Byrd never intended becoming a singer. Byrd was never in Band or Choir in the Vidor School System. He began studying business at Texas State University (then called Southwest Texas State). One of his friends coaxed him into singing a cover of Hank Williams Sr's "Your Cheating Heart" at a local mall recording studio. The owner of the studio was so impressed with his version that he entered Byrd into a local talent contest. Byrd discovered on that stage that he really liked the attention and applause that came with performing.
Byrd began playing nightclubs in Southeast Texas, including working with then-struggling artist Mark Chesnutt. After Chesnutt secured a record deal, Byrd took over as the house band at Cutters Nightclub in Beaumont, landing his own record deal in 1992. His first three albums sold over 3 million copies.
His first No. 1 single was 1993's "Holdin' Heaven," although "The Keeper of the Stars" (1995) and "I'm From the Country" (1998) are considered his signature songs. Byrd finally scored his second No. 1 hit in the fall of 2002, with "Ten Rounds With Jose Cuervo." He is also known for covering two 1970s-era hits for country music legend Johnny Paycheck -- "Someone to Give My Love To" (1993, Byrd's second chart hit) and "Don't Take Her She's All I Got" (1997).
Byrd is an avid outdoorsman. He began fishing with his grandmother, Mavis Vaughn, when he was only three, and she bought him his first shotgun when he was six. His love of those sports has given him the opportunity to host two shows on the Outdoor Channel.
Byrd is the National Spokesperson for Special Olympics International for the Country Music Association. He developed a crank bait fishing lure marketed by Norman Lures called The Lifestyles Of The Not So Rich & Famous', named after his hit recording of the song written by Byron Hill and Wayne Tester. For every one of the lures sold Byrd donates ten cents to the Special Olympics.
Byrd also hosts an annual golfing/fishing/music event, "The Tracy Byrd Homecoming Weekend," in Southeast Texas to raise money for local charities, including the March of Dimes, the Children's Miracle Network, and culminating in the donation of money to fund the Tracy Byrd Hyperbaric Medicine and Wound Care Center at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Beaumont. Byrd also raised money by soliciting pledges for his attempt to complete the 2001 Houston Marathon. He finished the marathon, and donated all of his pledges to the Children's Miracle Network.[1]
In 1994, he made a cameo appearance in the film Radioland Murders. He has also published Eat Like a Byrd: The Tracy Byrd Cookbook which "uses rubs and marinades to create memorable meals."[2]. He has also launched a line of spices, rubs, and marinades to go along with it, called "Tracy Byrd's Tiny Town Products." These are available at Wal-Mart and Kroger stores, Byrd donates five cents from each sale to the Children's Miracle Network.
Byrd and his wife, Michelle, have two sons and daughter. The family lives in Beaumont, Texas.
Don't Love Make A Diamond Shine
Tracy Byrd Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Holdin' hands at the jewelry store
Eyes open wide starin' inside
At the ring that they wanted for her
Mister bring it closer mister can we hold it
I think it's gonna fit just fine
As he slipped it on her hand Janey kissed her man
Don't love make a diamond shine
Don't love make a diamond shine
It don't matter if it costs a dime
Dang thing looks like a million bucks
Sittin' on the hand of a girl in love
A perfect fifteen carat is duller than dirt if the heart don't wear it
With three little words it'll knock you blind
Don't love make a diamond shine
There's a rich lady with a new Mercedes
Livin' up in a high rise
She got a big ol' rock on her left hand
That looks cheaper than a Cracker Jack prize
'Cause her man don't know that it ain't the dough
You know all he needs to spend is time
And that big marquis'd be a laser beam
Don't love make a diamond shine
Don't love make a diamond shine
It don't matter if it costs a dime
Dang thing looks like a million bucks
Sittin' on the hand of a girl in love
A perfect fifteen carat is duller than dirt if the heart don't wear it
With three little words it'll knock you blind
Don't love make a diamond shine
Don't love make a diamond shine
It don't matter if it costs a dime
Dang thing looks like a million bucks
Sittin' on the hand of a girl in love
A perfect fifteen carat is duller than dirt if the heart don't wear it
With three little words it'll knock you blind
Don't love make a diamond shine
Don't love make a diamond shine
The song "Don't Love Make A Diamond Shine" by Tracy Byrd is a romantic ballad that extols the idea that love is the real value behind a diamond. The first verse tells the story of Tommy and Janey, a young couple in love who are looking at engagement rings in a jewelry store. As they try on the ring they've chosen, Janey kisses Tommy, and he exclaims, "Don't love make a diamond shine." In the chorus and subsequent verses, the song emphasizes that the worth of a diamond is not in its price tag or size but in the love that is behind it. Consequently, even the smallest of diamonds will radiate with brilliance if they are given with love.
The second verse introduces a contrasting character: a rich woman with a large and expensive diamond. However, in contrast to Tommy and Janey, her diamond doesn't shine as brightly because it lacks the love that Tommy and Janey possess. This serves to emphasize the idea that love really does make a diamond shine. The song concludes by reiterating this idea, that even the most exquisite diamond in the world would be dull without love.
This song is a beautiful tribute to the power of love, and it expresses the idea that love is the true value of any gift, not just diamonds. It also emphasizes the idea that a diamond is a symbol of love, and that true love is what makes it shine.
Line by Line Meaning
Tommy and Janey hardly eighteen
Tommy and Janey, who are both only eighteen years old, are at a jewelry store.
Holdin' hands at the jewelry store
Tommy and Janey are standing close, holding hands as they look at jewelry in the store.
Eyes open wide starin' inside
They have their eyes wide open and are staring intently at the jewelry inside the store.
At the ring that they wanted for her
They are specifically looking at a ring that Tommy wants to buy for Janey.
Mister bring it closer mister can we hold it
Tommy asks the store employee to bring the ring closer and if they could hold it.
I think it's gonna fit just fine
Tommy believes that the ring will fit perfectly on her finger.
As he slipped it on her hand Janey kissed her man
Tommy puts the ring on Janey's finger and she happily kisses him.
Don't love make a diamond shine
The power of love makes a diamond sparkle and shine, regardless of its cost or size.
It don't matter if it costs a dime
The cost of the diamond is not important in the presence of true love.
Dang thing looks like a million bucks
Even an inexpensive diamond can look stunning when someone is in love.
Sittin' on the hand of a girl in love
When a girl is in love, any diamond will look beautiful on her finger.
A perfect fifteen carat is duller than dirt if the heart don't wear it
Even a perfect and valuable diamond loses its sparkle if the person wearing it is not in love.
With three little words it'll knock you blind
Just by saying 'I love you', one can feel the powerful effect of love and its impact on a diamond.
There's a rich lady with a new Mercedes
The song shifts to describe a rich woman who just bought a new Mercedes.
Livin' up in a high rise
She lives in a high-rise building, likely indicating her wealth.
She got a big ol' rock on her left hand
She has a large diamond engagement ring on her left hand.
That looks cheaper than a Cracker Jack prize
Despite the cost, the diamond looks cheap and unimpressive.
'Cause her man don't know that it ain't the dough
Her husband thinks that buying an expensive diamond is enough to show his love, but it's not.
You know all he needs to spend is time
What he really needs to do is spend quality time showing his love, not just lavish gifts.
And that big marquis'd be a laser beam
If her husband showed true love, even the unimpressive diamond would sparkle and shine.
Don't love make a diamond shine
The same message is repeated to drive home the point about the power of love and its impact on diamonds.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CRAIG MICHAEL WISEMAN, THOMAS MICHAEL DEKLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Taylor
on Watermelon Crawl
im not even gonna lie, i dont even like country music, but this song got me changin' my mind!!!!