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.
Sweet Music Man
Reba McEntire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To hold your hand like I used to, I'm through with you
You're a heck of a singer and powerful man but you surround yourself
With people who demand so little of you
You touched my soul with your beautiful song
You even had me singin' along right with you, you said
"I need you", then you changed the words and added harmony
Oh, but nobody sings a love song quite like you do
Oh, and nobody else can make me sing along
Nobody else can make me feel things are right
When I know they're wrong, nobody sings a love song quite like you
Sing your song sweet music man, travel the world
With a six piece band that does for you what you tell 'em to
And you try to stay young but the songs are sung
To so many people who've all begun came back on you
Sing your song sad music man, makin' your living
Doing one night stands, they're through with you
They don't need you, you're still a heck of a singer but a broken man
But you'll keep on lookin' for one last fan to sing to
Oh, and nobody sings a love song quite like you do
Oh, and nobody else can make me sing along and nobody else
Can make me feel things are right when they're wrong with a song
Nobody sings a love song quite like you
Sing your song sweet music man, I believe in you
The lyrics to the song Sweet Music Man by Reba McEntire are about a man who is a talented singer and musician. The singer of the song has been in a relationship with this man, but she has decided to end it. She tells the man to sing his songs and travel the world without her, but also that she won't be there to hold his hand like she used to.
The singer acknowledges the man's talent and how he touched her soul with his music, but she also points out that he surrounds himself with people who demand very little of him. She tells him that nobody sings a love song quite like he does, and that nobody else can make her feel things are right when she knows they're wrong. The man is still a talented singer, but he's become a broken man doing one-night stands, and she hopes that he'll find one last fan to sing to.
The lyrics to the song are a testament to the power of music and how it can move us and touch our souls. The singer acknowledges the man's talent and how his music affected her, but she also shows how he has become a victim of his own success and lost himself in his fame. Ultimately, the song is a bittersweet reminder that even the most talented and successful people among us can be vulnerable, and that we should appreciate and celebrate them while we still can.
Line by Line Meaning
Sing a song sweet music man 'cause I won't be there
Start singing, musician, since I won't be around
To hold your hand like I used to, I'm through with you
I won't be there to comfort or support you as before
You're a heck of a singer and powerful man but you surround yourself
With people who demand so little of you
You're talented, but you have chosen to associate with people who do not expect much of you
You touched my soul with your beautiful song
Your music moved and affected me deeply
You even had me singin' along right with you, you said
I was so moved by your song that I started singing it along with you, as you suggested
"I need you", then you changed the words and added harmony
You initially sang that you needed me, but then you altered the lyrics and included harmonies
Then you sang the song you had written for me to someone new
You performed the song you composed for me to another person
Oh, but nobody sings a love song quite like you do
You're unmatched in creating love songs that touch people's hearts
Oh, and nobody else can make me sing along
No one else can make me join in while singing a song
Nobody else can make me feel things are right
No one else can make me believe that things are okay
When I know they're wrong, nobody sings a love song quite like you
Even when I know that what you say is untrue, you remain the best at singing love songs
Sing your song sweet music man, travel the world
Continue to sing your song across the globe, musician
With a six piece band that does for you what you tell 'em to
You have a band of six people who obey your instructions
And you try to stay young but the songs are sung
You attempt to remain youthful, but your songs are sung by people of all ages
To so many people who've all begun came back on you
Those very people you sang to have turned against you
Sing your song sad music man, makin' your living
Sing despite your misery, musician, as it's how you earn a living
Doing one night stands, they're through with you
Performing at one-night events where people lose interest in your music
They don't need you, you're still a heck of a singer but a broken man
Those people do not require your services. You remain a great singer, but a shattered man
But you'll keep on lookin' for one last fan to sing to
You'll continue searching for at least one more supporter to sing for
Oh, and nobody sings a love song quite like you do
You're unmatched in creating love songs that touch people's hearts
Oh, and nobody else can make me sing along and nobody else
No one else can compel me to sing a song with them
Can make me feel things are right when they're wrong with a song
No one else can make me feel okay about things that aren't okay through a song
Nobody sings a love song quite like you
You're unmatched in creating love songs that touch people's hearts
Sing your song sweet music man, I believe in you
Continue to sing your song, musician, as I have faith in you
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Kenny Rogers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
History For Humanity Pamela Christine Davidson
The song is so beautiful
It touched me it moved me it was very heartfelt
There is no other Reba except for you darling
You are one of a kind
you are unique, most importantly
you are loved
and you are mine .... forever!
Thank you beautiful soul for this song
With you always
and you can count on me
Fine Mercury East Africa
Sing a song sweet music man 'cause I won't be there
To hold your hand like I used to, I'm through with you
You're a heck of a singer and powerful man but you surround yourself
With people who demand so little of you
You touched my soul with your beautiful song
You even had me singin' along right with you, you said
"I need you", then you changed the words and added harmony
Then you sang the song you had written for me to someone new
Oh, but nobody sings a love song quite like you do
Oh, and nobody else can make me sing along
Nobody else can make me feel things are right
When I know they're wrong, nobody sings a love song quite like you
Sing your song sweet music man, travel the world
With a six piece band that does for you what you tell 'em to
And you try to stay young but the songs are sung
To so many people who've all begun came back on you
Sing your song sad music man, makin' your living
Doing one night stands, they're through with you
They don't need you, you're still a heck of a singer but a broken man
But you'll keep on lookin' for one last fan to sing to
Oh, and nobody sings a love song quite like you do
Oh, and nobody else can make me sing along and nobody else
Can make me feel things are right when they're wrong with a song
Nobody sings a love song quite like you
Rick Laitinen-Patel
WOW what a gorgeous version of this song. Some of Reba's best songs are like this...soft, subtle and elegant. Just beautiful.
Sonya Sanchez
@Keyth Danielsen e e. Eeeèè.
Keyth Danielsen
You nailed it, buddy.
Royal Flush
Rick Laitinen-Patel I’m about to comment that..then I red this..I agree with you.♥️
Mark ROGERS
Great cover !!
M B-B
Absolutely Beautiful.
Mom Mom
The Most Powerful, Meaningful, Beautiful Song ever.....Such Talent!!!!!
Amber Daniels
Her voice has always had my heart. This song is no different.
Jo Maree
I absolutely love this arrangement.
When Reba sings a ballad her tone and skill is hauntingly beautiful 🙏
margaret fairfield
Amazing Reba. Give me goosebumps listening to it. Best version ever.