Story Behind The Song

I actually have wanted to be a famous singer my whole life and actually did move to New York by myself when I was 21, and I actually did sleep on the floor. That's where the similarities end, I have since decided to concentrate more on songwriting than being famous, and I imagine a female singer who is at a certain level of success probably lived a lot of similar things that I did, and could really relate to my experiences. I also know that despite the fact that singers like Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood seemed to be practically overnight successes, it takes a lot of behind the scenes work, singing in your car and in your bedroom to become that kind of artist, and most of all it takes the drive. That's the type of singer I see singing this song.

Song Description

A small town girl who has dreamed of being a famous singer her whole life, and leaves to persue her dream. She lives the "starving artist" life in New York and pays her dues until she finally finds that she's made it. The song is a look back on all the hard work and perseverence it took to make it there.

Lyrics

I often think about the times I put a bedsheet on the clothesline in the yard as my curtain
my makeshift microphone was my mama's hairbrush
belting my heart out was the only thing of which I was certain
I'd sing about pain I didn't yet comprehend

and I could do this all my life

I was singing a song about a girl in the city where dreams get destroyed
singing about broken hearts
rhyming words I didn't yet understand the meaning behind
getting ready for the big time

was 21 when I stepped off the bus in New York
slept on the floor, nickeled and dimed with no guide
all in the name of becoming the next big thing
whoa mama, it's just not the same here
but neither am I
we ain't in Kansas anymore

and it's my turn on stage
just get out there and play

Whoa, I sing 'em a song about a girl in the city where dreams get destroyed
singing about broken hearts
rhyming words I didn't yet understand the meaning behind
getting ready for the big time

the noise is deafening, all the applause
they know the words to all of my songs
the way I dreamed that it would be, I've been waiting for so long
the crowd is incredible, the lights are bright
could get used to being in the spotlight
all these years that I would write, it's finally gonna pay off tonight

Whoa, I sing 'em a song about a girl in the city, her dreams came true
sing about her hell-bent heart
rhyming words she felt down to the bone the meaning behind
she made the big time

I often think about the times I put a bedsheet on the clothesline in the yard as my curtain.....