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.
I'd Rather Ride Around With You
Reba McEntire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That's why I stayed home from work
I'm supposed to hold the flowers
When the new bride kisses the groom
That's what I'm supposed to do
So what are we doin' with the windows rolled down
Twenty five passionate miles from town
I love ?er like a sister baby, but to tell you the truthI'd rather ride around with you
The guy she's gonna marry's got money to burn
His daddy's a partner in some big law firm
Yeah, that's how they're goin'
To Hawaii on their honeymoon
First class to Honolulu
She ain't ever even set foot on a jet
I'm a little bit jealous I confess
I'd like to fly to Hawaii but honey if I had to choose
I'd rather ride around with you
I don't care where this road goes
No I don't wanna turn around
Let go of the wheel and feel the wind blow
Don't even think about slowin' down
They're tyin' tin cans to the back of the car
Wonderin' where in the world we are
The preacher's done prayin'
And the couple's done sayin' I do
That could be me and you
There's way too many decisions to make
The length of the dress, the layers on the cake
One of these days I might get married too
But I'd rather ride around with you
I don't care where this road goes
No I don't wanna turn around
Let go of the wheel and feel the wind blow
Don't even think about slowin' down
Reba McEntire's "I'd Rather Ride Around With You" is an amusing song about a woman who chooses to pass up the chance to participate in her cousin’s wedding to hang out with her lover. The song begins by portraying a dull day; she was expected to attend her cousin's wedding and hold the flowers while the bride and groom exchanged kisses. However, she decides to bail and hit the road instead. During their road trip, they drive about 25 miles to blow off steam and spend time together. She acknowledges that she loves her cousin, who is to wed and even confesses to being a little bit jealous. However, she's distinct about the fact that she would prefer to be with her significant other.
The second verse of the song emphasizes the differences between her cousin's wedding and her relationship with her sweetheart. She lists the material markers of wealth, status, and class that set her cousin and her lover apart. Her cousin's fiancé is wealthy, and his father is a prominent figure in a big law firm. For all intents and purposes, they're going to Hawaii for their honeymoon via first-class flights. In contrast, the singer confesses that she lacks the resources of her cousin’s fiancé, who could make such lavish trips with ease. She's candid about her personal wishlist of wanting to fly to Hawaii. But even then, she prioritizes her relationship, stating that she'd rather "ride around with you."
The chorus reiterates the primary message of the song that it's only with her lover that she wishes to travel. She does not care where they're headed, nor does she want to turn back. She wants to feel the wind in her face, with no thought given to slowing down. In the end, she reflects on the many decisions to be made about her own future marriage. She acknowledges the many complexities and choices to be made about the bride's dress, layers of the cake, and more. But despite all of this, she is still keen on riding around with her lover.
Line by Line Meaning
My cousin's gettin' married at the Methodist church
My cousin is getting married at the Methodist church.
That's why I stayed home from work
I took a day off to attend the wedding.
I'm supposed to hold the flowers
I have been assigned the responsibility of holding the flowers during the wedding.
When the new bride kisses the groom
I am supposed to hold the flowers while the newly married couple shares their first kiss.
That's what I'm supposed to do
That is my expected duty for the wedding.
So what are we doin' with the windows rolled down
Despite my expected duties, we are instead driving with the car windows rolled down.
Twenty five passionate miles from town
We are driving twenty-five miles from the town with passion.
I love 'er like a sister baby, but to tell you the truth
I love my cousin like a sister, but the truth is...
I'd rather ride around with you
I would rather spend my time riding around with you than attending the wedding.
The guy she's gonna marry's got money to burn
The guy she is going to marry is really rich.
His daddy's a partner in some big law firm
His father is a partner in a large law firm.
Yeah, that's how they're goin'
That is how they are able to afford to go on a honeymoon to Hawaii.
To Hawaii on their honeymoon
They are travelling to Hawaii for their honeymoon.
First class to Honolulu
They are traveling first class to Honolulu.
She ain't ever even set foot on a jet
My cousin has never flown on an airplane before.
I'm a little bit jealous I confess
I admit that I am a little bit envious.
I'd like to fly to Hawaii but honey if I had to choose
Although I would like to fly to Hawaii, if I had to choose...
I'd rather ride around with you
I would choose to spend my time riding around with you instead of going to Hawaii.
I don't care where this road goes
I do not have a destination in mind for this drive.
No I don't wanna turn around
I do not want to go back.
Let go of the wheel and feel the wind blow
I want to let go of the wheel and feel the wind blow on my face.
Don't even think about slowin' down
I do not want to slow down, I want to keep driving.
They're tyin' tin cans to the back of the car
The wedding guests are attaching tin cans to the back of the car.
Wonderin' where in the world we are
They are wondering where we are and why we have not arrived at the wedding yet.
The preacher's done prayin'
The preacher has finished praying.
And the couple's done sayin' I do
The couple has exchanged their vows and are now married.
That could be me and you
That could be us getting married someday.
There's way too many decisions to make
There are too many decisions to make when planning a wedding.
The length of the dress, the layers on the cake
Some of the decisions to make for a wedding include the length of the dress and the number of layers on the cake.
One of these days I might get married too
I might get married someday.
But I'd rather ride around with you
However, I would still rather spend my time riding around with you.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MARK DANIEL SANDERS, TIM J. NICHOLS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sauquoit13456
On this day in 1997 {July 20th} Reba McEntire's "I'd Rather Ride Around with You"* peaked at #2 {for 1 week} on Billboard's Hot Country Singles chart, for the week it was at #2, the #1 record for that week was "Carrying Your Love With Me" by George Strait...
And "I'd Rather Ride Around with You" would also reach #2 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks chart...
Between 1976 and 2020 the McAlester, Oklahoma native had one hundred records on the Hot Country Singles chart, sixty two made the Top 10 with twenty six reaching #1...
Five of her one hundred charted records were duets, two with Brooks & Dunn, and one each with Kelly Clarkson, Justin Timberlake, and Kenny Chesney...
Reba Nell McEntire celebrated her 65th birthday four months ago on March 28th, 2020...
* "I'd Rather Ride Around with You" was Reba McEntire's sixth of eight of her records to peak at #2 on the Hot Country Singles chart...
And from the 'For What It's Worth' department, the remainder of the Hot Country Singles' Top 10 on July 20th, 1997...
At #3. "It's Your Love" by Tim McGraw (with Faith Hill)
#4. " I Left Something Turned On At Home" by Trace Adkins
#5. "All The Good Ones Are Gone" by Pam Tillis
#6. "Come Cryin' To Me" by Lonestar
#7. "I Only Get This Way With You" by Rick Trevino
#8. "Count Me In" by Deana Carter
#9. "Drink, Swear, Steal, and Lie" by Michael Peterson
#10. "Loved Too Much" by Ty Herndon
@unappreciatedtreehouse821
Graduated HS, joined the USAF, got married in 97. Now we've got three daughters 13, 15 and 19 and they all love this song.
@jussypittybull2271
2024 still jamming
@randysvids4774
David Wallace at last day of work at Dunder Mifflin: I wish I would have never left Reba
@galengalbreath1051
Still out there riding around with him in 2024.😁🎉
@jscountrygirl85_326
Love this song so much! So many great memories from the summer of 1997 come back every time I hear it. Still one of the most perfect cruising songs out there!
@felipeedoardo
Wow David Wallace really had it going on
@allenhadden1097
I'd rather ride around with you,IF I could JUST FIND YOU!!!!
@senseijuan3230
God, I miss this type of country music. This song always reminds of when I was young, single and driving through the south west
@debfan74
One of my all time faves...just a great cruising track to jam in the car with!!
@bettythomas3135
I am a forever Reba fan. Love the lady and her music.