Shelton released his debut album, Wild-Eyed Dream, in 1987, and his first-ever single, "Crime of Passion," hit the country Top Ten. Its follow-up, "Somebody Lied," went all the way to number one; so did the album, and so did another single, "Life Turned Her That Way." Shelton quickly recorded a follow-up album, Loving Proof, which appeared in 1988 and also topped the country charts; it spun off three number one hits in "I'll Leave This World Loving You," "From a Jack to a King," and "Living Proof," while "Hole in My Pocket" made the Top Five. While readying his third proper album, Shelton also completed two specialty projects: the 1989 holiday album Ricky Van Shelton Sings Christmas and the 1990 gospel record Don't Overlook Salvation. Meanwhile, his official follow-up to Loving Proof, RVS III, was released in 1990 and became his third number one album. "I've Cried My Last Tear for You" gave him another number one single, while "I Meant Every Word He Said" and "Statue of a Fool" both topped out at number two; "Life's Little Ups and Downs" also made the Top Five. In 1991, Shelton teamed up with Dolly Parton for the chart-topping duet "Rockin' Years" and subsequently issued another album, Backroads. Though it just missed the top of the country charts, Backroads kept his hit streak going strong, producing two more number ones in "Keep It Between the Lines" and "I Am a Simple Man" (giving him a total of nine) and a number two hit in the title track.
Musical tastes can shift quickly, and by the time Shelton conquered the alcohol abuse that had begun to take a toll on his personal life, Garth Brooks was completely altering the contemporary country landscape. To hold fans over, he released Greatest Hits Plus in 1992, and its newly recorded track, "Wild Man," hit the Top Five. He returned in 1993 with A Bridge I Didn't Burn, but the album didn't spawn any huge hits, as had been expected; it went gold, but it was the only Ricky Van Shelton album to date that ultimately failed to go platinum. 1994's Love and Honor continued his commercial downturn, and tensions with Columbia led Shelton to part ways with his label a couple years later. He busied himself with, among other projects, a series of children's books centered around the character Quacker the Duck that he'd begun several years earlier. He also formed his own label, RVS, and recorded an album on his own called Making Plans, which he distributed via an exclusive agreement with the Wal-Mart store chain in 1997. The following year, Vanguard stepped in to give the record a wider release. Shelton subsequently signed with the Audium label, home to many veteran country artists, and recorded a new album, Fried Green Tomatoes, in 2000.
Living Proof
Ricky Van Shelton Lyrics
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Someone just told her an old friend's in town
And a million old feelings come rushing in
Start tearing to pieces what it took years to mend
She's living proof, true love never dies
Through all of the heartaches and all the goodbyes
She just can't forget it, Lord knows, she's tried
You answer the door and I say, "Hello"
If you don't want to see me just tell me, I'll go
But I can't love without you, it's only pretend
There's no love like you're sweet love, can we try it again?
We're living proof, true love never dies
Through all of the heartaches and all the goodbyes
I just can't forget you, Lord knows, I've tried
We're living proof, true love never dies
Yes, we're living proof, true love never dies
The song Living Proof by Ricky Van Shelton is a ballad about the enduring power of true love. The lyrics describe a scenario where a person is reunited with an old flame after years of being apart. The emotions that the reunion evokes are extremely powerful and start to tear apart the walls that the person had built up in order to move on from the past. The singer realizes that true love never dies and even though they have tried to forget the person and move on, the feelings and connection they had with their old flame is still present.
In the second verse, the singer shows up at the door of his old flame and begs for another chance. He admits that he cannot live without her and suggests that the love he once had with her was the sweetest he had ever known. The chorus is sung again, reinforcing the central message of the song that true love never dies and they are living proof of this.
The song is a testament to the idea that true love is timeless and endures through all the difficulties and heartaches that life may bring. It is a poignant reminder that once two people have truly loved each other, that love will remain with them forever.
Line by Line Meaning
She hangs up the phone and her heart starts to pound
She receives a phone call from someone who tells her that an old friend is in town, and this news makes her anxious.
Someone just told her an old friend's in town
The person she is talking to informs her that an old friend has returned to town.
And a million old feelings come rushing in
The news brings back a lot of memories and emotions from the past.
Start tearing to pieces what it took years to mend
These emotions and memories begin to ruin the progress she has made over the years in moving on from these old feelings.
She's living proof, true love never dies
Despite all of the heartaches and goodbyes, she's still holding onto the hope that true love never truly goes away. She's an example of someone who still believes in the power of love.
Through all of the heartaches and all the goodbyes
Even though she has been through a lot of heartaches and has said goodbye to many people in the past, she still believes in the possibility of true love.
She just can't forget it, Lord knows, she's tried
She has tried very hard to forget the love she had in the past, but it has proven to be very difficult for her.
You answer the door and I say, "Hello"
The singer visits the person he loves and greets them with a simple hello.
If you don't want to see me just tell me, I'll go
The person visiting is giving the other person an out, letting them know that they are free to reject him without judgement.
But I can't love without you, it's only pretend
He confesses that he is unable to love anyone but them, and every other relationship he has had since departing from that person has been a facade.
There's no love like you're sweet love, can we try it again?
He tells the person that he misses the love they shared and asks if they can rekindle their relationship.
We're living proof, true love never dies
Together, they represent the idea that true love can survive even when things between them have gone sour.
Yes, we're living proof, true love never dies
The singers reaffirm their belief that true love endures and continues, despite the difficulties they have faced in the past.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: YOLANDA YVETTE ADAMS, ERROL W. JR. MCCALLA, JONATHAN WESLEY BROUSSARD, MARCUS ECBY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind