Rimes emerged with her first single, "Blue," when she was just thirteen years old in 1996. She is most recognized for her crossover hit "How Do I Live" which, according to the Billboard charts, is one of the most successful songs in American music history, spending 69 weeks on the Hot 100 chart, which currently stands as the second longest run in the chart's history (behind Jason Mraz's "I'm Yours"). While country singer Trisha Yearwood's version of the song won a Grammy in 1998, Rimes' version outsold Yearwood's by millions of copies. Rimes' other notable songs include "Can't Fight the Moonlight" and "You're the right kind of wrong" (from the movie Coyote Ugly) and American Idol favorite "I Need You."
She has won an American Music Award, two Grammy Awards, three Academy of Country Music Awards, and four Billboard Music Awards.
Rimes was chosen to sing the theme song "Light the Fire Within" for the February 8, 2002, Opening Ceremony of the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.
On February 23, 2002, she married Dean Sheremet, a dancer whom she met while recording Twisted Angel. They currently live in Nashville, Tennessee.
In 2005, LeAnn was selected to become the new host of the USA Network reality tv series Nashville Star, a position she held for only one season. She also was selected to sing "Remember When," the official song for Disneyland's 50th anniversary celebration.
On January 25, 2005, Rimes released a new album called This Woman. Although it has been met with mixed reviews, This Woman is a comeback of sorts for Rimes. With sales over 600,000, this is Rimes best-selling album since her self-titled album in 1999. In terms of the singles released, this is her most successful album since her debut nearly 10 years ago. "Nothin' 'Bout Love Makes Sense" reached the Top 5 and became her biggest years on the country charts in years. "Probably Wouldn't Be This Way," a song about a woman trying to get over a lost love, was released as a single. The video for "Probably Wouldn't Be This Way" was very dark, and the song was received well in the country music world. When "Something's Gotta Give" reached the #2 spot in June 2006, it became her biggest country hit since "One Way Ticket (Because I Can)", her sole number one hit 10 years ago.
Rimes co-wrote four songs off This Woman: "Something's Gotta Give," "I Got It Bad," "When This Woman Loves a Man," and "Afraid to Fall."
"I Got it Bad" was co-written with her husband Dean Sheremet.
On Saturday, September 3, 2005, Rimes performed a concert, on a three-hour special on Larry King Live, as a benefit for those affected in the Gulf Coast by Hurricane Katrina. As a Mississippian, she said that Hurricane Katrina "hit close to home." Just days before the hurricane, she had performed in Biloxi, Mississippi.
On January 4, 2006, Rimes performed the National Anthem before the Rose Bowl championship game between the USC Trojans and the Texas Longhorns in Pasadena, California.
On June 6, 2006, LeAnn released a new album in Europe called Whatever We Wanna.
The new album presents a pop-oriented sound; the first single released was "And It Feels Like." The album did not receive a US release.
In March 2009, LeAnn became the first country crossover artist to top the Billboard Club Play list when remixes for "What I Cannot Change" topped this dance chart. Prior to LeAnn's accomplishment, the highest charting song by a country artist on this dance survey had been the #2 peak of Reba McEntire's remixed remake of "You Keep Me Hangin' On."
I Can't Be Myself
LeAnn Rimes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And to do the things I really want to do
And you want to change the part of me I'm proud of
So I can't be myself, when I'm with you
Oh, you never liked the clothes I wear on Sunday
Just because I don't believe the way you do
But I believe the Lord knows I'm unhappy
I can't be myself and be what pleases you
Deep down inside I don't believe that you want me to
And it's not my way to take so long deciding
That I can't be myself when I'm with you
I can't be myself and be what pleases you
Deep down inside I don't believe that you want me to
And I believe the Lord knows I'm unhappy
And I can't be myself when I'm with you
And I can't be myself when I'm with you
The lyrics to LeAnn Rimes's song, I Can't Be Myself, convey a sense of frustration and disappointment with the singer's significant other. The opening two lines reveals the singer's desire to be authentic in expressing her thoughts and having the freedom to act on them. However, her partner does not accept nor support these traits, causing her to feel as though her true self cannot be present when they are together.
Furthermore, the second verse suggests that this conflict also stems from religious differences. The singer's partner disapproves of her attire worn on Sundays, which represents a day of worship for many religions, and likely highlights a more significant disagreement in their faith beliefs. Despite this, the singer chooses to remain true to herself by wearing what makes her happy, rather than changing to satisfy someone else.
The chorus emphasizes the main theme of the song - that "I can't be myself when I'm with you." The singer acknowledges that she cannot meet expectations that differ from who she is as a person. In the end, the song highlights the struggle between the fear of losing someone you love because of who you are and the fear of losing yourself by changing yourself to fit into someone else's mold.
Line by Line Meaning
It's a way of mine to say just what I'm thinking
Expressing myself openly and honestly is important to me.
And to do the things I really want to do
Living according to my own desires and values is a priority for me.
And you want to change the part of me I'm proud of
You are trying to alter the very aspects of myself that bring me the most joy and fulfillment.
So I can't be myself, when I'm with you
Your attempts to control and restrict me make it impossible for me to be my true self in your presence.
Oh, you never liked the clothes I wear on Sunday
You disapprove of my choice in attire for religious services.
Just because I don't believe the way you do
Your disapproval is rooted in our religious differences.
But I believe the Lord knows I'm unhappy
Despite your attempts to force me to conform, I trust in my own relationship with God and acknowledge my own unhappiness.
And I can't be myself when I'm with you
Your behavior impedes my ability to be authentic and true to myself.
I can't be myself and be what pleases you
The standards and expectations you impose on me conflict with my true nature and authenticity.
Deep down inside I don't believe that you want me to
I sense that your desire for me to conform is more about your own desires and needs than it is about supporting me in being true to myself.
And it's not my way to take so long deciding
I value decisiveness and prefer not to agonize over major life decisions.
And I believe the Lord knows I'm unhappy
My faith informs my feelings of discontent in our relationship.
And I can't be myself when I'm with you
Your influence on my identity and behavior prevent me from fully expressing myself.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MERLE HAGGARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
BIEN LEMUEL STA CRUZ
on I Need You
I don't need a lot of things
I can get by with nothing
With all the blessings life can bring
I've always needed something
But I've got all I want
When it comes to loving you
You're my only reason
You're my only truth
I need you like water
Like breath, like rain
I need you like mercy
From heaven's gate
There's a freedom in your arms
That carries me through
I need you (dada, dada, da), ooh
Ooh
You're the hope that moves me
To courage again, oh yeah
You're the love that rescues me
When the cold winds rage
And it's so amazing
'Cause that's just how you are
And I can't turn back now
'Cause you've brought me too far
I need you like water
Like breath, like rain
I need you like mercy
From Heaven's gate
There's a freedom in your arms
That carries me through
I need you
Ooh, yes I do, oh
I need you like water
Like breath, like rain
I need you like mercy
From Heaven's gate
There's a freedom in your arms
That carries me through
I need you (dada, dada, da)
Oh, yes I do (dada, dada, da)
I need you (dada, dada, da)
Oh, ooh-ooh (dada, dada, da)
Ooh-ooh (dada, dada, da)
I need you, oh (dada, dada, da)
(Dada, dada, da)
I need you (dada, dada, da)