She moved to Nashville, Tennessee in 1991 with the goal of becoming a country artist. Songwriter Harlan Howard heard Sara as she sung a demo of one of his songs, "Tiger By the Tail" at County Q Studios**, and decided she should sing his music. She went under contract with RCA.
In 1997 Evans released her first album Three Chords and the Truth. Critics praised the album for returning to traditional country and recognized it on many of their top ten of the year lists. Unfortunately, it did not catch on with country radio at the time and none of the three singles made the top 40.
In 1998 Evans released her sophomore album No Place That Far. Critics slammed her for choosing a more pop/country oriented album. Her first single "Cryin' Game" hardly charted. It would be her next single "No Place That Far," a duet with Vince Gill, that would be her first number one single. The album has been certified gold. She actually had been a backup singer for Vince Gill, which definitely played a role in showcasing her talents and leading her ever growing popularity and success.
Evans released her "make it or break it" album, Born To Fly in 2000. Her first single "Born To Fly" hit the number one spot and proved to be her biggest hit until "Suds in the Bucket." The hits kept coming in as her next single "I Could Not Ask For More" hit the number two spot. "Saints and Angels," Evans' favorite song on the album, hit the number sixteen spot and the last single "I Keep Looking" made it to the number five spot. Thus far, the album has been certified double platinum.
Evans led the pack as the most nominated artist at the 2001 Country Music Association awards with seven nominations, and won her first CMA award when her song “Born to Fly” won the award for Video of the Year.
In 2003 Evans released Restless. This album showed her versatility as the songs combined different genres such as country, pop, blues, and soul. The album's first single "Backseat of a Greyhound Bus" went to number sixteen. The next single, "Perfect," went to number two. The next single "Suds in the Bucket" went to number one and became her biggest hit since "Born to Fly" and quickly became a fan favorite among her songs. The next single "Tonight" failed to reach the top 40. Restless has been certified platinum.
In 2004 Evans was the most played female singer on country music radio thanks to singles such as "Suds in the Bucket" and "Perfect."
In 2005, Sara Evans struck gold with the country ballad "A Real Fine Place to Start". With help from this single her album Real Fine Place was propelled to No.1 on the top of the country charts and No. 3 on the pop charts with over 130,000 copies sold in the first week, nearly tripling the sales from her last album debut Restless. Real Fine Place was the best debuting album of her career. The single from the album stood on top of the Billboard and Radio and Record Charts for two weeks. Evans was nominated for two CMA awards, including the prestigious "Female Vocalist of the Year" and prized "Musical Event of the Year" (the latter in part due to her duet with Brad Paisley, "New Again"). However, she lost in both categories. Sara went on the road with Brad Paisley and newcomers Sugarland on Brad's "Time Well Wasted Tour". Her current single "Cheatin'" has quickly become the fastest rising single of her career. Real Fine Place has recently been certified gold.
On December 6, 2005 Sara released Feels Like Home through Cracker Barrel stores. The album consists of alternate versions of some of her most memorable songs. For example, there is an acoustic version of "No Place That Far," a live version of "Born To Fly," and several other versions of her most popular songs.
You'll Always Be My Baby
Sara Evans Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ten years old
Waitin' in my room for him
To come home
And I just knew
He'd be so mad
Though I begged my mother not to, she told my dad
There was no denying I let him down
He put his arms around me and said...
In the sunlight or the rain
Brightest nights or darkest days
I'll always feel the same way
Whatever road you may be on
Know you're never too far gone
My love is there wherever you may be
Just remember that you'll always be my baby
There I was
Twenty-one
Oh, I was so ashamed
Of what I'd done
On a country road
Parked one night
Oh, it started out so innocent
Crossed the line
There was no denying
I let God down
But instead of being angry
He let his love surround me and I heard...
In the sunlight or the rain
Brightest nights or darkest days
I'll always feel the same way
Whatever road you may be on
Know you're never too far gone
My love is there wherever you may be
Just remember that you'll always be my baby
There he is
My little man
I'm sure he'll get in trouble every now and then
And I pray to God that when he does
I'll be just as understanding as my father was
'Cause the last thing that I wanna do is let him down
So instead of being angry, I'm gonna throw my arms around him
And I'll say in the sunlight or the rain
Brightest nights or darkest days
I'll always feel the same way
Whatever road you may be on
Know you're never too far gone
My love is there wherever you may be
Just remember that you'll always be my baby
Be my baby
Sara Evans's You'll Always Be My Baby is a powerful song in which she reflects on three different moments in her life where she disappointed those close to her before receiving acceptance and love instead of anger. In the first verse, Evans remembers being ten years old and waiting for her dad to come home after causing trouble at school. She expected her father to be angry with her but instead, he put his arms around her and assured her that he would always love her no matter what. In the second verse, we see Evans as a 21-year-old who made a mistake on a country road. Again, instead of being angry, God woke her up to a realization that his love is all-encompassing even when we fail.
In the final verse, Evans imagines her own son, who may also make mistakes and find himself in trouble. However, she vows to be like her father and provide love and support. The repetition of the phrase "in the sunlight or the rain, brightest nights or darkest days," emphasizes the message that no matter what situation we find ourselves in, love is constant and unchanging. It is a universal message that we can all relate to.
Line by Line Meaning
There I was
The singer reminisces about past events.
Ten years old
She was a young child.
Waitin' in my room for him
She was waiting for her dad to come home.
To come home
Her father had been away from home.
And I just knew
She had a feeling that her dad was going to be mad at her.
He'd be so mad
She thought her dad would be angry at her.
Though I begged my mother not to, she told my dad
Her mother told her dad what had happened.
There was no denying I let him down
She had disappointed her dad.
But instead of being angry
Her dad didn't get angry with her.
He put his arms around me and said...
Her dad comforted her.
In the sunlight or the rain
No matter the circumstances.
Brightest nights or darkest days
No matter how good or bad things are.
I'll always feel the same way
Her love for her child will never change.
Whatever road you may be on
No matter what path her child takes in life.
Know you're never too far gone
She will always be there for her child no matter what.
My love is there wherever you may be
The singer's love is always present.
Just remember that you'll always be my baby
Her child will always be her child and she will always be there to support them.
There I was
The singer recalls another moment in her life.
Twenty-one
She was a young adult.
Oh, I was so ashamed
She felt guilty about something she had done.
Of what I'd done
She had done something wrong.
On a country road
She was on a road in the countryside.
Parked one night
She stopped her car for the night.
Oh, it started out so innocent
Something that started out as innocent turned into something else.
Crossed the line
She did something that was wrong or inappropriate.
There was no denying
She knew that she had let God down.
I let God down
She felt like she had disappointed God.
He let his love surround me and I heard...
God showed her love and comforted her.
There he is
The singer is now a parent herself.
My little man
She is referring to her own child.
I'm sure he'll get in trouble every now and then
She knows that her child will make mistakes.
And I pray to God that when he does
She hopes that she can be as understanding as her own dad was with her.
I'll be just as understanding as my father was
She wants to be understanding and loving towards her own child.
'Cause the last thing that I wanna do is let him down
She doesn't want to disappoint her child like she had disappointed her dad.
So instead of being angry, I'm gonna throw my arms around him
She wants to comfort her child when he makes mistakes, just like her own dad comforted her.
Be my baby
She wants her child to always be her baby.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: TONY MARTIN, TOM SHAPIRO, SARA EVANS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@nancydamato425
My first born daughter got involved in the world of drugs. I asked her to listen to this song, and it brought her home to me. Thank you Sara for this wonderful, heartfelt song that made my baby girl come home.
@BaladasDelRecuerdo2023
Forever, Sara Evans will remain country music's most underrated vocalist. <3
@jefffox797
I agree. She's awesome.
@jefffox797
This reminds me of my daughter. I cry every time I hear it. Love you Jamie. Dad's got you on his mind.
@BaladasDelRecuerdo2023
@@jefffox797 Por favor apoyen a mis chicos de música, como el amor que les di, les deseo siempre felicidad.
@stephenglyde8635
My father just passed away, He was a good man. He was a good parent. I would like to dedicate this song to him,
@monkeyboy1971
I'm now a 49 year old man, and this song still brings tears to my eyes every time I listen to it. Simply beautiful, and packed with such a strong message. A blessing to know it.
@experienceprecision5406
Same 43. I get it for sure brother. 🍻
@HardyShowMark24
Wow.. Did I had to hear this!.... It is a great feeling to know that God's love for me will never change, never fads, and that I am still his baby :) Thank you Jesus!
@tonymoore2447
Hello Lacey