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.
One Thin Dime
Reba McEntire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're gonna leave
Nothing I can say will stop you so it seems
But before you up and go
There's just something you should know
When you find that I'm the one you still need
[Chorus]
Is all it takes
When you need someone who cares
These arms of mine
Are always open
One thin dime is all you need
And I'll be there
Oh you're chasing rainbows and I understand
When you're through I'll take you back again
I'll be waiting patiently
For when you come back to me
Ain't nobody else can love you like I can
[Chorus]
You know the number
I'm always home
So honey just pick up and dial that telephone
When this world treats you unkind
Get your momma on the line
There ain't no need for you to ever be alone
[Chorus]
These arms of mine
Oh they're always open
One thin dime is all you need
And I'll be there
The song "One Thin Dime" by Reba McEntire tells the story of a person in a relationship with someone who has made up their mind to leave. The singer acknowledges that there is nothing they can say to change their partner's decision. However, before they go, the singer wants their partner to understand that they will still be there for them when they realize they still need them.
The chorus emphasizes the idea that all it takes is "one thin dime" to have someone who cares. This could be interpreted as a metaphor for a simple phone call or gesture of reaching out. The singer assures their partner that their arms are always open and they will be there for them, no matter the circumstances. The repeated line suggests that the singer's love and support only requires a small effort from their partner.
The second verse acknowledges the partner's desire to explore other options and chase their dreams. The singer expresses understanding and acceptance, promising to take them back when they are ready. They assure their partner of their patience while waiting for their return and affirm that nobody else can love them as they can.
In the third verse, the singer provides their partner with reassurance and comfort, telling them they are always there for them. They encourage their partner to reach out and call whenever they encounter unkindness or difficult times. The singer emphasizes the importance of staying connected to loved ones, particularly their mother, to avoid feeling alone. They stress that their partner never needs to be alone because they are available and willing to support them.
Overall, the song "One Thin Dime" is a heartfelt plea from one person in a relationship to another who is determined to leave. The lyrics convey a deep sense of love, understanding, and unwavering support, emphasizing the singer's commitment to be there for their partner no matter what.
Line by Line Meaning
Your mind's made up
You have already made a decision
You're gonna leave
You are going to go away
Nothing I can say will stop you so it seems
It appears that there is nothing I can say to change your mind
But before you up and go
Before you suddenly leave
There's just something you should know
There is something important you need to be aware of
When you find that I'm the one you still need
When you realize that I am the one you still require
One thin dime
Just a small amount of money
Is all it takes
It only requires this small amount
When you need someone who cares
When you are in need of someone who genuinely cares
These arms of mine
My arms
Are always open
They are always available
One thin dime is all you need
Just this small amount of money is sufficient
And I'll be there
And I will be by your side
Oh you're chasing rainbows and I understand
You are pursuing unrealistic dreams and I comprehend
When you're through I'll take you back again
When you are done, I will welcome you back once more
I'll be waiting patiently
I will wait with patience
For when you come back to me
For the moment you return to my side
Ain't nobody else can love you like I can
There is no one else who can love you in the way I can
You know the number
You are aware of the phone number
I'm always home
I am always at home
So honey just pick up and dial that telephone
So, my dear, simply pick up the phone and dial
When this world treats you unkind
When this world is cruel towards you
Get your momma on the line
Contact your mother
There ain't no need for you to ever be alone
There is no need for you to ever feel lonely
These arms of mine
My arms
Oh they're always open
They are always ready to embrace you
One thin dime is all you need
Just this small amount of money is sufficient
And I'll be there
And I will be by your side
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: J. LEAP, M. HEENAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind