Rhinestoned says it all. No other word, real or invented for the occasion, sums up as well where Pam Tillis stands now.
She is, after all, a superstar as well as a survivor. A child of Music City royalty and a former rebel, she was determined to find her own way as a singer and songwriter — and she succeeded. A CMA Female Vocalist of the Year, she has written songs for some of the top singers in and beyond Nashville, including more than a few of her own hits.
She knows what it's like to break the platinum barrier, to top the singles charts time and again, to bask in an ovation at her induction as a member of the Opry or play in the intimate hush of the Bluebird Café. She has bathed in the lights of Broadway, posed for glamour magazine spreads, sung ballads in Bay Area bistros, batted wicked one-liners back to Tom Bergeron on Hollywood Squares, even made cameos in movies.
But no matter where she wandered, Pam Tillis never lost her connection to country music — even when country began to lose touch with itself. Trends came and went, and though she rolled easily with the tides and drew something from every new twist, she was aware that changes come with a cost, even as the business side of country flourished.
Her response was to insist on writing and cutting songs that spoke from the soul, rather than the boardrooms and focus groups of the country music industry. The results have been records that emanate an almost painful beauty, as did her 2002 release, the critically acclaimed It's All Relative (a tribute to her father, the great Mel Tillis).
"What I'm doing is country — but not necessarily the kind that you hear on the airwaves these days," Tillis explains, one drizzly afternoon over coffee, not far from Music Row. "Now, I admire a lot of this music; after all, I've sung rock, pop, R&B, and jazz, so I'm hardly a purist. But what I'm hearing now sounds often more like pop than country to me. And I just seriously felt called by that old different drummer to something a little bit more like the country I remember from my formative years, the country music of my youth." It's also something Tillis' fans and friends clamor for as she encounters them out on the road.
With It's All Relative, which she affectionately calls "the Dad album," Tillis produced one of the most memorable discs to have come out of Nashville in years, largely because of her refusal to conform to expectations. Combing through her father's catalog, she chose songs that had an especially timeless quality, with built-in resistance to the whims of the market. It was a bold statement; more than that, it set the stage for the even more assertive statement that Rhinestoned would make.
"Pam had reached a point where doing a record every year or two wasn't as important as taking the time to make something that had more meaning," says Matt Spicher, who co-produced Rhinestoned with Tillis and Gary Nicholson. "So she decided to embrace the momentum she had established with the Dad record."
"That was the first record I ever made where I wasn't concerned about having to come up with three singles," Pam points out.
"The labels understood that from the beginning," Matt says.
"They said they did," she clarifies.
And that's one reason why Rhinestoned marks the first album to be released on Stellar Cat, Pam's own imprint. With total creative control, she let her heart lead the way toward material that she could perform honestly and emotionally. "This is an A&R-free zone," she says, smiling. "But it is, first of all, real country. It's a bookend to the Dad album, except it has all new songs. It's like a bridge between the present and the past."
How past is this particular past? "If you look at my record collection circa 1974," Pam answers, "you'd see Emmylou, Gram Parsons, Waylon Jennings, Don Williams, Linda Ronstadt, and Neil Young. Flying Burrito Brothers — hippie country I call it — that was some of the best music that ever came out of this town. Maybe it wasn't happening on country radio at the time but it sold record and built careers. It was the vibrant scene on the fringes of country, which was very cool — just as it is today."
The Rhinestoned sessions started in 2004. Pam and Matt whittled 20 songs down to ten, which they cut and set aside, like bottles of wine allowed to mature. A few months later they repeated the process. And then, after reflecting for a while on what she had accomplished, Pam decided something wasn't right. She talked about it with her trusted friend and writing partner Gary Nicholson and reached a critical decision.
"It needed to be more country " she sums up. "I played what we had for Gary, brought him into the picture, and suddenly it felt like we weren't wandering in the woods anymore. Then when I found the song "Band in the Window," suddenly I could see and hear the whole project in my mind right down to the t-shirts, Tillis laughs.
With that, the final round of recording began. All of it, aside from backing vocals, was cut the old-fashioned way: live, just the way those bands still play in the windows along Lower Broadway. Many of Pam's performances were actually guide vocals, laid down in real time with the instrumental tracks but too strong in the end to throw away. Overdubs and fixes were kept to a bare minimum.
The rollicking reverence she brings to "Band in the Window," the affection that radiates between her and John Anderson on "Life Sure Has Changed Us Around," the goofball humor of "Crazy By Myself," the insight of her recitation on "Bettin' Money on Love": All of the up-tempo moments on Rhinestoned emit a sense of freedom that's impossible for Pam to suppress or for any listener to miss.
Even the ballads and deeper performances — the languorous sway of "Something Burning Out," the wounded wisdom of "Train Without a Whistle," the almost whispered yearning of "Someone Somewhere Tonight," and the recklessness of "Down by the Water" — carry a quality that's become sadly unfamiliar in much of today's music.
It's that feeling of delight that comes from singing exactly what you were meant to sing at that moment. It's almost like a kind of ecstasy, which goes a long way when delivered by the incomparable Pam Tillis, without compromise or apology.
You might call it joy, but there's a better word than that for this state of creative exhilaration.
We'd call it Rhinestoned.
Shake The Sugar Tree
Pam Tillis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're forgettin' to give me
Sweet sugar words that I want to hear
You've been neglectin' me
You know jealousy, it is bitter as a green spring berry
You're like fruit from a fickle vine
You turn sweet in the nick of time
And it's a childish game
I've got to shake you up just to wake you up
To make you love me
I'll shake the sugar tree
Till I feel your love falling
All around me
You've got to tend to what you've planted
And if you take my love for granted baby
I'll shake the sugar tree
Another night and you're sleepin'
I'm awake and I'm dreamin'
Oh honey 'bout the way you used to be
A little time's gone by
Now do you think that I'm content
With the cookin' and the payin' of the rent
No, I want to know if your love's all spent
I'll shake the sugar tree
Till I feel your love falling
All around me
You've got to tend to what you've planted
And if you take my love for granted baby
I'll shake the sugar tree
I've got to raise some commotion
Before you show me
Some real emotion
The lyrics to Pam Tillis's song "Shake The Sugar Tree" are an expression of a woman's frustration with her partner's neglect. She is tired of not receiving the affection and attention she deserves and feels that her partner is taking her for granted. The metaphor of the sugar tree represents the love that she desires from her partner. She is shaken by the reality that her partner is not showing her enough love and she wants to feel the sweetness of his love once again. She expresses her frustration and willingness to take action to make her partner realize the value of their love.
The use of the metaphor of the sugar tree is quite interesting as it represents the love, affection, and attention that the woman seeks in her relationship. The song's lyrics remind us of the importance of attention and nurturing in any relationship. The woman is willing to take action to shake things up by raising commotion before her partner shows her some real emotion. The line "You're like fruit from a fickle vine, you turn sweet in the nick of time" shows us the indecisive nature of her partner and how he only reacts when he feels that he is losing her.
Line by Line Meaning
Love you're gettin' lazy
You're not putting effort into our relationship
You're forgettin' to give me
You're neglecting to give me the attention I need
Sweet sugar words that I want to hear
Words of affection and love are what I crave from you
You've been neglectin' me
I am feeling neglected and ignored by you
You know jealousy, it is bitter as a green spring berry
Jealousy is a negative and painful emotion that hurts our relationship
You're like fruit from a fickle vine
Your behavior is inconsistent and unpredictable
You turn sweet in the nick of time
You only show affection and love when it is almost too late
Love, you only come alive when you're losin' me
You only show emotion and interest in our relationship when you fear losing me
And it's a childish game
This behavior is immature and unhealthy for our relationship
I've got to shake you up just to wake you up
I need to cause a disruption to get you to pay attention to our relationship
To make you love me
I want you to genuinely love and care for me
I'll shake the sugar tree
I'll take action to try and improve our relationship
Till I feel your love falling
Until I feel your affection and love for me
All around me
In every aspect of our relationship
You've got to tend to what you've planted
You need to put effort into our relationship because you are responsible for it too
And if you take my love for granted baby
If you don't appreciate my love, affection and effort in our relationship
I'll shake the sugar tree
I'll take action to try and improve our relationship
Another night and you're sleepin'
You're not putting effort into spending time with me
I'm awake and I'm dreamin'
I'm daydreaming about how things used to be
Oh honey 'bout the way you used to be
I miss the way you used to behave towards me
A little time's gone by
Time has passed since we felt happy and satisfied in our relationship
Now do you think that I'm content
Do you think I'm satisfied with the way things are now?
With the cookin' and the payin' of the rent
Just providing basic necessities is not enough to keep a relationship healthy
No, I want to know if your love's all spent
I need to know if you still love and care for me
I've got to raise some commotion
I'll take action to get your attention
Before you show me
Before you demonstrate genuine love and affection
Some real emotion
I need to see that you truly care about our relationship
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CHAPIN HARTFORD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Manda Tory
"Love you're gettin' lazy
You're forgettin' to give me
Sweet sugar words that I want to hear
You've been neglectin' me
You know jealousy, it is bitter as a green spring berry
You're like fruit from a fickle vine
You turn sweet in the nick of time
Love, you only come alive when you're losin' me
And it's a childish game
I've got to shake you up just to wake you up
To make you love me
I'll shake the sugar tree
Till I feel your love falling
All around me
You've got to tend to what you've planted
And if you take my love for granted baby
I'll shake the sugar tree
Another night and you're sleepin'
I'm awake and I'm dreamin'
Oh honey 'bout the way you used to be
A little time's gone by
Now do you think that I'm content
With the cookin' and the payin' of the rent
No, I want to know if your love's all spent
I'll shake the sugar tree
Till I feel your love falling
All around me
You've got to tend to what you've planted
And if you take my love for granted baby
I'll shake the sugar tree
I've got to raise some commotion
Before you show me
Some real emotion"
Richard Thweatt
So Jesus right , My eyes , they remember every thing I think , my ears hear everything willing or not right , You see , Honestly I believe that they might think , That you going out , or lets say The time , that they must make there choice , I said to You before , that the thing is how long We going to wonder this time We have almost wondered off the planet looking at the stars that You put there to Abraham and I smile cause You see Jesus Himself is the Great teacher , As I weep at Jesus Feet that not one thing on earth will do as You see Jesus as stand there looking at You Yeah You Jesus for all the Lost , that You will Gather . KI smile even bigger cause I know that my God is bigger than any Problem that fo9ols put in my way ,m for You King Jesus I will do anything and look at Your creations Mind Run wild fix it please Jesus as I know that my madness is caused by You , if you pray for the Holy Man [pray God Will protect the ones needing it .
I shouldn't say that if it makes You I might see or need to . Its like , The righteousness of Jesus Father God got a Problem , the thing is , yeah , there talking about make , do you see why The Savior , My on ly Begotten sons , hey He cleaned up , Jesus that couldn't be I pray they have already , saying that if , and why You didn't give me a Plan , I said that was You plan , never verve from His Coarse , His every step was to educate ? Or bring us to knowing , the Jews that didn't recognize , My plan , I n
knew they would , like I said the Mind of Jesus , the state of , The Conscience with 1000s of His Holy Ones , The thing is , I aint turning my cheek , cause , The time is up . I said , I mighty not recognize , yeah Jesus if You looking with them fiery eyes , The Fiery eyes Jesus and what is the State of Your Authority , Cause We need more cause Knocking Paul off Horse , Father God a Taste of what , why we dont wash our hands , cause they aint getting
Jesus Hold on the news gets worse right , The thing is fellow brother and sisters Jesus playing the radio , right aint worried at allk Jesus will make a way , but People Sideszteping
Elmer Fudd
Oh the memories this song brings to mind. My wife called the radio station back in the 90s she requested & dedicated this song to me. Happy to report we are STILL together today. She has shaken the tree a few times since but each time a hand full of rotten apples keep tumbling down. I don't know why she expects a different result each time! 🤠
Elmer Fudd
@Kelly Edison ❤️
Kelly Edison
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣I love to hear that. Stay together as you vowed🥰🥰🥰
Carla Hardee
Back when country music still had a unique identity! Her daddy was a legend too. Miss the simpler times.
Lena Wright
Back before what I call "cookie cutter" country. I quit listening to modern country 18yrs ago. Now they all want to look and sound the same now. Smh it's so sad...
Maddy Cain
My dad played Coca Cola Cowboy constantly.
Zachary Magpul
Midland.
Michael Reed
Was was one of my fav! This song and maybe it was Memphis
carolyn thompson
I love 90s country music and this is one of Pam's best songs along with Maybe It Was Memphis.
Sarafina Summers
Love is only human is mine and my husband's wedding song.