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.
Stronger Than The Truth
Reba McEntire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Than a small town, simple life
A little money in our pockets
You're my husband, I'm your wife
But then I fell in icy water
Standing in the grocery line
I overheard my name and yours
Now everything I thought I knew
Is walking out the door
There's a bottle on the table tellin' me
The only thing I know for sure
Is there's not a sound
A sound as loud as silence
There's not a blade sharper than a lie
There's not a low lower than being
The last one to know
You got a brand new start with someone new
And there's no whiskey stronger
Than the truth
You never think it'd be your story
When you're pulling the wool off your eyes
You know, you think you know somebody
Then you don't and you don't know why
Havin' me another won't make
The clock rewind
But I'm drinking every drop knowing what
I'm looking for I'll never find
There's not a sound
A sound as loud as silence
There's not a blade sharper than a lie
There's not a low lower than being
The last one to know oh, you got a brand new
Start with someone new
And there's no whiskey stronger
Than the truth
The only thing I can do
Is pour a glass and pretend
That this pain's gonna end
There's not a sound
A sound as loud as silence
There's not a blade sharper than a lie
There's not a low lower than being
The last one to know oh, you got a brand new
Start with someone new
And there's no whiskey stronger
Than the truth
No, there's no whiskey stronger
Than the truth
"Stronger Than The Truth" is a poignant song that explores the painful realization of infidelity and the aftermath of betrayal. The lyrics depict a narrator who once had a simple and content life in a small town with her husband. However, her world is shattered when she overhears her name and her husband's name being mentioned alongside an unknown third person.
The first verse reveals the singer's innocence and contentment with her life, emphasizing her commitment to her husband. However, the revelation of the unknown person suggests that her husband has been unfaithful, and everything she once believed and knew is now falling apart. This realization is compared to standing in icy water, symbolizing the shock and emotional coldness she experiences.
The chorus delves into the depths of the emotional turmoil caused by the betrayal. The singer expresses the overpowering silence that follows the revelation, emphasizing its enormity. The line "There's not a blade sharper than a lie" illustrates the pain and deceit that accompanies unfaithfulness. The reference to being "the last one to know" suggests that others were aware of the infidelity before the singer, intensifying the feelings of hurt and humiliation.
The second verse explores the confusion and disbelief that arise from such a betrayal. The singer reflects on how she trusted and thought she knew her husband, only to be blindsided by his actions. She acknowledges that pursuing another relationship won't erase or change what has happened, yet she finds solace in drinking, even though it won't lead her to what she truly desires.
The final chorus finds the singer acknowledging her pain and resorting to numbing it with alcohol. She recognizes that the truth, no matter how painful, is stronger than any attempt to hide from it. The repeated line "There's no whiskey stronger than the truth" underscores the impactful message of the song, emphasizing the importance of facing the reality of the situation.
Overall, "Stronger Than The Truth" delves into the depths of betrayal and its devastating consequences. It captures the raw emotions experienced by the singer as her once idyllic life comes crashing down, highlighting the power of honesty and the resilience required to confront painful truths.
Line by Line Meaning
I never dreamed of wantin' more
I never imagined desiring anything beyond a simple life
Than a small town, simple life
I was content with a modest existence in a small town
A little money in our pockets
Having just enough money to get by
You're my husband, I'm your wife
We had a committed marital relationship
But then I fell in icy water
However, I suddenly found myself in a shocking and uncomfortable situation
Standing in the grocery line
While waiting in line at the grocery store
I overheard my name and yours
I accidentally heard someone mentioning both of our names
And one I did not recognize
And I also heard a name that was unfamiliar to me
Now everything I thought I knew
Now all my previous beliefs and assumptions are being challenged
Is walking out the door
All that seemed stable and certain is now slipping away
There's a bottle on the table tellin' me
I see a bottle on the table, symbolizing the source of painful truth
The only thing I know for sure
The only certainty I have
Is there's not a sound
There is no noise
A sound as loud as silence
That can compare to the deafening silence of this situation
There's not a blade sharper than a lie
No weapon is as cutting and hurtful as a dishonesty
There's not a low lower than being
There is no deeper feeling of despair than realizing
The last one to know
You were the last person to discover
You got a brand new start with someone new
You found a fresh beginning with another person
And there's no whiskey stronger
And there is no alcoholic beverage more powerful
Than the truth
Than facing and accepting the painful truth
You never think it'd be your story
You never anticipate that it would become your personal experience
When you're pulling the wool off your eyes
When you are removing the blindfold of ignorance
You know, you think you know somebody
You believe that you truly understand someone
Then you don't and you don't know why
Until suddenly you realize you were mistaken, without understanding why
Havin' me another won't make
Having another person in my life won't
The clock rewind
Alter the past and reverse time
But I'm drinking every drop knowing what
Yet, I am consuming every sip of my drink, fully aware of
I'm looking for I'll never find
The fact that I will never discover what I am searching for
The only thing I can do
The sole option available to me
Is pour a glass and pretend
Is to pour myself a drink and feign
That this pain's gonna end
That this anguish will eventually come to an end
No, there's no whiskey stronger
No, there is no alcoholic beverage more potent
Than the truth
Than facing and accepting the harsh reality
Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
mike rayner videos
who said good country was no more 💜 👑
Allie Goff
My grandpa he just hasn't heard this 😍 I love this song
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countrygirl countrymusiclover you ok?
Steve Reimer
Never been stronger.
Joshwa Chartrand
@Jays fan k ok lets not start issues on rebas youtube channel
Joshwa Chartrand
@countrygirl countrymusicloverok ok lets not start issues on rebas youtube channel
Crystal Wheeler
Reba could sing the alphabet and make it into a grammy. Seriously this woman has major talent. Today's country has nothing on her.
Bryan Hall
I do believe you are absolutely correct 💯 percent. She can also make a paper bag look good on her. She is simply the best.
#QUEENOFCOUNTRY
David smith
Hello
Billy Taylor
Momm
.phone
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