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.
That's How You Know
Lari White Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Never spend a night alone
But you have to face the morning feeling empty inside
'Cause you can't pretend it's real
When what you really want to feel
Is the magic of the moment when love can't be denied
When your heart makes a sound like rolling thunder
And when the earth begins to shake
'Cause it can feel the love you make
Oh oh oh that's how you know
When you're in love
I had all but given up
On ever finding love
Until I caught a glimpse of heaven when I looked into your eyes
And your fingers touched my skin
Like a stormy summer wind
Now I'm falling like the rain oh what a sweet surprise
When your heart makes a sound like rolling thunder
And your arms are wrapped around an angel from above
And when the earth begins to shake
'Cause it can feel the love you make
Oh oh oh that's how you know
When you're in love
All of God's creation starts to sing in harmony
All I know you can hear it baby I know you believe
When your heart makes a sound like rolling thunder
And your arms are wrapped around an angel from above
And when the earth begins to shake
'Cause it can feel the love you make
Oh oh oh that's how you know
When you're in love
In Lari White's song That's How You Know, the lyrics are centered around the theme of love and how it can be distinguished from other fleeting experiences. The singer cautions against empty, meaningless encounters, instead emphasizing the importance of the feeling of love. The lyrics describe the physical and emotional sensations associated with love, such as the sound of thunder in your heart and the earth shaking. When someone is in love, everything around them seems to fall into place and they experience a certain harmony in the world.
The lyrics also convey the idea that love is something that can be recognized immediately. The singer had all but given up on love until they met someone who changed everything. The way this person touched them and looked into their eyes was like catching a glimpse of heaven. From that moment, the singer knew that they were in love, and they describe the experience as falling like rain - a sweet surprise.
Overall, "That's How You Know" is a heartfelt and powerful song that expresses the depth and uniqueness of romantic love. It highlights the importance of recognizing and cherishing love when it does come around.
Line by Line Meaning
You can take a stranger home
You can bring a stranger home with you
Never spend a night alone
You won't spend a night alone
But you have to face the morning feeling empty inside
You will have to deal with a feeling of emptiness the morning after
'Cause you can't pretend it's real
You can't pretend your feelings are real
When what you really want to feel
When you actually want to feel
Is the magic of the moment when love can't be denied
The magic moment when love is undeniable is what you actually want to experience
When your heart makes a sound like rolling thunder
When your heart beats heavy and loud like thunder
And your arms are wrapped around an angel from above
When you have your arms wrapped around someone you see as an angel from above
And when the earth begins to shake
And when the ground starts to shake
'Cause it can feel the love you make
The earth can feel the love you are making
Oh oh oh that's how you know
That is how you know
When you're in love
That you are in love
I had all but given up
I had lost hope
On ever finding love
Of ever finding love
Until I caught a glimpse of heaven when I looked into your eyes
Until I saw heaven through your eyes
And your fingers touched my skin
And your fingers touched me
Like a stormy summer wind
As passionate as a stormy summer wind
Now I'm falling like the rain oh what a sweet surprise
Now I am falling in love like the rain, it's a delightful surprise
All of God's creation starts to sing in harmony
All of God's creation seems to harmonize
All I know you can hear it baby I know you believe
I know you can hear it and you believe it
Lyrics © Roba Music, TASTE AUCTION MUSIC
Written by: CHUCK CANNON, LARI M. WHITE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Randy Himburg
It brings tears to my eyes knowing we lost both of these two Waaayyy too soon! What a great song!
Brenda Meyer
Lari and Hal are singing together again with the angels.
Fred G
Gosh dang it! Now I am sad!
Funny story, watched Castaway a few times, knew the lady in the end of the movie was too familiar.
Michael Werbovetz
Yes! HORRIBLE losses!
KellyAnn Dean
What happened to hal?
Brenda Meyer
@KellyAnn Dean he also passed away.
S S
You know your getting older when your Hero's start dropping off, my thoughts and prayers are with them, they taught me to feel and to sing.
Edit I hope some day in some small way I can honour them.
Michael Holder
Wish we had this quality country music today.
KellyAnn Dean
It'll never happen again!
josh747
I saw Lari as a warmup act for Martina McBride about 10 or 15 years ago. I remember thinking, "Boy, can she sing", just letting go and giving her all. So sad she's no longer with us.