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.
Stepping Stone
Lari White Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Stopped in my tracks again
Closer then I've been to where I want to be
A broken heart standing in my way
Big as life on a real bad day
Making lemons into lemonade
Ain't nothing new to me No
It's just a stepping stone
I'm gonna climb right up on top
And take a good look at where I'm going
And it ain't gonna slow me down
Hold me back or turn me around (Stepping Stone)
This ain't no stumbling block (Stepping Stone)
It ain't no stumbling block (Stepping Stone)
This ain't no stumbling block
It's just a stepping stone
Now looking back I realize
How hard it is to recognize
Opportunity in disguise
That's some Clamady
So I ain't gonna cuss my luck
Every time a door slams shut
I know a window's gonna open up
Just as long as I believe
This ain't no stumbling block
It's just a stepping stone
I'm gonna climb right up on top
And take a good look at where I'm going
And it ain't gonna slow me down
Hold me back or turn me around (Stepping Stone)
This ain't no stumbling block (Stepping Stone)
It ain't no stumbling block (Stepping Stone)
This ain't no stumbling block
It's just a stepping stone
Stepping Stone.. Ohhh
This ain't no stumbling block
It's just a stepping stone
I'm gonna climb right up on top
And take a good look at where I'm going
And it ain't gonna slow me down
Hold me back or turn me around (Stepping Stone)
This ain't no stumbling block (Stepping Stone)
It's just a stepping
This ain't no stumbling block
It's just a stepping stone
I'm gonna climb right up on top
And take a good look at where I'm going
And it ain't gonna slow me down
Hold me back or turn me around (Stepping Stone)
This ain't no stumbling block
This ain't no stumbling block
This ain't no stumbling block
It's just a stepping, stepping stone
Stepping Stone
Lari White's "Stepping Stone" is a song about not letting the obstacles in life get in the way of where you want to go. The first verse sets the scene of being at a dead end, but instead of letting that defeat her, the singer of the song sees the broken heart as an opportunity to turn lemons into lemonade. From there, they declare that it's not a stumbling block, but instead a stepping stone. The chorus drives this point home, reinforced by the repetition of the phrase "This ain't no stumbling block, it's just a stepping stone." The second verse acknowledges the difficulty in recognizing opportunity when it comes in disguise, but the singer remains determined not to let doors slamming shut get in their way. The song ends on a repeated refrain of the chorus, with the celebratory addition of "Stepping Stone," driving the point home that obstacles can be overcome with a positive attitude and the belief that they are not stand-alone blocks, but merely steps on the path to where you want to be.
Overall, "Stepping Stone" is a well-crafted celebration of perseverance in the face of adversity, with a catchy melody and positive message that make it a feel-good anthem for anyone who's faced challenges on the path to their goals.
Line by Line Meaning
Here I am at another dead end
I find myself at a point in life where I cannot progress
Stopped in my tracks again
I have encountered an obstacle that prevents me from moving forward
Closer then I've been to where I want to be
I am getting closer to achieving my goals and desires
A broken heart standing in my way
Emotional pain and heartbreak are hindering my progress
Big as life on a real bad day
The pain and heartbreak are overwhelming and difficult to cope with
Making lemons into lemonade
I am making the best out of a bad situation
Ain't nothing new to me No
I am used to dealing with obstacles and challenges in life
This ain't no stumbling block
The obstacle I am facing is not something that will derail me from my path
It's just a stepping stone
Rather than a hindrance, this obstacle is an opportunity for growth and progress
I'm gonna climb right up on top
I will overcome this obstacle and rise above it
And take a good look at where I'm going
I will use this experience to gain clarity and perspective on my future goals
And it ain't gonna slow me down
This obstacle will not slow me down or impede my progress
Hold me back or turn me around (Stepping Stone)
This obstacle will not hold me back or divert me from my path
Now looking back I realize
In hindsight, I understand the importance of recognizing opportunities in challenging situations
How hard it is to recognize
It can be difficult to see opportunities in disguise when experiencing hardship
Opportunity in disguise
Opportunities for growth or progress may present themselves in unexpected ways
That's some Clamady
This is a reference to a brand of hot sauce and implies that recognizing opportunities is a skill that must be learned over time
So I ain't gonna cuss my luck
I will not curse or resent my circumstances
Every time a door slams shut
Every time an opportunity is lost or a path is blocked
I know a window's gonna open up
I believe that new opportunities will arise in the future
Just as long as I believe
As long as I have faith and confidence in myself and my abilities
Stepping Stone.. Ohhh
The chorus repeats the message that obstacles are not stumbling blocks but rather stepping stones towards growth and progress
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: STEVE BOOKER, AIMEE DUFFY, AIMEE ANN DUFFY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind