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.
What You Don't Say
Vince Gill Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I sure can be a jerk
But you always see the best in me
God knows you've seen the worst
You know when to let me be
Pull yourself real close to me
And how to take my breath away
You don't care who's right or wrong
I know whose side you're on
It's more than the love that we make
It's what you don't say
Man, I should have been the death of me
I sure can run it in the ground
When you come lie here next to me
Girl, you bring me back around
You know when to let me be
Pull yourself real close to me
And how to take my breath away
You don't care who's right or wrong
I know whose side you're on
It's more than the love that we make
It's what you don't say
You know when to let me be
Pull yourself real close to me
And how to take my breath away
You don't care who's right or wrong
I know whose side you're onIt's more than the love that we make
It's what you don't say
It's what you don't say
It's what you don't say
The lyrics of Vince Gill's song "What You Don't Say" describe a relationship where one partner sees the best in the other, even when they are not at their best. The singer admits that sometimes he can be a jerk, but his partner looks beyond his faults and sees the good in him. She knows how to give him space when he needs it, but also knows how to bring him back to reality when he spirals out of control. The love between the two goes beyond physical intimacy; it's in the unspoken understanding they have for each other.
The song's message is one of unconditional love and the power of non-verbal communication. The singer's partner knows exactly what he needs without him having to say it out loud. She understands when he needs space and when he needs to be held close. The singer is grateful for her ability to see beyond his flaws and to love him despite them. The song is a tribute to the trust and understanding that exists in a healthy, loving relationship.
Overall, "What You Don't Say" is a touching tribute to the power of love and the importance of understanding and empathy in a relationship. It shows that sometimes, the things left unsaid are the most powerful of all.
Line by Line Meaning
Sometimes this old world gets to me
There are times when I feel overwhelmed with the difficulties of this world
And I sure can be a jerk
I know that I can act selfishly and unkind at times
But you always see the best in me
Despite my flaws, you have a positive perception of me
God knows you've seen the worst
You have observed my lowest moments
You know when to let me be
You understand when I need space and respect my boundaries
Pull yourself real close to me
You physically and emotionally support me when I need it most
And how to take my breath away
You surprise me with your affection and love, leaving me speechless
You don't care who's right or wrong
You prioritize our relationship and understanding over petty disagreements
I know whose side you're on
I feel secure in the fact that you support and stand by me
It's more than the love that we make
Our bond and connection goes beyond physical intimacy
It's what you don't say
The unspoken words and actions, such as your support and understanding, mean the most to me
Man, I should have been the death of me
I acknowledge that my actions and behavior could have led to my downfall
I sure can run it in the ground
I tend to overthink and overdo things, leading to negative consequences
When you come lie here next to me
Your presence and comfort help me calm down and find peace
Girl, you bring me back around
You have a positive and uplifting effect on me, bringing me back to center
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: John Hobbs, Reed Nielsen, Vincent Grant Gill
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind