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.
Family Tree
Shelby Lynne Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Too little righteous indignation
I'm not sure if I'm mad or mean
The tears I cry could mean anything
Just 'cause you're kin I let it slide
Insults and judgments I've been blind
And its hard for you to deal out digs
I'm sick and tired of throwing stones
'Cause all that leaves is broken bones
And I won't shed no blood for you
Aww the cuts too deep, the bruise too blue
I've wasted time and been hand fed
You can't take back the things you said
Too much time has gone and passed
Shattered lives and broken glass
The pain is felt behind my eyes
But you won't see through my disguise
Can't change fate 'cause this is done
Aww too late to start the race is run
Now's the time to face the facts
This train done slide right off the tracks
Regret is sad, revenge is sweet
I'm walking on my own two feet
You could have come along but you broke my heart
Now's the time for me to start
Living my life without you
Being a rock in my shoe
Can;t write the book 'cause this one's wrote
Time's a friend and love's a foe
The future's mine indeed it's grand
You ain't a part of my plan
When you lay down and think of me
There won't be much serenity
Just know that the aching in your brain
Is the sound of your soul's grief and pain
This apple's done fall off the family tree
This apple's done fall off the family tree
The song “Family Tree” by Shelby Lynne is a reflective track that talks about the complicated relationships within a family. The lyrics suggest that the singer has had enough of the emotional and verbal abuse and doesn’t want to be affected by it anymore. She is no longer willing to accept the insults and criticisms just because she’s related to these individuals. She acknowledges that she’s been blind to their judgmental and hurtful behavior towards her in the past, but she has now come to realize the damage it has caused. She's not sure if she's angry or hurt, but the tears she cries indicate that she’s tired of the dysfunction in her family.
Lynne highlights the difference between regret and revenge in the song. She chooses to move forward and focus on building her own life, while her relatives are stuck lamenting the past, full of regrets. The metaphor of the apple falling off the family tree represents her separation from her family’s toxic environment and their inability to continue negatively affecting her life. The final lines suggest that the pain will not only affect her but also her family members who caused it.
Overall, “Family Tree” is a powerful and introspective song that illustrates the complexities of family relationships and the importance of setting healthy boundaries.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm not happy with this conversation
I am dissatisfied with the current dialogue we are having.
Too little righteous indignation
I expect you to be more outraged when hearing about my grievances.
I'm not sure if I'm mad or mean
My emotions are clouding my judgment, causing me to question my intentions.
The tears I cry could mean anything
My tears are a reflection of my deep-seated emotional turmoil and could represent a variety of emotions.
Just 'cause you're kin I let it slide
I tend to ignore or forgive your misdeeds solely because we are related.
Insults and judgments I've been blind
I have overlooked the hurtful comments and criticisms you have directed towards me in the past.
And its hard for you to deal out digs
It is easy for you to verbally attack me because you have developed a tough exterior.
With a calloused heart your words are quick
Due to your cynical nature, you are able to easily express unkind words towards me.
I'm sick and tired of throwing stones
I no longer want to engage in a hurtful back-and-forth argument with you.
'Cause all that leaves is broken bones
Arguing with you only leads to emotional damage and suffering for both of us.
And I won't shed no blood for you
I refuse to sacrifice myself or cause any harm to deal with our issues.
Aww the cuts too deep, the bruise too blue
The emotional wounds inflicted from our past interactions are too severe and cannot be easily overcome.
I've wasted time and been hand fed
I feel like I have spent too much time in a toxic environment and allowed myself to be manipulated.
You can't take back the things you said
The hurtful words that have been spoken cannot be erased or undone.
Too much time has gone and passed
We have wasted countless opportunities to resolve our issues and move forward.
Shattered lives and broken glass
Our past interactions have left us with significant emotional and psychological damage.
The pain is felt behind my eyes
I am deeply wounded by the hurtful things you have said and done, and this pain is internalized.
But you won't see through my disguise
You are unable or unwilling to recognize the emotional distress that I am experiencing.
Can't change fate 'cause this is done
It is too late to alter the course of our relationship and current situation.
Aww too late to start the race is run
We have exhausted any possibility of reconciling our differences and moving forward as a family.
Now's the time to face the facts
It is important to acknowledge our current reality and the state of our relationship.
This train done slide right off the tracks
Our relationship has completely derailed and is no longer viable.
Regret is sad, revenge is sweet
Although it is tempting to seek retaliation for the hurt that has been caused, I recognize that this will only lead to more pain.
I'm walking on my own two feet
I am taking the necessary steps to move forward and leave behind our toxic past.
You could have come along but you broke my heart
Despite the possibility of mending our relationship, your hurtful actions have irrevocably damaged our familial bond.
Now's the time for me to start
I am ready to begin the process of healing and moving forward without you in my life.
Living my life without you
I accept that our relationship has ended and it is time for me to move on.
Being a rock in my shoe
Even without your presence in my life, I recognize that our past experiences will continue to trouble me.
Can't write the book 'cause this one's wrote
Despite the hardships and emotional damage, I know that I cannot change the past.
Time's a friend and love's a foe
Time will continue to move forward, and while it may heal some wounds, it can also elicit feelings of resentment and pain.
The future's mine indeed it's grand
I am hopeful and excited about the prospects that the future holds for me despite the pain and hardships of the past.
You ain't a part of my plan
I have come to terms with the fact that our relationship has ended and you no longer have a place in my life.
When you lay down and think of me
When you think about our past relationship and the hurtful things that have occurred.
There won't be much serenity
Our past experiences and relationship have left us with a lack of peace and emotional calm.
Just know that the aching in your brain
The emotional pain you are experiencing as a result of our strained relationship, may be difficult to relieve.
Is the sound of your soul's grief and pain
The pain you are experiencing runs deep and is a reflection of the distress you are feeling internally.
This apple's done fall off the family tree
I have severed ties with my family as a result of the emotional damage and devastation caused by our relationship.
This apple's done fall off the family tree
I have made the decision to leave behind my family for the sake of my emotional and mental well-being.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Shelby Lynne Moorer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind