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.
Now I Know
Lari White Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If you ever said goodbye
Would I just live in dreams about you
With tears in my eyes
Would I fall to pieces when you go
I always wondered how I'd live without you
Now I know
I'm strong enough to make it on my own
I'm not afraid of the night
I'm learning how to face it alone
I've been good at holding on
Now I'm learning to let go
I always wondered how I'd live without you
Now I know
I always wondered what I'd do without you
I found out today
I got up and made a cup of coffee
And time just slipped away
I dressed up and went out on the town
To places you'd never go
I always wondered what I'd do without you
Now I know
I'm doing alright
I'm strong enough to make it on my own
I'm not afraid of the night
I'm learning how to face it alone
I've been good at holding on
Now I'm learning to let go
I always wondered how I'd live without you
Now I know
I dress up and go out on the town
To places you'd never go
I always wondered what I'd do without you
Now I know
I'm doing alright
I'm strong enough to make it on my own
I'm not afraid of the night
I'm learning how to face it alone
I've been good at holding on
Now I'm learning to let go
I always wondered how I'd live without you
Now I know
The song "Now I Know" by Lari White is a perfect representation of the emotional journey a person goes through during and after a breakup. The lyrics were written by Lari White herself, along with Chuck Cannon, and released in 1994 as part of her album "Wishes". The song begins with a reflection on what life would be like if the significant other were to leave, and the emotional turmoil that it would bring along with it. It talks about how the person will always wonder about what they would do, how they would manage, and how they would live without the person they love.
As the song progresses, it highlights how the person is now on the other side of the breakup and is doing alright. They have learned to be strong and make it on their own, face the night without fear, and hold on to their emotions. The song ends with a feeling of liberation and independence as the person realizes that they can go out, socialize, and enjoy places they would never have gone to otherwise. The line "Now I Know" emphasizes how the person has learned to live without their significant other and has grown to become a better version of themselves.
The heart-wrenching lyrics of the song not only convey the message of learning to live without someone, but also remind us that heartbreak is not the end of the world. The journey of self-realization and improvement is never-ending, and the ability to pick oneself up after a difficult time is admirable.
Line by Line Meaning
I always wondered how I'd live without you
The singer always questioned how they would survive without their partner
If you ever said goodbye
The singer worried about the possibility of their partner leaving them
Would I just live in dreams about you
The singer questioned whether they would be consumed by thoughts of their partner
With tears in my eyes
The singer thought they would be sad and emotional if their partner left
Would I fall to pieces when you go
The singer feared that they might not be able to cope if their partner left
Now I know
The singer has learned to live without their partner and is doing well
I'm doing alright
The singer is handling their life without their partner well
I'm strong enough to make it on my own
The singer has found strength within themselves
I'm not afraid of the night
The singer is not scared of being alone or of the dark
I'm learning how to face it alone
The singer is adjusting to living life independently
I've been good at holding on
The singer was previously good at holding onto their partner, but is now learning to let go
Now I'm learning to let go
The singer is understanding the process of moving on
I found out today
The singer recently discovered something about themselves
I got up and made a cup of coffee
The singer is doing everyday tasks independently
And time just slipped away
The singer is starting to enjoy time spent alone
I dressed up and went out on the town
The singer is doing social activities independently
To places you'd never go
The places the singer is going without their partner are places that their partner would not be interested in
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CHICK RAINS, CINDY GREENE, DON COOK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@garytucholl7699
This song saved my life back in the ‘90s. I was in a very bad place after my wife left me. A friend gave me a cassette tape with this song and I wore it out. I wrote to Lari telling her how much this song meant to me and how she saved me. I got a wonderful response from her that I treasure to this day. Lari will always be in my heart ❤.
@patrick2620
I'm glad it helped you. I went through a similar thing when I left my wife. It was something that had to be done, but when I'd hear this song, I'd lie in bed and worry so much about her and wondered if she was doing ok without me. The guilt almost killed me. Turns out she did just fine, and I was happy for her.
@user-rh7st9ur6k
you are so nice you have a heart @@patrick2620
@melvinsmiley5295
Really liked this song. The 90s was such a great era for Country. Thanks Lori
@pamputman4503
Sad she pass away,,,great singer,always listen to her Music,,and I'm 55 years old,,, cancer is a bad thing I lost my husband a year and 4 months ago due to cancer and we didn't even know we had it he was a police officer for 37 years we've been together for 30 years just waiting for the day I can be with him
@wilmaperry4045
She was a beautiful woman, her eyes looked a lot like one of my Granddaughters and a beautiful voice , especially for this song!!
She certainly didn’t look 52 years old at the time of her death!!
Gone so soon!!
@joshholmes91
She was so beautiful
@MsBonnieBlue
She was so good!
@saleenguy91
Beautiful lady with a great voice..
@waynehall7499
Such a voice gone too soon.
A beautiful woman