Lynne's first recording for Epic was a duet with George Jones, "If I Could Bottle This Up", which became a top-50 hit in 1988. In 2000 she won a Grammy award for "Best New Artist", despite the fact that she had been recording and releasing records for more than ten years
With Tears, Lies, and Alibis the follow-up to 2008's Just A Little Lovin' and the first release on her own label, Everso Records, Shelby Lynne affirms her position as a visionary, iconoclastic artist who deftly weaves country, soul, rock, blues, pop and folk influences to forge her own unique style. Like Identity Crisis (2003) and Suit Yourself (2005), this sparse, unguarded collection was produced by Lynne, who evokes a live-in-the-studio vibe from a stellar group of musicians. Born in Quantico, VA, she grew up in Jackson, AL and headed to Nashville at an early age. At 18, Lynne s demos landed her an appearance on TNN s Nashville Now series, which led to a Top 50 duet ( "If I Could Bottle This Up" ) with George Jones and a record deal. Following the release of the critically acclaimed I Am Shelby Lynne in 2000, she won the GRAMMY® for Best New Artist. She made her acting debut in 2005, playing Johnny Cash's mother in the Fox Searchlight motion picture Walk the Line.
Anyone Who Had A Heart
Shelby Lynne Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And know that I love you
Anyone who ever dreamed, could look at me
And know I dream of you
Knowing I love you, so...
Anyone who had a heart
Would take me in his arms and love me too
Like you hurt me and be so untrue
What am I to do?
Everytime you go away, I always say
This time it's goodbye, dear
Loving you the way I do
I take you back
Without you I'd die, dear
Knowing I love you, so...
Anyone who had a heart
Would take me in his arms and love me too
You couldn't really have a heart and hurt me
Like you hurt me and be so untrue
What am I to do?
Knowing I love you, so...
Anyone who had a heart
Would take me in his arms and love me too
You couldn't really have a heart and hurt me
Like you hurt me and be so untrue
Anyone who had a heart would love me too
Anyone who had a heart would truly take me
In his arms and always love me
Why won't you?
Anyone who had a heart would love me too
Anyone who had a heart would truly take me
In his arms and always love me
Why won't you?
Truly take me in his arms and always love me
Why won't you?
In "Anyone Who Had A Heart," Shelby Lynne sings about unrequited love. Anyone who was ever in love would be able to look at her and see how much she loves them. They would love her back and take her in their arms. She cannot comprehend how someone could claim to love her and yet hurt her so badly. Despite this pain, she keeps taking her lover back because she loves them so much, and she cannot live without them. She wants to know why her lover won't truly take her in their arms and love her back.
The lyrics are very poignant and express the frustration and heartache of unrequited love. In essence, Lynne is asking why her lover cannot return her feelings. She knows she's loved them with her whole heart, and to her, the idea of not being loved back is unfathomable. The repetition of the line "anyone who had a heart" is used to emphasize the idea that if someone truly had a heart, they wouldn't treat someone they love so poorly.
The song has a simple melody and a slow tempo, which enhances the emotional depth of the lyrics. Lynne's vocals are powerful yet vulnerable, which brings out the aching sincerity of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Anyone who ever loved, could look at me
And know that I love you
The love that I have for you is so visible that anyone who has ever felt love before would look at the way I look at you and see that I really love you.
Anyone who ever dreamed, could look at me
And know I dream of you
Knowing I love you, so...
Just as anyone can look at me and see my love for you, they could also see that every dream of mine involves you in some way. And I know that I am in love with you.
Anyone who had a heart
Would take me in his arms and love me too
You couldn't really have a heart and hurt me
Like you hurt me and be so untrue
What am I to do?
It would take someone who truly had a heart to love and embrace me the way that I need. Anyone who had a heart wouldn't hurt me like you did, because if they hurt me like you did- it would mean that they were not being true to themselves. So what should I do?
Everytime you go away, I always say
This time it's goodbye, dear
Loving you the way I do
I take you back
Without you I'd die, dear
Knowing I love you, so...
Each time you leave me, I always think that it is the end. However, I'm so in love with you that I always take you back when you return because the thought of living without you is unbearable. I love you so much.
Anyone who had a heart
Would take me in his arms and love me too
You couldn't really have a heart and hurt me
Like you hurt me and be so untrue
What am I to do?
It may sound like I'm repeating myself, but it would really take someone who had a heart to love and hold me the way I need. You hurt me so deeply, which makes me wonder what my next step should be now.
Anyone who had a heart would love me too
Anyone who had a heart would truly take me
In his arms and always love me
Why won't you?
It is so easy for anyone who has ever felt love to love me too. They would hold me forever and be there for me always. So why won't you treat me the way I should be treated? I'm so tired of the pain that I feel.
Truly take me in his arms and always love me
Why won't you?
All I want is for you to hold me the way that I need to be held and to love me forever. So why won't you do it? Why can't you love me in the way that I deserve to be loved?
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Songtrust Ave
Written by: Burt Bacharach, Hal David
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MorrisBranch-jf6dq
One of the most underrated voices in the history of country and pop music
@drmilktruck
Totally love Shelby's music. I recognize the voice immediately. Should have been a megastar.
@ChetLindsay
I adore Ms. Shelby Lynne's take on this great classic!
@michaelhendrickson5287
Shelby can do a remake, be true to the original, and make it sound like as though she IS the original. She is unique.
@TLMuse
Quietly beautiful... and devastating. Thank you, Shelby.
@davidcunningham2984
How could 20 thumbs down. Shelby is an amazing talent. Top shelf.
@ProximaCentauri88
I genuinely don't like her version. Doesn't mean I hate her. I just dislike her version. She made it sound very generic and karaokish.
@MrBlueSkyMrNight
Anyone who had a heart (and good ears - LOL) should go see Shelby Lynne LIVE. I just did again and she was even better the second time around. What a moving and beautiful LIVE performance she gives. Amazing woman.
@111583073
I think her voice is beautiful
@poorshanutt
I just saw Shelby perform at the McCallum Theatre in Palm Desert, she opened her show singing this song acapella and received a rousing standing ovation for her effort! This girl is one brave little badass on stage, but she's also just as sweet and pretty a person your likely to ever meet. Thank you again for playing my requests SL- Guy