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 My Baby
Lari White Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Thinks he's tough but he smiles so sweet
Snakeskin boots and a baseball cap
Bet you'd like to meet a boy like that
He's a little crazy he's a little loud
He loves to do what ain't allowed
And he might talk too slow and drive too fast
That's my baby
That's my baby
That's my diamond in the rough
But I can make him shine with my sweet love
That's my baby
He's a rebel wild and free
My mama says he ain't right for me
Daddy prays he's just a phase I'm going through
But one of these days their gonna love him too 'cause
That's my baby
That's my baby
That's my diamond in the rough
But I can make him shine with my sweet love
That's my baby
He ain't no angel he ain't no saint
But I don't worry 'bout what he ain't
'Cause what he is, is something fine
And he lets me know that he's mine all mine
That's my baby
That's my baby
That's my diamond in the rough
But I can make him shine with my sweet love
That's my baby
The song “That’s My Baby” by Lari White is about a rebel and wild boy whom the singer considers as her diamond in the rough. Despite having snakeskin boots and wears a baseball cap, the boy smiles sweetly which caught the attention of the singer. Even if he talks too slow and drives too fast, the boy would do anything for the singer. The singer’s parents don’t approve of him because he is not an angel nor a saint, but the singer believes that what is important is what the boy is, and that is something fine.
The song is about loving someone despite their flaws and imperfections. The singer sees beyond the boy's rugged exterior, and instead focuses on the good that's within him. They share a connection that goes beyond what their parents think they want for them. Although the parents may not approve of him, the singer believes that they will come to love him in the end if they only got to know him more. Ultimately, the song is about the singer's unconditional love for the boy who makes her feel special and loved.
Line by Line Meaning
See that boy walking down the street
Observing a boy walking on the street
Thinks he's tough but he smiles so sweet
Although he appears to be tough, he's actually quite sweet
Snakeskin boots and a baseball cap
Wearing snakeskin boots and a baseball cap
Bet you'd like to meet a boy like that
I bet you'd like to meet a boy like that
He's a little crazy he's a little loud
He's a little crazy and a little loud
He loves to do what ain't allowed
He enjoys doing things that aren't allowed
And he might talk too slow and drive too fast
He may talk too slow and drive too fast
But he'd do any little thing I ask cause
He would do anything I ask
That's my baby
He is mine
That's my baby
He is mine
That's my diamond in the rough
He is my gem in the rough
But I can make him shine with my sweet love
I can make him better with my love
That's my baby
He is mine
He's a rebel wild and free
He is a wild and free rebel
My mama says he ain't right for me
My mother thinks he's not right for me
Daddy prays he's just a phase I'm going through
My father thinks it's just a phase I'm going through
But one of these days their gonna love him too cause
But one day they'll also love him
He ain't no angel he ain't no saint
He's not an angel or a saint
But I don't worry 'bout what he ain't
But I'm not concerned about what he's not
'Cause what he is, is something fine
Because he's something special
And he lets me know that he's mine all mine
And he lets me know that he's only mine
That's my baby
He is mine
That's my baby
He is mine
That's my diamond in the rough
He is my gem in the rough
But I can make him shine with my sweet love
I can make him better with my love
That's my baby
He is mine
Lyrics © TASTE AUCTION MUSIC
Written by: CHUCK CANNON, LARI M. WHITE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Xander Demos
One of the absolute most beautiful pair of eyes coupled with a flawless smile and amazing voice. RIP
Patrick Peterson
that's what you call a trifecta.
Patrick Peterson
that's what you call a trifecta.
Linda W.
When I saw Lara White, RIP pop up on my phone, I just knew I've seen her before. Then, I remembered that pretty lady, in the Castaway movie. So, I looked up the cast of the movie. That pretty lady, at the end of Castaway, was Lara White! Remembered? She said, "Where ya headed Cowboy? I never knew her or her music, till tonight. So sad, she lost her life to cancer in 2018, at age 52. RIP Lara.
mr waterschoot
@Linda W. she did die young. god takes the good and the young in heart and soul. it means us old folks above the double nickel age (55) a senior citizen status. that means we have to get better and appreciate what we have before its gone. words in a 60s song that i remember sung by joan beaz tear down paradise and put in a parking lot. (not otherwise there is no paradise and all we have is parking lots that we can no longer park in. lori had brains, female gender beauty and heck she had the right stuff like a gemini astronaut. lari you earned your angel wings on earth your mortal body is somewhere returning back to earth. some of your spirit is preserved in film and 1s and 0s in the world of cloud computing and your eternal spirit is doing what god has planned and there is rumor that there is a rock and roll heaven and there is a helluva good band. i hope god lets you sing and dance. and the garth brookman we could have, would have missed the pain but then we would have missed the dance.
Linda W.
@mr waterschoot Thanks for your information and inspiration.
Susan Shoup Rizzuti
I love her voice and she was beautiful!
Geraldine Corrigan
I love her she was so witty always could get that from her Music and lyrics. RIP Beautiful Lady🙏
Luis Recabarren
She's singing with the Angels in heaven. A beautiful lady. Gone too soon.
Y B
How do you know?