Rascal Flatts has released six studio albums and a greatest hits album, all on Lyric Street Records. Their first two albums, 2000's Rascal Flatts and 2002's Melt, have been certified 2× Multi-Platinum and 3× Multi-Platinum, respectively, in the United States, while 2004's Feels Like Today and 2006's Me and My Gang have received 5× Multi-Platinum and 4× Multi-Platinum certifications respectively. 2007's Still Feels Good is certified 2× Multi-Platinum. Their album, Unstoppable, was released on April 7, 2009.
They have also released twenty-seven singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, including ten Number Ones. A cover of Tom Cochrane's "Life Is a Highway", from the soundtrack to the 2006 Disney film Cars, also entered the country music charts from unsolicited airplay. Their longest-lasting Number One is "Bless the Broken Road" (late 2004-early 2005) at five weeks, while their biggest crossover single is "What Hurts the Most", which topped both the country and Adult Contemporary charts in 2006, and was a Top Ten pop hit. "Banjo", their most recent one, was released to Country radio on January 9, 2012. (Banjo Songfacts).
In early 2000, the group made their debut with their single "Prayin' for Daylight". This song, which reached #3 on the Billboard country charts. This was the first of four consecutive Top Ten hits from their self-titled debut, which was issued in early 2000 on Lyric Street. Following "Prayin' for Daylight" were "This Everyday Love", "While You Loved Me" and "I'm Movin' On", which respectively peaked at #9, #7, and #4 on the country charts. "I'm Movin' On" was awarded Song of the Year by the Academy of Country Music in 2002.
History: Rascal Flatts were founded near Columbus, Ohio. Gary LeVox and Jay DeMarcus were second cousins from a musical family. DeMarcus's brother-in-law, James Otto, is also a country music artist. DeMarcus moved to Nashville in 1992, earning his first record deal as part of a Christian group called East to West. In 1997, he finally convinced LeVox to leave behind his job with the Ohio Department of Mental Retardation and follow his musical dreams as well.
DeMarcus soon joined Chely Wright's band, and there he met Joe Don Rooney. DeMarcus and LeVox were working in a Printer's Alley nightclub, and when their part-time guitarist could not make it one night, DeMarcus invited Rooney to sit in. Eventually, they took the name Rascal Flatts and began performing together, getting signed to Lyric Street Records in late 1999.
The band was recently announced that they have celebrated 10 years of being one of the hottest country bands of the decade. On January 7, 2020, Rascal Flatts announced that they would be disbanding following a farewell tour after twenty years together. However, this farewell tour was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic; the group's disbandment was officially confirmed in October 2021.
Ellsworth
Rascal Flatts Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nearly took the house down with it
Now she's in assisted livin'
We all knew that day would come
We knew she was too gone to drive
The day she parked on I-65
Found her on the shoulder cryin'
It's like her mind just quit
Oh, but bring up Grandpa
It's like someone flipped a switch
A front porch light and a blue DeSoto
Couple of straws in a Coca-Cola
You could see it all goin' down
A handsome boy in army green
A tear on his face, down on a knee
Shaky voice, a diamond ring
She'll put you in that town
Tomorrow she won't remember what she did today
But just ask her about Ellsworth, Kansas, 1948
She takes out his medals
A cigar box of letters
Sits and scatters pictures
Black and whites of days gone by
We started losing her when she lost him
But to hear her carry on
You'd swear she's seventeen again
Football games and leaves are cracklin'
Walking her home in his leather jacket
You can see it all goin' down
A perfect night on a front porch glider
Sayin' goodnight for the next three hours
Her tired eyes grow wide and bright
When she talks about that town
Tomorrow she won't remember what she did today
But just ask her about Ellsworth, Kansas, 1948
While the world is fading all around her
Sharin' a sundae at the counter
He's goin' on and on about her
Bet she's right there right now
Tomorrow she won't remember what she did today
But just ask her about Ellsworth, Kansas, 1948
"Ellsworth" by Rascal Flatts tells the story of an elderly woman suffering from dementia. The song starts with the grandmother burning the biscuits which nearly destroyed the house. Consequently, she needs to be moved to an assisted living facility. The family knew that the day was coming when she would need more help; they already had suspicions that she had lost her memory when she lost her husband, and they saw signs of it when she parked on I-65 crying after realizing she did not know where she was.
Despite her deteriorating mental health, the grandmother fondly remembers her life when she was younger, specifically in Ellsworth, Kansas, in 1948. She recalls her young love with her husband, a handsome boy in army green, and how he proposed to her. She takes out his medals and pictures, talks about their dates, and remembers a perfect night on a front porch glider. Although she forgets many things tomorrow, her memories of Ellsworth stay vivid in her mind.
The song portrays the impact of dementia on not only the person but also their families. The grandmother's significant other had already passed away, and now, she experiences more loss as dementia erodes her memories. The song also emphasizes how memories of past times hold a strong grip on us and can endure, even if everything else fades away.
Line by Line Meaning
Grandma burned the biscuits
Grandma made an error while cooking
Nearly took the house down with it
The error was almost catastrophic
Now she's in assisted livin'
Grandma requires extra assistance in her life
We all knew that day would come
It was inevitable that Grandma would need extra help
We knew she was too gone to drive
Grandma is no longer able to drive
The day she parked on I-65
She had a significant driving mishap
Found her on the shoulder cryin'
Grandma was upset and lost on the side of the road
She didn't know where she was
Grandma lost her bearings and was disoriented
It's like her mind just quit
She's experiencing significant memory loss
Oh, but bring up Grandpa
Grandma lights up when talking about her husband
It's like someone flipped a switch
Her demeanor rapidly changes when talking about Grandpa
A front porch light and a blue DeSoto
A scene from the past that Grandma remembers vividly
Couple of straws in a Coca-Cola
A small, simple detail from the memory
You could see it all goin' down
The memory is very clear in her mind
A handsome boy in army green
Grandpa in his military uniform
A tear on his face, down on a knee
Grandpa proposing to Grandma with emotion
Shaky voice, a diamond ring
The details of the proposal
She'll put you in that town
Grandma can transport you back to that time and place
Tomorrow she won't remember what she did today
Grandma's memory loss is severe
But just ask her about Ellsworth, Kansas, 1948
Grandma will remember and speak about this specific memory
She takes out his medals
Grandma looks at Grandpa's military medals
A cigar box of letters
Grandma keeps letters from Grandpa
Sits and scatters pictures
She looks at photos from her past
Black and whites of days gone by
Photos of her youth are in black and white
We started losing her when she lost him
Grandma's memory loss began when Grandpa passed away
But to hear her carry on
Despite her memory loss, she can still reminisce with clarity
You'd swear she's seventeen again
Her memories take her back to a youthful time
Football games and leaves are cracklin'
Memories of her youth in detail
Walking her home in his leather jacket
Grandpa being a chivalrous gentleman
You can see it all goin' down
The scene plays out in her mind vividly
A perfect night on a front porch glider
A peaceful, romantic memory
Sayin' goodnight for the next three hours
The affection and longing in their goodbyes
Her tired eyes grow wide and bright
Grandma is animated and happy when recalling these memories
When she talks about that town
Ellsworth holds a special place in her memory
While the world is fading all around her
Despite her memory loss and old age, she holds onto her memories
Sharin' a sundae at the counter
A sweet moment between Grandma and Grandpa
He's goin' on and on about her
Grandpa speaks adoringly about Grandma
Bet she's right there right now
Grandma imagines being with Grandpa again in her memories
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Major Bob Music, Inc. / Rio Bravo Music, Inc. / Castle Bound Music, Inc. / Hanna Bea Songs, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MICHAEL WILLIAM DULANEY, NEIL THRASHER, WENDELL MOBLEY, WENDELL LEE MOBLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Regal Motors
on Life Is a Highway
Life is a Highway!!