With a contract to Mercury Records (1975), McEntire began her professional career singing heavily pop-influenced ballads, a far cry from the neotraditionalist movement she would help lead a few years later.
"I Don't Want To Be A One Night Stand" became her first charting single in 1976. Her first Top 10 hit "(You Lift Me) Up to Heaven" followed four years later, and in 1982 she scored her first #1 hit with "Can't Even Get The Blues."
Frustrated at her limited commercial success, McEntire left Mercury and signed with MCA Records in 1984. 1984's "Just A Little Love" wasn't much different form her Mercury material and was only moderately successful. However, another album followed later that same year, titled "My Kind of Country." This was a return-to-roots record, complete with fiddles and steel. It was comprised largely of covers of classic country songs, as well as original songs such as "How Blue" and the Harlan Howard-penned "Somebody Should Leave", both of which reached #1 on the Billboard country singles chart.
In the early 1990s McEntire expanded her audience by adopting a softer, more pop-oriented sound. She became one of the best-selling country artists of all time, releasing three volumes of greatest hits collections.
Since that first #1 hit in 1982, she's forked out 21 more chartbusters, which are all recapped on "Reba #1s" released on November 22nd, 2005. The 2-disc compilation features all 22 number one singles (according to Billboard magazine) in chronological order, including two new tracks "You're Gonna Be" and "Love Needs A Holiday." "Reba #1s" also contains 11 singles that reached the #1 spot in publications other than Billboard.
She won the Female Vocalist of the Year award from the Country Music Association four times in a row (a record she holds with Martina McBride), and had dozens of Top Ten hits during the 80s. For her contribution to the recording industry, Reba McEntire has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7000 Hollywood Blvd. In 1995, she was inducted into the Western Performers Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
She is one of only six solo women (others include Shania Twain, Barbara Mandrell, Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, and Taylor Swift), to win the Country Music Association's highest honor, "Entertainer Of The Year". McEntire continued to hit the charts through the 2000s, as well as appearing in television and film, most notably Tremors, a cult horror movie series, Forever Love, and One Night at McCool's. She also starred as Annie Oakley in Annie Get Your Gun on Broadway, receiving critical acclaim.
From 2001 to 2007, Reba starred in the hit WB television show, Reba (with Texan actor Christopher Rich as her philandering ex-husband), even getting a visit from fellow country star Dolly Parton who played Reba's character's supervisor at a real estate firm.
Back to God
Reba McEntire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Have you heard the sound
Of Mama's cryin'
Or do you turn away
When you see the face
Of the innocent dyin'
In these darkest days
Are you not afraid
You gotta get down on your knees, believe
Fold your hands and beg and plead
Gotta keep on praying
You gotta cry, rain tears of pain
Pound the floor and scream His name
'Cause we're still worth saving
Can't go on like this and live like this
We can't love like this
We gotta give this world back to God
Have you lost a love?
Do you feel like givin' up?
Has your heart been broken?
Are your kids okay?
Will they come home safe?
Do you lie there hoping?
You can make a wish, you can knock on wood
Oh it won't do no good
You gotta get down on your knees, believe
Fold your hands and beg and plead
Gotta keep on praying
You gotta cry, rain tears of pain
Pound the floor and scream His name
'Cause we're still worth saving
Can't go on like this and live like this
We can't love like this
We gotta give this world back to God
You gotta get down on your knees, believe
Fold your hands and beg and plead
Keep on praying
You gotta cry, rain tears of pain
Pound the floor and scream His name
'Cause we're still worth saving
Can't go on like this and live like this
We can't love like this
You can hope the best
Make a wish
The only answer is
We give this world back to God
Oh, give it back
Reba McEntire's song, "Back to God," is a powerful plea for humanity to return to their faith and to seek God's guidance during troubled times. The opening verse sets the tone for the song, as it calls attention to the suffering and cries of mothers and the faces of innocent victims. The lyrics ask the listener whether they turn away from these troubles or confront them head-on.
The chorus urges the listener to turn to God in prayer and to "get down on [their] knees, believe." The repetitive use of the phrase "Gotta keep on praying" emphasizes the importance of perseverance in times of hardship. The bridge of the song asks the listener to reflect on their personal struggles, such as lost love or the safety of their children. The lyrics acknowledge that these struggles can feel hopeless and out of our control, but the only answer is to give the world back to God.
"Back to God" was inspired by the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Connecticut. McEntire wanted to offer a message of hope and faith in response to the tragedy. The song went on to become a number one hit on the Billboard Christian Songs chart in 2017.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh have you looked around
Have you taken a good look at your surroundings?
Have you heard the sound
Have you heard the noise?
Of Mama's cryin'
Mothers are crying.
Or do you turn away
Do you ignore it?
When you see the face
When you witness the innocent victims?
Of the innocent dyin'
When you see the innocent dying?
In these darkest days
During these times of despair?
Are you not afraid
Aren't you scared?
That it's too late
That there is no hope left?
You gotta get down on your knees, believe
You need to kneel and have faith.
Fold your hands and beg and plead
Pray earnestly.
Gotta keep on praying
You must keep praying.
You gotta cry, rain tears of pain
You need to cry and show your sadness.
Pound the floor and scream His name
Pound the ground and scream God's name.
'Cause we're still worth saving
We are still deserving of redemption.
Can't go on like this and live like this
We cannot continue living like this.
We can't love like this
We cannot love like this.
We gotta give this world back to God
We must return this world to God.
Have you lost a love?
Have you lost someone you love?
Do you feel like givin' up?
Do you feel like giving up?
Has your heart been broken?
Has your heart been shattered?
Are your kids okay?
Are your children okay?
Will they come home safe?
Will they return safely?
Do you lie there hoping?
Do you lie there and hope?
You can make a wish, you can knock on wood
You may make a wish, or knock on wood.
Oh it won't do no good
It will not help.
You can hope the best
You may hope for the best.
The only answer is
The only solution is
We give this world back to God
We must return this world to God.
Oh, give it back
Return it to God.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, ANTHEM ENTERTAINMENT LP
Written by: Dallas Davidson, Randy Houser
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@juantwotree5710
LOL "pray". So youll do absolutely nothing.
Wishing to ur sky daddy doesnt do anything silly.
Lets assume ur god is real, doesnt he have a divine plan for everyone?
He already knows what and how we all think right? cause hes almighty.
Praying for something doesnt do anything. Cause god already determined whether he was going to listen to ur prayer. The sick kid, cancer patient, homeless mother were all caused by god and you think ur silly little prayers is going to change god's divine plan? Some divine plan. God has already determined whether you were going to pray and already set in motion of his plan regardless of your wishes/prayers.
When u pray, it will be answered in 1 of 3 ways, Yes, No, Wait. I challenge you to come up with a scenario where this wont be true. I'll wait.
With Yes, No, wait as your constant reply from prayers, then you can pray to a shoe and get the exact same results. Prayer does nothing cause nothing is listening.
God didnt create us in his image, we created gods in ours. Thats why u see blonde haired blue eyed jesus in white homes and black jesus in some black's home. Indians have indian looking gods and Buddhist has asian gods, egyptians had egyptian gods and vikings had Nordic gods.
Notice a pattern?
its time for people to smarten up stop spinning our wheels. (insert definition of insanity here)
@praiselove8471
If you are reading this know that I love you and you are worth saving!!!
@henrystarr1149
Praise Love that was beautiful. GOD Bless you.
@praiselove8471
Thanks God bless you as well
@bonnies1stgirl
Praise Love may God bless you richly. I love you too.
@praiselove8471
Nichele King thank you
@bonnies1stgirl
Praise Love your welcome. we must pray for the days ahead! Be Blessed!!!! #stayconnectedtothevine
@summerreedy327
This song makes me so happy. We do need to give this world back to God. It's drastically going downhill day by day because people don't believe anymore. I look around and I see so much greed, selfishness, racism, etc. People care so little anymore. What happened to lending a helping hand when you can? What happened to being kind and respectful to EVERYBODY? Why is God excluded from schools nowadays? I'll admit I'm not extremely religious but I do believe in God. Yes everyone has the freedom to believe in what they wish to but in today's society kids are being taught to not believe in God. They aren't even given a chance to believe... they're taught that it's wrong to believe in Him. Another thing is... Our flag has always been a symbol of many things... purity and innocence (white), hardiness & valour (Red), and vigilance, perseverance & justice (blue). It's a symbol of our pride and freedom and yet many people are disrespecting it. We don't burn or stomp on our flag. We raise it high and NEVER let it fall. So many men and women either risked their lives or lost their lives fighting for our freedom and people seem to forget. I think We The People need to straighten up and take a look around at the chaos and destruction that we're causing. We could do so much better. We need to stop being so cruel to each other. And if you don't believe in God then okay... that's your belief. But stop trying to force Him out of everything and make everyone feel uncomfortable and wrong when they mention His name or pray. But let me ask some of you something... When you're struggling and you don't have enough money to pay your bills or buy groceries or when you're losing or have lost a loved one... do you ask God for help? I know a lot of you say you don't believe but when you're in a predicament you ask God for help. Sorry but that's called believing. I guess all I'm trying to say is I think some changing is needed because the way a lot of us are acting is not something to be proud of.
@summerreedy327
I'm not saying religion needs to be taught in schools. Schools used to give students the option to pray if they wished to. Now you are not allowed to. I'm saying that students rights to pray in school shouldn't be taken away. Being religious doesn't affect school work. Back in the day before kids recited "The Pledge of Allegiance" they had a moment of silence for prayers. I just dislike that rights are being taken away. And you're right, you don't need religion to be a good person.
@bobbobston9233
Summer Reedy what do you mean?? Me and my friends used to pray in school, we didn't care what nobody said or did. Gods authority is the highest and his approval is the only one that truly matters. I don't know your situation is for the school or schools your talking about but that's wrong
@jeremygjonaj1487
Zack Gibson No religion doesn't clash with science. It clashes with evolution. Creationism is science also, there are many scientists who believe in God's creation. And many scientific records of biblical events. They just choose to teach evolution because of a case in the supreme Court differing whether schools where preaching to children or teaching. Which is sad, they should teach all scientific views, not just those that are "safe" to teach, to prevent lawsuits .