When Naomi Judd found herself pregnant, she quickly got married but not to the father of her first child, daughter Christina Ciminella. Christina, born May 30, 1964, became known as Wynonna Judd when the mother-daughter duo stormed the country charts in the 1980s.
After Naomi Judd divorced, she moved from Hollywood, back to Morrill, Ky., with Wynonna and another daughter Ashley. There, she worked as a nurse in a local infirmary. Outside working and school hours, she and the children would sing anything from bluegrass to showbiz standards for their own amusement. However, when Wynonna nurtured aspirations to be a professional entertainer, her mother lent her encouragement, to the extent of moving the family to Nashville in 1979. Naomi's contralto subtly underlined Wynonna's tuneful drawl.
In addition to many performances on Ralph Emery's morning television show, Naomi elicited an audition for RCA Records while tending a hospitalized relation of label producer Brent Maher. With a past that read like a Judith Krantz novel, the Judds -- so the executives considered -- would have more than an even chance in the country market. An exploratory mini-album, which contained proved the executives correct. The single "Had a Dream (From the Heart)" peaked at No. 17 in 1984. Later that year, the Judds scored their first of 14 No. 1 hits with "Mama He's Crazy."
Self-composed songs included Naomi's 1989 composition "Change of Heart," dedicated to her future second husband (and former Elvis Presley backing vocalist) Larry Strickland. Meanwhile, Maher co-wrote hits such as 1985's Grammy-winning "Why Not Me," "Turn It Loose," "Girls Night Out," "Grandpa (Tell Me 'Bout The Good Ol' Days)" and "Rockin' With the Rhythm of the Rain."
Most Judds records exhibited an acoustic bias and a penchant for star guests that included the Jordanaires on "Don't Be Cruel," Emmylou Harris on "The Sweetest Gift," Mark Knopfler on his "Water of Love" and Bonnie Raitt playing slide guitar on the album Love Can Build a Bridge. In 1988, the pair became the first female country act to found their own booking agency (Pro-Tours), but a chronic hepatitis infection forced Naomi to retire from the concert stage two years later.
The Judds toured America in a series of farewell concerts before Wynonna began her solo career. Wynonna got off to a strong start, as her first two singles both went to #1. Her 1994 single "Girls With Guitars" featured Naomi (as well as Lyle Lovett) on backup vocals.
In 1998, The Judds appeared in a commercial for the retail chain Kmart, singing Wynonna's single "Woman To Woman".
In 1999, Wynonna reunited with her mother for a New Year's Eve concert in Phoenix. The following year, the duo recorded four new tracks for a bonus disc issued with Wynonna's album New Day Dawning, and undertook a multi-city tour. The results were issued as the album Reunion Live. A 2004 single, "Flies On The Butter (You Can't Go Home Again)" was recorded with Naomi; however, the single was credited as "Wynonna with Naomi Judd" instead of "The Judds".
Dream Chaser
The Judds Lyrics
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I'll be in the mountains by morning light
Drive the road I traveled years ago
As a young girl leaving home
With dreams as big as the trees were tall
I knew I'd have nothing or I'd have it all
And you all know what happens when the bright lights call
Make it or you're gonna fall
[Chorus]
I'm a dream chaser, a star gazer that's what I am
But I've always known I'd come back home when I found my rainbows end
Rainmakers and heart breakers could never change my plans
Dream chaser, that's what I am
I'm goin' home where the stars shine bright in a mountain sky
That path above I've followed all of my life
It's guiding me back to where my dreams began
Then I'll be gone again
I'll be gone again
[Chorus]
Dream chaser, that's what I am
The Judds's song Dream Chaser is about a person who is always searching for their dreams and never giving up on them. The song starts with the singer packing their bags and driving all night to the mountains, where they'll be by morning light. This road was traveled years ago as a young girl leaving home, with dreams as big as the trees were tall. The singer knew that they would either have nothing or have it all, and the bright lights call was irresistible. The chorus emphasizes that the singer is a dream chaser and a star gazer who always knew that they would come back home when they found their rainbow's end. Rainmakers and heart breakers could never change their plans; they are determined to chase their dreams.
The second verse is about the singer's return home. They follow the path above that they have been following their entire life, which is guiding them back to where their dreams began. But then they will be gone again, chasing their dreams once more. The song ends with the repetition of the chorus, emphasizing that the singer will always be a dream chaser.
Overall, Dream Chaser is a song about perseverance and determination in chasing one's dreams. The singer is not discouraged by setbacks or heartbreaks, but instead remains committed to their pursuit of their dreams.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm gonna pack my bags and drive all night
I am going to leave my current place and travel throughout the night with all my belongings
I'll be in the mountains by morning light
I plan to reach the mountains before dawn
Drive the road I traveled years ago
I will follow the same path that I took when I left home years ago
As a young girl leaving home
I was a young girl when I left my hometown
With dreams as big as the trees were tall
I had very ambitious dreams when I left home
I knew I'd have nothing or I'd have it all
I was aware that my journey could result in either having nothing or achieving everything I wanted
And you all know what happens when the bright lights call
Everyone knows the allure of the big city and what happens when it beckons
You're either gonna make or you're gonna fall
You will either succeed or fail when you try to make it in the big city
I'm a dream chaser, a star gazer that's what I am
I am someone who pursues their wildest dreams and looks up to the stars for inspiration
But I've always known I'd come back home when I found my rainbows end
I have always known that I would return to my hometown when I finally achieved everything I ever wanted
Rainmakers and heart breakers could never change my plans
I will not let anyone or anything deter me from my goals
Dream chaser, that's what I am
I am someone who relentlessly pursues their dreams and aspirations
I'm goin' home where the stars shine bright in a mountain sky
I am returning to my hometown where the night sky is equally beautiful
That path above I've followed all of my life
I have always followed the path of my dreams
It's guiding me back to where my dreams began
My pursuit has led me towards returning to where I started dreaming
Then I'll be gone again
But eventually, I will leave again to chase new dreams
Dream chaser, that's what I am
I am a relentless pursuer of my dreams
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: BULLOCK, MAHER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind