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 β 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.
STEP BY STEP
Sawyer Brown Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The street'll never get you no where
You take a street car jumpin' and back beat bump
And get along like it isn't there
You hold your head up high
Like you're gonna fly
You take the bitter 'til you find the sweet
You leave them sittin' on the edge of their seat
You gotta step that step
Walk that walk
Shake that thing
Honey talk that talk
Hollywood, if New York could
Keep you babblin' 'til the break of day
No time to rest and you've got to feel blessed
'Cause you're gonna get it anyway
You start to wail and your face turns pale
You've got to pump it till your pistol pops
And as the eagle flew baby so will you
'Cause you're climbin' all the way to the top
You gotta step that step
Walk that walk
Shake that thing
Honey talk that talk
You gotta step that step
Walk that walk
Shake that thing
Honey talk that talk
You gotta step that step
Walk that walk
Shake that thing
Honey talk that talk
You gotta step that step
Walk that walk
Shake that thing
Honey talk that talk
You gotta step that step
Walk that walk
Shake that thing
Honey talk that talk
You gotta step that step
Walk that walk
Shake that thing
Honey talk that talk
The song Step That Step by Sawyer Brown is an upbeat, energetic tune about perseverance and confidence. The lyrics start off with a memory from the singer's childhood; his mother warning him that taking the wrong path will lead him nowhere. However, he has found a way to succeed and "get along" in life by taking the streetcar, jumping, and embracing the backbeat bump. He advises others to do the same and to hold their heads up high and "fly."
The chorus of the song is all about taking action and being confident in yourself. The repetition of "step that step, walk that walk, shake that thing, honey talk that talk" emphasizes that you have to do more than just talk - you have to take action and make it happen. The lyrics talk about the struggles and hard work necessary to succeed, but also the ultimate reward of entertaining and impressing crowds.
Line by Line Meaning
Mama told me when I was three
When I was a child, my mother warned me that just going through life without purpose would not lead me anywhere.
The street'll never get you no where
Just following the crowd isn't going to lead me to success.
You take a street car jumpin' and back beat bump
I need to be willing to take risks and be creative to stand out from the crowd.
And get along like it isn't there
I need to go through life confidently and make difficult things seem easy.
You hold your head up high
I need to have pride and confidence in myself.
Like you're gonna fly
I need to have ambitions and dreams that I believe I can achieve.
You take the bitter 'til you find the sweet
I need to be willing to work hard and make sacrifices to achieve my goals.
And when you got that crowd and it's screamin' loud
When I achieve success, I need to make sure that I continue to work hard to keep that success.
You leave them sittin' on the edge of their seat
I need to continue to be entertaining and engaging to keep my audience interested in what I am doing.
Hollywood, if New York could
If the big cities of Hollywood and New York could distract me from my dreams, I need to focus even harder on my goals.
Keep you babblin' 'til the break of day
It's easy to get caught up in talking about your dreams instead of actually working towards them.
No time to rest and you've got to feel blessed
I need to keep working hard and be grateful for every opportunity that comes my way.
'Cause you're gonna get it anyway
If I work hard enough and do my best, I will eventually achieve my goals.
You start to wail and your face turns pale
There will be challenges that I will face along the way, but I need to be persistent and keep pushing through.
You've got to pump it till your pistol pops
I need to keep working hard and give it my all until I am successful.
And as the eagle flew baby so will you
Just like an eagle rising high in the sky, I too will rise to the top if I keep working hard and believing in myself.
'Cause you're climbin' all the way to the top
If I keep working hard and believing in myself, I will eventually achieve my goals and reach the top.
You gotta step that step
I have to take action and keep moving forward.
Walk that walk
I need to demonstrate my confidence and be proud of who I am.
Shake that thing
I need to be entertaining and engaging to keep my audience interested in me and what I am doing.
Honey talk that talk
I need to talk confidently and passionately about my goals and what I want to achieve.
Lyrics Β© Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MARK MILLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@janellecrawford3405
β€ Sawyer brown loved your music for 30 plus years
@debrabunker10
Have always been so hooked on Sawyer Brown. Saw them in Augusta Maine in the late 80s I was so upset I almost cried because I was in the nosebleed section and couldn't see them and now I'm blind and can't see you at all and figured out that it's not the seeing is the hearing. Will always love Sawyer Brown! Thank you for putting out excellent music ππ€ππ
@dbcooper913
Remembering back when I took my wife and son,, who was a second grader at the time to a Sawyer Brown concert. My son picked up some dance moves from Mark. A couple days later I got a note from my sons teacher. She said that while taking the class down to the bathrooms my son would breakout in some dance moves she didn't feel was appropriate for a second grader LOL. I didn't think the moves were that bad.
@drummingdanny84
She probably felt they were inappropriate because she ain't got no rhythm. If your son did that in my class, I would have encouraged him to participate in more talent shows or keep dancing. Kids need to be free.
@dedreman2227
@@drummingdanny84exactly
@That0neMonkey
Saw them in Albuquerque, NM in 1994. Diamond Rio opened. Was never a big country fan but always liked Sawyer Brown. Helluva show!
@RustyShackleford382
1992, opening act was Chris Ledoux
@kevintucker466
Diamond Rio opened for somebody in 1994? at the time the reigning 3 time vocal group of the year by the CMA and ACM?
@eternallife9786
Unbelievable is diamond Rio best tune!
@ginasalazar7761
That was a great show!!!