ICON 2

Icon 2 a 22-song, double-disc collection packed with No. 1 hits and signature tracks released on November 8, 2011 and pays tribute to one of the most popular and influential country singers of the last three decades. The album is part of a series of similar Icon albums released by MCA Nashville as eleven more songs in between.

Amarillo By Morning

Amarillo by morning, up from San Antone.
Everything that I've got is just what I've got on.
When that sun is high in that Texas sky
I'll be bucking it to county fair.
Amarillo by morning, Amarillo I'll be there.

They took my saddle in Houston, broke my leg in Santa Fe.
Lost my wife and a girlfriend somewhere along the way.
Well I'll be looking for eight when they pull that gate,
And I'm hoping that judge ain't blind.
Amarillo by morning, Amarillo's on my mind.

Amarillo by morning, up from San Antone.
Everything that I've got is just what I've got on.
I ain't got a dime, but what I got is mine.
I ain't rich, but Lord I'm free.
Amarillo by morning, Amarillo's where I'll be.
Amarillo by morning, Amarillo's where I'll be.

- Terry Stafford, Paul Frase

Right or Wrong

Right or wrong, I'll always love you
Though you're gone I can't forget
Right or wrong, I'll keep on dreaming
Still I wake with that same old regret

All along I knew I'd lose you
Though I prayed that you'd be true
In your heart please just remember
Right or wrong, I'm still in love with you

Right or wrong, I'll always love you
Though you're gone I can't forget
Right or wrong, I'll keep on dreaming
Still I wake with that same old regret

All along I knew I'd lose you
Though I prayed that you'd be true, oh Lord
In your heart please just remember
Right or wrong, I'm still in love with you

- Paul Biese, Haven Gillespie, Arthur L. Sizemore

The Chair

Well, excuse me, but I think you've got my chair.
No, that one's not taken, I don't mind
If you sit here, I'll be glad to share.
Yeah, it's usually packed here on Friday nights.
Oh, if you don't mind, could I talk you out of a light.

Well, thank you, could I drink you a buy?
Oh, listen to me, what I mean is can I buy you a drink?
Anything you please.
Oh, you're welcome, well, I don't think I caught your name.
Are you waiting for someone to meet you here?
Well, that makes two of us glad you came.

No, I don't know the name of the band, but they're good.
Aren't they, would you like to dance?
Yeah, I like this song too, it reminds me of you and me.
Well, baby do you think there's a chance
That later on I could drive you home?
No, I don't mind at all.

Oh, I like you too, and to tell you the truth
That wasn't my chair after all.
Oh, I like you too, and to tell you the truth
That wasn't my chair after all.

- Hank Cochran, Dillon

Ocean Front Property

If you leave me, I won't miss you,
And I won't ever take you back.
Girl, your mem'ry won't ever haunt me
'Cause I don't love you, and now if you'll buy that.

I got some ocean front property in Arizona.
From my front porch you can see the sea.
I got some ocean front property in Arizona.
If you'll buy that, I'll throw the golden gate in free.

I don't worship the ground you walk on.
I never have and that's a fact.
I won't follow or try to find you
'Cause I don't love you, and now if you'll buy that.

I got some ocean front property in Arizona.
From my front porch you can see the sea.
I got some ocean front property in Arizona.
If you'll buy that, I'll throw the golden gate in free.

Yeah, if you'll buy that I'll throw the golden gate in free.

- Dean Dillon, Hank Cochran, Royce Porter

All My Ex's Live In Texas

All my ex's live in Texas
And Texas is the place I'd dearly love to be
But all my ex's live in Texas
And that's why I hang my hat in Tennessee

Rosanna's down in Texarkana
Wanted me to push her broom
Sweet Eileen's in Abilene
She forgot I hung the moon

And Allison's in Galveston
Somehow lost her sanity
And Dimple's who now lives in Temple's
Got the law looking for me

All my ex's live in Texas
And Texas is the place I'd dearly love to be
But all my ex's live in Texas
And that's why I hang my hat in Tennessee

I remember that old Frio river
Where I learned to swim
And it brings to mind another time
Where I wore my welcome thin

By transcendental meditation
I go there each night
But I always come back to myself
Long before daylight

All my ex's live in Texas
And Texas is the place I'd dearly love to be
But all my ex's live in Texas
And therefore I reside in Tennessee

Some folks think I'm hidin'
It's been rumored that I died
But I'm alive and well in Tennessee

- Sanger D. Shafer, Linda J. Shafer

If You Ain't Lovin', You Ain't Livin'

If you got a Cadillac boy
And a 40 room shack boy
A bucket full of money
And a tree full of honey
But if you're gettin' no huggin'
No smoochin' or a muggin'

If you ain't lovin'
Than you ain't livin'

If you're ridin' on a gravy train
Instead of walkin' down lovers lane
You can't make, hey boy
'Cause you're goin' the wrong way boy
You gotta get a a little honey
It's better than money

If you ain't lovin'
Than you ain't livin'

If they call you a big man
'Cause you got a lot of bottom land
If you're kin to the President
And ya help from the Government
But if you're gettin' no attention
You're better off on a pension

If you ain't lovin'
Than you ain't livin'

If you got a string of long cars
And your smokin' them 4-bit cigars
You ain't so well to do
Unless you get a little coochy-coo
It takes a little bit a smackin'
Or your life's lackin'

If you ain't lovin'
Than you ain't livin'

- Tommy Collins

Ace In The Hole

You've got to have an ace in the hole.
A little secret that nobody knows.
Life is a gamble, a game we all play,
But you need to save something for a rainy day.
You've got to learn to play your cards right if you expect to win in life.
Don't put it all on the line for just one roll.
You've got to have an ace in the hole.

If you're headed down a one way street.
And you're not sure it's the way you wanna go.
In money or love, or all the above,
Have a little more than what you show.
When life deals out a surprise
Have a few surprises of your own.
No matter what you do, no matter where you go
You've got to have an ace in the hole.

Don't put it all on the line for just one roll
You've got to have an ace in the hole.
No matter what you do, no matter where you go
You've got to have an ace in the hole.

- Dennis Adkins

Love Without End, Amen

I got sent home from school one day with a shiner on my eye.
Fightin' was against the rules and it didn't matter why.
When dad got home I told that story just like I'd rehearsed.
And then stood there on those tremblin' knees and waited for the worst.

And he said, "Let me tell you a secret about a father's love,
A secret that my daddy said was just between us."
He said, "Daddies don't just love their children every now and then.
It's a love without end, amen, it's a love without end, amen."

When I became a father in the spring of '81
There was no doubt that stubborn boy was just like my father's son.
And when I thought my patience had been tested to the end,
I took my daddy's secret and I passed it on to him.

Last night I dreamed I died and stood outside those pearly gates.
When suddenly I realized there must be some mistake.
If they know half the things I've done, they'll never let me in.
And then somewhere from the other side I heard these words again.

- Aaron Barker

I Cross My Heart

Our love is unconditional
We knew it from the start
I can see it in your eyes
You can feel it from my heart

From here on after
Let's stay the way we are right now
And share all the love and laughter
That a lifetime will allow.

I cross my heart
And promise to
Give all I've got to give
To make all your dreams come true
In all the world
You'll never find
A love as true as mine

You will always be the miracle
That makes my life complete
And as long as there's a breath in me
I'll make yours just as sweet

As we look into the future
It's as far as we can see
So let's make each tomorrow
Be the best that it can be

I cross my heart
And promise to
Give all I've got to give
To make all your dreams come true
In all the world
You'll never find
A love as true as mine

And if along the way we find a day
It starts to storm
You've got the promise of my love
To keep you warm

In all the world
You'll never find
A love as true as mine
A love as true as mine

- Steve Dorff, Eric Kaz

Easy Come, Easy Go

Says she's had enough of me, I've had enough of her too.
I might as well go on and set her free, she's already turned me loose.
No fault, no blame, nobody done no wrong-
That's just the way it sometimes goes.
Sometimes two people just don't get along, it's time to hit the road.

Goodbye, farewell, so long, vaya condios.
Good luck, wish you well, take it slow.
Easy come girl, easy go.

We tried to work it out a hundred times, ninety- nine it didn't work.
I think it's best we put it all behind before we wind up getting hurt.
No hard feelings darling, no regrets,
No tears and no broken hearts.
Call it quits, calling off all bets, it just wasn't in the cards.

Easy come girl, easy go.
Vaya condios, good luck,
Easy come, easy go.

- Aaron Barker, Dean Dillon

Check Yes or No

It started way back in third grade
I used to sit beside Emmylou Hayes
A pink dress, a matching bow, and her ponytail
She kissed me on the school bus but told me not to tell
Next day I chased her around the playground
Cross the monkey bars to the merry-go-round
And Emmylou got caught passing me a note
Before the teacher took it I read what she wrote

Do you love me do you want to be my friend
And if you do
Well then don't be afraid to take me by the hand
If you want to
I think this is how love goes
Check yes or no

Now we're grown up and she's my wife
Still like two kids with stars in our eyes
Not much has changed I still chase Emmylou
Up and down the hall around the bed in our room
Last night I took her out in a white limousine
Twenty years together she still gets to me
Can't believe it's been that long ago
When we got started with just a little note

Do you love me do you want to be my friend
And if you do
Well then don't be afraid to take me by the hand
If you want to
I think this is how love goes
Check yes or no

- Danny Wells, Dana Hunt

Carried Away

I don't take my whiskey to extremes
Don't believe in chasin' crazy dreams
My feet are planted firmly on the ground
But darlin' when you come around

I get carried away by the look by the light in your eyes
Before I even realize the ride I'm on
Baby I'm long gone
I get carried away nothin' matters but bein' with you
Like a feather flyin' high up in the sky on a windy day
I get carried away

It might seem like an ordinary night
Same ol' stars same ol' moon up high
But when I see you standin' at your door
Nothin's ordinary anymore

Carried away

- Steve Bogard, Jeff Stevens

One Night At A Time

I'm not yours an' baby you're not mine
We've got somethin' and it sure is fine
Let's take our love
One night at a time

There's one thing that we both agree
I like you and baby you like me
Let's take our love
One night at a time

All night, love all night, practice makes perfect
Gonna get it right, gonna get it right
One night at a time

Oh, I think about you all day long
It feels so good it can't be wrong
I've got my fingers crossed
That this goes on and on

Tomorrow, well, that's another day
Come on baby now, what do you say
Let's take our love
One night at a time

All night, love all night, practice makes perfect
Gonna get it right, gonna get it right
One night at a time

Oh, I think about you all day long
It feels so good it can't be wrong
I got my fingers crossed
That this goes on and on

All night, love all night, practice makes perfect
Gonna get it right, gonna get it right
One night at a time

All night, love all night

- Roger Cook, Eddie Kilgallon, Earl Bud Lee

Carrying Your Love With Me

Baby all I've got is this beat-up leather bag
And everything I own don't fill up half
But don't you worry 'bout the way I pack
All I care about is getting back real soon
A good-bye kiss is all I need from you

'Cause I'm carrying your love with me
West Virginia down to Tennessee
I'll be moving with the good Lord's speed
Carrying your love with me
It's my strength, for holding on
Every minute that I have to be gone
I'll have everything I'll ever need
Carrying your love with me

On a lonely highway, stuck out in the rain
Darling all I have to do is speak your name
The clouds rollback and the waters part
The sun starts shining in my heart for you
You're right there in everything I do

- Jeff Stevens, Steve Bogard

I Just Want To Dance With You

I don't want to be the kind to hesitate,
Be too shy, wait too late
I don't care what they say other lovers do,
I just want to dance with you.

I gotta feeling that you have a heart like mine,
So let it show, let it shine.
If we have a chance to make one heart of two,
I just want to dance with you.

I want to dance with you, twirl you all around the floor
That's what they intended dancin' for,
I just want to dance with you.
I want to dance with you, hold you in my arms once more,
That's what they invented dancin' for,
I just want to dance with you.

I caught you lookin' at me when I looked at you,
Yes I did, ain't that true?
You won't get embarrassed by the things I do,
I just want to dance with you.

Oh the boys are playin' softly and the girls are too,
So am I and so are you.
If this was a movie, we'd be right on cue,
I just want to dance with you.

I just want to dance with you,
I just want to dance with you,
I just want to dance with you.

- Roger Cook, John Prine

Write This Down

I never saw the end in sight; fools are kind of blind.
Thought everything was going alright, but I was running out of time.
'Cause you had one foot out the door, I swear I didn't see
But if you're really going away, here's some final words from me.

Baby, write this down, take a little note to remind you in case you didn't know,
Tell yourself I love you and I don't want you to go, write this down.
Take my words, read 'em every day, keep 'em close by, don't you let 'em fade away,
So you'll remember what I forgot to say, write this down.

I'll sign it at the bottom of the page, I'll swear under oath
'Cause every single word is true, and I think you need to know,
So use it as a bookmark, stick it on your 'frigerator door,
Hang it in a picture frame up above the mantel where you'll see it for sure.

You can find a chisel, I can find a stone.
Folks will be reading these words, long after we're gone.

Oh I love you and I don't want you to go, baby write this down.

- Dana Hunt Oglesby, Kent Robbins

The Best Day

We loaded up my old station wagon
With a tent, Coleman, and sleepin' bags
Some fishin' poles, a cooler of Cokes
Three days before we had to be back

When you're seven, you're in Seventh Heaven
When you're goin' campin' in the wild outdoors
And as we turned off o that old dirt road
He looked at me and swore

Dad, this could be the best day of my life
I've been dreamin' day and night 'bout the fun we'll have
It's just me and you doin' what I've always wanted to
I'm the luckiest boy alive, this is the best day of my life

Well, his fifteenth birthday rolled around
Classic cars were his thing
When I pulled in the drive with that old 'Vette
I thought that boy would go insane

When you're in your teens
Your dreams revolve around four spinning wheels
We worked nights on end 'til it was new again
And as he sat behind the wheel, he said

Standin' in a little room
Back of the church with our tuxes on
Lookin' at him I say
"I can't believe, son, that you're grown", he said

Dad, this could be the best day of my life
I've been dreamin' day and night 'bout bein' like you
Now, it's me and her watchin' you and Mom I've learned
I'm the luckiest man alive, this is the best day of my life

I'm the luckiest man alive, this is the best day of my life

- Carson Chamberlain, Dean Dillon

Living and Living Well

Had a nice little life
A little boat a little beach
A little routine I liked
A blue ocean view
Free to go with the flow
Anywhere that I wanted to
But the moment you set foot on my shore
That's when I knew

There's a difference in living and living well
You can't have it all all by yourself
Something's always missing
'Til you share it with someone else
There's a difference in living and living well

'Til you smiled with me
Thought that I had it good
As good as it could be
From the back of my deck
Caught a fish caught a breeze
And a thousand red sunsets
But sitting here with you girl I just saw
The best one yet

There's a difference in living and living well
You can't have it all all by yourself
Something's always missing
'Til you share it with someone else
There's a difference in living and living well

My days are brighter
My sky a deeper blue
My nights are sweeter
When I'm with you

There's a difference in living and living well
You can't have it all all by yourself
Something's always missing
'Til you share it with someone else
There's a difference in living and living well

- Tony Martin, Mark Nesler, Tom Shapiro

I Hate Everything

He was sitting there beside me throwing doubles down
When he ordered up his third one he looked around
Then he looked at me
And said, "I do believe
I'll have one more."
He said, "I hate this bar and I hate to drink,
But on second thought, tonight I think, I hate everything."

Then he opened up his billfold and threw a twenty down,
And a faded photograph fell out and hit the ground.
I picked it up,
He said, "thank you, bud."
I put it in his hand.
He said, "I probably oughta throw this one away
'cause she's the reason I feel this way.
I hate everything."

I hate my job
And I hate my life
And if it weren't for my two kids
I'd hate my ex wife.
I know I should move on and try to start again,
But I just can't get over her leaving me for him.
Then he shook his head, looked down at his ring, said, "I hate everything."

Said, "that one bedroom apartment where I get my mail,
Is really not a home, it's more like a jail,
With a swimming pool, and a parking lot view.
Man, it's just great.
I hate summer, winter, fall and spring.
Red and yellow, purple, blue and green.
I hate everything."

So I pulled out my phone and I called my house.
I said, "Babe, I'm coming home, we're gonna work this out."
I payed for his drinks
And I told him thanks
Thanks for everything.

- Gary Harrison, Keith Stegall

Give It Away

She was stormin' through the house that day
And I could tell she was leavin
And I thought, aw, she'll be back
'Til she turned around and pointed at the wall an said

That picture from our honeymoon
That night in Frisco Bay
Just give it away
She said, give it away
And that big four-poster king-size bed
Where so much love was made
Just give it away
She said, just give it away

Just give it away
There ain't nothin' in this house worth fightin' over
Oh, and we're both tired of fightin' anyway
So just give it away

So I tried to move on
But I found that each woman I held
Just reminded me of that day
Hmmm

When that front door swung wide open
She flung her diamond ring
Said, give it away
Just give it away
And I said, now, honey, don't you even want
Your half of everything
She said, give it away
Just give it away

Just give it away
There ain't nothin' in this house worth fightin' over
Oh, and we're both tired of fightin' anyway
So just give it away

So I'm still right here where she left me
Along with all the other things
She don't care about anymore
Mmmm, like that picture from our honeymoon
That night in Frisco Bay
She said, give it away
Well, I can't give it away
And that big four-poster king-size bed
Where all our love was made
She said, give it away
Well, I can't give it away

I've got a furnished house, a diamond ring
And a lonely broken heart
Full of love and I can't even give it away

- Bill Anderson, Buddy Cannon, Jamey Johnson

I Saw God Today

Just walked down the street to the coffee shop,
Had to take a break,
I've been by her side for eighteen hours straight,
saw a flower growing in the middle of the sidewalk,
pushing up through the concrete,
Like it was planted right there for me to see,

The flashing lights,
The honking horns,
All seem to fade away,
but in the shadow of the hospital,
at 5:08,
I saw God today,

[CHORUS:]
I've been to church,
I've read the book,
I know He's there,
But I don't look,
near as often as I should,

His fingerprints are everywhere,
I just look down and stop and stare,
open my eyes and then I swear,
I Saw God Today,

Saw a couple walking by,
they were holding hands,
and she had that glow,
Ya, I couldn't help,
but I noticed that she was starting to show,
stood there for a minute,
taking in the sky,
lost in that sunset,
a splashing down from mounting in shades of red,

[CHORUS]

Got my face pushed up against the nursery glass,
she's sleeping like a rock,
my name on her wrist,
wearing tiny pink socks,
she's got my nose,
she's got her Mama's eyes,
my bran new baby girl,
she's a miracle,
I Saw God Today

- Rodney Clawson, Wade Kirby, Monty Criswell

River of Love

Hey baby won't you take a little ride with me
Have a look around, see what we could see
I've got the paddle, I've got the boat
Come on baby I know she'll float

We'll go rollin' on the river of love
We'll go rollin' on the river of love

Drift away from all these city lights
Might rock a little bit, so hold on tight
Let's get carried away with the gentle flow
Might get caught up in it's undertow

We'll go rollin' on the river of love
Let's go rollin' on the river of love

I got a little ukulele let me sing you a song
I got a stream of kisses 'bout ten miles long
Dancing on the water in the moonlight beach
Sparking down through the sea of dreams

We'll go rollin' on the river of love
Let's go rollin' on the river of love

Yeah we'll go rollin' on the river of love
Let's go rollin' on the river of love

River of love
River of love
River of love
Rollin' on the river of love

Let's go rollin' on the river of love

- Billy Burnette, Dennis Morgan, Shawn Camp