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.
Back Door Front Porch
Shelby Lynne Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dew drips off the mailbox
Where a letter came
Informing me to get back on
That big airplane
Been making memories in the wrong place
Wrong address
Blacktop highways
Drivin' blind
But I know it like the back of my
Abandoned mind
Homesick like this has gotta be
A sorry crime
Waste of time
But I always go back in my mind to
Back door, front porch, window
Back door, front porch, window
Back door, front porch, window
Lost eyes
Empty moving box holds a toast
To another time
Empty vessel
Broken heart
Wasted wine
Ohhhhh
But I always go back in my mind to
Back door, front porch, window
Back door, front porch, window
Back door, front porch, window
Back door, front porch, window
Back door, front porch, window
Back door, front porch, window
Back door, front porch, window
Back door, front porch, window
Back door, front porch, window
Back door, front porch, window
In the song Back Door Front Porch, Shelby Lynne sings about her longing for a place she used to call home, but now feels lost and displaced. She describes the morning setting, with dew dripping from the mailbox, and the sadness she feels upon receiving a letter urging her to return back on an airplane. She reflects on the memories she has made in the wrong place, on blacktop highways with no one else around. Despite feeling homesick, she acknowledges that it's a waste of time to dwell on the past. However, as the song progresses, she can't help but go back in her mind to the back door, front porch, and window of her old home. These details represent the love and comfort that once filled her life, and are now just faded memories.
The second verse is filled with imagery of loss and feeling empty. She describes an empty moving box that holds a toast to another time, and an empty vessel and broken heart that are filled with wasted wine. The repetition of the chorus throughout the song shows that she can't shake the memories of her old home, and is constantly drawn back to it in her mind. The back door, front porch, and window represent the familiar details that make a place feel like home, and are the things that she longs for.
Overall, Back Door Front Porch is a poignant and melancholy song about the ache for a place that once felt like home but is now lost. The vivid imagery and repetition of the chorus show just how deeply ingrained these memories are, and how difficult it is to let them go.
Line by Line Meaning
Palmetto morning
The morning was damp due to the dew accumulated on the plants around. Palmetto is a type of palm tree that is commonly found in the southeastern United States.
Dew drips off the mailbox
The mailbox was wet with dew and the water droplets were falling from it.
Where a letter came
The mailbox was holding a letter/message that was meant for the singer and she found it there.
Informing me to get back on
The letter she received was asking or instructing her to go somewhere or do something that she had previously decided not to do.
That big airplane
The singer was asked to board a large airplane to go to a place that was not nearby.
Been making memories in the wrong place
The singer has been creating memories in a place that was not ideal, and she probably regrets spending her time there.
Wrong address
She had wrong assumptions and expectations about the place and people surrounding her, resulting in her being unhappy and unsatisfied.
Blacktop highways
She is driving on the roads that are made of blacktop, a type of road surface material that has a smooth and durable finish.
Ain't a soul in sight for miles
There are no people in sight for miles around her. She is all alone on the blacktop road.
Drivin' blind
She is driving without a clear vision or direction, maybe feeling disoriented or lost.
But I know it like the back of my
Despite feeling lost or disoriented, she knows the road like the back of her hand, meaning that she is familiar with it.
Abandoned mind
Her mind feels left out, abandoned, and forgotten.
Homesick like this has gotta be
She is emotionally homesick and longing for somewhere, something, or someone that is far away or out of reach. It's making her feel unhappy.
A sorry crime
She feels guilty and remorseful for feeling homesick since it is not considered a crime, but a natural human emotion.
Waste of time
All the time that she spent and is spending on this journey and destination seems like a total waste of it, given her current state of mind and emotions.
Lost eyes
Her eyes are tired, lost, and have uncertainty due to her internal struggle and emotional pain.
Empty moving box holds a toast
The moving box is empty, which is usually full of useful and meaningful items. Now it is being used to offer a warm greeting, maybe to the people in the new location.
To another time
The toast being made in the present moment is to an earlier time or a happier period, the nostalgia of which is being relished by the singer.
Empty vessel
Her heart feels empty, sad, and without joy.
Broken heart
Her heart is broken, and she is feeling the impact of the sadness and pain.
Wasted wine
She has been drinking wine, that she considers a waste, maybe due to the lack of company or her current state of mind.
Back door, front porch, window
These repetitive lyrics are a reminder of a physical place in the singer's life that was important to her. It signifies some place that is familiar and bring her comfort.
Back door, front porch, window
The lyrics repeat again to reinforce the importance of the place mentioned earlier.
Back door, front porch, window
The lyrics repeat once again, reiterating the theme of the song.
Back door, front porch, window
The lyrics repeat for the fourth time, suggesting the significance of these three physical places in the singer's life.
Back door, front porch, window
For the fifth and final time, the lyrics emphasize the importance of the place and the singer's connection to it.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Shelby Lynne
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind