is not enough
But God, how I wish it was
And I don't wanna find out
How much lonely I can take before you lose me
Baby, look at me and swear you won't lose me"
When people are going through dark times in thier relationship or one of them in particular going through some personal struggles he/she tend to shut down and push everyone who try to get close to them even their significant other, yet you still believe your love will be enough to see things through and eventually everything will be alright, but that doesn't happen in a day or two it takes months and even years and those days will feel lonely for you.
And even you love them so much and want this struggle to end you might end up giving up and leave/divorce.
That's what the lyric mean by lose me.
The ocean is the significant other who keeps pushing you to the shore and you are the lighthouse who trying to shine light on those dark times.
@dreamcrusher1454
This song repaired my tiring heart and gave me inner strength. Who else love Lady Antebellum?
@whiteboy8726
I think this song hurt me even more
@louelac.arguelles3822
Meee.
@hezkez8734
@Leo Luong me too@leo luong
@veronicacardenas5434
βοΈ
@shawnlynn9499
That's my song to it brings a lot of memory fat my favorite song for a relationship
@melissapronovost8151
I know most people will hear this song and think of a guy and girl and how one of them can't show their feelings. However, as a mom to a beautiful 9 year old daughter who is nonverbal this song really strikes close to my heart. Having a child you love so dearly that is unable to speak and communicate is one of the hardest things I know. I often feel like I'm drowning trying so hard for her to learn to communicate. I long one day to hear her say "I love you Mama".
@c-break2559
One day she will, I'll pray for her π
@amandas1888
This is me and my boy. All the way. Its so hard you have noidea im losing my mind. Im turning to things that are not healthy
@LidiaHernandez-pq3lv
MELISSA PRONOVOST π