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.
The Race Is On
Sawyer Brown Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like my heart's sprung a big break
And a stab of loneliness sharp and painful
That I may never shake
You might say that I was taking it hard
Since you wrote me off with a call
But don't you wager that I'll hide in sorrow
Now the race is on
And here comes pride in the backstretch
Heartaches goin' to the inside
My tears are holdin' back
They're tryin' not to fall
My hearts out of the runnin'
True love's scratched for another's sake
The race is on and it looks like heartaches
And the winner loses all
One day I ventured in love
Never once suspectin' what the final result would be
And how I lived in fear of waking up each morning
Finding that you're gone from me
There's ache and pain in my heart
For today was the one that I hated to face
Somebody new came up to win her
And I came out in second place
Now the race is on
And here comes pride in the back stretch
Heartaches goin' to the inside
My tears are holdin' back
They're tryin' not to fall
My hearts out of the runnin'
True love's scratched for another's sake
The race is on and it looks like heartaches
And the winner loses all
Now the race is on
And here comes pride in the backstretch
Heartaches goin' to the inside
My tears are holdin' back
They're tryin' not to fall
My hearts out of the runnin'
True love's scratched for another's sake
The race is on and it looks like heartaches
And the winner loses all
The winner loses all
The lyrics of Sawyer Brown's song "The Race Is On" depict a person who is going through a heartbreak after being left by their lover. The singer is overwhelmed by a feeling of loneliness that has penetrated deep in their soul. They are finding it hard to overcome the pain and sadness that has come with the end of their relationship. The lyrics suggest that the singer may never shake these feelings of loneliness and despair.
The lyrics then describe the singer's feelings as they watch other people enter the race of love while they are left behind. They try to hold back their tears, but their heart is already out of the race. With each passing moment, they are realizing that true love has left them behind, and they are now just a mere spectator in the game of love. The singer laments that the winner of this game is bound to lose because true love cannot be replaced, and any other relationship is just a substitute for the real thing.
Line by Line Meaning
I feel tears wellin' up cold deep inside
I am experiencing a sudden emotional upheaval, leading to tears that feel heavy and cold inside my chest.
Like my heart's sprung a big break
It feels like my heart has been shattered into a million pieces.
And a stab of loneliness sharp and painful
I am overwhelmed by feelings of loneliness, which are sharp and agonizing.
That I may never shake
I fear that these emotions will be with me for a long time, and I may never be able to overcome them.
You might say that I was taking it hard
You could easily assume that I am not handling this situation well.
Since you wrote me off with a call
You ended things between us by making a phone call, which has left me feeling deeply hurt and rejected.
But don't you wager that I'll hide in sorrow
Despite how I may appear, do not assume that I will disappear into my sorrow and never come out.
When I may lay right down and bawl
There may be times when I feel so overwhelmed by my emotions that all I can do is cry.
Now the race is on
The competition for love and affection between myself and another person has officially begun.
And here comes pride in the backstretch
As the race heats up, my pride begins to emerge and push me forward.
Heartaches goin' to the inside
As the competition intensifies, the pain and heartache I feel over losing love starts to take hold.
My tears are holdin' back
Despite feeling emotional, I am trying to hold back my tears and maintain my composure.
They're tryin' not to fall
I am desperately trying to keep from breaking down in tears in front of others.
My heart's out of the runnin'
Despite my best efforts, I know in my heart that I am not going to win the competition for love and affection.
True love's scratched for another's sake
The idea of true love has been thrown to the wayside in favor of the other person's interests and desires.
The race is on and it looks like heartaches
The competition for love is heating up and it seems like heartache is soon to follow.
And the winner loses all
In the end, even the winner will end up losing out on true love and happiness.
One day I ventured in love
I took a chance on love and allowed myself to be vulnerable.
Never once suspectin' what the final result would be
I had no idea that things would end so poorly for me, and that I would end up getting hurt.
And how I lived in fear of waking up each morning
After losing love, I now live with the constant fear and anxiety of waking up each morning alone and broken-hearted.
Finding that you're gone from me
The fear I have each morning is that I will wake up and realize that you are no longer in my life.
There's ache and pain in my heart
I am consumed by an overwhelming sense of physical and emotional pain and suffering.
For today was the one that I hated to face
Today marks the day that I have been dreading, the day when I lose love and become consumed by heartache.
Somebody new came up to win her
Another person has come into the picture and won the competition for the love and affection of the person I was hoping to win over.
And I came out in second place
I lost the competition and came in second, which is just another way of saying that I lost out on true love and happiness.
The winner loses all
Even though someone has emerged as the winner in the competition for love, in the end, everyone ends up losing out on love and happiness.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, GLAD MUSIC CO., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Donald Edmond Rollins
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind