Known as “ the hardest working band in country music,” it was not uncommon for the band to play over 300 shows a year, without a bus, without a driver, without tour support from a label. They simply made it on their own, and that seasoning shows up even today.
Their first radio release, “Some Guys Have All The Love,” became a top ten hit, as did their next single, “First Time For Everything.” The only problem was, with two top ten singles, the band still didn’t have a full album in the can. “Our label wasn’t really sure about us from the beginning,” said bassist Duane Propes. “Who could blame them? At that time there had never been a country act that young signed to a label. There was no individual artist of that age, and of course, no bands like Little Texas that really looked and performed like a rock act. We wound up jumping in the studio during a small break in our schedule and hammering out the first album in a matter of days.”
After the album First Time For Everything was released, five singles reached the top of the charts. The second album, Big Time, truly was the big time for Little Texas, as it spawned three number 1 singles with “What Might Have Been,” “God Blessed Texas” and “My Love,” capturing the very first CMT award, a Billboard award, a Radio & Records award and a Grammy nomination, and to date has sold over three million copies.
Soon, they signed on as an opening act on an arena tour headlined by Clint Black. Later, they traveled with Travis Tritt and Tricia Yearwood on a tour sponsored by Budweiser. After that, they were on their own, singing to packed arenas across the United States and Canada. During this time, the band played a part in Common Thread: A Tribute To The Eagles, which later earned their first CMA Award for “Album Of The Year.” Their cover of “Peaceful Easy Feeling” charted well albeit without an official release, and with that, Little Texas broke another record in country music history: 3 different songs on 3 different charts with 3 different lead singers, all at the same time; a feat that has never been repeated since by any band. The year 1994 also brought them the ACM Award for “Vocal Group of the Year.”
Little Texas released the album Kick A Little, and their first true headlining arena tour began, supported by Tim McGraw and opening act, BlackHawk. The tour and the album were huge successes, highlighted by shows in Detroit and Minneapolis fully selling out the arenas just days after their heroes, The Eagles, had played the same venues. The tour continued on through 1995, finishing as the fifth largest grossing tour of the year, and over the course of ’94 and ‘95 the band received two more Grammy nominations and released Little Texas – Greatest Hits.
After the self-titled album, Little Texas, was released, Little Texas needed a break. At the end of the year, each member went their separate ways, spending time with family and friends and working on individual projects. Propes says, “At that point it was time for our loved ones to have us back for a while. It all happened for a reason.” But now, Little Texas is back.
With a fresh perspective, the band is on the road again with original members Porter Howell (lead vocals & lead guitar), Dwayne O'Brien (vocals and rhythm guitars), Duane Propes (bass & vocals) and Del Gray (drums), selling out shows and creating new music that can only be described as inspired. Little Texas recently signed a new recording contract with the Montage Music Group, and will have a new studio album out in Spring 2007, a new single in February of 2007 (Title Track: "Missing Years"), and a live Greatest Hits album (Live & Loud) will be released on February 20th, 2007.
The sound is blissfully familiar, the stage shows are electric, and one can only say that America’s favorite rockin’ country band, Little Texas, is poised for a return to prominence with their feet firmly planted on the ground, loud and proud.
Better Way
Little Texas Lyrics
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But I ain't had no sleep
Since you've been gone
I thought I was strong enough to take it
But I'm too weak to make it on my own
I still curse the day
That's right where I went wrong
Well I'm losing sanity
I made a fool of me
Now you're gone
There's got to be a better way to lose my mind
Than to sit here thinkin' about you all the time
Listenin' to these sad sad songs
Mixin' memories with old forgotten wine
There's got to be a better way to lose my mind
I could paint circles
'Round the rainbows
In the sky
I could wipe away
The shadows of doubt
Weepin' in your eyes
I could even walk on water
And soar were eagles dare to fly
Dare to fly
Or go bathin' in the beauty of my sorrows
On an early mornin' high
There's got to be a better way to lose my mind
Than to sit here thinkin' about you all the time
Listenin' to these sad sad songs
Mixin' memories with old forgotten wine
There's got to be a better way to lose my mind
Listenin' to these sad sad songs
Mixin' memories with old forgotten wine
There's got to be a better way to lose my mind
There's got to be a better way to lose my mind
The lyrics of Little Texas's song "Better Way" depict the aftermath of a breakup and the lingering pain of missing someone. The singer has been unable to sleep since the person they loved left them, despite thinking that they could handle it. They are losing their sanity and feeling foolish for letting that person go. The chorus expresses the need for a way to deal with the pain that doesn't involve constantly thinking about the person or drowning in sorrow and memories. The singer longs for a way to erase the doubt and sadness from the eyes of the person they love. They wish they could do the impossible, like painting circles around rainbows, walking on water or soaring where eagles dare to fly.
With imagery of rainbows and eagles, the song seems to suggest that the singer is willing to go to great lengths to feel better, but ultimately realizes that there is no easy way to forget someone. The repetition of the phrase "there's got to be a better way to lose my mind" not only conveys the singer's frustration but also serves as a commentary on the human experience of heartbreak. The song acknowledges that sometimes, there isn't a better way to cope than to indulge in sad songs and memories.
Line by Line Meaning
It's only been a week
It's only been a short time since our separation
But I ain't had no sleep
I haven't slept since then
Since you've been gone
Since you left me
I thought I was strong enough to take it
I believed I could handle it on my own
But I'm too weak to make it on my own
But I've come to realize that I need help coping with it
I still curse the day
I still regret the day
I let you walk away
That I allowed you to leave me
That's right where I went wrong
That's the mistake I made
Well I'm losing sanity
I'm going crazy
I made a fool of me
I embarrassed myself
Now you're gone
And now you're no longer with me
There's got to be a better way to lose my mind
There has to be a better way to forget about you
Than to sit here thinkin' about you all the time
Than to always be thinking about you
Listenin' to these sad sad songs
And listening to these melancholic songs
Mixin' memories with old forgotten wine
And drowning my memories in alcohol
I could paint circles
I could do something extraordinary
'Round the rainbows
Like painting circles around rainbows
In the sky
In the sky above us
I could wipe away
I could make disappear
The shadows of doubt
All the uncertainties surrounding us
Weepin' in your eyes
That were making you cry
I could even walk on water
I could do the impossible
And soar were eagles dare to fly
Like flying as high as an eagle
Dare to fly
Taking the risk to do great things
Or go bathin' in the beauty of my sorrows
Or find peace in my grief
On an early mornin' high
During the early hours of the morning, when I'm feeling my best
Listenin' to these sad sad songs
But at the end of the day,
Mixin' memories with old forgotten wine
I still resort to listening to sad songs and drinking alcohol
There's got to be a better way to lose my mind
I need to find a healthier way to forget about you
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: CORNELIUS D. BARNES, INDIA ARIE, INDIA ARIE SIMPSON, RACHELLE FERRELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind