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.
Walk On -
Reba McEntire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When everything is right
But sometimes wonderful
Can fall apart sometimes
When your troubles knock you down
Pick yourself up off the ground and
[Chorus]
Walk on
Nothing ever stays wrong that long
Walk on
Oh walk on
Don't just stand there in the storm
Walk toward the light till you find the sun
And you'll be better off in the long run
And walk on
Oh it's a heartache when love comes to an end
But even though your heart breaks
You know it's gonna mend
Keep the faith right through goodbye
And don't you ever break your stride
[Chorus: x2]
Walk on
Walk on
Oh walk on
Walk on
Oh walk on
Reba McEntire's song Walk On is a message of hope and encouragement when faced with adversity. The opening lines, "Oh ain't life wonderful, when everything is right? But sometimes wonderful can fall apart sometimes," set the tone for the rest of the song. Life can be wonderful and perfect, but it can also be challenging and difficult at times. The chorus encourages the listener to keep walking on through these tough times and not to give up. It reminds them that nothing stays wrong forever and to eventually let go of the storm and walk towards the light until they find the sun.
The second verse specifically speaks about heartache when love comes to an end. Even though your heart breaks, it is eventually going to mend. The key is to keep the faith and not to break your stride. The lyrics walk on, walk on, oh walk on" are repeated throughout the song, emphasizing the importance of not giving up but continuing to move forward in life through the good times and the bad.
In summary, Reba McEntire's Walk On is a message of hope and perseverance. It reminds people to keep walking through challenging times because good times are ahead. It also encourages listeners to keep their faith and to not let heartbreak, trauma or tragedy disrupt their stride.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh ain't life wonderful
Life can be great sometimes
When everything is right
When everything falls into place
But sometimes wonderful
But sometimes things don't work out
Can fall apart sometimes
And things can change suddenly
When your troubles knock you down
When you face obstacles
Pick yourself up off the ground
Don't give up
Walk on
Keep moving forward
Walk on
Keep going
Nothing ever stays wrong that long
Things will get better eventually
Walk on
Don't give up
Oh walk on
Just keep going
Don't just stand there in the storm
Don't let your problems overwhelm you
Walk toward the light till you find the sun
Keep searching for the good
And you'll be better off in the long run
Things will work out eventually
And walk on
Keep moving forward
Oh it's a heartache when love comes to an end
Breaking up can be difficult
But even though your heart breaks
But you'll heal with time
You know it's gonna mend
Your heart will heal eventually
Keep the faith right through goodbye
Stay positive through the tough times
And don't you ever break your stride
Don't let anything hold you back
Walk on
Keep moving forward
Walk on
Don't give up
Oh walk on
Just keep going
Walk on
Keep moving forward
Oh walk on
Don't give up
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC , Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MICHAEL BRADFORD, IAN GILLAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind