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.
Talking In Your Sleep
Reba McEntire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And it looks like it's gonna be another sleepless night
I've been listenin' to your dreams and gettin' very low
Wondering what I can do
Maybe I'm being foolish
'Cause I haven't heard you mention anybody's name at all
How I wish I could be sure it's me that turns you on
Each time you close your eyes
You've been talkin' in your sleep
Sleepin' in your dreams
With some sweet lover
Holdin' on so tight loving her the way
You used to love me
Talkin' in your sleep with lovin' on your mind
Maybe I'm being foolish
'Cause I haven't heard you mention anybody's name at all
How I wish I could be sure it's me that turns you on
Each time you close your eyes
I've heard it said that dreamers never lie
You've been talkin' in your sleep
Sleepin' in your dreams
With some sweet lover
Holdin' on so tight loving her the way
You used to love me
Talkin' in your sleep with lovin' on your mind
You've been talkin' in your sleep
In "Talking in Your Sleep" by Reba McEntire, we hear the story of a person who has been staying up late at night listening to their partner speak in their sleep. As they listen, they become more and more convinced that their partner is dreaming about someone else. Despite the fact that they haven't heard their partner mention anyone's name, they still can't shake the feeling that they're no longer the object of their partner's affection.
The song carries a strong feeling of insecurity and suspicion, with the singer constantly questioning themselves and their partner's loyalty. They are torn between knowing that they should trust their partner and feeling like they need to uncover the truth about who their partner is dreaming of. The repeated refrain of "you've been talking in your sleep" emphasizes the way that the singer feels like they're being kept in the dark about their partner's true feelings.
Ultimately, the song is about the fear and anxiety that comes with doubting someone you love. The singer wants to believe that their partner still loves them, but their own insecurities and doubts are making that harder and harder to do.
Line by Line Meaning
Three o'clock in the morning
It's very late at night and I can't sleep.
And it looks like it's gonna be another sleepless night
I can't see myself getting to sleep anytime soon.
I've been listenin' to your dreams and gettin' very low
I've been hearing you talk about somebody else in your sleep and it's making me sad.
Wondering what I can do
I'm questioning if there's anything I can do to fix this situation.
Maybe I'm being foolish
I might be acting irrational or stupid by thinking that you could be with someone else.
'Cause I haven't heard you mention anybody's name at all
You haven't talked about another person when you're awake, so it's all in my head.
How I wish I could be sure it's me that turns you on
I wish I could be certain that you still have feelings for me.
Each time you close your eyes
Whenever you go to sleep and your dreams take over.
I've heard it said that dreamers never lie
People tend to be honest in their dreams because they can't control what they say or think.
You've been talkin' in your sleep
You speak out loud when you're dreaming.
Sleepin' in your dreams
You're asleep and dreaming about something or someone.
With some sweet lover
You're dreaming about someone who you have romantic feelings for.
Holdin' on so tight loving her the way
You're embracing this person and showing them affection in your dreams.
You used to love me
You don't have those same feelings for me anymore.
Talkin' in your sleep with lovin' on your mind
You're speaking about this person because they're on your mind constantly and you have feelings for them.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bobby Wood, Roger Cook
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind