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.
The Fear Of Being Alone
Reba McEntire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You told me your story and I thought about mine
You said when you lost her you lost everything
It all started having a familiar ring
So I asked you to take me some place quiet
We wound up at the river for the rest of the night
Somewhere around the break of dayI could hear it coming from a mile away
So don't say that word
Not the one we both heard too much
You may think you do but you don't
It's just the fear of being alone
Reckless hearts can clear a path
Wider than a hurricane's aftermath
We've both traveled down that road
Where in the name of love anything goes
Like a child in the night
With no one to hold you
And tell you everything's gonna be all right
I must admit it's been fun
But that's no reason to jump the gun
If this is real time will tell
So let me bite my tongue and remind myself
"The Fear Of Being Alone" is one of Reba McEntire's poignant country ballads. The song depicts two people bonding over deep conversation and a shared fear of being alone. The lyrics suggest that these characters have come from a place of heartbreak and are looking for comfort and companionship in each other. In the first verse, they share a bottle of wine and each other's stories. The singer notes that the other person has lost everything after losing someone they loved, a feeling the singer knows all too well. This shared experience is what draws them closer.
In the second verse, the singer suggests they move to a quieter location, and they end up at the river. They spend the night together, but the singer can sense that the other person is hesitant to commit due to the fear of being alone. She urges him not to say the word that means goodbye because he's scared of being alone, even if he may think that he's ready to move on - it's just the fear that's taking over. In the final verse, the singer acknowledges the rush of emotions and passion that comes with being with somebody new, but she also stresses the importance of taking it slow and not jumping into anything too quickly. Ultimately, time will tell if this relationship is real and if they'll be able to overcome their fears of being alone.
Line by Line Meaning
We ordered up one more bottle of wine
We decided to have another bottle of wine together.
You told me your story and I thought about mine
You shared your story with me and it made me introspect about mine.
You said when you lost her you lost everything
You felt that losing her was the same as losing everything in your life.
It all started having a familiar ring
Everything you said felt familiar as I have also been through similar situations.
So I asked you to take me some place quiet
I requested you to take me to a peaceful and quiet place.
We wound up at the river for the rest of the night
Ultimately, we ended up spending the night by the river.
Somewhere around the break of day
As the day was about to break, something happened.
I could hear it coming from a mile away
I could sense something was going to happen in advance.
So don't say that word
Please don't say that particular word.
Not the one we both heard too much
We've heard that word multiple times in our life and it's best to avoid it.
You may think you do but you don't
Although you may feel like you are sure about it, you are not.
It's just the fear of being alone
It's just your fear of being alone that is making you think you need that word.
Reckless hearts can clear a path
When people behave impulsively and recklessly, it can have a profound impact.
Wider than a hurricane's aftermath
The consequences of reckless behavior can be more far-reaching than the aftermath of a hurricane.
We've both traveled down that road
We both have been through the journey of impulsive behavior and its aftermath.
Where in the name of love anything goes
When we act in the name of love, we may go to any extent without considering the consequences.
Like a child in the night
We can be vulnerable and feel lost like a child at night.
With no one to hold you
When we have no one to support us, we can feel lonely and helpless.
And tell you everything's gonna be all right
There are times when we need someone to reassure us that everything will be fine.
I must admit it's been fun
I enjoyed spending time with you and I have no regrets.
But that's no reason to jump the gun
However, that's not a good enough reason to make hasty decisions and jump into something without thinking it through.
If this is real time will tell
Only time will reveal if what we're feeling is genuine.
So let me bite my tongue and remind myself
I will refrain from speaking and remind myself to be cautious and rational about our feelings.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, THE MUSIC GOES ROUND, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Bruce Miller, Walt Aldridge
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@airborneassasin
@ashley1994 I was speaking to the Musically trained portion of the listeners . We listen to and comprehend music on a level you cannot without having gone through musical education .
Reba is My Queen and has been since day one, But she is just a small part of what makes this song great . The arrangement, the notes, played, the instruments chosen etc
I wish I could show a Layman how we interpret a song , but without musical training it's nearly impossible
It's like trying to explain the colour Blue to someone who is colorblind .
Keep listening to Reba, she rocks. ( Btw , She thinks his name was John ) is my $1 reba tune .
@Zozooo7626
We ordered up one more bottle of wine
You told me your story and I thought about mine
You said when you lost her, you lost everything
It all started having a familiar ring
So I asked you to take me some place quiet
We wound up at the river for the rest of the night
Somewhere around the break of day
I could hear it coming from a mile away
So don't say that word
Not the one we both heard too much
You may think you do but you don't
It's just the fear of being alone
'Cause reckless hearts can clear a path
Wider than a hurricane's aftermath
We've both traveled down that road
Where in the name of love anything goes
So don't say that word
Not the one we both heard too much
You may think you do but you don't
It's just the fear of being alone
Like a child in the night
With no one to hold you
And tell you everything's gonna be all right
I must admit, it's been fun
But that's no reason to jump the gun
If this is real, time will tell
So let me bite my tongue and remind myself
Don't say that word
Not the one we both heard too much
You may think you do but you don't
It's just the fear of being alone
@Saltycammies7
Reba, I’ve loved you since I was a kid. I’m a 44 year old man. And these song are so real to me now. Especially this one. I just can’t do it ever again.
@extremeocd1184
Agreed! I lost my husband to a massive heart attack here at home a little over 2 years ago. I felt so lost and alone for the first year...year and a half. I guess I've finally come to terms with it. I really don't think I could ever love anyone as much as I loved him. I just don't feel the need to have anyone in my life. I'll live alone.😢
@elizabethdouglas3417
This is one of my favorite of her videos. She looks so happy and sassy, especially with her shorter hairdo. Mid 90s Reba is my favorite Reba era lol.
@extremeocd1184
I too love that sassy, shorter haircut. I loved the "Reba" show but didn't like her haircut during that time. She had let it start growing out some before the series ended. I wish mine was that thick and fluffy!!!
@elsakristina2689
Lori and George Schappell loved this song. May they rest in peace.
@leslieannvanhumbeck7630
They recorded it. The video is on YouTube.
@elsakristina2689
@leslieannvanhumbeck7630 I first saw it years ago as a kid back in 2008 and I loved it. Every time I hear this song it makes me think of them.
@sasklion
Takes me back to the early 90's when the world was way more cooler.
@KellyMott-v6p
All of her fans make sure she is never alone when she sings her songs we all love her and we are so proud and grateful for her songs and we all support her and love her so very much ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
@march149
This is the best video of this song she has done. You can tell she had fun doing it.