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.
slow me down
Shelby Lynne Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Let old man river slow me down
Been too long gone from my sweet dixie
Chasin' a dream from town to town
So I called my baby in Mobile, Alabama
Said meet me in Memphis on the Jackson Queen
Tell you right now we ain't in no big hurry
[Chorus]
Slow me down
Somethin' 'bout the rhythm and the rollin' of the river
Slow me down
Rocks me like a baby in a rockin' chair
Slow me down
Sometin' 'bout the smell of a sweet magnolia
Slow me down
Makes me forget all my troubles and cares
Just a few more miles and I'll be there
Well I need a little time for some relaxation
A little bit of lovin' from my sugar pie
Only Heaven knows how my heart's been achin'
For a big yellow moon in a southern sky
[Chorus]
Well I need a little time for some relaxation
A little bit of lovin' from my sugar pie
Only Heaven knows how my heart's been achin'
For a big yellow moon in a southern sky
In "Slow Me Down," Shelby Lynne sings about wanting to slow down and take a break from her busy and stressful life. She yearns to return home to the South, where life is slower and simpler. The first verse finds her longing for the Mississippi River and the peace it brings to her restless soul. She speaks of the river in grand terms, calling it Old Man River, and wishing to feel its calming presence. She has been too long gone from her South, and wants to reconnect with her roots.
The second verse finds Shelby calling her love in Mobile, Alabama, and asking him to meet her in Memphis. She wants to take an old fashioned riverboat down to New Orleans, but she's in no hurry to get there. She simply wants to relax and let the river take her where it will. The chorus repeats the phrase "Slow me down," and Shelby explains how the rhythm of the river, the smell of magnolia, and the childlike comfort of the rocking movement make her forget all her troubles and cares. She's looking for a respite from her hectic life, and she's found it in the river.
At its core, "Slow Me Down" is a song about finding peace and contentment. Shelby Lynne is tired of chasing after her dreams and wants to slow down and enjoy the small things in life. She wants to be with her love, beneath a big yellow moon, surrounded by the sounds and smells of her beloved South.
Line by Line Meaning
Put me on a boat on the mighty Mississippi
I want to escape from the fast-paced life and relax on a boat in Mississippi
Let old man river slow me down
I want to enjoy the calmness of the river and the slow pace of life
Been too long gone from my sweet dixie
I have been away from my southern roots for too long
Chasin' a dream from town to town
I have been chasing my dreams tirelessly from one place to another
So I called my baby in Mobile, Alabama
I called my partner in Mobile, Alabama
Said meet me in Memphis on the Jackson Queen
I asked my partner to meet me in Memphis on the Jackson Queen boat
Tell you right now we ain't in no big hurry
We have no rush to get anywhere quickly
To make our way down to New Orleans
We plan to slowly travel down to New Orleans
[Chorus]
The chorus emphasizes that the river, the southern scent, and the comforting roll of the boat help the artist to wind down
Well I need a little time for some relaxation
The artist needs some time to relax
A little bit of lovin' from my sugar pie
The singer needs love from their partner
Only Heaven knows how my heart's been achin'
Only God knows how much the artist has longed for his southern home
For a big yellow moon in a southern sky
The singer waits for the perfect, southern moment to return home.
Lyrics © DistroKid, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, RECLUSE MUSIC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVIS, LYNNE, MAHER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
michael Hendrickson
I always thought she was one of the most underrated performers in music. My mind has not changed one bit.
Ciclopea2
I thought she was so badass when this came out, no female country artist looked or sounded like her, totally underrated and i love this song.
Blake S
This song fit right in for me a quarter-century ago when Lyle Lovett and K.D. Lang had created a nice country-fusion genre and Shelby Lynne had lots of similarities. There have been a couple of Shelby Lynne albums over time that I have absolutely loved.
Reida
I named my youngest daughter Shelby Lynne because this was my favorite song while I was pregnant with her. She is 23 now!
SeptemberChild65
She can sing any genre perfectly. I'm crushing 😍
sdcumb
I hope there are more posted videos from this era. I love the big production values, the humor, the glamor, all of it!
Mel Nickerson
I never liked this song when it first came out... I was really young...But I'm 28 now, and was looking for this song in particular! <3 it now! What a difference a decade makes! lol Thanks for posting!
Jeremy Alan
This is a great song and album!
Toni Davey
love her music. I'm sure she is still badass. ;)
Joseph Schmoe
1st time i think i heard of Shelby was this video early 90's, what a voice and songwriter. REAL.