Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you classic songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, we feature three-time Grammy winner Tim McGraw singing Billboard‘s #1 country hit of 1998, βJust to See You Smile.β
In this song about selflessness, unconditional love and heartbreak, McGraw portrays a hard-working Texas miner who is willing to do just about anything to make his girlfriend happy β and that includes delighting her with fine jewelry.
McGraw sings in the very first verse, βYou always had an eye for things that glittered / But I was far from beinβ made of gold / I donβt know how but I scraped up the money / I just never could quite tell you no.β
The miner leaves his job in Amarillo to relocate with her to Tennessee, but the relationship quickly breaks down. The girlfriend finds a new lover and our hero graciously tells her that heβs happy for her.
βAnd given the chance Iβd lie again,β he admits. βItβs worth all thatβs lost / Just to see you smile.β
Released in August 1997, the song would go on to spend 42 weeks on the Billboard Country chart β the longest chart run for any country single in the 1990s.
βJust to See You Smileβ was the third single from McGrawβs fourth studio album, Everywhere. Both the song and the album topped the Billboard Country charts.
The son of New York Mets star pitcher Tug McGraw, Samuel Timothy βTimβ McGraw was born in Delhi, LA, in 1967. Tim was brought up by his step-dad, Horace Smith, and didnβt know that the famous athlete was his biological father until he was 11. He signed his first record deal with Curb Records in 1990 and married country singer Faith Hill in 1996.
McGraw has sold more than 80 million records worldwide, and 25 of his singles have gone to score a #1 position on the Billboard U.S. Hot Country Songs chart. In addition to his three Grammy Awards, the artist has earned 14 Academy of Country Music awards, 11 Country Music Association (CMA) awards, 10 American Music Awards and three Peopleβs Choice Awards.
He is currently embarking on his “Standing Room Only Tour ’24,” with 27 performances scheduled from coast to coast through June 29.
Please check out the audio track of McGrawβs performance of βJust to See You Smile.β The lyrics are below if youβd like to sing alongβ¦
βJust To See You Smileβ
Written by Mark Nesler and Tony Martin. Performed by Tim McGraw.
You always had an eye for things that glittered
But I was far from beinβ made of gold
I donβt know how but I scraped up the money
I just never could quite tell you no
Just like when you were leavinβ Amarillo
To take that new job in Tennessee
And I quit mine so we could be together
I canβt forget the way you looked at me
Just to see you smile
Iβd do anything
That you wanted me to
And all is said and done
Iβd never count the cost
Itβs worth all thatβs lost
Just to see you smile
When you said time was all you really needed
I walked away and let you have your space
Cause leavinβ didnβt hurt me near as badly
As the tears I saw rollinβ down your face
And yesterday I knew just what you wanted
When you came walkinβ up to me with him
So I told you that I was happy for you
And given the chance Iβd lie again
Just to see you smile
Iβd do anything
That you wanted me to
And all is said and done
Iβd never count the cost
Itβs worth all thatβs lost
Just to see you smile
Just to see you smile
Iβd do anything
That you wanted me to
And all is said and done
Iβd never count the cost
Itβs worth all thatβs lost
Just to see you smile
Credit: Image by 1035 WEZL, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.