Released September 18, 2001
Produced by Martina McBride and Paul Worley
Album photography by Timothy White
1. My Baby Loves Me
2. Life #9
3. Independence Day
4. Strangers
5. Safe In The Arms Of Love
6. Wild Angels
7. Valentine
8. A Broken Wing
9. Happy Girl
10. Wrong Again
11. Whatever You Say
12. I Love You
13. Love's The Only House
14. There You Are
15. When God Fearin' Women Get The Blues
(Intro)
*
16. When God Fearin' Women Get The Blues
*
17. Where Would You Be *
18. Concrete Angel *
19. Blessed *
* Songs Not Previously Released
The Album
“When the idea for this album first came up, I really struggled with it. I thought, ‘Wait a minute: Nobody’s going to perceive this as some kind of an end, are they?’ I’m far from done. When I realized that I could put on four new songs, it was a big help to me, creatively. That made me feel like I wasn’t ‘closing a door;’ I was opening one. I think this album puts some space between what I have done and what I am going to do in the future. I loved the fact that we could put lots of hits on it, but also that it was saying, ‘Now let’s see what the next 10 years hold.’” Martina McBride
My Baby Loves Me
Written by Gretchen Peters
Don't need no copy of Vogue magazine
Don't need to dress like no beauty queen
High heels or sneakers, he don't give a damn
My baby loves me just the way that I am
My baby loves me just the way that I am
He never tells me I'm not good enough
Just gives me unconditional love
He loves me tender and he loves me mad
He loves me silly and he loves me sad
Chorus
He thinks I'm pretty, he thinks I'm smart
He likes my nerves and he loves my heart
He's always sayin' he's my biggest fan
My baby loves me just the way that I am
My baby loves me just the way that I am
And when there's dark clouds in my eyes
He just sits back and lets 'en roll on by
I come in like a lion go out like a lamb
My baby loves me just the way that I am
Ma baby loves me just the way that I am
Repeat Chorus
He thinks I'm pretty, he thinks I'm smart
He likes my nerves and he loves my heart
Don't see no reason to change my plan
My baby loves me just the way that I am
My baby loves me just the way that I am
"We discovered the amazing talent of Gretchen Peters. Pam and Mary Ann sure sang like angels on the harmonies...and Dan Dugmore's solo! He did it and doubled it in less than ten minutes! I also remember that the intro came together in an interesting way. The slide guitar was left over from my pitiful attempt at a slide solo (thought I was Dwayne Allman or something). The same was true of the six-string bass lick (thought I was Duane Eddy). Somehow they never got erased...and voilà! An intro! You know what they say…‘give a chimp a guitar and a thousand years and you’ve got an intro.’” Paul Worley
“I always loved the lyrics of this song and the way it's about unconditional love. And as sickeningly sweet as it is, it’s the kind of love I get from john. I wish everyone could experience that kind of love…it’s truly amazing I don’t think it’s common, but I know it exists. I love the guitar thing you did on the beginning, Paul. And I just think it's a cool sounding record. The video really made an impact on my career. It was so different for the time and so colorful and I loved the real couples. It was the first time I worked with Steve Goldmann. Little known fact….this song went to #2 on the chart and had it been played 3 more times anywhere in the United States that week it would have been #1…So close…” Martina McBride
Life #9
Written by Kostas and Tony Perez
Don't tell me no stories I don't want to hear no lies
No reason, or excuses, none of your alibies
The phone rings I pick up nobody's on the line
I know she's waiting for you she's just biding her time
You'd have me believe it's just a night out with your friends
But I know you're going back to see her again
Chorus
You're stealing love
Living on life #9
Breaking my heart
Living on borrowed time
You're catting around
Playing with fire
You're stealing love
Living on life #9
You're running on empty troubles on every side
You're used up your last chance
You've got no place to hide
I'm tired of these heartaches tired of living a lie
Go to her she's waiting
But someday you're gonna find
The grass ain't always greener on the other side
Now what you thought was love was what you left behind
Repeat Chorus
Repeat Chorus
"Not one of my favorites even though it was my idea to record it. I think we
were going through our country-disco phase when we made this one. I wonder
if anyone has the dance version of this around. We should retrieve it and
burn it! Anyway, it turned out to be a hit!" Paul Worley
"Paul, you did talk me into cutting this! And I'm glad you did because it's
not the kind song, melody, attitude, whatever, that I was really comfortable
singing so I would not have cut it. But you encouraged me, and it really
allowed me to step outside the box I had created for myself in my own head
and gain confidence as a singer and performer. So, I'm grateful for that.
Having said that, it's not one of my favorites either! I remember being in
the vocal booth while we were cutting the track and asking you if you
thought the tempo was okay for two-stepping. (The country dance craze was on
and we thought it would do well in the clubs). You told the guys to play a
little of it and I could see through the glass and you were dancing. Like,
two-stepping! It was hilarious. I know this probably embarrasses you and I
guess you had to be there, but I still see that picture so vividly every
time I hear it!" Martina McBride
Independence Day
Written by Gretchen Peters
Well she seemed all right by dawn's early light
Though she looked a little worried and weak
She tried to pretend he wasn't drinkin' again
But daddy'd left the proof on her cheek
And I was only eight years old that summer
And I always seemed to be in the way
So I took myself down to the fair in town
On Independence Day
Well word gets around in a small, small town
They said he was a dangerous man
Mama was proud and she stood her ground
But she knew she was on the losin' end
Some folks whispered and some folks talked
But everyone looked the other way
And when time ran out there was no one about
On Independence Day
Chorus
Let freedom ring, let the white dove sing
Let the whole world know that today is a
Day of reckoning
Let the weak be strong, let the right be wrong
Roll the stone away, let the guilty pay, it's
Independence Day
Well she lit up the sky that fourth of July
By the time that firemen come
They just put out the flames,
And took down some names
And send me to the county home
Now I ain't sain' it's right or it's wrong
But maybe it's the only way
Talk about your revolution
It's Independence Day
Repeat Chorus
Roll the stone away
It's Independence Day
"It took a real long time. I'd say it was a year or two in the making, because I would tinker with it and then put it away for a while. I was afraid of the ending. That was a dilemma for me. The first couple of verses came together, and I had the melody. But the song is sort of dark, so I thought I had to find other ways to end it. I wound up having the courage to go with my first instinct. If nobody wanted to record it, then so be it.
Domestic violence is just something that I find so horrifying. I never saw anything like that in my childhood. I wrote it in the third person, so that it could sound more like reporting. It's also more emotionally powerful to have a child as a narrator, because children are the most severely affected in these cases.
"I know that I thought that it would never be cut by any artist in Nashville. Her passion about doing it was so great. Her, desire to do it... I think, I think it was a very gutsy move." Gretchen Peters
"'Independence Day' by Martina McBride. I passed on it, it wasn't a song for me, I completely believed in what the song said, but I believe the song found its home, the right singer.” Faith Hill
"Every time I sing it, it just gets more powerful, you know I saw the video the other day, I hadn’t seen it in along time it and it still tares me up, its just, I’m so lucky that I found that song, I feel like it came to me for a reason and I feel really lucky that I get to go sing it and spread that message.
It took the symbol of freedom and turned it around. It's something that needed to be said.
I never really thought, ‘Will this be a hit? Will this be a single’ I just recorded it because I wanted it to be part of my body of work. I take pride that I stood up for what I believe in, that I didn’t necessarily play it safe." Martina McBride
“Finally a career hit! I think we both knew it the minute we heard the song. Eternal thanks to Gretchen Peters (again). And that vocal performance! I can still see you singing this on the CMA show…live and 8 ½ months pregnant. I looked around and everyone’s jaws were on the floor. Amazing!” Paul Worley
The following is the original lyrics for “Independence Day” as seen in the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Well the sun burned bright by the dawn’s early light
On that hot and dusty day in July
Late in the night, there’d been a terrible fight
Now little sister couldn’t stop her cryin’
Well I was only 8 years old that summer
And I always seemed to be in the way
So I took her down to the fair that morning
On Independence Day
Well word gets around in a small, small town
Daddy’d started drinkin’ again
Mama was proud and she held her ground
But we knew she was on the losing end
Some folks whispered and some plain talked
But everybody looked the other way
And when time ran out, there was no one about
On Independence Day
We were almost home, tired and cold
When we saw that yellow light in the sky
It burned so bright, it lit up the night
Like fireworks on the 4th of July
And I started to run when I saw what she’d done
But I knew I was much too late
And Mama found her freedom
On Independence Day.
(Chorus)
Let freedom ring
Let the caged bird sing
Let the whole world know that today
Is a day of reckoning
Strangers
Written by Bobby Braddock
Two strangers passing on the side walk
Barely brush each other's hand
He says "I'm sorry"
She says "Don't worry"
And that's how it all began
A few short days and night together
And it's like they were meant to be
Lying there with her he softly whispers
Just think what we were so recently
Chorus
Strangers, strangers
The world greatest lovers
Last week they were strangers
Two strangers passing in the hallway
Barely touch each other's heart
Now they're pretending
Two shadows blending
But they're a million miles apart
Soon she'll be packing up her suitcase
They'll be dividing all the blame
They know how they started
Now empty hearted
They don't have a clue how they became
Chorus
The world's greatest lovers
Have turned into strangers
World's greatest lovers
And now they are strangers
Strangers, strangers
“The hit that got away! This is one of the most popular non-singles to your fans. Special thanks to the great Bobby Braddock for such a wonderful song. What if we really had followed ‘Independence Day’ with this one?” Paul Worley
"This is a song I always wanted to be a single. I think if we had released this after 'Independence Day' instead of 'Heart Trouble,' the next few years would have been quite different. However, we didn't and the next few years were a series of hits and misses with country radio. We didn't really become an established act with country radio until "Evolution". But everything happens for a reason and even though I wouldn't trade the career I have now for any other kind, I do believe this was a missed opportunity. But it was at a time in my career when the powers-that-be at the record company (not Joe G.) had very little respect for my opinions about what I wanted to say with my music and who I wanted to be as an artist. This has been a favorite of mine and a fan favorite for many years. I included it on here because it is MY "Greatest Hits" album and, thankfully, my record company now does respect my opinions. So this is for you to enjoy. This is possibly the Greatest Miss." Martina McBride
Safe In The Arms Of Love
Written by Pam Rose, Mary Ann Kennedy and Pat Bunch
My heart's not ready for the rocking chair
I need somebody who really cares
So tired of livin' solitaire
Someday I'm gonna be
Safe in the arms of love
Strip your heart and it starts to snow
Love is a high-wire act I know
Someday I'll find a net below
Someday I'm gonna be
Safe in the arms of love
Safe in the arms of love
Chorus
I want arms that know how to rock me
Safe in the arms of love
I wanna fall and know that love has caught me
Safe in the arms of love
Safe in the arms of love
I want a heart to be forever mine
Want eyes to see me satisfied
Gonna hang my heartaches out of dry
Some day I'm gonna be safe in the arms of love
Safe in the arms of love
“This is one of my favorite records ever. Thanks Pat, and thanks Pam and Mary Ann…you two had such a huge influence on modern country music. This is also when we first worked with Darrell Scott who played the wonderful mandolin part that, doubled with Stuart Duncan’s fiddle, became the solo.” Paul Worley
“I still absolutely think this is on of the coolest sounding records ever! I just love it. Its was really different for its time and it stood out on the radio. I really love the solo fiddle and the mandolin and background vocals working together to create this whole other experience. It was one of the first times we experimented with stereo separation to that extent and I love how the background vocals go from the left speaker to the right, especially during the solo. I am absolutely crazy about the guitar work Dann Huff did and I still remember him standing in the studio and saying how he was going to come up with a real signature intro and boy did he ever! This is pure ear candy to me.” Martina McBride
Wild Angels
Written by Matraca Berg, Gary Harrison and Harry Stinson
Between the perfect world and the bottom line
Keeping love alive in these troubled times
It's a miracle in itself
And we know too well what's about
Still we made it through, only God knows how
We must've had a little help
(Must've been)
Chorus
Wild Angels, Wild Angels
Watching over you and me
Wild Angels, Wild Angels
Baby what else could it be
Well it must've been hard, it must've been tough
Keeping up with crazy fools like us
'Cause it's so easy to fall apart
And we still break each other's heart sometimes
Spend some nights on the jagged side
Somehow we wake up in each other's arms
(Must've been)
Repeat Chorus
Bridge
There are some nights
I watch you while you dream
I swear I hear the sound of heating wings
“Do you
remember that this song was originally title, ‘Wild Angels on Blue Horses’?
Special thanks to Matraca and Harry for writing such a great song. The
interplay between the two Dan(n)’s (Huff and Dugmore) is amazing. That’s
Huff on the left and Dugmore on the right for those who want to know. Also
this is Delaney’s first recorded vocal performance in the intro! I remember
holding Delaney while you sang on this album. I’ve always thought that she
and I have a special bond because of that. Hard to believe that she’ll be in
1st grade this fall.” Paul Worley
“I have always loved this song. I think it’s so original and creative. I’ve always loved the drum fill Lonnie played after the guitar intro. I love all the cool bass licks Joe Chemay played too. Something about the way Ed Seay eq’d this makes them really stand out. I remember we were mixing this song and I still hadn’t put the ad-libs on the end. So I went in to the vocal booth while we were mixing and just sang the first thing that came into my head. As far as the giggle from Delaney on the intro… she was only a few months old and John and I made complete idiots of ourselves trying to get her to laugh into a DAT recorder on evening at our house.” Martina McBride
Valentine
Written by Carol Chase, Jim Brickman and Jack Kugell
If there were no words
No way to speak
I would still hear you
If there were no tears
No way to feel inside
I'd still feel for you
And even if the sun refused to shine
Even if romance ran out of rhyme
You would still have my heart until the end of time
You're all I need, my love, my Valentine
All of my life
I have been waiting for
All you give to me
You've opened my eyes
And shown me how to love unselfishly
I've dreamed of this a thousand times before
In my dreams I couldn't love you more
I will give you my heart until the end of time
You're all I need, my love, my valentine
And even if the sun refused to shine
Even if romance ran out of rhyme
You would still have my heart until the end of time
'Cause all I need is you, My Valentine
You're all I need, my love, my Valentine
“What a beautiful performance you made of this! It really hacked me off that I didn’t produce it. This was your first hit ballad. (See, I really can be petty and jealous!)” Paul Worley
“Not much to say about this except that this was the first time I worked on anything with out Paul and that was a strange feeling. I had no idea this would be such a big hit. I enjoyed getting to know Jim Brickman and working on the video together (even though it was FREEZING!) This was originally meant o only be on his album, but we got such a great response from it that we decided to make a more country version and put it on Evolution. Usually when we do this in concert I show home movies of my kids while I’m singing it. It helps me connect with the words better if I think of them while singing it.
This song is special to a lot of people. It is a pretty song that is still a fan favorite. It is romantic and sweet.” Martina McBride
A Broken Wing
Written by James House, Sam Hogin and Phil Barnhart
She loved him like he was
The last man on earth
Gave him everything she ever had
He'd break her spirit down
Then come lovin' up on her
Give a little, then take it back
She'd tell him about her dreams
He'd just shoot 'em down
Lord he loved to make her cry
"You're crazy for believin'
You'll ever leave the ground"
He said "only angels know how to fly".
Chorus
And with a broken wing
She still sings
She keeps an eye on the sky
With a broken wing
She carries her dreams
Man you oughta see her fly
One sunday mornin'
She didn't go to church
He wondered why she didn't leave
He went up to the bedroom
Found a note by the window
With the curtains blowin' in the breeze
Chorus
With a broken wing
She carries her dreams
Man you oughta see her fly
“Remember
when we first heard this? We were working late on a Friday night at the
studio, and you made me call the writers right then and put the song on
hold. Also, this track was cut as a demo. We were just doing some
pre-production and rehearsal with the studio band. The compressor was set
all wrong on Biff’s acoustic guitar (which is why it sounds so cool), but
the magic just happened then and never really happened later when we had
everything set ‘correctly.’ Dann Huff, you really are the best guitar player
in the universe! And the background vocals…what a treat to work with Bob,
Vicky, and Kim. By the way, do you hear the distortion on the lead vocal
track? Yeah, that happened on the track date as well.” Paul Worley
“After ‘Independence Day’ I got every social issue song on the planet. And was I asked over and over again if I would ever record a song like ‘Independence Day’ and I always said I would if I ever found one that was written well enough. Because, lets face it, ‘Independence Day’ set a pretty high standard to follow. When I heard ‘Broken Wing’ it was in the evening at the studio. As Paul said we were getting ready to leave and we noticed this song on the desk and we put it on and by the time the first chorus was finished I was like, ‘Oh my God, this is amazing!’ He called immediately as the last notes played on the demo and left a message to the publisher that we wanted to record it. I just loved that you know exactly the way you feel about this women and exactly how you feel about his man by the time the song is half over. And when I heard, ‘Man you oughta see her fly’ it just killed me! As Paul said, this recording was actually a rehearsal and we came back the next day and tried to cut it and it just never had the same magic” Martina McBride
Happy Girl
Written by Annie Roboff and Beth Nielsen Chapman
I used to live in a darkened room
Had a face of stone
And a heart of gloom
Lost my hope, I was so far gone
Cryin' all my tears
With the curtains draw
I didn't know until my soul broke free
I've got these angels watching over me
Chorus
Oh watch me go
I'm a happy girl
Everybody knows
That the sweetes thing that you'll ever see
In the whole wide world
Is a happy girl
I used to hide in a party crowd
Bottled up inside
Feeling so left out
Standing in the corner wearing concrete shoes
With my frozen smile
And my lighted fuse
Now every time I start to feel like that
I roll my heart out like a welcome mat
Chorus
Laugh when I feel like it
Cry when I feel like it
That's just how my life is
That's how it goes
Oh watch me go
I'm a happy girl
And I've come to know
That the world won't change
Just 'cause I complain
Let the axis twirl
I'm a happy girl
Chorus
Oh yeah, Oh yeah
I'm a happy girl
“Thank you Beth, for giving us your song! What a joy to produce. The Irish trio was a gas! I do remember that at this stage of Evolution we were all in a state of permanent exhaustion! No sleep for 31 straight days. We were working in three different studios at the same time for trying to get finished! Over dubbing in one, mixing in one, and mastering in another. At the same time!” Paul Worley
“This was the last song we found for Evolution. We had finished the album,
but thought we needed another happy song, so when the demo tape came the
very next day with the title, ‘Happy Girl,’ I couldn’t believe it! I
thought, ‘well it’s kind of a fluffy title, I’ll probably hate it.’ But then
I listened to it and I just loved it. I think it’s poetry, especially the
second verse. I, like Paul, have the strongest memory of the day we came up
wit the fiddle/penny whistle/accordion stuff. It was so exciting because I
thought it was a real eclectic mixture of instruments and we kind of came up
with the idea and had no clue what they would sound like together. So it was
really an experiment, which we did a lot while making Evolution. It turned
out so much better than we expected! I love the rhythm of the acoustic
guitars on this I love the kick drum pattern and I love the bass licks. I
especially love the drum fill Lonnie did during the vocal lick before the
solo. So cool! And Dann Huff once again came in and overdubbed the perfect
electric guitar rhythm (which I now wish we had put louder in the mix) and
the coolest solo. Having said that about the mix, I remember that it was
hard to mix this because there was so much cool instrumental stuff and if we
mixed it so that it all stood out, you wouldn’t even notice the vocal! So it
was a bit tricky and probably my favorite mix of this is the TV track, which
is only instrumental with no vocals!” Martina McBride
Wrong Again
Written by Tommy Lee James and Cynthia Weil
From the day we met
You made me forget
All my fears
Knew just what to say
And you kissed away
All my tears
I knew this time I had finally found
Someone to build my life around
Who'd be a lover and a friend
After all my heart had put me through
I knew that it was safe with you
And what we had would never end
Wrong again
Everybody swore
They'd seen this before
We'd be fine
And you'd come to see that you still loved me
In good time
And they said there's nothing you can do
It's something that he's going through
It happens to a lot of men
And I told myself that they were right
That you'd wake up and see the light
And I just had to wait 'til then
Wrong again
And it seemed to me the pain would last
My chance for happiness had passed
And nothing waited 'round the bend
I was sure I'd never find someone
To heal the damage you had done
And my poor heart would never mend
Wrong again
Wrong again
“I was talking with the writer, Tommy Lee James, just yesterday about how many instrumental mutations this song went through. Remember it originally started with a doubled steel guitar played by Dan Dugmore. How it morphed into simple the simple intro played by Dann Huff I don’t exactly remember, except I do remember torturing Aubrey Haynie one afternoon trying to get a fiddle intro. Sorry Aub. I was ‘wrong again’ (ha).” Paul Worley
“I love this…I love the melody and the way it has a different chorus each
time. I had a really easy time singing this vocal…once I figured out where
to breath! It felt natural, like a good fit. That’s Neil and Sara on the
background vocals again. We had the hardest time coming up with an intro for
this. An although Paul took the blame for Aubrey’s day of torture, it was
actually my lame ideal to try a fiddle intro! Oh well…you never know if you
don’t try. I love Dann Huff’s guitar solo, but then I love everything he
does if you haven’t noticed that already! We did a really cool acoustic
version of this song that is worth searching out.” Martina McBride
Whatever You Say
Written by Tony Martin and Ed Hill
You think I'm always makin'
Something out of nothin'
You're sayin' everything's okay
You've alway got an answer
Before I ask the question
Whatever you say
Now we can shange the subject
Pretend I never brought it up
Same old story anyway
Later we can work it out
Right now you're talked out
Yeah, whatever you say
Chorus
Oh I know you can hear me
But I'm not sure you're listening
I hear what you're sayin'
But still there's something missin'
Whether I go whether I stay
Right now depends on
Whatever you say
You say yes you need me
And no you wouldn't leave me
And that should be enough to make me stay
And even though I want to
I don't hear I love you
In whatever you say
Chorus
Oh whether I go whether I stay
Right now depends on
Whatever you say
Whatever you say
Whatever you say
“Special thanks to Ed Hill and Tony Martin for holding this song for us for over a year. These days I doubt anyone would do that. How many times did we mix this? Five or six. We knew it was a hit song…had to get a hit mix!” Paul Worley
"I love this song. We had it on hold for so long! Paul found this one and we both knew it be a great record. This is one of those songs that has the low soft verse and the big chorus, which actually went on to become, I feel a bit of a signature style for me. I love the background vocals Sara Evans and Neil Thrasher did. And I really, really love the fiddle solo. This song went through many mixes and I still say there is a rough mix that Clarke did that we never quite beat. I also think I sing this now with a lot more soul and frankly it bothers me to listen to the vocal recording on this recording. This one I wish I could go back and re-sing. But then you would probably all hate it! (ha)" Martina McBride
I Love You
Written by Tammy Hyler, Adrienne Follese and Keith Follese
Background Vocals: Carolyn Dawn Johnson and Martina McBride
The sun is shinin' everyday
Clouds never get in the way for you and me
I've known you just a week or two
But baby I'm so into you
Can hardly breathe
Chorus 1:
And I'm in so totally
Wrapped up emotionally
Attracted so physically
Actin' so recklessly
I need you so desperately
Sure as the sky is blue
Baby, I love you, I love you
I never knew that I could feel like this
Can hardly wait till our next kiss
You're so cool
If I'm dreaming please don't wake me up
Cause baby I can't get enough
Of what you do
Chorus 2:
And I'm in so electrically
Charged up kinetically
Actin' erratically
Need you fanatically
You get to me magically
Sure as the sky is blue
Baby, I love you
Bridge:
I can't believe that this is real,
the way I feel
Baby I'm gone head over heals
And I'm in so totally
Wrapped up emotionally
Attracted so physically
Actin' so recklessly
I need you so desperately
Sure as the sky is blue
(Yeah)
And I'm in so electrically
Charged up kinetically
Actin' eratically
Need you fanatically
You get to me magically
Sure as the sky is blue
Baby, I love you
Baby, I love you
Do you love me too
Baby, I love you
“I felt this was a smash the first time I heard it. It went on to speed 5 consecutive weeks at #1. It was really a challenge for me to sing and I really had a hard time with it. Not so much with the melody as with the attitude. Stephanie Bentley had sung the demo with this sweet little-girl voice and everyone, including me, just fell in love with it. So I wanted to try and duplicate that attitude but it isn't something that comes naturally for me. So I felt totally ridiculous singing it but I knew I had to get it. It was really frustrating. I ended up just pretty much smiling through the whole song and that gave it a real light, happy feel. I love what Carolyn and i did with the background vocals in the bridge. When she came in to sing on this it was the first time I'd met her and was really blown away by her talent. This song will always be special to me because I performed it on the CMA awards the year I won Female Vocalist Of The Year. It was such a magical night and I loved what I wore and I loved my haircut, and I just felt really pretty. Like a princess. And when I won, I was overcome with emotion, not only for myself but for all the people that have worked their butts off and who have wanted it for me for so long. John, myself, Bruce Allen, Joe Galante, and Paul were all sitting within rows of each other and when they said my name we all had this big hugfest and we were all crying in the isle and Paul said, "You need to get up there and get your awarded!" I was like, "Oh yeah..." It was unbelievable and I still get emotional when I remember it. And most times when I sing it live or hear it on the radio, that memory is with me-if only for a moment.” Martina McBride
“Special thanks to Tammy Hayler, Adrienne and Keith Follesé for holding this
song for nearly a year. And special thanks to Glen Brunman, Debbie Patton,
and Sony Filmtracks for connecting this song with the movie Runaway Bride.
We recorded this song three different ways, and we mixed it for over ten
days. Somewhere in the tape vault is a whacked-out techno pop version
(complete with singing sweet potatoes). Runaway McBride!” Paul Worley
Love's The Only House
Written by Tom Douglas and Buzz Cason
I was standing in the grocery store line
The one they marked express
When this woman came though with about 25 things
And I said don't you know that more is less
She said this world is moving so fast
I just get more behind everyday
And every mornin' when I make my coffee
I can't believe my life's turned out this way
All I could say was
Chorus:
Love's the only house big enough for all the pain in the world
Love's the only house big enough for all the pain
He was walking by the other day and I said
Hey baby...how you been?
Yeah, I got me a little girl now and she's 4 years old
And she's got her daddy's little grin
You only wanted what you can't have
And baby you can't have me now
I gave my heart to another
Yeah I'm a mother
And he's a father and we're a family and we got each other
And I found out the hard way that
Chorus
You drive three miles from all this prosperity
Down across the river and you see a ghetto there
An' We got children walking around with guns
And they got knives and drugs and pain to spare
And here I am in my clean, white shirt,
With a little money in my pocket and a nice warm home
And we got teenagers walking around in a culture of darkness
Living together alone...all I could say is
Chorus
Bridge:
And I can't explain it, and I can't understand
But I'll come down and get my hands dirty and together we'll make a stand
Somewhere 'cross the parking lot, some bands playin' out of tune
City streets are gonna burn if we don't do something soon
Senorita can't quit crying, baby's due now any day
Don Juan left, got sick of trying...no one there to show him the way
She came down to the grocery store and
She said I, I wanna buy a little carton of milk, but I don't have any money
I said Hey I'll cover you honey, cause the pain's gotta go somewhere
Yeah the pains gotta go someplace...
So come on down to my house
Don't ya know that
Chorus
“This had been one of my favorite Tom Douglas songs for some time. I knew you would like it, Martina, but I wasn’t sure you’d want to record it. Of course you did…right away. This song still makes me cry for joy at the end. It’s fun to hear the non ‘edited-for-radio’ version again.” Paul Worley
"The theme that unites the song is there is really a lot of pain, there's a lot of, you know, people feel (...), people feel alone. But there is a call that action in the song is.... We need to get involved in each other's lives. We need to better neighbors. And love for God is really... You know, that's the only house, that's the only thing big enough to contain and to help each other through the pain that we all experience on a day to day basis." Tom Douglas
“This song has been around for a couple of years I had never heard it, Paul Worley my co-producer new of this song and really just wanted to play it for me, to share it with me, I don’t think he really thought specifically of me recording it , but when heard it auh I just said ah I have to record this song I have got to record this song and it was you know publisher said it was really a guy song you know its really not a women song .. so we, I worked with the writer, one of the writers of song Tom Douglas and kind of changed the lyrics a bit to make it even more personal and its just something that needs to be said something that the world that they need to hear. Its really a special song I’m just still kinda in shock that nobody had recorded it before me and that its that I go to recorded it and it is you know it is a bit of a departure in the fact that its got it has some spoken lyrics which I’ve never done before but its really cool I think the people are gonna like it.
Love's The Only House" is a song filled with hope and promise for anyone in pain." Martina McBride
(When Martina first heard “Love’s the Only House”) “Well it just. it really affected me I mean I thought that its so cool how it has two different kind of angles you know it has a very personal part in the beginning and then it moves into more of a world view and you know when it talks about some of the issues that our children face and also you know earlier in the song it talks about being able to find out the hard way what really matters in life and with a family and I don’t’ it just really affect me I thought wow this is something I really want to say and I think it really needs to be heard” Martina McBride
There You Are
Written by Mark D. Sanders, Bob Dipiero and Ed Hill
There you are in the early light of day
There you are in the quiet words I pray
I've been blessed by the simple happiness
Of the perfect love we've made
Chorus
Every time I turn around
When I'm lost and when I'm found
Like an angel standing guard
There you are
Every time I take a breath
And when I forget to breathe
You're watching over me
There you are
When I'm looking for the light In the middle of the night
Searching for the brightest star
There you are
There you are standing in a crowded room
There you are, the earth and I'm the moon
My desire is to stand by the fire
That burns inside of you
Chorus
When I'm looking for the light in the middle of the night
Searching for the brightest star
There you are
There you are
There you are
"Folks, when you read Martina’s notes on this (yeah I cheated and read ahead) you’ll probably realize that she’s never satisfied with her vocal performance. Hard to believe, isn’t it? I used to get frustrated. Now I’m just patient. Martina, you really are one of the world’s best singers!" Paul Worley
"I love this melody and the words remind me of the relationship I have with john. I think it’s a beautiful love song, although I’m not crazy about my vocal performance on it. I sang it real soft in the studio for most of it. It has evolved live into a more powerful performance, vocally, and I wish I had recorded it that way. Oh well…one more reason to come to a show!
Just that constant support. There is a line in it that says, 'Every time I take a breath and when I forget to breathe you're watching over me.' I feel that way sometimes. I feel like my life is so harried and so frantic and so busy, and he kind of helps me keep perspective and helps me through a lot of things, so he is very supportive. It just reminds me of him." Martina McBride
When God Fearin' Women Got The Blues
(intro)
Written by Leslie Satcher
Intro
She was the prom queen
He was the quarterback of the football team
And it all look so promissing
We never thought anything would happen like this
And then all of a sudden
Twenty-five years of love and devotion
Down the drain
We all heard her hollerin'
For a country mile
Cheatin' shows your complete lack of style
Well she took out three parking meters
And a pedestrian's purse
The day she quit the Baptist choir
And threw that Ford into reverse
When God Fearin' Women Got The Blues
Written by Leslie Satcher
Lock up your husbands
Lock up your sons
Lock up your whiskey cabinets
Girls lock up your guns
Lock up the beauty shop
No tellin' if they've heard the news
Call the boys downtown at Neiman Marcus
Tell 'em lock up them high heel shoes
Chorus
When God-fearin' women get the blues
There ain't no slap-dab-a-tellin'
What they're gonna do
Run around yellin'
I've got a Mustang
It'll do 80
You don't have to be my baby
I've stirred my last batch of gravy
You don't have to be my baby
Call all the deacons
Call the Ladies Aid
Call all the altos, sopranos, tenors
Call every bass
Well call all the pentecostals
Bring that anointing oil too
Well call the preacher
He's the only one can reach her
And there ain't no time to lose
Chorus
She's on all our prayer lists
She's on all our hearts
As for the Easter cantala
We don't know who'll sing her part
Chorus
"I knew when I wrote that song that it was a hit, and I knew it wasn't for me. It's a hard song to sing, and I don't know if I could do it every night like Martina can. She's an awesome singer, and it's great to hear somebody with incredible pipes just nailing your song." Leslie Satcher
“Head-bangin’ hillbilly music! Just the way I like it. Leslie Satcher is awesome. Go get her album. She said she actually wrote this song at the very last minute before a demo session. (Call your radio station and ask them to play the full-length version).” Paul Worley
“The first time I heard this song I was laughing and thinking, ‘what a breath of fresh air!’ I love Leslie Satcher’s writing and her voice. I wish everyone could hear the demo she did of it… it’s so cool. Anyway, I love all the references to southern culture and loved the fact we could use some traditional country instruments like fiddle and dobro. I think people are really going to like her. I’m really excited that it is the first single. We’ve made a video for it that’s really fun" Martina McBride
Where Would You Be
Written by Rachel Proctor and Rick Ferrel
I wonder where your heart is
'Cause it sure don't feel like it's here
Sometimes I think you wish
That I would just disappear
Have I got it all wrong
Have you felt this way long
Are you already gone
Do you feel lonely
When you're here by my side
Does the sound of freedom
Echo in your mind
Do you wish you were by yourself
Or that I was someone else
Anyone else
Chorus
Where yould you be
If you weren't here with me
Where would you go
If you were single and free
Who would you love
Would it be me
Where would you be
I don't wanna hold you back
No I don't wanna slow you down
I dan't wanna make you feel
Like you are tied up and bound
'Cause that's not what love's about
If there's no chance we can work it out
Tell me now
Oh, tell me tell me now
Chorus
Have I become the enemy
Is it hard to be yourself
In my company
Chorus
"It was so exciting to have Martina record that song which is actually written from a personal experience with my husband. I love him so much I married him twice, but it was while we were divorced that the song was on the radio and he called me on the phone one day and said 'Did you write that about me?' When I told him yes he said, I thought so, and hung up the phone. Well I guess it got his attention. When we got married again I asked him if he was just marrying me so I wouldn't write those kind of songs about him." Rachel Proctor
“Great song, full of raw emotion. This song challenged Martina more than any
song ever has. We could have mixed three different versions of this by the
time we were done. Maybe when it’s a single we’ll mix the other two as
well.” Paul Worley
“The ballad ‘Where Would You Be’ is very uncharacteristic of me, lyrically. I see that song as very vulnerable and very raw. This woman has these doubting questions, and yet she has the courage to talk about it. Is he here or not here? She brings it up, and that’s what makes it so emotional.” Martina McBride
Concrete Angel
Written by Stephanie Bentley and Rob Crosby
She walks to school with the lunch she packed
Nobody knows what she's holdin' back
Wearin' the same dress she wore yesterday
She hides the bruises with linen and lace
The teacher wonders but she doesn't ask
It's hard to see the pain behind the mask
Bearing the burden of a secret storm
Sometimes she wishes she was never born
Chorus
Through the wind and the rain
She stands hard as a stone
In a world that she can't rise above
But her dreams give her wings
And she flies to a place where she's loved
Concrete angel
Somebody cries in the middle of the night
The neihbors hear, but they turn out the lights
A fragile soul caught in the hands of fate
When the morning comes
It'll be too late
Repeat Chorus
A statue stands in a shaded place
An angel girl with an uptuned face
A name is written on a polished rock
A broken heart that the world forgot
Repeat Chorus
“All of us cried when we cut this song…all the musicians, engineers, everybody. I still get a lump in my throat in the last verse and chorus. Please let this be heard and heard on the radio. Please, everyone, don’t look away when you see a child at risk. They have no on else to turn to…” Paul Worley
“When I first heard ‘Concrete Angel’ I couldn’t get through it -- I cried every time I listened to it. I love lyrics that are true and honest.
I still can’t listen to this without crying! I just feel so much for the little girl. I know there are probably people who say, ‘okay, enough with the issue songs,’ but I don't’ care. It’s not really about that too me. It’s just an all-too-real portrait of what really goes on for some children. And it makes me want to do something to make a difference and not just look the other way. Hopefully it will effect others the same way. There was a magic feeling in the studio when we cut this track.” Martina McBride
Blessed
Written by Hillary Lindsey, Troy Verges and Brett James
Background Vocals: Carolyn Dawn Johnson and Martina McBride
I get kissed by the sun each morning
Put my feet on a hardwood floor
I get to hear my children laughing
Down the hall through the bedroom door
Sometimes I sit on my front porch swing
Just soaking up the day
I think to myself, I think to myself
This world is a beautiful place
Chorus
I have been blessed
And I feel like I've found my way
I thank God for all I've been given
At the end of every day
I have been blessed
With so much more than I deserve
To be he here with the ones that love me
To love them so much it hurts
I have been blessed
Across a crowded room
I know you know what I'm thinking
By the way I look at you
And when we're lying in the quiet
And no words have to be said
I think to myself, I think to myself
This love is a beautiful gift
Repeat Chorus
When I'm singing my kids to sleep
When I feel you holding me
I know
Repeat Chorus
“I have been blessed for these ten years to be in Martina’s life. I feel that I am a part of her family. Through her I have met so many great, wonderful, talented people. And from her I have learned to stop and listen.” Paul Worley
"There’s a new song called ‘Blessed’ that feels like something I could have written for myself. Before I found the song, I’d say all the time, ‘I’m so blessed,’ because I truly feel like I am. I was given this gift of music. Not only that, I was given a safe and happy upbringing. I was given the intelligence to be articulate, most of the time. I have my beautiful family. And best of all, I was given the gift to be able to enjoy this, realize what it is and not take it for granted.
It wasn't until after I recorded 'Blessed' that I found out that the songwriters [Hillary Lindsey, Trey Bruce and Brett James] wrote it with me in mind. I'm so honored they can see what's truly important in my life. Before I found the song, I'd say all the time, 'I'm so blessed,' because I truly feel that I am. I was given this gift of music." Martina McBride
