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."
Singing Me Home
Lady Antebellum Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The feet on the dashboard tapping out the back beat
The song on the radio's talking 'bout the love we've made
I know just what she's thinking and I can't wait
Oh, love sweet love keep singing me home,
Keep singing, love keep singing
Oh, love, sweet love, keep singing me home
The tan line showing at the waist of her cutoff jeans
Her damp hair blowing out the window in the summer breeze
Got the sunshine shining through the windshield
Got a hand on her leg, the other on the wheel
Oh love sweet love, keep singing me home,
Keep singing, love keep singing
Oh, love sweet love, keep singing me home
Keep singing, love keep singing
Oh and when we get together the love we make together
It blows my mind, every time we touch ow,
I can't get enough
So slide on in a little closer
And lay your head here on my shoulder
Oh, love sweet love, keep singing me home
Keep singing, love keep singing
Oh love, sweet love, keep singing me home
Keep singing, love keep singing
Oh, oh love sweet love, keep singing me home
Oh love, sweet love, keep singing me home
Keep singing, love keep singing me home, ooh ooh
Sunshine shining through the windshield
Hand on her leg, the other on the wheel
Love, love, love, love, love, sing me home
Why don't you sing me home, ooh that's right
The lyrics to Lady Antebellum's "Singing Me Home" tell the story of a couple on a ride together, driving in a car with "feet on the dashboard tapping out the back beat." The song on the radio is "talking 'bout the love we've made," and the singer knows just what his partner is thinking. He longs for their love to keep "singing me home," as the sunshine shines through the windshield and he places a hand on her leg.
The singer is clearly in love with his partner, and the song is a tender ode to their relationship. He calls for their love to keep singing them home, highlighting how even in the midst of a mundane drive, their relationship remains a source of comfort and happiness. The song's lyrics capture the intimacy of being with someone you love in small moments, as the couple drives together with the sun shining and her hair blowing in the summer breeze.
Overall, "Singing Me Home" is a sweet love song that celebrates the joy of being in a relationship and the healing power of love.
Line by Line Meaning
My baby's riding shotgun singing just a little off key
My partner is sitting next to me in the passenger seat, singing along to the music but not quite in tune.
The feet on the dashboard tapping out the back beat
She's tapping her feet on the dashboard, keeping rhythm with the music.
The song on the radio's talking 'bout the love we've made
The song on the radio is singing about the love we've shared together.
I know just what she's thinking and I can't wait
I understand what she's thinking about and I'm excited to be with her.
The tan line showing at the waist of her cutoff jeans
I can see the tan line on her waist where her shorts end.
Her damp hair blowing out the window in the summer breeze
Her hair is wet and being blown by the wind as we drive with the windows down.
Got the sunshine shining through the windshield
The sunlight is coming through the windshield and adding to the beautiful moment.
Got a hand on her leg, the other on the wheel
I have one hand on the steering wheel, and the other hand on her leg, enjoying her company.
Oh and when we get together the love we make together, It blows my mind, every time we touch ow, I can't get enough
Being with her and being in love with her is mind-blowing for me, and I can't get enough of her touch.
So slide on in a little closer, And lay your head here on my shoulder
I want her to come in a little closer and rest her head on my shoulder.
Oh, love sweet love, keep singing me home
Love always takes me back home, and I want to keep feeling that love.
Oh love, sweet love, keep singing me home, Keep singing, love keep singing
Love keeps me grounded and helps me feel at home, and I want that feeling to last, so I want it to keep singing.
Sunshine shining through the windshield, Hand on her leg, the other on the wheel, Love, love, love, love, love, sing me home, Why don't you sing me home, ooh that's right
As we keep driving, the sunshine, my hand on her leg, and our love keep making me feel at home, and I want that feeling to last a little longer.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MELVERN RIVERS II RUTHERFORD, DAVE HAYWOOD, CHARLES B. KELLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind