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.
Redneck Roses
Tracy Byrd Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Not so long ago
On his way home from work
He'd stop by the side of the road
Step out of that old beat up Ford
That he drove
And he'd walk around
For a handful of wildflower blooms
Thinkin' of where he'd be soon
There with her
She called them redneck roses
'Cause that's what they were
A simple gift of love
From a country boy to his girl
She called them redneck roses
They didn't cost a dime
But they brought a smile to her face
Every time
Now it's years down the line
She sits home alone
It's the usual end of the day
Once again, he's still workin' late
And never calls
They've got a house on a hill
No problems with bills
And a baby that's on the way
But her heart longs for those yesterdays
And his love
She called them redneck roses
'Cause that's what they were
A simple gift of love
From a country boy to his girl
She called them redneck roses
They didn't cost a dime
But they brought a smile to her face
Every time
They could still put a smile on her face
If he only had the time
Tracy Byrd's song, Redneck Roses, tells a story of a simple yet endearing gesture of love by a country boy to his girl. The song is about a man who would stop his beat-up Ford on his way back from work to pick wildflower blooms for his girl, thinking of their moments together. The girl affectionately called them the redneck roses, and they didn't cost a dime. They might not look like the traditional roses or be expensive, but they were a symbol of his love and care for her.
Years later, the scenario has changed. The couple now has a house, a stable income, and a baby on the way. However, as her husband works late and never calls, she realizes that she missed the simplicity of their relationship. She longs for those yesterdays when her husband would stop by the roadside and pick the redneck roses just for her. They may now have the material things they dreamed of, but she misses the heartwarming gestures that made her feel loved.
The song has a heart-melting tune that complements the theme of love and longing. The simplicity of the lyrics is a reminder of how genuine love can be in its simple gestures. It's a song that resonates with people who have long-term relationships and romanticizes the sweetness of its simplicity.
Line by Line Meaning
Not so long ago
In the not-too-distant past
On his way home from work
While returning from his job
He'd stop by the side of the road
He used to pause near the road
Step out of that old beat-up Ford that he drove
He exited from his run-down Ford automobile
And he'd walk around searchin' the ground
He strolled around exploring the earth
For a handful of wildflower blooms
To gather a small number of indigenous flowers
Thinkin' of where he'd be soon
Reflecting about what would come next
There with her
Being near his lady love
She called them redneck roses
She referred to them as modest flowers
'Cause that's what they were
Because that's precisely what they were
A simple gift of love
A plain, yet caring present
From a country boy to his girl
Delivered by a rural boy to his sweetheart
They didn't cost a dime
They were free of charge
But they brought a smile to her face
However, they made her smile
Every time
On every occasion
Now it's years down the line
Now many years have passed
She sits home alone
She remains lonely at home
It's the usual end of the day
It's the ordinary conclusion of the day
Once again, he's still workin' late
Once more, he's laboring until late
And never calls
And he never contacts her
They've got a house on a hill
They have a residence on a hill
No problems with bills
They don't have any bill issues
And a baby that's on the way
Also, they are anticipating the birth of a child
But her heart longs for those yesterdays
But her heart yearns for past times
And his love
And his affection
They could still put a smile on her face
Those flowers could still brighten her up
If he only had the time
If he could merely spare some time for her
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, SONG SOURCE, INC., Peermusic Publishing
Written by: BYRON HILL, TRACY LYNN BYRD
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!!!!