Gill was born in Norman, Oklahoma, the home of the University of Oklahoma Sooners and learned to play several instruments, including banjo and guitar before he started high school at Oklahoma City's Northwest Classen High School. After he graduated, he played in a number of bluegrass bands. He debuted on the national scene with the country-rock band Pure Prairie League in 1979, appearing on that band's album Can't Hold Back. Gill is the lead singer on their hit song, "Let Me Love You Tonight" (1980), which he was still performing in concert years later - thus, he said, confusing many fans who knew him only from his subsequent solo work. Gill appeared on two subsequent albums along with his then-wife Janis Oliver.
Departing Pure Prairie League in 1981, Gill joined Rodney Crowell’s backing band The Notorious Cherry Bombs, where he met and worked with Tony Brown and Emory Gordy Jr., both of whom would later produce many of his future solo albums.
Signing as a solo artist with RCA Records in 1983, he first charted while on that label. In 1989 he switched to MCA Records where he recorded his breakthrough hit "When I Call Your Name." His 1998 album The Key received great critical acclaim. His other albums include Next Big Thing (2003) and Let's Make Sure We Kiss Goodbye (2000). The Guitar Slinger Songfacts says that Gill released his twelfth studio album, Guitar Slinger, on October 25, 2011 via MCA Nashville. It was his manager, Larry Fitzgerald, who came up with the title, as he felt there was something different the way Gill was playing the guitar on the record.
Gill hosted the CMA Awards every year from 1992 to 2003. In 2004 he received a Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance. In 1997, he was inducted into the Western Performers Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
He married country singer Janis Oliver (of Sweethearts of the Rodeo fame) in 1980. The couple have one daughter, Jennifer Jerene Gill, born 5 May 1982. Vince and Janis separated in the mid-1990s and eventually divorced in June 1998. Vince later began dating and eventually married Christian/pop singer Amy Grant in March of 2000. They have one daughter, Corrina Grant Gill born 12 March 2001.
Dire Straits leader Mark Knopfler was a fan of Gill's, and had asked Gill to join the band full time. Gill turned down the invitation but did sing backup on one song ("The Bug") from Dire Straits' album On Every Street.
Gill has also sung duets with numerous artists, including Dolly Parton ("I Will Always Love You"), Reba McEntire ("Oklahoma Swing," "The Heart Won't Lie," "It Just Has to Be That Way"), Amy Grant ("House of Love"), and Barbra Streisand ("If You Ever Leave Me"); his other credits as a backup vocalist have included "Girls With Guitars" by Wynonna Judd (written by Mary-Chapin Carpenter, who, coincidentally, had a country hit with her cover of "The Bug") and "Nothing Left Behind Us" by Richard Marx.
In These Last Few Days
Vince Gill Lyrics
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An' we should get together an' talk about old times
An' put the past behind us before life slips away
I've been thinkin' 'bout you in these last few days
In these last few days, I have felt my age
I wish that I was younger but time has turned the page
I sure miss the water and the rhythm of the wavesI've been feelin' fragile in these last few days
But I have been a father, a husband and a son
Lookin' back is bitter sweet, now that my race has run
I've tried to be a witness from the cradle to the grave
Time has felt so precious in these last few days
In these last few days, I've seen the light
And I'll be waitin' for you on the other side
My old friend, I love you, that's really all there's left to say
Lay down here beside me in these last few days
My old friend, I'll miss you but I'm trying to be brave
Lay down here beside me in these last few days
The song "In These Last Few Days" by Vince Gill is an introspective ballad that acknowledges the passage of time and the inevitability of mortality. Throughout the song, the singer reflects on his life and relationships, urging an old friend to reconnect with him and let go of the past.
The first stanza sets the scene for the rest of the song, as the singer expresses his desire to reconnect with an old friend and reminisce about their shared memories. He recognizes the fleeting nature of life and the importance of valuing the time they have left.
In the second stanza, the singer acknowledges his own mortality and reflects on his regrets. He wishes he could be younger again, but recognizes the futility of such a desire. Instead, he yearns for the beauty of nature and the peace it brings.
In the third stanza, the singer reflects on his roles as a father, husband, and son, recognizing both the joys and the challenges of these relationships. He describes his life as a race that has now run its course, but reassures his loved ones that he has tried his best to be a good witness and leave a positive legacy.
The final stanza takes on a more spiritual tone, as the singer accepts the inevitability of death and expresses his faith in an afterlife. He again urges his old friend to reconnect with him and expresses his love for him, acknowledging that these last few days are precious and should be spent with those we cherish.
Overall, "In These Last Few Days" is a moving and poignant meditation on the fleeting nature of life and the importance of cherishing our loved ones while we still can.
Line by Line Meaning
In these last few days, you've been on my mind
I've been thinking about you lately and want to catch up
An' we should get together an' talk about old times
We should meet and reminisce about old memories
An' put the past behind us before life slips away
Let's forgive each other and move forward with our lives
I've been thinkin' 'bout you in these last few days
You've been on my mind and I want to reconnect
In these last few days, I have felt my age
I feel older and time seems to be passing quickly
I wish that I was younger but time has turned the page
I regret getting older but it's inevitable
I sure miss the water and the rhythm of the waves
I long for the peacefulness of nature
I've been feelin' fragile in these last few days
I've been feeling vulnerable and emotional
But I have been a father, a husband and a son
I have fulfilled important roles in my life
Lookin' back is bitter sweet, now that my race has run
Reflecting on my life's accomplishments and failures is bittersweet now that it's almost over
I've tried to be a witness from the cradle to the grave
I've tried to live my life with purpose and meaning
Time has felt so precious in these last few days
I feel like time is running out and every moment is valuable
In these last few days, I've seen the light
I've gained new perspective and understanding
And I'll be waitin' for you on the other side
I believe in an afterlife and look forward to reuniting with loved ones
My old friend, I love you, that's really all there's left to say
I want you to know how much you mean to me
Lay down here beside me in these last few days
I want to spend time with you before it's too late
My old friend, I'll miss you but I'm trying to be brave
I know I'll miss you when you're gone, but I'm trying to stay strong
Lay down here beside me in these last few days
I want to cherish our remaining time together
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Vincent Grant Gill
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind