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 Give Away
Vince Gill Lyrics
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See how you did today
You live up on the hill
You've got a view that kills
Never wonder why
[Bridge]
After you've counted everything you saved
You know there's gonna be a judgment day
So what will you say?
[Chorus]
No matter what you make
All that you can take
Is what you give away
What you give away
There's people on the street
Ain't got enough to eat
You just shake your head
The measure of a man is one who lends a hand
That's what my father said
After you've counted everything you saved
Do you ever hit your knees and pray?
You know there's gonna be a judgment day
So what will you say?
[Chorus]
It's what you give away
After you've counted everything you saved
Do you ever hit your knees and pray?
You know there's gonna be a judgment day
So what will you say?
No matter what you make
All that you can take
Is what you give away
You know it's not too late
It's all for Heaven's sake
What you give away
What you give away
What you give away
Vince Gill's song "What You Give Away" is an introspective ballad about the value of generosity and compassion. The lyrics describe someone who is financially successful, living on a hill with a great view, but who doesn't seem to show much concern for those who are less fortunate. The chorus speaks to the idea that the only thing we can truly take with us when we leave this world is the goodwill and kindness we've extended to others. The song encourages listeners to think about what they're giving away and how they can help those in need.
The bridge poses a moral question to the listener: after you've counted your money and possessions, do you ever take a moment to think about the bigger picture? There will be a day of reckoning, and what will you say when it comes to what you've done to make the world a better place? This line sets up the chorus, where the repeated refrain "what you give away" takes on a deeper meaning. The measure of a person's worth is not in how much money they've made, but in how much they've given to others.
The song also references the advice given by the singer's father, who espoused the value of lending a helping hand. This line serves as a reminder that generosity and compassion are not just abstract concepts, but values that are handed down from generation to generation. Overall, "What You Give Away" is a poignant reminder that our actions have consequences beyond our own personal gain.
Line by Line Meaning
You read the business page
You keep track of your financial success
See how you did today
You value your daily earnings and profits
You live up on the hill
You reside in a luxurious setting
You've got a view that kills
You have a beautiful and breathtaking view from your residence
Never wonder why
You take it for granted and don't question your fortunate life
After you've counted everything you saved
Once you've tallied your financial gains
Do you ever hit your knees and pray?
Do you reflect on your blessings and express gratitude?
You know there's gonna be a judgment day
You acknowledge the accountability of your actions
So what will you say?
What will be your justification?
No matter what you make
Regardless of your financial gains
All that you can take
You cannot take anything with you when you die
Is what you give away
You are remembered for your charitable acts
There's people on the street
Some people are homeless and struggling
Ain't got enough to eat
Some people don't have access to food
You just shake your head
You express minimal sympathy for their situation
The measure of a man is one who lends a hand
The true value of a person is their willingness to help others
That's what my father said
This was a lesson taught by the artist's father
It's what you give away
The legacy you leave is based on your charitable contributions
You know it's not too late
It's never too late to begin giving back
It's all for Heaven's sake
Giving back is a means of expressing faith and spirituality
What you give away
The importance of generosity
What you give away
Charitable acts define a person's character
What you give away
The true measure of a person's success
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: ALAN GORDON ANDERSON, VINCE GILL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind