The band signed with Capitol Records and scored a Top 20 hit with their first single, "Leona," in 1984. That success was quickly followed by their first #1 hit, "Step That Step". The band had their ups and downs on the charts throughout the 1980s. But radio success was not really Sawyer Brown's strong suit. It never was. Rather, they have been successful due to their live performances. Fans flock to the band's concerts year after year, whether the band performs in a stadium, state fair, or casino. The live shows, more than anything, sustained the band until 1989's remake of the George Jones hit "The Race Is On" put them back near the top of the charts.
In 1991, after the release of their album Buick, guitarist Bobby Randall left the group to remain close to his family and host a short-lived TV talent show, You Can Be A Star. Duncan Cameron, formerly of The Amazing Rhythm Aces, was chosen as his replacement just as Sawyer Brown was about to become country music's "it" band. The band then switched labels, moving to Curb Records and releasing the albums The Dirt Road, Cafe On The Corner, and Outskirts Of Town, which saw hit after hit for the band in the early to mid-'90s.
Sawyer Brown was all over country music radio and television for much of the decade. After 1999's Top 10 hit "Drive Me Wild," however, the country music industry seemed to forget about Sawyer Brown in favor of newer acts like Tim McGraw, Rascal Flatts, Toby Keith, Kenny Chesney, and Keith Urban.
The band was having ups and downs in the charts again – mostly downs. In 2003, they parted with Curb, their record label of eleven years, and signed with Lyric Street Records. They released one single, "I'll Be Around", and then left Lyric Street as well. In 2004, they re-signed with Curb, but Duncan Cameron decided to leave the group to pursue a life-long dream of flying for Southwest Airlines.
Guitarist Shayne Hill was added to the lineup as they prepared for the release of their 20th album, Mission Temple Fireworks Stand. While Sawyer Brown is still looking to reclaim the top of the charts, their live shows continue to keep the band going strong.
Half a Heart
Sawyer Brown Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Check and see if the coast is clear
I'm talking to my self and I keep it low
Making sure that you don't hear
I never know day to day
If you feel the same way
And I can only believe in
Half of what I'm feeling
[Chorus]
And I walk the line time after time
You keep me in the middle
The only thing I know
I'm half a heart to stay girl
And half a mind to go
Now I've come to a fork in the road
Which way do I go from here
There's one thing that you got to know
There ain't nothing perfectly clear
You want to know where this ends
I want to know where it begins
And I'm left here in between
What you say and what you mean
[Chorus]
I'm half a heart half a mind
Half a heart half a mind
You keep me in the middle
The only thing I know
I'm half a heart to stay girl
And half a mind to go
Half a heart to stay
And half a heart to go
The lyrics of Sawyer Brown's Half a Heart describe the emotional turmoil of someone who finds themselves stuck in the middle of a love affair that is neither here nor there. There is a constant sense of uncertainty and fear of rejection that prompts the character to always "look out my backdoor" and "keep it low" for fear of being discovered. They admit to not knowing "day to day" if the other person feels the same way, and are only able to believe in "half of what I'm feeling".
In the chorus, the character admits to "walk[ing] the line time after time" as the other person "keep[s] me in the middle". Despite their desire to commit fully to the relationship, they are only "half a heart to stay girl and half a mind to go". The second verse deepens the uncertainty as the character is now "at a fork in the road" and does not know if they should continue the romance or not. They acknowledge that "there ain't nothing perfectly clear" and desire to know both "where this ends" and "where it begins".
The structure of the song serves as a metaphor for the character's emotional struggle: half of their heart desires to commit to the relationship, while the other half is hesitant and fearful of being hurt. The melody is upbeat and catchy, providing a contrast to the melancholic and introspective lyrics. The overall effect is an honest and relatable story of a love affair that is stuck in limbo.
Line by Line Meaning
I've got to look out my backdoor
I need to ensure that I'm not being followed or watched before proceeding.
Check and see if the coast is clear
Make sure that it's safe to move on without being detected or caught.
I'm talking to myself and I keep it low
I'm having a conversation with myself but it's a private one and I'm keeping it to myself.
Making sure that you don't hear
I'm trying to avoid having you hear my thoughts and feelings.
I never know day to day
My emotions and feelings towards you are unpredictable and constantly changing.
If you feel the same way
I'm not sure if you have the same affection or attraction towards me.
And I can only believe in
I can only trust half of my own feelings towards you.
[Chorus]
Repeats the central message of the song.
Now I've come to a fork in the road
I'm faced with a difficult decision.
Which way do I go from here
What is the best decision to make in this complicated situation?
There's one thing that you got to know
You need to understand one critical point.
There ain't nothing perfectly clear
Everything is uncertain and nothing is perfectly obvious or transparent.
You want to know where this ends
I know that you're curious about how our relationship will turn out.
I want to know where it begins
I'm more interested in figuring out where our relationship started and how we got to where we currently are.
And I'm left here in between
I'm caught in the middle or stuck between two difficult choices or potential outcomes.
What you say and what you mean
I'm trying to understand what you really think and what your true feelings are towards me.
[Chorus]
Repeats the central message of the song.
I'm half a heart half a mind
I'm uncertain and ambivalent about what to do and how to feel in this situation.
Half a heart half a mind
Repeats the previous line.
You keep me in the middle
You're causing me to feel stuck and unsure about which direction to take or how to proceed.
The only thing I know
The only certainty I have is that I'm not sure what to do next.
I'm half a heart to stay girl
I'm partially committed to staying with you or continuing our relationship, but I'm not entirely sure.
And half a mind to go
On the other hand, I'm also considering leaving or ending our relationship.
Half a heart to stay
Repeats the previous line.
And half a heart to go
Repeats the previous line.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind