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.
Cry
Reba McEntire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I might clench my fist or just leave the room
But, I'm not gonna cry, not one single drop
'Cause once I get started out, I may never stop
I might even laugh, right in your face
When you come out and ask, oh, if I'll be okay
But, I'm not gonna cry, not one single drop
It's gonna take the night of fighting with all I've got
To keep the first tear from falling down
But, if I don't hold the waters back
The dam is gonna crack
And I'll be damned if I'm gonna drown
So, I'm not gonna cry
If that's what you thought
'Cause once I get started out
I may never stop
No, I'm not gonna cry
Not one single drop
'Cause once I get started
I may never stop
So, I might bite my lip
Look down at my shoes
The lyrics of Reba McEntire's song "Cry" convey the determination to hold back one's tears, even in the face of emotional pain or distress. The opening lines suggest physical reactions such as biting one's lip or clenching one's fist as a way of holding back tears. The singer insists, however, that they will not cry, not even a single drop, because once they start, they may never stop. This is a message of resilience, suggesting that the singer has the strength to keep their emotions in check.
As the song continues, the singer goes on to suggest that they may even laugh in the face of adversity, but they will still not cry. The use of the word "dam" in the lyrics adds to this image of holding back tears, as if the singer is trying to stop a flood of emotions from overwhelming them. The repetition of the phrase "not one single drop" further emphasizes the singer's determination to remain composed.
The chorus of the song reinforces this message of emotional control. The singer proclaims, "I'll be damned if I'm gonna drown...So, I'm not gonna cry if that's what you thought." The use of the word "damned" in this line suggests a sense of defiance, as if the singer is determined not to be brought down by their emotions. Overall, the lyrics of "Cry" convey a message of strength and resilience in the face of emotional distress.
Line by Line Meaning
I might bite my lip, look down at my shoes
I might try to hold back my emotions and avoid eye contact
I might clench my fist or just leave the room
I might physically show my frustration or try to remove myself from the situation
But, I'm not gonna cry, not one single drop
I refuse to let my emotions get the best of me and cry
'Cause once I get started out, I may never stop
If I allow myself to start crying, it may be difficult to stop
I might even laugh, right in your face
I might try to cover up my true emotions by laughing
When you come out and ask, oh, if I'll be okay
When you ask me if I'm okay, I may put on a brave face and say that I am
It's gonna take the night of fighting with all I've got
It will take a lot of effort to hold back my tears
To keep the first tear from falling down
I will do whatever it takes to prevent myself from crying
But, if I don't hold the waters back
However, if I do give in to my emotions
The dam is gonna crack
I will lose control and break down completely
And I'll be damned if I'm gonna drown
I refuse to let my emotions overwhelm and defeat me
So, I'm not gonna cry
I am determined to hold back my tears
If that's what you thought
If you assumed I would cry, you're mistaken
'Cause once I get started out
Because crying could potentially spiral out of control
I may never stop
It could be difficult to regain my composure and stop crying
No, I'm not gonna cry
I am steadfast in my decision to not cry
Not one single drop
I am determined to hold back my tears completely
'Cause once I get started
Allowing myself to cry could lead to losing control
I may never stop
Crying could potentially cause me to completely break down emotionally
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Brandy Clark, Shane L McAnally
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Nicholai Barak
This is such a great song & Reba nailed it, as usual! I always refer back to this song when i'm on the edge of tears, I hope others can say the same. Nice job Reba!!!!!
Jillian Larremore
This song completely describes me. I don't ever cry no matter how much it hurts or how sad I am. I suck it up and move on. Cowgirls don't cry.
Lilly May King
I love this song. I had to listen to it fot like 3 weeks constantly after my ex and I broke up after 3 years. It just hurt that bad. But this song kept me from crying. I'll never cry over a guy again thanks to this song:) I love you Reba:)
TARA RENTERIA
Lilly May King my husband and I have ended our marriage after nearly 5 years but 10 years all together .. This past week ..with 2 boys ..this song and Reba has been helping me
LuckenbachTexas7499
Beautiful song. It's actually real country music.
barbedoll32
This is one of my top songs on the album.... love it... we all need to cry sometime... cant hold it in or we will be hurting ourselves... Let it out and walk on....
Linda Burns
Soooooo beautifully done!!! Love you Reba, 🎸🎼🎶💋🎤✌🙏☮♥️🙂🦋
Angela Carter
i love this song.. wish i could just not cry.
jinks O
This song is great!!!
Nicholai Barak
One of the sadder songs off Reba's Album "All The Women I Am" but I still like to go to this song when I am on the verge of tears @ times.