Author: Shaina Hawkins

Connor Edwards has been redeemed by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ – he loves college basketball! Go Clemson Tigers! Ironically, he does not love college football. He loves watching soccer! He is a huge Atlanta United and USMNT fan – he loves watching TV shows on Hulu and Netflix. He’s not nearly as much of a movie guy, mainly due to fear of it being slow and boring for two hours – However, he loves waking up early and starting his day off the right way in the morning (working out, quiet time/Bible study, breakfast, etc.)

“Before” is a newly released single. I enjoy the piano version more than the original. It feels more personal to me and truly captures the love he has for the girl and the distance between them mentioned in this song. Patience is something that most people want, but not everyone has. Especially when it comes to relationships communication and patience is essential!

“Before” – Connor Edwards

My heart is in my throat
I don’t know where to go
To start our life
I can feel it in my chest
I don’t know what is best
I won’t sleep tonight

If I don’t see what you see
I hope you still love me
And know that I’m trying, babe

Why’s it gotta be like this
Why’s she gotta live this far
She’s the only thing I’ve ever missed
I know now what it’s like to starve
I learned her from the outside in
And everything I find is gold
I can tell you what it’s like to live
The greatest love story told

I wanna hold her hand
To feel more like her man
And to stop the shakes
I don’t know what to say
To make it go away
And get us off the brake

If I don’t see what you see
I hope you still love me
And know that I’m trying, babe

Why’s it gotta be like this
Why’s she gotta live this far
She’s the only thing I’ve ever missed
I know now what it’s like to starve
I learned her from the outside in
And everything I find is gold
I can tell you what it’s like to live
The greatest love story told

If I don’t see what you see
I hope you still love me

Why’s it gotta be like this
Why’s she gotta live this far
She’s the only thing I’ve ever missed
I know now what it’s like to starve
I learned her from the outside in
And everything I find is gold
I can tell you what it’s like to live
The greatest love story told

DIVING DEEP

Being in a long-distance relationship is very trying on a couple and I’m talking from first-hand experience. At the beginning it doesn’t seem like that big of a deal, but as the days, weeks, and months start to pass you being to realize that it’s harder than you could have ever comprehended. Not being able to spend every second of every day with that person is difficult.

Connor Edwards does a great job expressing how difficult the distance is between him and his “babe”. Missing her and not being able to be with her is only one of the many complications that comes with a relationship. But if two people are willing to make it work and put in the effort, then they’re doing all that can be done. And it may one day become “The greatest love story ever told.”

Every day in a relationship is exciting and scary. Exciting as in, “I wonder what’s going to happen today? What new memories will happen today? How many times will he make me laugh.” But scary as in, “Will this end? What is he thinking? What is she thinking?” Insecurities happen. They’re prone to happen in relationships. More so in a long-distance one. But then you begin to truly realize what you want and how much the person means to you, “Why’s it gotta be like this, Why’s she gotta live this far, She’s the only thing I’ve ever missed, I know now what it’s like to starve.”

This song reminds me that even though relationships are hard, especially long-distance ones if two people are really committed to one another the waiting, the patience, the distance will all be worth it in the end. Because one day, they will get to be together again. And the distance that had once been separating them will disappear and fade into the background. It will feel like only seconds have passed instead of days, weeks, months, or years.

What have you learned about your past relationships? Long distance relationships?

Kenny Alphin made his name (literally) after moving to Nashville, where he rechristened himself Big Kenny and found platinum success as one half of the country duo Big & Rich. Known for their rowdy humor and willingness to embrace multiple genres, Big & Rich scored their first string of hits with 2004’s Horse of a Different Color. Such experience allowed Big & Rich to establish an audience quickly, and Horse of a Different Color sold more than three million copies as a result. In addition to co-writing much of his own band’s material, Big Kenny penned songs for other artists, including the title track for Gretchen Wilson’s Here for the Party and the chart-topping single “Last Dollar (Fly Away)” for Tim McGraw.

“Under the Sun” is the second song on his album Live a Little and it is one of my new favorites. This song shows that there is a place where dreams come true and where fun and happiness lie. This would be a great song to listen to at the beach or while reading a magazine and dreaming past days/memories at the beach.

“Under the Sun” – Big Kenny

Flipping through a magazine curlers in her hair
Waiting for her nails to dry in the beauty parlor chair
Soon she’s turning thirty something discontent with life
Then she turns to page one-thirty-five
And it says
There is a place where dreams come true
Just call and we’ll reserve a room for you

Somewhere under the sun
There is happiness and fun
There is love for everyone
Somewhere under the sun
Somewhere under the sun

Staring out the window of the twenty-second floor
Another meeting phones are ringing surely there is more
Then he sees a vision out the corner of his eye
On a flashing neon billboard sign
And it says
There is a place where dreams come true
Just call and we’ll reserve a room for you

Somewhere under the sun
There is happiness and fun
There is love for everyone
Somewhere under the sun
Somewhere under the sun

She was caught in traffic and his keys they were misplaced
They made it to the airport, both just minutes late
She dropped her attache as she was walking to the bar
He reached to help and bumped her heart
There is a place where dreams come true
Maybe now they’ll call and reserve a room for two

Somewhere under the sun
There is happiness and fun
There is love for everyone
Somewhere under the sun
Somewhere under oh
Somewhere under the sun
There is happiness and fun
There is love for everyone
Somewhere under the sun
Somewhere under the sun

Somewhere under the sun

DIVING DEEP

With everything going on with Covid-19 at the moment, an escape to somewhere peaceful and wonderful is definitely on my to-do list.

Sometimes we have those days where we just want a vacation. Where we are in need of a vacation. Big Kenny sums this up in his song. We are, in our own way, looking for an escape. A place of peace and relaxation. A place filled with happiness, sun, and where our worries and care can leave our mind, even if for only a second.

There are times in our lives when we don’t know what step next is, and other times we don’t need to know. It’s not meant for us to. And isn’t that the fun in life? The mystery?

Big Kenny does a fabulous job of giving writing and performing a feel good, heartwarming song about the good times that we will have and that will come again. When we can go to the beach with our friends and family and not have to worry about wearing a mask, “Somewhere under the sun, There is happiness and fun, There is love for everyone.”

This song is meant to give us hope, when it feels like there is none. It helps to give us patience for a better future and it shows ultimately that happiness can be found anywhere. Beach or no beach, pool or no pool, there is life beyond the four walls that some of us are trapped behind and once we begin to take advantage and be grateful for that, that is when our happiness and fun can truly begin. “There is a place where dreams come true” because there is a place where dreams come true. Sometimes that place is Disney World, other times it’s playing a board game with friends or sitting around a campfire with family. This song serves as a good reminder, showing listeners that happiness can be found anywhere.

Where would you escape to if you could?