Young but uniquely experienced, Phillip LaRue has an admirable grip on how to live, and the proof is written all over his debut solo album, Let the Road Pave Itself. An organic set of songs for the digital age, it was tracked live in the studio to an old fashioned two-inch tape reel, warmly capturing the sound of Phillip and his friends playing real time rock that’s only ever concerned with life’s deepest matters of love and faith. Most everything else can take care of itself. Phillip’s path began in California. An athlete until sixteen, he picked up the guitar after getting sidelined by mononucleosis. Without premeditation, his new interest turned into a duo with his sister, Natalie, and they scored a record deal in Nashville where the family was about to relocate from Arizona. Three albums and four years of touring followed. “I grew up on the road at that point,” recalls Phillip. “It was strange having people look up to me who were twice my age, but a fun way to see the world and find my true faith in the process.”
LaRue, as the group was known, charted several pop hits and called it a day after Natalie wed. Phillip moved to Florida and produced notable indie acts like Over the Rhine and Dave Barnes for a worship project based on the Psalms. Now back in Music City, he has recently written and produced rising band Tenth Avenue North and penned a hit for Brandon Heath while pondering his own return to upfront artistry.
“I had always considered the solo thing but wanted it to be completely authentic in its expression,” he says. “So much music is focus-grouped to death for fear of not being successful, and that’s a tough place to be creative from. I’m fortunate to have found a label that said, ‘You do what you do, and we’ll do what we do.’ That was my goal: to make a vulnerable record of my experiences that finds its way to wherever God wants it to go.” Let the Road Pave Itself does indeed have an honest, freewheeling spirit that instantly sets it apart from the big machine. Catchy without trying to sound commercial, Phillip writes stay-in-your-head songs from the heart; real life musical stories about open-book faith, his closest loved ones, and struggling friends who don’t always believe as he does. The album dawns with “Chasing the Daylight,” a stirring mid-tempo rocker that has seen dark times but still declares I want to chase the daylight like it’s the last day of my life.
“It’s in the unraveling of life that we find God even more,” Phillip says of the ultimately soaring song that matches the integrity of great writers like Neil Finn and David Gray.
Continuing to build his theme, the anthemic “Home” declares you only have one life to try to find out what it means to be alive as Phillip tries to point a frustrated soul searcher toward something more concrete than the hectic city streets. On “Erase and Rewind,” a billowing melodic piece reminiscent of Snow Patrol, another buddy’s admission of suicidal thoughts further tests the singer’s resolve.
“It broke my heart that he’d lose sight of the value of his life, his identity in God,” LaRue confesses. “It left me wishing we could simply go back to the way it used to be. I just want him to know that he’s loved.”
A different type of love takes center stage on “Don’t Be Deceived” as Phillip serenades his wife (also the muse of “Sleeping Beauty” and “All I Want”). Waxing philosophical about their older years and begging her to stay with him, come what may, he reminds her all we have is this life, love. You know it’s more than enough. The performance brings out the finest charms of Let the Road Pave Itself. Musicians Tyler Burkum (guitar), Cason Cooley (keys), and Will Sayles (drums) play to match the country soul-tinged ballad’s raw emotions led by Phillip’s unvarnished vocalizations, comparable to other pleasingly imperfect singers like Counting Crows’ Adam Duritz or The Verve’s Richard Ashcroft.
“I miss the vocal nuances I used to hear in the music my parents would put on at home,” he says. “You feel what they’re singing. That’s another reason I wanted to record live with a band and keep a lot of first takes without fixing them up. The songs are here as they really happened. The whole process was a beautiful collaboration. As the songwriter I may have been holding the paintbrush, but everyone helped choose the colors.” For all these immediate songs on Let the Road Pave Itself, the most talked about tracks may ultimately be the commercially indifferent “Black and Blue” and “Mountains High and Valleys Low” for their unflinching takes on humanity and the heavenly.
The former was written by Phillip after reading a poem his sister, Natalie, wrote about their younger sister, Brianna, who has cerebral palsy and now an inoperable brain tumor. With duly poetic lyrics and equally emotive accompaniment, it says you deserve to walk to run to fly—all the things I wanted for you in this life.
“It’s crazy how we feel obligated by our beliefs to explain everything,” Phillip says. “We can’t always do that. Brianna’s situation doesn’t match up; I can’t connect the dots. But I still believe and have a hope for her. And she has impacted more people than I ever will.”
“Mountains High and Valleys Low” closes the album by summing up life itself, an unassuming epic of doubt and faith whose words literally go from I long to believe to I believe.
“I liked ending the record with that because it applies to all I’ve been singing about—faith, love, life—in a way that is vulnerable, sometimes broken, but always hopeful. I really want people to hear that honesty. If they don’t, what’s the point?”
Right there is the lasting appeal of Let the Road Pave Itself, an album unintentionally named by a friend who was convincing Phillip LaRue to share his personal yet universally relevant songs with the world once again after years outside the spotlight.
“I’m stepping back into this world, and I could care less about some of the details,” he says. “As far as being popular, I’ve kind of tasted and seen that. I still want great things to happen, but more importantly I just want to be me in the process. I still believe in the power of music and want people to find hope through this record. If I can throw a rock and make another ripple, then what a blessing.”
SWEET LOVE
Phillip Larue Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
and I see your face,
Every time there's orange skies
It's a miracle, that you even found me
And there's a miracle in about everything
Oh.
Did you know that
It's your love, It's your love It's your love
It's your love, it's your love, it's your love
It's your love, it's your love, It's your love
That keeps me moving on
It's your love, It's your love
Your sweet, sweet love
your sweet, sweet love
With just a glimpse, you taught me how to see
With just a touch, you brought me to my knees
I surrender, I surrender, I surrender
oooh yeah
I was just a heart looking for a fault line
I wanted to fall, I wanted to fall
It's your love, it's your love, it's your love
that keeps me walking on
It's your love, it's your love
Did you know that?
It's your love, it's your love, it's your love
that keeps me moving on
It's your love, it's your love
Your sweet, sweet love
It's your love, it's your love, it's your love
It's your love, it's your love,
Your sweet love
It's your love, it's your love, it's your love
That keeps me moving on
It's your love, it's your love, it's your love
Heaven's gates are behind your eyes
And I see your face, every time there's orange skies
In Phillip Larue's song Sweet Love, the lyrics describe a deep sense of gratitude and surrender to a lover who has brought light and meaning into the life of the singer. The opening lines suggest that the person's eyes act as a gateway to heaven, and that the mere sight of their face during certain times can evoke feelings of awe and amazement. The singer then describes how this person is a miracle in everything they do, which implies that they have taken the mundane aspects of life and transformed them into something extraordinary simply by being present.
The chorus then highlights the significance of this person's love in keeping the singer going, both physically and emotionally. They recognize that it is this love that propels them forward and enables them to continue even during the difficult times. The next verse talks about how this person has taught the singer to see and how their touch has brought them to their knees, indicating that they have had a profound impact on the singer’s life. The repeated refrain of "I surrender" further underscores this sense of giving oneself over to the power of love, and the line "I was just a heart looking for a fault line" shows that the singer was seeking love, willing to take whatever risks necessary to find it.
Overall, Sweet Love is a tribute to the transformative power of love in our lives. It acknowledges the beauty and wonder that exists in even the most ordinary things, and it recognizes the immense value of having someone to share those experiences with. The song's repetition of "It's your love" emphasizes the idea that the singer is both grateful and reliant on this love, and that it holds an almost sacred place in their heart.
Line by Line Meaning
Heaven's gates, are behind your eyes
Your eyes hold such beauty and purity that it reminds me of the entrance to heaven
and I see your face,
Your face is so beautiful that it brings me joy and happiness
Every time there's orange skies
Whenever I see the beauty of nature in the form of orange skies, I think of you
It's a miracle, that you even found me
I feel blessed that you came into my life and chose to love me
And there's a miracle in about everything
You have made me realize that there is good and beauty in everything around us, even in the most unexpected places
Oh.
An expression of delight and wonder at the love that I have found
Did you know that
Asking if you are aware of the impact your love has on me
It's your love, It's your love It's your love
Stating that your love is central to my life and existence
That keeps me walking on
Your love is what motivates me to continue moving forward in life
It's your love, it's your love, it's your love
Reiterating the importance of your love in my life
It's your love, it's your love, It's your love
Emphasizing the centrality of your love to my existence
That keeps me moving on
Your love is what gives me the strength and courage to persevere in difficult times
It's your love, It's your love
Reaffirming the importance and magnitude of your love in my life
Your sweet, sweet love
Describing your love as pure, innocent, and beautiful
With just a glimpse, you taught me how to see
Just by being in my life and showing me your love, you have opened my eyes to the beauty of the world
With just a touch, you brought me to my knees
Your love is so overwhelming and powerful that it humbles me and brings me to a state of surrender
I surrender, I surrender, I surrender
I am at your mercy and I willingly give up my control to you
oooh yeah
An expression of joy and happiness at the love that I have found
I was just a heart looking for a fault line
I was broken and searching for a weakness in myself, but you came into my life and taught me to love and be loved
I wanted to fall, I wanted to fall
I was ready to give up on love and happiness, but you showed me that there is always hope and goodness in the world
Did you know that?
Asking if you are aware of the profound impact your love has on me
Your sweet, sweet love
Describing your love as kind, gentle, and beautiful
It's your love, it's your love
Reaffirming the centrality of your love in my life
It's your love, it's your love, it's your love
Emphasizing the all-encompassing nature of your love in my life
That keeps me moving on
Your love is what gives me the courage to face the challenges of life and never give up
It's your love, it's your love, it's your love
Stating that your love is everything to me and the reason I keep going
Your sweet love
Describing your love as pure, innocent, and beautiful
It's your love, it's your love, it's your love
Emphasizing the importance, magnitude, and all-encompassing nature of your love in my life
That keeps me moving on
Your love is what gives me the resilience to overcome any obstacle and persevere in the face of adversity
It's your love, it's your love, it's your love
Reiterating the central role of your love in my life
Heaven's gates are behind your eyes
Your eyes are so pure and beautiful that they remind me of the entrance to heaven
And I see your face, every time there's orange skies
Your beauty and purity are so profound that they are reflected in the beauty of nature, especially in orange skies
Contributed by Asher I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@monekcarr1
Heaven's gates, are behind your eyes
And I see your face
Every time there's orange skies
It's a miracle, that you even found me
And there's a miracle in about everything
Oh
Did you know that
It's your love, it's your love it's your love
That keeps me walking on
It's your love, it's your love, it's your love
It's your love, it's your love, it's your love
That keeps me moving on
It's your love, it's your love
Your sweet, sweet love
Your sweet, sweet love
With just a glimpse, you taught me how to see
With just a touch, you brought me to my knees
I surrender, I surrender, I surrender
Oh yeah
I was just a heart looking for a fault line
I wanted to fall, I wanted to fall
It's your love, it's your love, it's your love
That keeps me walking on
It's your love, it's your love
Did you know that?
It's your love, it's your love, it's your love
That keeps me moving on
It's your love, it's your love
Your sweet, sweet love
It's your love, it's your love, it's your love
It's your love, it's your love
Your sweet love
It's your love, it's your love, it's your love
That keeps me moving on
It's your love, it's your love, it's your love
Heaven's gates are behind your eyes
And I see your face, every time there's orange skies
@elisaelisa2579
I saw him and his sister for the first time when I was around 14 or 15. That was 20 years ago! So glad i can share their music with my kids.
@stephencindydavis8550
Heartland brought me here and I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS SONG!!!
@candacehampton9891
Just heard this on Heartland🌸
What a beautiful song❤️
@thetomsters
My wife and I just danced to this song for our First Dance. Thanks for being a part of our big day. ❤️
@catherineanderson4755
I adore this song and I adore you soothing, yet amazing voice Phillip! I am a Heartland fan (not to mention your fan!) and was delighted to hear your voice in this beautiful song! I miss you.
@pkt5149
This is A Great Song And Singer! ❤️
@beckymorgison4432
Love your music- heard on the show Heartland on the Canada CBC, which is my favorite show. Your style reminds me of JJ Cale & Dan Fogleburg, plus I love acoustic guitar.
@sherispiller5176
I ❤️ Heartland!
@tyroneherald3962
Heartland brought me to love this song 💯
@franky3000
Took me a minute to find this song after hearting it on heartland ❤