Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you hit songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, we feature superstar Tim McGraw singing Billboard's #1 country hit of 1998, "Just to See You Smile."
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 — and that includes lavishing her with fine jewelry.
In the very first lines of the song, McGraw sings, "You always had an eye for things that glittered / But I was far from bein' made of gold / I don't know how but I scraped up the money / I just never could quite tell you no."
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 he's happy for her.
"And given the chance I'd lie again," he admits. "It's worth all that's lost / Just to see you smile."
Released in August 1997, the song would go on to spend 42 weeks on the Billboard Country chart — the longest chart run for any country single in the 1990s.
"Just to See You Smile" was the third single from McGraw's 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 "Tim" McGraw was born in Delhi, La., in 1967. Tim was brought up by his step-dad, Horace Smith, and didn't 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 40 million albums worldwide, and 25 of his singles have gone to #1 on the Billboard U.S. Hot Country Songs chart. He has also won three Grammy Awards, 14 Academy of Country Music awards, 11 Country Music Association (CMA) awards, 10 American Music Awards and three People's Choice Awards.
Please check out the audio track of McGraw’s performance of “Just to See You Smile.” The lyrics are below if you’d like to sing along…
"Just To See You Smile"
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 bein' made of gold
I don't know how but I scraped up the money
I just never could quite tell you no
Just like when you were leavin' Amarillo
To take that new job in Tennessee
And I quit mine so we could be together
I can't forget the way you looked at me
Just to see you smile
I'd do anything
That you wanted me to
And all is said and done
I'd never count the cost
It's worth all that's 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 leavin' didn't hurt me near as badly
As the tears I saw rollin' down your face
And yesterday I knew just what you wanted
When you came walkin' up to me with him
So I told you that I was happy for you
And given the chance I'd lie again
Just to see you smile
I'd do anything
That you wanted me to
And all is said and done
I'd never count the cost
It's worth all that's lost
Just to see you smile
Just to see you smile
I'd do anything
That you wanted me to
And all is said and done
I'd never count the cost
It's worth all that's lost
Just to see you smile
Credit: U.S. Air Force photo by Budd Butcher (Public Domain) via Wikimedia Commons.
