White began performing when she was a child, singing in a gospel group with her parents and brother. The group, called the White Family Singers, sang at local church and community gathering. After a while, the children began working pop music into the act, most notably Elvis Presley. As a teenager, Lari sang show tunes at talent contests and sang with a local rock & roll band. She earned a scholarship to the University of Miami, where she studied vocals and music engineering. After a while, she began writing her own songs, singing in local clubs at night and taking professional singing jobs. Upon graduating from college, she travelled around the United States, looking at various local music scenes. In 1988, she decided to move to Nashville and try to become a professional.
Later in 1988, she appeared on the Nashville Network's You Can Be a Star and won the first prize. The award led to a record contract with Capitol. Before the end of the year, she had released a single on Capitol, "Flying Above the Rain," which became a regional hit in the South but failed to break into the big time. Later that same year, she joined Ronnie Milsap's publishing house and began taking acting lessons. For the next few years, White continued in this vein, choosing to hone her talent, sing in local dinner theaters and wait for another break. That break arrived in 1991, after an ASCAP showcase revived interest in her talents. Following the showcase, Rodney Crowell asked her to sing backup vocals in his live band. In 1992, White signed a record contract with RCA and Crowell produced her debut album, Lead Me Not, which was released the following year.
Lead Me Not received strong reviews and produced three minor hit singles: "What a Woman Wants," "Lead Me Not," and "Lay Around and Love You." Wishes, White's second album, became her breakthrough release, producing the Top Ten singles "That's My Baby," "Now I Know," and "That's How You Know (When You're in Love)." Don't Fence Me In, White's third album, wasn't quite as successful as its predecessor, but it continued her success. Stepping Stone followed in 1998. In 2004, after a lenghty hiatus that found the artist building her own home studio, White released the self-produced Green Eyed Soul on the UK based Mesmerizing Records.
Go On
Lari White Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You talk to me with one eye on the door
You lie beside me with one foot on the floor
You're always going
You're never gone
So long shouldn't take so long
Why don't you go on go on go on go on go
I know it's just a matter of time
So if it's over baby let's just call it a night
I can take it
If you leave
But this waitin' 'round is killing me
Go on go on go on go on go
Why don't you go on go on go on go on go
I've just been spinning my wheels
Trying not to drive you away
Your heart is already gone
So what's the use in making you stay
Go on go on go on go on go
Why don't you go on go on go on go on go
Go on go on go on go on go
Why don't you go on go on go on go on go
Lari White's song "Go On" is a plea to a lover to leave her. The lyrics are full of subtle hints that the relationship is not working, even though the couple is still together. In the first verse, the singer mentions that her lover has one eye on the door, suggesting that he's looking for a way out. When the lover lies beside her with one foot on the floor, it's as if he's already halfway out the door. The singer recognizes that her lover is always "going," and yet he's never really gone. She insists that "so long shouldn't take so long," urging him to finally make a decision and leave.
In the chorus, the singer repeats the phrase "go on" several times, as if she's trying to convince herself as much as her lover. She knows that the relationship is over, and that it's just a matter of time before he leaves. In fact, she says that she can take it if he leaves, but she just can't stand the waiting. The bridge of the song is a bit more optimistic, with the singer acknowledging that she's been trying to hold onto her lover, but realizing that his heart is already gone.
Line by Line Meaning
You talk to me with one eye on the door
You are not fully present in this conversation; you're already making plans to leave.
You lie beside me with one foot on the floor
You're physically close to me, but not emotionally invested in our relationship.
You're always going
You're constantly moving forward, with or without me.
You're never gone
Even when you're physically here, your thoughts and attention are always elsewhere.
So long shouldn't take so long
There's no point in prolonging our goodbye if the end result is inevitable.
Go on go on go on go on go
I know you want to leave, so just go ahead and do it already.
Why don't you go on go on go on go on go
I'm tired of waiting around for you to make a move; just go.
I know it's just a matter of time
I can sense that our relationship is coming to an end and it's only a matter of time.
So if it's over baby let's just call it a night
If our relationship is truly over, let's not keep dragging it out; let's end things now.
I can take it
I can handle the pain of a break-up if it means we can both move on.
If you leave
If you choose to end things, I'll accept it and move on.
But this waitin' 'round is killing me
The uncertainty and delay is taking a toll on my emotional well-being.
I've just been spinning my wheels
I've been putting in effort to make this work, but it's not getting me anywhere.
Trying not to drive you away
I've been trying to be accommodating and not push you away, but it seems like I've failed.
Your heart is already gone
Your emotions and feelings for me have already moved on.
So what's the use in making you stay
There's no point in trying to make you stay if your heart and mind are already elsewhere.
Lyrics © MIKE CURB MUSIC, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: CHRISTOPHER WATERS DUNN, LARI MICHELE WHITE CANNON, TOM CURTIS SHAPIRO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind