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.
Love Isn
Reba McEntire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bell's not a bell without ringing
A home's not a home when there's nobody there
A song's not a song without singing
[Chorus]
Love isn't love till you give it away
Love isn't love till it's free
Wasn't put there to stay
Oh love isn't love till you give it away
You might think love is a treasure to keep
Feeling to cherish and hold
But love is a treasure for people to share
You keep it by letting it go
[Chorus]
Cause love can't survive
When it's hidden inside
And love was meant to be shared
[Chorus]
Reba McEntire's song Love Isn't Love is a beautiful and meaningful ballad that stresses on the importance of giving love away in order to truly experience it. The lyrics of the song are powerful and convey the idea that love is not a possession that can be hoarded; it is something that is meant to be shared with others. The first stanza of the song talks about different things that only become complete by performing their intended function. For instance, a smile is not a smile until it causes wrinkles on one's face, just as a bell is not a bell without ringing. Similarly, a home only becomes a home when there are people in it, and a song is only a song when it is being sung. In the same way, love is only love when it is given away.
The song's chorus reinforces the message of the first stanza by saying that love is not really love unless it is given away. The idea is that love is not just an emotion, but an action that required one to give it away selflessly. The song emphasizes that love is meant to be shared with others, and its true value is only experienced when one shares it with others. The second verse of the song highlights the fact that love is not meant to be hoarded or kept secret. Instead, love is a treasure that can only be preserved by giving it away to others.
Overall, Love Isn't Love by Reba McEntire is a powerful reminder of the importance of sharing love with others. The song's lyrics highlight the fact that love is not something that can be hoarded or kept secret, but a treasure that must be given away to truly value its worth.
Line by Line Meaning
Smile's not a smile until it wrinkles your face
A smile is not a genuine expression of joy until it causes wrinkles of happiness on your face.
Bell's not a bell without ringing
A bell is not fulfilling its purpose until it is rung and its sound is heard.
A home's not a home when there's nobody there
A home is just a physical structure until it is inhabited by people who create love and memories within it.
A song's not a song without singing
A song can only fulfill its purpose when it is sung and shared with others.
Love isn't love till you give it away
Love only truly exists and is felt when you give it to others.
Love isn't love till it's free
Love cannot be controlled or restricted, it must be given freely and unconditionally.
The love in your heart
Wasn't put there to stay
The love in your heart was meant to be shared with others, not kept inside and hidden away.
Oh love isn't love till you give it away
Reiterating the fact that love can only be truly felt and experienced when it is given to others.
You might think love is a treasure to keep
Feeling to cherish and hold
It's easy to believe that love should be held tightly and kept to oneself, but that is not its true purpose.
But love is a treasure for people to share
You keep it by letting it go
Love is meant to be shared with others, and by sharing it, it will come back to you in even greater abundance.
Cause love can't survive
When it's hidden inside
Love cannot flourish when it is kept hidden and not expressed to others.
And love was meant to be shared
The true purpose of love is to be shared with others and spread throughout the world.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: DON ROTH, TIMMY TAPPAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@chriss5124
This song means so much to me. I was in love but the gentleman was not sure about his feelings for me. This song I played over and over in my home and my car. I just knew he would eventually fall in love with me. He did and we married. He was my soulmate and I was his. Sadly he passed away and I miss him dearly but I still love and listen to this song. Reba is the best.
@downhomesunset
I’m sorry that your husband passed. Wow! You met your soulmate; not many do. I also believe that many meet theirs, but don’t realize it and never get together with the one that was meant for them!
@Christian_Ada1
God you crushed me 😢
@SultryAngel
Beautiful
@matthewsouza1463
I begged my mom when I was kid to see her. Had to be early 91. I think. I literally got on my knees and cried begged. Mom and dad just divorced, so my mom couldn't make it happen. Reba was in Lake Tahoe. 40 minutes away. I remember crying that whole night. I just wanted to see Reba.
@Rebfancy
I remember begging to go see her as a kid too and not getting to go. Reba was playing at the state fair when I was about 12 yrs old and it was about an hr away. I begged to go and was told I couldn’t. I cried so hard after that.
I finally got to see her in concert though when I was much older and it was well worth the wait.
@Jenne_starfish
For me... her voice is perfection. Unmistakable. ❤
@seanjacobs4
I don't think theres ANYBODY out there that hasn't been able to identify with this song! Thank you, Reba!!!
@joshuabrooks4907
This is the first song I can remember hearing from Reba, and let's just say I've been hooked on her singing ever since. 24 years, and still a fan!
@karenarobinson8575
Me too I was 15 living in a group home I wasn't interested in country music but this song!REBA you SIa