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.
Wild Rebel Rose
Martina McBride Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The kids used to tease you
Wild Rebel Rose
Every time they'd see you in those black turtle necks in mid-July
Wearin' too much makeup â??round your eyes
Wild Rebel Rose
I didn't know you
So I never told you how I'd watch from the house across the street
When those blue lights came around at least three times a week
It's hard for anyone to understand why at sixteen you just up and ran
But they didn't know you only knew your daddy's love like the back of his hand
I heard the shots
I saw you hit the door
I snuck in and grabbed that pistol off the floor
Don't you worry they won't find it that's for sure
Wild Rebel Rose
The kids used to tease you
Wild Rebel Rose
Every time they'd see you in those black turtle necks in mid-July
Wearin' too much makeup â??round your eyes
Oh, Wild, Wild, Wild Rebel Rose
They didn't know
Oh, yeah
"Wild Rebel Rose" by Martina McBride is a song that tells the story of a troubled young girl, who introduces herself as Wild Rebel Rose, and how she copes with the challenges of adolescent life. The song sets the stage with the opening verse, which describes how the other kids used to tease her for wearing black turtle necks in mid-July and wearing too much makeup around her eyes. In the following verse, the singer, who had never spoken to her before, explained how she would watch from her house when the police would come around at least three times a week.
The song takes a dramatic turn in the chorus, where Wild Rebel Rose's story takes a dark turn. The singer describes how she heard the gunshots and saw her hit the door. She snuck in and grabbed the pistol off the floor, reassuring Wild Rebel Rose not to worry as they won't find it. The song ends with a repetition of the chorus and reveals that nobody really knew Wild Rebel Rose's story.
Line by Line Meaning
Wild Rebel Rose
The main character is referred to as a wild, rebellious rose embodying the archetype of a fierce, independent woman.
The kids used to tease you
The young protagonist was bullied by the other children around her for her unconventional looks and interests.
Every time they'd see you in those black turtle necks in mid-July
The singer was always conspicuous with her gothic fashion, wearing black turtlenecks even in the heat of a summer month.
Wearin' too much makeup â??round your eyes
The artist wore heavy makeup around her eyes, perhaps as a form of self-expression or as a shield against the world.
I didn't know you
The artist never got to know the artist despite being her neighbor and secretly admiring her spirit.
So I never told you how I'd watch from the house across the street
The singer watched the singer's life from afar, possibly seeing something in her struggles that resonated with her own experience.
When those blue lights came around at least three times a week
The singer's home was visited by police regularly, indicating that there was trouble or abuse happening in her household.
It's hard for anyone to understand why at sixteen you just up and ran
The artist left her home and family at 16, which seemed incomprehensible to outsiders because they didn't know her story.
But they didn't know you only knew your daddy's love like the back of his hand
The artist's actions might have been driven by a traumatic experience of domestic violence from her father, which nobody else knew or acknowledged.
I heard the shots
The artist was able to hear gunshots coming from the artist's house one night.
I saw you hit the door
The singer witnessed the singer trying to escape from the violence by breaking through a door.
I snuck in and grabbed that pistol off the floor
The artist found a gun lying on the floor and took it, perhaps to protect herself and the artist.
Don't you worry they won't find it that's for sure
The singer reassured the singer that the gun wouldn't be discovered by the authorities or whoever was responsible for the violence.
Oh, Wild, Wild, Wild Rebel Rose
The repeated phrase reinforces the image of the singer as a wild, untamed, and fiercely independent spirit.
They didn't know
The chorus ends on this line, emphasizing how the singer's true self and story were not understood or appreciated by others.
Lyrics © Round Hill Music Big Loud Songs
Written by: JOSHUA PETER KEAR, MARK IRWIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Erica Vapes
this song is highly relatable because I suffered with domestic violence for about 13 years. some of those years were spent with abusive foster families. "wild Rebel Rose" , "Concrete Angel," "A Broken Wing", and "Independence Day" really helped me get through. on the days and nights I thought I should have died , I listed to those songs and for a moment I felt alright. now I'm 20 and living with a loving family. thank you Martina for keeping me alive.
PATRICIA WILLIAMS
I love this song so much. Saw Martina tonight and listened to her music on the way home, when this song played on the Shine album I listened to it about 6 times in a row. I have known kids like this and we need to look past their difference and see the hurting child.
Neva Bush
This is the first time I've heard this song. Wonderful song!
zesty6tnj
Thank you for this video. You did a great job. It was beautiful and the facts at the end were needed. If anyone suspects a child is being abused, call 1-800-4-A-CHILD. You may be their last hope.
Emma Hanson
You are so right, about being more understanding of others. My cousins go to a school where they say there are many "weird" kids, but I always tell them not to judge them, because you'll never know their background, no matter how 'nice' their parents seem.
OutOfThisWorld1013
Between "Concrete Angel" And This Song "Wild Rebel Rose", Martina Explains Domestic Child Abuse In Such A Beautiful Way, But These Songs Are So Sad!!!!! :(
brianna jagger
i love this song so much and concrete angel they both make me cry so much
flln_angel
A friend of mine is being abused by her father and me and some other friends of her have warned here, she either tells someone of authority soon herself or we are going to call her in. We'are now waiting for her to do it, She already took the first step by telling her friends at school and she is willing to make an with a special Trust-teacher that we have at schools here. If nothing happens by the next holiday, then we are reporting. But we're giving her a change, because if we report it, she is going into foster care. If she does it herself, they will first try therapy and other things...
Xx Pipe- Dream Yy
Yes I hope she got the help and therapy she needed.
Gabriella Belcher
tell yuor friend i send my prayers stay strong