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.
Why Didn't You Call Me
Shelby Lynne Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've been sitting here by the phone
Why didn't you call me
I've been pacing all night long
Never heard it ring
Sitting here listening
But all I hear is a heart that's missing your lovin'
Why didn't you kiss me
My lips have been doing without
Why didn't you kiss me
That's part of what lovin's about
Never had enough
Squeezing and holding
But you're like a drug and baby I'm jonesin' your lovin'
Why didn't you call me
Baby, baby, baby, you know I'm crazy
Baby, baby, baby, my heart is breakin'
Pick up the phone, come on home
I'm tired of living sad and alone
Need your lovin'
Why didn't you call me, oh yeah
Why didn't you call me
Why didn't you call me
Aww sitting around
Why didn't you call me?
In Shelby Lynne's "Why Didn't You Call Me," the singer expresses feelings of loneliness and uncertainty as she waits for her lover's call. She repeats the refrain "Why didn't you call me?" several times as a means of communicating her frustration and sadness.
The song highlights the pain of unrequited love and the emotional turmoil that arises from unanswered questions. The lyrics suggest that the singer has been sitting by the phone all night, waiting for her lover to make contact. She expresses her disappointment at not hearing it ring and her sense of longing for his affection. The repetition of the line "Never heard it ring" highlights the futility of waiting for a call that never comes.
The second verse of the song focuses on the physical aspects of the relationship. The singer expresses her desire for her lover's kiss and touch, and acknowledges that these actions are a fundamental part of a loving relationship. She compares her addiction to his love to that of a drug addict, highlighting the intensity of her feelings.
Overall, the song captures the feelings of wanting and needing in a relationship, and the painful sense of rejection that comes when these desires are not fulfilled.
Line by Line Meaning
Why didn't you call me
Expressing the disappointment of not receiving a call from someone the singer is expecting to hear from
I've been sitting here by the phone
The singer has been waiting for the call by staying close to the phone
I've been pacing all night long
The singer has been anxiously walking around all night long
Never heard it ring
The phone didn't ring as expected
Sitting here listening
The artist has been attentively waiting for the phone to ring
But all I hear is a heart that's missing your lovin'
The singer is feeling sad and lonely without the love of the other person
Why didn't you kiss me
Asking why the other person didn't show physical affection towards the singer
My lips have been doing without
The artist hasn't been kissed for a while and misses the feeling
That's part of what lovin's about
Kissing is an important part of showing love
Never had enough
The artist desires more physical love from the other person
Squeezing and holding
Hugging and embracing each other is important
But you're like a drug and baby I'm jonesin' your lovin'
The other person's love is addictive and the artist is craving for it
Baby, baby, baby, you know I'm crazy
The singer is expressing their emotional and mental state of being in love
Baby, baby, baby, my heart is breakin'
The singer's heart is hurting because of the lack of love from the other person
Pick up the phone, come on home
Asking the other person to call and come back home
I'm tired of living sad and alone
The artist is tired of feeling sad and lonely without the love of the other person
Need your lovin'
The artist needs the love of the other person to feel complete
Aww sitting around
Expressing a feeling of nostalgia while waiting for the phone to ring
Why didn't you call me?
Reiterating the disappointment of not receiving a call from the other person
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Macy Gray, Jeremy Ruzumna
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind