Martina McBride released her honky tonk-flavored debut album The Time Has Come in 1992. Her first big hit was the single "My Baby Loves Me" from her more pop-oriented second album, 1993's The Way That I Am. She became even more visible in 1994 with the crossover success of her anti-domestic violence anthem "Independence Day", also from this album.
In 1995 McBride released the album Wild Angels; "Safe in the Arms of Love" and the title track were country hits, later being her first #1 hit. Her 1997 album Evolution sold over two million units, and included an adult contemporary crossover hit in "Valentine" as well as four number one or number two country hits. The album Emotion came out in 1999; "I Love You" was a big hit in both country and adult contemporary circles. So was the socially conscious "Love's the Only House", a trend that would continue with 2003's "This One's for the Girls", which would become the theme song for the 2005 NCAA Women's Basketball championship tournament. [1] This was followed by the hit singles "How Far" (written by fellow country singer Jamie O'Neal) and "God's Will".
The Long Distance Lullaby Songfacts states that Eleven was Martina's first album for Republic Nashville, ending a 20 year association with RCA. Label head Scott Borchetta encouraged her to write more songs for the record than she had on any of her previous 10 albums, and she ended up co-writing six of the 11 tracks. Eleven was released October 11, 2011.
As of 2005 McBride is generally recognized as one of the top female singers in popular music; with her strong and pure soprano voice she has been labelled "the Céline Dion of country music." Also in 2005 she released a 18-track CD of classic country music standards, which landed at #1 on the Billboard Country Album Chart in its opening week and received much critical acclaim for its authenticity towards traditional country.
She is a four-time Country Music Association Female Vocalist of the Year winner (a record she holds with Reba McEntire), three-time Academy of Country Music Female Vocalist of the Year winner and a Grammy Award winner. This left-hander performed The Star-Spangled Banner at Game 3 of the 2004 World Series.
"Independence Day" is used as the introductory music for Sean Hannity's popular talk radio show. McBride has appeared at benefit events organized by Hannity, but has declined to take an active political stance. [2] McBride has performed free for fans, such as in a July 3, 2004 show in Owensboro, Kentucky to celebrate the grand opening of the new Independence Bank headquarters.
Recently she helped out contestants on the Canadian version of "American Idol". The winner worked on a song with McBride as well as went on tour with her across Canada.
Martina has sold over 13 million albums in USA alone.
Love's the Only House
Martina McBride Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The one they marked express
When this woman came through with about 25 things
And I said don't you know that more is less
She said this world is moving so fast
I just get more behind with every day
And every morning when I make my coffee
I can't believe my life's turned out this way
Love's the only house big enough for all the pain in the world
Love's the only house big enough for all the pain
He was walking by the other day and I said
Hey baby how you been?
Yeah I got me a little girl now and she's 4 years old
And she's got her daddy's little grin
And you only want what you can't have
And baby you can't have me now
I gave my heart to another
Yeah I'm a mother and he's a father and we're a family
And we've got each other
And I found out the hard way that
Love's the only house big enough for all the pain in the world
Love's the only house big enough for all the pain
You drive three miles from all this prosperity
Down across the river and you see a ghetto there
And we got children walking around with guns
And they got knives with drugs and pain to spare
And here I am in my clean, white shirt
With a little money in my pocket and a nice warm home
And we got teenagers walkin' around in a culture of darkness
Livin' together alone, and all I can say is
Love's the only house big enough for all the pain in the world
Love's the only house big enough for all the pain
And I can't explain it and I can't understand
But I'll come down and get my hands dirty and together we'll make a stand
Somewhere cross the parking lot some bands playin' out of tune
City streets are gonna burn if we don't do something soon
And senorita can't quit cryin', baby's due now any day
Don Juan left, got sick of tryin'
No one there to show him the way
She came down to the grocery store and
She said I, I wanna buy a little carton of milk but I don't have any money
I said hey I'll cover you honey cause the pain's gotta go somewhere
Yeah the pain's gotta go someplace
So come on down to my house
Don't you know that
Love's the only house big enough for all the pain in the world
Love's the only house big enough for all the pain
Don't you know that
Love's the only house big enough for all the pain in the world
Love's the only house big enough for all the pain
In "Love's the Only House," Martina McBride brings attention to the inevitable pain and suffering present in the world. The opening verse tells the story of McBride standing in the grocery store line, watching a woman with an overwhelming amount of groceries. The woman explains that she's behind in life and she simply can't keep up, which prompts McBride to respond with the heart-breaking statement, "Love's the only house big enough for all the pain in the world. Love's the only house big enough for all the pain." The second verse highlights a father who tries to approach McBride, but she informs him that she's currently a mother and devoted to her family. She then reflects on children living in poverty and violence, teenagers being subjected to darkness, and the unsettling culture of despair that surrounds them. Despite not fully understanding why things are the way they are, she expresses that she's willing to get her hands dirty to make a change. The final verse is centered around a woman who can't afford a carton of milk, and McBride covers the cost because pain has to go somewhere. In this verse, McBride invites the woman to her home, which echoes the sentiments of her earlier chorus that advocates for the power of love and how it can help alleviate the pain that exists in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
I was standing in the grocery store line
Martina was waiting in line at the grocery store
The one they marked express
She was in the line for people with only a few items
When this woman came through with about 25 things
Another woman came through with way more items than allowed
And I said don't you know that more is less
Martina told the woman that having more doesn't always make things better
She said this world is moving so fast
The woman explained that the world is moving too quickly
I just get more behind with every day
She feels like she's falling behind every day
And every morning when I make my coffee
The woman talked about her daily routine
I can't believe my life's turned out this way
She can't believe how her life has turned out
All I could say was
Martina didn't know how to respond
Love's the only house big enough for all the pain in the world
Martina believes that love is powerful enough to heal all the pain in the world
Love's the only house big enough for all the pain
Martina reiterates that love is the only solution for the pain in the world
He was walking by the other day and I said
Martina ran into an old flame
Hey baby how you been?
She asked how he's doing
Yeah I got me a little girl now and she's 4 years old
Martina shared that she now has a daughter
And she's got her daddy's little grin
Her daughter looks like her father
And you only want what you can't have
Martina reminds him that people often want things they cannot have
And baby you can't have me now
She tells him that he cannot have her anymore
I gave my heart to another
She moved on and gave her heart to someone else
Yeah I'm a mother and he's a father and we're a family
Martina has found a new partner and they have become a family
And we've got each other
They have each other's support
And I found out the hard way that
Martina learned the difficult lesson that love can be painful
You drive three miles from all this prosperity
Martina points out the contrast between rich and poor areas
Down across the river and you see a ghetto there
The area across the river is poverty-stricken
And we got children walking around with guns
There are children carrying guns in the poor area
And they got knives with drugs and pain to spare
The children are involved in criminal activities and have a lot of pain in their lives
And here I am in my clean, white shirt
Martina is aware of her privilege
With a little money in my pocket and a nice warm home
She has enough money to be comfortable and has a nice home
And we got teenagers walkin' around in a culture of darkness
Teenagers in the poor area are growing up in a negative environment
Livin' together alone, and all I can say is
They are living in isolation even when living closely together
And I can't explain it and I can't understand
Martina is struggling to understand the situation
But I'll come down and get my hands dirty and together we'll make a stand
She is willing to work hard and take action to make a difference
Somewhere cross the parking lot some bands playin' out of tune
There is chaos and disorder around her
City streets are gonna burn if we don't do something soon
She's worried that things will get worse if they don't do something to help
And senorita can't quit cryin', baby's due now any day
Martina notices a pregnant woman who is very upset
Don Juan left, got sick of tryin'
The woman's partner left her because he couldn't handle the situation
No one there to show him the way
The man didn't have guidance to deal with the challenges he was facing
She came down to the grocery store and
The pregnant woman went to the store to buy milk
She said I, I wanna buy a little carton of milk but I don't have any money
The woman was unable to buy what she needed due to her financial situation
I said hey I'll cover you honey cause the pain's gotta go somewhere
Martina offered to pay for the milk because she knows the woman's pain needs an outlet
Yeah the pain's gotta go someplace
She acknowledges that everyone is dealing with pain in some way
So come on down to my house
Martina invites the woman to her home
Love's the only house big enough for all the pain in the world
Martina repeats her belief that love is the only solution for the pain in the world
Love's the only house big enough for all the pain
Martina emphasizes that love is powerful enough to heal all pain, no matter how great it is
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BUZZ CASON, TOM DOUGLAS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mikek7190
This song is over 20 years old. But right now it means more than it ever did.
@blessedtrinity9664
Yes ♥️🐎
@dv6496
Amen
@azarahwagner2749
23 years now 💜
@daileighnovember
Facts 📊🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰💯💯💯💯 my new philosophy is "love always" love first, always! Act (do not respond\react - REactions are based on someone elses move, MAKE UR OWN MOVE w no regard to what someone else does \ says. Love is the only true, pure energy we act from.
@Ashley-yr7yq
Yes, but it has a good meaning.
@peterm.5908
2020 and this song still gets me. There is something special about Martina's songs, they address serious social issues that most neglect to mention. The reality of how she pens and displays them brings me to tears and deep consideration. Thanks for using your platform positively.
@jasonsandifer3250
Well, said, I have thought the same thing about her music, I totally agree.
Author Advocate for Humanity,
Jason Sandifer
@alexandermunroe1961
Ya
@amberzamloch5459
This world would be a much better place if everyone listened to Martina and her messages in her songs. <3