Mark Chesnutt’s stature is easily gauged. He has 14 #1 hits, 23 Top 10 singles, four platinum albums and five gold records to his credit; he maintains a front-and-center presence with a hefty tour schedule year after year. Country music critics and fans alike need look no further when it comes to Country music basics. If you ask Chesnutt, he’ll tell you, “It’s the music and the fans that have kept me around this long.” In a creative forum that sometimes confuses style with substance, Mark Chesnutt possesses both.
Remaining true to himself as a traditional country artist, while keeping the pace with the ever-changing country recording landscape, Mark Chesnutt has a knack for picking great songs, delivering them with world-class style and a heart-felt emotion that’s lived-in. With a trademarked voice, Chesnutt has set the bar for his generation and those that follow in his footsteps shaping the music of today’s country music newcomers and the new country music format. Mark Chesnutt’s personal integrity combined with his principal to record a genuine country song has made him a fixture on radio and in honky tonks across the globe.
Chesnutt got his start in the honky-tonks of Beaumont, Texas, learning from his father, Bob Chesnutt, a singer, record collector and major fan of classic country music. Playing alongside his dad, Mark embraced his father’s influence one set at a time and to begin making a name for himself. Mark sang covers by Lefty, Merle, George and Waylon to develop his unmatched crowd-pleasing rapport and his authentic country style.
Bob Chesnutt often traveled to Nashville to record and to broaden his exposure. He began taking Mark along to record when he was just 17. After nearly a decade of recording on regional labels, word got out about this young country vocalist. Music Row executives came to hear Mark on his own Texas turf and recognized the depth of Mark Chesnutt’s raw talent.
In 1989, he was signed to MCA Nashville and his list of accolades tells the rest of his story. With the release of his first single“ Too Cold At Home,” Mark established himself as one of country’s most authentic and talented vocalists. He won the CMA Horizon Award attracting the attention of country legend [and Mark’s greatest mentor] George Jones who introduced him as “A boy from Beaumont, Texas who is the real deal.” That recognition and initial success opened the door to offer Mark his chance of a lifetime, to do what he loved most—sing country music for country fans; this time, on a national level. “The first couple years it was non-stop.” Mark says.
“I can remember one time during a tour, I didn’t step foot on the front porch for ten months, with exception of a day or a day-and-a- half, then, it was right back out again.” Mark’s dedication paid off. He developed a true blue fan base. Fans, he confides, “are the reason for my success.”
His fans helped his records to climb the charts one right after the other making him one of Billboard’s Ten Most-Played Radio Artists of the ‘90’s. Mark’s singles were some the decade’s most memorable; from the fun tempo “Bubba Shot The Jukebox” to emotional ballad “I’ll Think Of Something.” Mark is easily identified for his string of hits including “Brother Jukebox,” “Blame It On Texas,” “Old Flames Have New Names,” “Old Country,” “It Sure Is Monday,” “Almost Goodbye,” “I Just Wanted You To Know,” “Going Through The Big D,” “It’s A Little Too Late,” “Gonna Get A Life,” and one of his biggest, “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing;” a song that held its position at the top of the charts for four consecutive weeks.
Of all the recorded highlights Chesnutt has enjoyed, they take a back seat to his first love; Mark Chesnutt lives to perform on stage. “I just make records because want people to come see my show,” he says with a grin. “Recording music for folks to just listen to music is great,” he says, “but I’ve got to be out there on stage making it.” Fans who have seen him perform agree. Known as one of the industry’s hardest-working concert performers, maintaining a hefty tour schedule and steady presence in front of his fans, Mark’s dedication to deliver live music is unsurpassed. Mark has been on the road since 1990. Whether you hear Mark Chesnutt with a new release on the radio, or see his face on the cover of a new CD, folks can always find Mark doing what he was born to do playing. “The clubs and honky tonks are home for me; it’s comfortable and I’m always with friends,” says Chesnutt.
Married since 1992, Mark and Tracie Chesnutt are the loving parents of three boys, Waylon, Casey & Cameron.
Wings
Mark Chesnutt Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Can't you see I'm okay
I'm not at home all alone every night
I'm out there dancin' old memories away
[Chorus]
But it wouldn't hurt to have wings to lift me above
All the pain of the past and your mind-wreckin' love
But it sure wouldn't hurt to have wings
I don't see things like love anymore
The rose-colored glasses are gone
I won't be fooled like I was before
I'm learnin' now how to fly on my own
[Chorus]
I'm gonna fly like an eagle and rise above it all
[Chorus:Repeat x2]
The song It Wouldn't Hurt to Have Wings by Mark Chesnutt tells the story of a person who is trying to move on from a painful past relationship. The singer asserts that they are doing okay, they are not home alone every night brooding about the past, instead they are out there dancing away old memories. Nonetheless, with the pain of the past and the mental havoc it wrecked on the singer's mind, it wouldn't hurt to have wings to lift them above all that. The singer acknowledges that time can fly like a magical thing, but at this moment having wings is what they need.
In the second verse, the singer denies seeing things like love anymore as the rose-colored glasses are gone. They are not willing to be fooled again like they were before and are learning how to fly on their own. The third and final verse declares that the singer will rise above it all and fly like an eagle. The chorus is repeated twice at the end, driving home the point that having wings to lift one above the pain of the past would be beneficial.
This song has a message of hope for anyone who is struggling to move on from a past hurtful relationship. The singer acknowledges that the journey to healing is not an easy one, and although time is a good healer, a little help will go a long way. This song can also be seen as a metaphor for any other difficult situation in life where having wings would make it a bit easier.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't get me wrong, I'm doin' alright
Despite everything, I'm coping well and adapting to my current situation.
Can't you see I'm okay
I'm putting on a brave face and trying to show people that I'm okay. But it's not always easy.
I'm not at home all alone every night
I'm keeping busy and finding ways to distract myself so that I don't feel alone.
I'm out there dancin' old memories away
I'm trying to forget about the past and move on with my life. Dancing helps to clear my mind.
But it wouldn't hurt to have wings to lift me above
Sometimes I wish I could fly away from all of my problems and start afresh.
All the pain of the past and your mind-wreckin' love
I'm trying to escape from the emotional pain that I've experienced in the past, especially from previous relationships.
They say time can fly like a magical thing
People say that time can heal all wounds, but I'm not sure if I believe that anymore.
But it sure wouldn't hurt to have wings
Regardless of whether or not time can heal emotional wounds, having the ability to fly would certainly make everything seem easier.
I don't see things like love anymore
I've been hurt so many times that it's difficult for me to believe in love anymore.
The rose-colored glasses are gone
The optimistic viewpoint that I used to have is no longer there. I've become more cynical.
I won't be fooled like I was before
I've learned from my past mistakes and won't let anyone take advantage of me again.
I'm learnin' now how to fly on my own
I'm trying to become more independent and self-sufficient so that I don't have to rely on anyone else for my happiness.
I'm gonna fly like an eagle and rise above it all
Ultimately, I want to overcome all of the pain and hurt that I've experienced, and become a stronger and better person as a result.
Chorus:Repeat x2
The chorus repeats twice, emphasizing the desire to have the ability to fly away and escape from emotional pain.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JERRY FOSTER, JOHN ROBERT MORRIS, ROGER LAVOIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind