Sugarland's debut album, Twice the Speed of Life, was released Oct. 26, 2004. Serving as its lead-off single was the song Baby Girl, which peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts and set a record for the longest chart run since the inception of Nielsen SoundScan in 1990. It was also the highest-peaking debut single for a group in 13 years. The album received Multi-Platinum certification for sales of two million copies. This album produced three more chart singles Something More, Just Might (Make Me Believe), and Down in Mississippi (Up to No Good).
In late 2005, the duo performed with Bon Jovi on Country Music Television's musical fusion show, Crossroads. Nettles sang with Bon Jovi on their single Who Says You Can't Go Home. The song later went on to become a #1 hit on the country charts.
Kristen Hall left the group in late 2005/early 2006. According to a statment released on January 17, 2006 by Nettles and Bush, Hall left the group to "stay home and write songs."
Sugarland was nominated for the Best New Artist Grammy and performed the song Something More at the 48th Annual Grammy Awards in February 2006. They also performed at the 2006 CMT Music Awards, where they received multiple nominations including Group/Duo Video of the Year for Just Might (Make Me Believe), Breakthrough Video of the Year for Something More, and Collaborative Video of the Year for "Who Says You Can't Go Home".
On November 7, 2006, the new duo released their second album Enjoy the Ride. It sold 211,000 during its first week and opened at #4 on the US Top 200 and at #2 on the Top Country Albums charts. The first two singles from this album — Want To and Settlin — both reached Number One on the country music charts, while Everyday America and Stay were both Top Ten hits. A limited edition of the CD, sold exclusively at Wal-Mart, was released in late 2007 and included a 5-song Christmas EP. The EP contained one original song - Little Wood Guitar - written by Bush and Ellis Paul.
In 2007, Sugarland performed at multiple award ceremonies, including the 2007 CMT Awards and the 2007 ACM awards. They performed a cover of Beyoncé Knowles' "Irreplaceable" at the American Music Awards, with Knowles herself. They also appeared on the The Tonight Show, and late in the year they headlined their first concert tour: the Change for Change Tour along with opening acts Little Big Town and Jake Owen. At the 41st CMA Awards, the group won the award for Vocal Duo of the Year.
In February 2007 Nettles and Bush began recording Love on the Inside as a follow up to Enjoy the Ride. The album was released in late July. Leading off this album was All I Want to Do. Released on May 19, the song debuted at #27 on the country charts, the highest debut for the duo. It became their third Number One single in August 2008. Already Gone followed in September of the same year and in January 2009 became their fourth Billboard Number One.
The "Deluxe Fan Edition" of Love on the Inside was released on July 22, 2008. The fan edition includes the duo's collaboration with Little Big Town and Jake Owen, a cover of The Dream Academy's 1985 hit "Life in a Northern Town." It also introduces four other bonus tracks, including "Fall Into Me," "Operation: Working Vacation," "Wishing," and a cover of Matt Nathanson's "Come On Get Higher."
The duo is starting the Love on the Inside Tour on September 13 in Asheville, North Carolina and it will conclude after 25 performances on November 16 in Bossier City, Louisiana. They will be joined by special guests Ashton Shepherd and Kellie Pickler. It will be their second headlining tour.
In March 2009, Sugarland toured in Europe starting with performances at military stations in Italy. They were scheduled to perform in France, the Netherlands, Germany, England, Scotland, and Ireland. Later in 2009 they joined Keith Urban in select cities as part of his Escape Together World Tour and joined Kenny Chesney on his Sun City Carnival Tour.
The third single from Love on the Inside, and 11th single overall, "It Happens", was released in February 2009 and became their fifth #1 in May 2009. The album's fourth single, "Joey" is a warning about drunkdriving, encouraging those sober to "take the keys," and thematically is heavily influenced by Concrete Blonde's 1990 single of the same name. It peaked at #17 on the US country charts.
On May 19, 2009, Sugarland received five CMT Award nominations including a nomination for Video of the Year. They were presented the award for Video Duo of the Year at the award show that broadcasted on June 16, 2009. During the awards show, they also performed "Love Shack" with a surprise appearance by the B-52's.
On September 10, 2010, Sugarland appeared on The Today Show and performed "Stuck Like Glue" - the first single from their album The Incredible Machine, which was released on October 19, 2010 in the U.S., Canada, and Australia. The album was released in the United Kingdom on February 7, 2011.
It was announced on January 11, 2011 that Sugarland was the #5 selling country album of 2010 with The Incredible Machine and the #3 selling digital country track of 2010 with their single "Stuck Like Glue".
On April 3, 2011 Sugarland hosted and performed at the first annual ACM Fan Jam during the ACM awards show. Sugarland was nominated for Vocal Duo of the Year and Video of the Year for "Stuck Like Glue", and won for Vocal Duo of the Year at the 46th annual Academy of Country Music Awards. Nettles performed alongside pop star Rihanna at the ceremony, performing "California King Bed".
"Tonight" is the second single released in the U.K. from The Incredible Machine as well as the third country radio single, released April 11.
In April 2011, Sugarland began their own radio station, which was launched by A.P.E. Radio. The station is programmed by Nettles and Bush, and gives fans the opportunity to hear experiences from both singers' lives and from their current musical endeavours.
The duo appeared at the 2011 CMT Music Awards, winning for "Duo Video of the Year" but losing to Taylor Swift's "Mine" for video of the year. They also performed their donation song "Stand Up"
Take Me As I Am
Sugarland Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I ain't felt a drop of heat all night
Here in this motel there's no tellin me nothin'
I come here five nights a week
To clean the toilets and change these sheets
My name's Maggie Duran
Baby ain't that somethin'
If you want it
Come and get it
If you want it
Come and get it
You'll understand
You take me as I am
I know these corners I know these streets
Curbside prophets they're yellin' at me
He can save my soul for a drink and a dollar
They keep yelling about my tattoos
We all live with the scars we choose
They might hurt like hell
But they all make us stronger
[Chorus]
Slow to trust but I'm quick to love
Push too hard and I give too much
I ain't sayin' I'm perfect
But I promise I'm worth it
Now I'm standing here in front of you
Tell me boy what you gonna do
My name's Maggie Duran
Baby ain't that somethin'
[Chorus:Repeat x2]
The song "Take Me As I Am" by Sugarland talks about a woman named Maggie Duran who works as a housekeeper in a motel. She comes to work at the motel five nights a week to clean the toilets and change the sheets. While working there, she encounters many street prophets and people with tattoos like herself. The chorus of the song is about accepting oneself with all the baggage and scars, and Maggie urges anyone who wants to be with her to understand that she must be loved as she is.
These lyrics convey a message of self-love and self-acceptance. Maggie has faced many struggles in her life, such as working at the motel and being judged for her tattoos, but despite all of this, she still loves herself and believes she is worth it. The song teaches us to embrace ourselves as we are, with our imperfections, pain, and all the struggles we face. It teaches us that we cannot change who we are, and we should never apologize for being ourselves.
Line by Line Meaning
Radiator says 95
The thermometer indicates that it's hot, but it's not actually providing any warmth.
But I ain't felt a drop of heat all night
Despite it being hot according to the thermometer, the room is cold and not providing any warmth.
Here in this motel there's no tellin me nothin'
In this isolated and lonely motel, nobody can tell Maggie what to do or who to be.
I come here five nights a week
Maggie comes to this motel as a cleaner for five nights a week.
To clean the toilets and change these sheets
Maggie's job at this motel involves cleaning the bathrooms and replacing the bed sheets.
My name's Maggie Duran
Maggie introduces herself by name.
Baby ain't that somethin'
She acknowledges that it's notable that she has a name and identity.
If you want it
If you desire something,
Come and get it
take the initiative to obtain it.
You'll understand
Once you take the risk and go for what you want, you'll comprehend the situation better.
You take me as I am
If you accept me without trying to change me, I will be content with who I am.
I know these corners I know these streets
Maggie is familiar with the ins and outs of this environment.
Curbside prophets they're yellin' at me
People on the street are shouting nonsense at her.
He can save my soul for a drink and a dollar
A man is offering her salvation for a small amount of money and alcohol.
They keep yelling about my tattoos
People are consistently criticizing her tattoos.
We all live with the scars we choose
Everyone has to bear the consequences of their own choices and actions.
They might hurt like hell
These so-called 'scars' may cause extreme pain.
But they all make us stronger
However, these 'scars' also help us become tougher and more resilient individuals.
Slow to trust but I'm quick to love
Maggie is cautious about who she trusts, but she readily gives her love and affection.
Push too hard and I give too much
Although she is generous with her love, Maggie can sometimes push herself too far.
I ain't sayin' I'm perfect
Maggie accepts that she is not flawless.
But I promise I'm worth it
However, she does affirm that she is a valuable individual.
Now I'm standing here in front of you
Maggie is addressing someone who is present in front of her.
Tell me boy what you gonna do
She is asking the person to declare their intentions.
My name's Maggie Duran
She reminds the person of her name.
Baby ain't that somethin'
She reiterates that having a name and identity is significant.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: KRISTIAN BUSH, JENNIFER NETTLES, JEFFREY H COHEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind