Tracy Lawrence (born 27 January 1968) is an American country musician.
<… Read Full Bio ↴Tracy Lawrence (born 27 January 1968) is an American country musician.

Tracy Lawrence was born in Atlanta, Texas, and raised in Foreman, Ark., Lawrence played in his first band at the age of 16. He attended Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia, where he was a member of Sigma Pi Fraternity. In 1990 Lawrence left Arkansas and went to Nashville.

Lawrence took jobs as an ironworker and in phone sales while he tried to break into the Nashville music scene. He began participating in talent shows and earned enough money to live on. In 1991 he had a gig at the Bluebird Cafe and met Wayne Edwards who became his manager.

With Edwards assistance Lawrence signed with Atlantic Records and released his first album "Sticks and Stones." On 31 May 1991 Lawrence walked his former girlfriend to the door of her hotel room and was confronted by three armed men. The men robbed them and attempted to force Lawrence and his friend into her motel room. Lawrence resisted and was shot four times, allowing his friend to escape. Two of the wounds were major and necessitated surgery. One of the bullets remains imbedded in Lawrence's pelvis.

Lawrence's album shot up the charts to number one on the back of publicity from the shooting and spawned several Top 10 singles. Lawrence's second album Alibis went Platinum and generated three straight Number One singles.

Lawrence was Billboard's Top New Male Vocalist in 1992 and received the Academy of Country Music's Best New Artist and Top New Male Vocalist in 1993.

In 1994 Lawrence released his third album, I See It Now was also a Platinum album. Lawrence released a Live album in 1995 and another studio album entitled Time Marches On in 1996. In 1997 Lawrence released another album entitled Coast is Clear which he co-produced. All told, Lawrence generated 7 Number One singles by this time and every one of his albums at this point in his career had gone Platinum.

In 2005, he released the album "Then & Now: The Hits Collection" that had him singing new vocals on the majority of his hit songs, as well as two new songs, "Used to the Pain" and "If I Don't Make it Back." both of which charted on the Billboard Country Charts. The new recordings sounded very similar to the previous ones, although on some tracks, such as "I See It Now" and "If The World Had a Front Porch" Lawrence's maturity may have improved the vocals, giving them a little more depth. The main reason for re-recording the songs instead of just making a run of the mill greatest hits collection was that Lawrence had switched record labels and Universal Music Group, who he currently records for, does not hold the rights to the old recordings. The new album was very well received and is leaving fans wanting even more out of the unique country star.

In 2006, Lawrence launched Rocky Comfort Records (RCR), a partnership with his manager Laney Lawrence. The label will operate as a joint venture with CO5 Nashville (a division of CO5 Music). His new single "Find Out Who Your Friends Are,” will be released to radio August 21, 2006 with his first studio album on the RCR/CO5 Nashville imprint scheduled for release in early 2007.

Lawrence is known to have a wide range with sounds ranging from neotraditional country to songs with a definite southern rock feel.

Lawrence has visited US troops involved in peacekeeping operations in Kosovo and annually participates in a golf tournament to raise funds for cystic fibrosis research. Lawrence has also purchased equipment for his hometown high school in Arkansas.

Lawrence has been inducted into the Arkansas Entertainers Hall of Fame.

Runnin
Tracy Lawrence Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Work, work, work, day after day
Fifty hour week, forty hour pay
Not time to get over on this overtime
Yea I'm always runnin', I'm always runnin' behind

I got a Friday night date with my sweetheart
I'm already late and the car won't start
Lord, I feel like hittin that car and cryin'

Yes I'm always runnin', I'm always runnin' behind

All my life it's been this way
One dollar short and one day late
One rung lower on the ladder I'm tryin to climb
If I ever get lucky, if I ever get rich
Gonna tow my life up out of this ditch

Watch the world go by while I unwind
Yeah I'm always running, But I'm always runnin' behind

Overall Meaning

Tracy Lawrence's song "Runnin' Behind" is a catchy tune that's relatable to anyone who feels like they're constantly running late or struggling to keep up with the demands of daily life. The song is primarily about the struggles of working a 9-5 job and feeling like you're never able to get ahead.

The opening lyrics, "Work, work, work, day after day, Fifty hour week, forty hour pay, Not time to get over on this overtime," set the tone for the rest of the song, which is focused on the singer's struggles with work and making ends meet. He sings about how he's always running late, even for important events like a date with his sweetheart, and how he feels like he's "always runnin' behind."

The second verse goes on to describe how these struggles have been a constant in the singer's life, saying "All my life it's been this way, One dollar short and one day late, One rung lower on the ladder I'm tryin to climb." However, he ends the song on a hopeful note, singing that if he ever gets lucky and becomes rich, he'll be able to finally relax and "watch the world go by while I unwind."

Overall, "Runnin' Behind" is a relatable song that will stick with anyone who's ever felt like they're struggling to keep up with the pace of life.

Line by Line Meaning

Work, work, work, day after day
Constantly working hard for days without a break

Fifty hour week, forty hour pay
Working overtime for extra money, but not getting paid for all of it

Not time to get over on this overtime
Unable to take advantage of the overtime pay due to a tight schedule

Yea I'm always runnin', I'm always runnin' behind
I always feel like I am catching up or late for something

I got a Friday night date with my sweetheart
Scheduled a date with my loved one on a Friday night

I'm already late and the car won't start
Running behind schedule and experiencing car troubles

Lord, I feel like hittin that car and cryin'
Feeling frustrated and helpless

Yes I'm always runnin', I'm always runnin' behind
Continuously feeling like I am behind schedule or missing out on something

All my life it's been this way
Feeling like things have always been difficult or challenging

One dollar short and one day late
Never having enough money or being able to meet a deadline

One rung lower on the ladder I'm tryin to climb
Feeling like I am not making as much progress as I would like in my career or life goals

If I ever get lucky, if I ever get rich
Hoping for good luck or a big break

Gonna tow my life up out of this ditch
Wanting to improve my life situation

Watch the world go by while I unwind
Being able to relax and enjoy life's simple pleasures

Yeah I'm always running, But I'm always runnin' behind
Continuously feeling like I am behind schedule or missing out on something

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: EDWARD MONROE HILL, MARK DANIEL SANDERS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Jim Cholley

THE TOP 75 BILLBOARD ENTERTAINMENT MAGAZINE
HOT COUNTRY SINGLES & TRACKS
1992

Number 37

RUNNIN' BEHIND
Tracy Lawrence

Words & music by
Ed Hill, Mark D. Sanders

Produced by
James Stroud

Executive Producer:
Jeff Carver

Atlantic Records
Album Cut

From the Album
STICKS AND STONES

First Chart Date:
Saturday, June 20, 1992

63-49-38-27-22-16-12-11-9-8-6-4-10-19-29-31-33-35-37-40

Last Chart Date:
Saturday, October 31, 1992

Total weeks on the chart:
20

Peak Position on the chart:
4 [1 week]