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 Heart Won't Lie
Reba McEntire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Of all the things I've always meant to say
But the words didn't come easily
So many times, through empty fears
Of all of the nights I tried to pick up the phone
So scared of who might be answering
You try to live your life from day to day (ooh)
Just gives me away
'Cause the heart won't lie
Sometimes life gets in the way
But there's one thing that won't change (ooh)
I know I've tried
The heart won't lie
You can live your alibi
Who can see you're lost inside a foolish disguise (ooh)
The heart won't lie
Long after tonight
Will you still hear my voice through the radio?
Old desires make us act carelessly
Long after tonight, after the fire
After the scattered ashes fly
Through the four winds blown and gone
Will you come back to me?
You try to live your life from day to day (ooh)
But seeing you across the room tonight
Just gives me away
'Cause the heart won't lie
Sometimes life gets in the way
But there's one thing that won't change (ooh)
I know I've tried
The heart won't lie
You can live your alibi
Who can see you're lost inside a foolish disguise (ooh)
The heart won't lie
The heart won't lie
The song "The Heart Won't Lie" by Reba McEntire is a ballad about unrequited love and the struggles of trying to communicate one's feelings. The singer looks back and regrets not expressing what they wanted to say, as words didn't come easily, leading to missed opportunities. The fear of rejection held them back from reaching out to the person they were interested in. However, despite the passing time and the events that have happened in their lives, the heart won't lie, and they still feel the same way towards this person. Even though they try to hide their feelings, their heart gives them away, as they can't change how they truly feel.
The chorus emphasizes the message that the heart won't lie, even if life gets in the way. The singer knows they've tried to move on, but their heart still holds on to this person. The lyrics mention living an alibi and being lost inside a foolish disguise, indicating that the singer is pretending to be someone they're not to fit into society's norms, masking their true feelings. The song ends with the singer wondering if this person will come back to them, indicating a longing for a second chance or closure.
Line by Line Meaning
Looking back over the years
Reflecting on the past
Of All the things I've always meant to say
Regretting not expressing feelings earlier
But words didn't come easily
Struggling with communication
So many times through empty fears
Letting fear hold you back
Of all of the nights I tried to pick up the phone
Attempting to make contact
So scared of who might be answering
Fearing rejection or disappointment
You try to live your life from day to day
Managing day-to-day without confronting issues
But seeing you across the room tonight
Feeling emotional after seeing the person
Just gives me away
Unable to hide true feelings
[Chorus]
Reaffirming that one's heart can't deceive
Cause the heart won't lie
The heart always tells the truth
Sometimes life gets in the way
Life can cause distractions from true feelings
But there's one thing that won't change
True feelings won't change
I know I've tried
Attempted to move on
The heart won't lie
The truth will always surface
You can live your alibi
Pretend to be okay but the truth will surface
Who can see you're lost inside a foolish disguise
Hiding true feelings
The heart won't lie
The truth is always present
Long after tonight
In the future
Will you still hear my voice through the radio
Will thoughts of me still linger
Old desires make us act carelessly
Past emotions can cause reckless behavior
Long after tonight, after the fire
In the distant future
After the scattered ashes fly
After the dust has settled
Through the four winds blown and gone
Through the passing of time
Will you come back to me?
Will we ever reunite?
You try to live your life from day to day
Continuing to live day-to-day without resolution
But seeing you across the room tonight
A reminder of past emotions
Just gives me away
I can't hide my true feelings
[Chorus]
Reaffirming that the heart always tells the truth
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Donna Weiss, Kim Carnes
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@versustortuga794
Looking back over the years
Of All the things I've always meant to say
But words didn't come easily
So many times through empty fears
Of all of the nights I tried to pick up the phone
So scared of who might be answering
You try to live your life from day to day
But seeing you across the room tonight
Just gives me away
Cause the heart won't lie
Sometimes life gets in the way
But there's one thing that won't change
I know I've tried
The heart won't lie
You can live your alibi
Who can see you're lost inside a foolish disguise
The heart won't lie
Long after tonight
Will you still hear my voice through the radio
Old desires make us act carelessly
Long after tonight, after the fire
After the scattered ashes fly
Through the four winds blown and gone
Will you come back to me?
You try to live your life from day to day
But seeing you across the room tonight
Just gives me away
Cause the heart won't lie
Sometimes life gets in the way
But there's one thing that won't change
I know I've tried
The heart won't lie
You can live your alibi
Who can see you're lost inside a foolish disguise
The heart won't lie
@EllyMay73
My heart couldn’t lie either. 25 years later I got to go back to the one my heart never stopped loving. This song has always expressed so much so beautifully.
@misstracy9253
Love this
@chelle3120
I understand and emphasize, today 7/25 is our “21st” anniversary of when we changed the world view for each other. Married to other people, (due to uncontrollable circumstances) but still to this day have few and precious stollen moments/ days. Live on opposite sides of the country, but talk or chat daily.
@truthAngel288
Very similar story here! This song has always been my favourite for this reason, the love doesn't go anywhere ❤
@constancetriolo8071
@@misstracy9253 😊
@chriscaudill4307
I've got my chance tonight guys wish me luck....I'm going for it
@toontowntrev
A better love story in 3 minutes than the all the twilight movies
@michaelschild4073
I agree
@heathertrokey4291
I agree
@rochelshelby2529
Definitely agree :)