Travis was born in Marshville, North Carolina, the second of six children of Bobbie, a textile factory worker, and Harold Traywick, a horse breeder, turkey farmer, and construction business owner. While growing up, Travis was forced to take guitar lessons by his father and began performing at the age of eight with his brother, Ricky. Travis began drinking at the age of 12, and by 14 was a regular marijuana user, who occasionally dabbled in harder drugs. He often fought with his father and soon dropped out of high school. He became a juvenile delinquent and was arrested for various offenses, including auto theft and burglary.
Harold Traywick entered Randy and Ricky in a talent contest at a nightclub called "Country City, USA" in Charlotte, North Carolina. In the meantime, Ricky, who also had brushes with the law, was sentenced to jail and Randy had to complete the contest alone, but he won anyway. The club's manager, Elizabeth "Lib" Hatcher, took an interest in Travis and gave him a job singing at the club. Travis began focusing on music. He first recorded for Paula Records and released two unsuccessful singles — "She's My Woman" and "Dreamin'". Travis' legal troubles continued and he was due in court for probation violations. Hatcher pleaded with the judge and Travis was released in her custody with the warning that if the judge ever saw him again "he'd better bring his toothbrush, because he would be going to jail for a very long time."
Travis moved in with Hatcher. This put further strain on her already fragile marriage. She eventually left her husband and, in 1982, she and Travis moved to Nashville, Tennessee. Travis was soon turned down by every record label in town. His early demo tapes were criticized by Nashville record executives as being "too country." Hatcher took a job as manager of a nightclub, "The Nashville Palace" and hired Travis as a cook and singer. It was during this time that an unlikely romance began to form between the two; Travis said "I think we discovered how much we needed each other."
Career
In 1982, Travis recorded an independent album Randy Ray Live and Lib Hatcher used it to secure a deal with Warner Bros. Records. However, the label said they had to keep their romance a secret, so as not to turn away fans, and changed his stage name from Randy Ray to Randy Travis. In 1985, Warner Brothers released Travis' single, "On the Other Hand," which topped out at 67 on the country charts. His next single, "1982", became a Top 10 hit followed by the re-release of "On the Other Hand" in 1986. The re-release became Travis' first number one hit.
His debut album, Storms of Life, went on to sell more than 4 million copies. In the late 1980s, he had a string of hits, including "No Place Like Home" and "Diggin' Up Bones." A song from his second Warner Brothers album "Always and Forever" titled "Forever and Ever, Amen" arguably launched the neo-traditionalist country era, boosting the popularity of country music beyond its traditional fan base. For two years in a row, Travis won the Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance, for the albums Always & Forever in 1988, and for Old 8x10 in 1989. Off the success of his first two albums, Old 8x10 shipped platinum. Always and Forever was number one for 43 weeks.
Travis and Hatcher married in 1991. That year Travis took part in Voices That Care, a multi-artist project that featured other top names in music for a one-off single to raise money for the allied troops in the Gulf War. The project included fellow singers Garth Brooks, Kenny Rogers and Kathy Mattea. By 1992, Travis was no longer charting high, as Brooks, Clint Black and others had taken over Nashville. He took a break from music to concentrate on acting and landed roles in several Western-genre films. He returned to recording with the 1994 album This Is Me and the hit single "Whisper My Name."
In 1997, Travis parted ways with Warner Brothers. He moved to DreamWorks Nashville and recorded You and You Alone, which produced the top 10 hits "Out of My Bones" and "Spirit of a Boy, Wisdom of a Man." These were followed by 2000's albums Inspirational Journey, 2002's Rise and Shine and 2003's Worship and Faith. The single "Three Wooden Crosses" from the Rise and Shine album reached No. 1 and won the CMA song of the year in 2003. That same year, Travis ranked #13 on CMT's 40 Greatest Men of Country Music. Travis continues to act in film and television; he appeared on the series finale of Touched by an Angel. His second most recent album, Passing Through, was released in November of 2004. It combines the country music of his earlier years, with a little gospel mixed in from more recent albums. After the release of "Glory Train" in 2005 and the Christmas album "Songs of the Season" in 2007, Travis released his brand new single "Faith In You" as a free download from his official website. It heralds the projected summer [2008] release of his forthcoming album, "Around the Bend". Along with the release of the free single, RandyTravis.com has also underwent a complete overhaul, with opportunities for fans to create blogs and join an upcoming official fan club. The new sleek look of the website has attracted throngs of fans. Contributor Anthony Maurizio has recently produced the Digging Up Bones blog series on the website, which has increased website traffic and is considered one of the most esteemed country music articles available for reading.
If I Didn't Have You
Randy Travis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I gained a lot and that I don't regret
Then I hung around 'til you said, "I do"
I knew I wouldn't have nothing
If I didn't have you
Well it changed my thinking
When you changed your name
And I swear I'm never gonna be untrue
'Cause I wouldn't have nothing
If I didn't have you
If I didn't have you I'd long ago
Been left in the dark, out in the cold
Blowing around from town to town
Like a feather in the wind
If I didn't have you I know I'd be
Floundering around like a ship at sea
Lost in the rain of a hurricane
And that's where I'd have been
But I didn't get lost 'cause I saw your light
Shining like a beacon on a cold dark night
Then the sun came up and the skies turned blue
No, I wouldn't have nothing
If I didn't have you
Well, I count my blessings every night I pray
That the Lord lets me keep you just one more day
And every day he does 'cause God knows too
That I wouldn't have nothing
If I didn't have you
If I didn't have you I'd long ago
Been left in the dark, out in the cold
Blowing around from town to town
Like a feather in the wind
If I didn't have you I know I'd be
Floundering around like a ship at sea
Lost in the rain of a hurricane
And that's where I'd have been
But I didn't get lost 'cause I saw your light
Shining like a beacon on a cold, dark night
Then the sun came up and the skies turned blue
No, I wouldn't have nothing
If I didn't have you
Well, I've already said it but I swear it's true
I know I wouldn't have nothing
If I didn't have you
Randy Travis’s song, "If I Didn't Have You" is a beautiful love song that describes the singer's deep gratitude for having found his partner. The singer reminisces about the day he met his significant other, and how he instantly knew he had lost his heart to this person. Although he admits that his life changed after he met his partner, he acknowledges that he gained so much from the relationship and has no regrets. The singer is well aware that he wouldn't have anything if it weren't for his partner – no love, no happiness, and no future. Thus, he considers his partner's presence as the light that shows him the way through life.
The song highlights the idea of dependence between two people in a committed relationship. The singer goes on to describe a life without his partner, where he would be lost and wandering aimlessly. He compares his life without his partner to being lost in the dark, out in the cold or wandering around like a ship at sea. The lyrics beautifully convey the message that true love is what gives us direction in life, and it is the reason that makes life worth living. The song also highlights the importance of counting blessings and cherishing what we have, to lead a happy and peaceful life.
Overall, "If I Didn't Have You" is a poignant reminder of the importance of gratitude and the power of love that holds the fabric of life together.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I lost my heart on the day we met
I fell in love with you on the first day we met
But I gained a lot and that I don't regret
Despite losing my heart, being with you gave me many rewarding experiences that I cherish
Then I hung around 'til you said, "I do"
I stayed with you until you agreed to marry me
I knew I wouldn't have nothing
If I didn't have you
I acknowledge that without you, my life wouldn't have as much meaning or purpose
Well it changed my thinking
When you changed your name
Your name change made me realize the depth and extent of your love for me
And neither one of us will ever be the same
Our relationship completely transformed each other's lives
And I swear I'm never gonna be untrue
I promise to always be loyal and faithful to you
'Cause I wouldn't have nothing
If I didn't have you
I reiterate that without you, my life would be meaningless
If I didn't have you I'd long ago
Been left in the dark, out in the cold
Blowing around from town to town
Like a feather in the wind
Without you, I would have been left alone and lost, wandering aimlessly through life
If I didn't have you I know I'd be
Floundering around like a ship at sea
Lost in the rain of a hurricane
And that's where I'd have been
I acknowledge that without you, I would be lost and helpless, struggling to survive the storms of life on my own
But I didn't get lost 'cause I saw your light
Shining like a beacon on a cold dark night
Then the sun came up and the skies turned blue
Your love and presence brought light and hope into my life, even during the darkest of times
No, I wouldn't have nothing
If I didn't have you
Once again, I emphasize that my life would be empty without you
Well, I count my blessings every night I pray
That the Lord lets me keep you just one more day
And every day he does 'cause God knows too
Every day, I am grateful for your presence in my life, and I pray that I can continue to be with you
That I wouldn't have nothing
If I didn't have you
I reiterate that without you, my life would hold no value or meaning
Lyrics © COPYRIGHT SOLUTIONS, Universal Music Publishing Group, WRITE! ON MUSIC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Skip Ewing, Max Duane Barnes
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Bytech Printers
The lyrics
Lyrics
Well I lost my heart on the day we met
But I gained a lot and that I don't regret
Then I hung around 'til you said, "I do"
I knew I wouldn't have nothing
If I didn't have you
Well it changed my thinking
When you changed your name
And neither one of us will ever be the same
And I swear I'm never gonna be untrue
'Cause I wouldn't have nothing
If I didn't have you
If I didn't have you I'd long ago
Been left in the dark, out in the cold
Blowing around from town to town
Like a feather in the wind
If I didn't have you I know I'd be
Floundering around like a ship at sea
Lost in the rain of a hurricane
And that's where I'd have been
But I didn't get lost 'cause I saw your light
Shining like a beacon on a cold dark night
Then the sun came up and the skies turned blue
No, I wouldn't have nothing
If I didn't have you
Well, I count my blessings every night I pray
That the Lord lets me keep you just one more day
And every day he does 'cause God knows too
That I wouldn't have nothing
If I didn't have you
If I didn't have you I'd long ago
Been left in the dark, out in the cold
Blowing around from town to town
Like a feather in the wind
If I didn't have you I know I'd be
Floundering around like a ship at sea
Lost in the rain of a hurricane
And that's where I'd have been
But I didn't get lost 'cause I saw your light
Shining like a beacon on a cold, dark night
Then the sun came up and the skies turned blue
No, I wouldn't have nothing
If I didn't have you
Well, I've already said it but I swear it's true
I know I wouldn't have nothing
If I didn't have you
diane hildebrandt
He was absolutely one of the very best in country music. Breaks my heart that we may never hear him perform again! Please God...Heal Randy! 🙏❤
Ella harbert
Oh I see and I love this song so much and it’s make me cry when I listen to this song my dear and I miss my late wife favorite song and it’s a perfect song to listen to my dear and what do you find about this song if I may ask ?
Joseph McClure
He is
Greg Campbell
Hello Diane how are you doing? Hope you are having a beautiful and gorgeous day?
Ericksonwall
Hello Diane how are you doing!!
Phillip Hanger
Weirdos
Tango Bango
Randy’s voice is so different...smooth, deep, rich & so damn Country.
Tinisha Eastman
real country
Rene Gordon
@Tinisha Eastman i agrre with that you got it done pat girl
Jessica McGill
L,,m,8mo