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November 9, 2018
Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you fun songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, country music artist Tracy Byrd tells the story of Tommy and Janey’s life-changing trip to a jewelry store in 1997’s “Don’t Love Make a Diamond Shine.”
In the very first verse, we are introduced to a young couple looking for the perfect engagement ring. They’re holding hands and staring into the bridal case when a particular ring catches Tommy’s eye.
Byrd sings, “Mister bring it closer, mister can we hold it / I think it’s gonna fit just fine / As he slipped it on her hand, Janey kissed her man / Don’t love make a diamond shine.”
Byrd goes on to explain that any diamond — no matter what size — looks like a million bucks “sittin’ on the hand of a girl in love.” He also takes a shot at a rich couple whose perfect 15-carat diamond is “duller than dirt” because their relationship is on the rocks.
Written by Mike Dekle and Craig Wiseman, “Don’t Love Make a Diamond Shine” was released as the third single from Byrd’s fourth album, Big Love. The song reached #17 on the U.S. Billboard Country Songs chart and #13 on the Canada Country Tracks chart. Big Love became Byrd’s third gold-selling album.
Born in Vidor, Texas, Byrd explored his musical talents with a local band called Rimfire while attending Southwest Texas State. A friend encouraged Byrd to sing a cover of Hank Williams’ “Your Cheatin’ Heart” at a mall recording studio and the result was so impressive that the studio’s owner entered Byrd into a local talent contest. The artist caught the attention of MCA Records, which offered him a recording contract in 1992.
The 51-year-old has charted more than 30 singles, including 11 Top Ten hits. He’s produced 10 studio albums and two greatest-hits albums.
Please check out the audio clip of Byrd performing “Don’t Love Make A Diamond Shine.” The lyrics are below if you’d like to sing along…
“Don’t Love Make A Diamond Shine” Written by Craig Wiseman and Mike Dekle. Performed by Tracy Byrd.
Tommy and Janey barely eighteen Holding hands at the jewelry store Eyes open wide staring inside At the ring that they wanted for her
Mister bring it closer, mister can we hold it I think it’s gonna fit just fine As he slipped it on her hand, Janey kissed her man Don’t love make a diamond shine.
Don’t love make a diamond shine It don’t matter if it costs a dime Dang thing looks like a million bucks Sittin’ on the hand of a girl in love.
A perfect fifteen carat is duller than dirt If the heart don’t wear it With three little words it’ll knock you blind Don’t love make a diamond shine.
There’s a rich lady with a new Mercedes Livin’ up in a high rise She’s got a big ol’ rock on her left hand That looks cheaper than a Cracker Jack prize.
‘Cause her man don’t know that it ain’t the dough No all he needs to spend is time And that big marquis’d be a laser beam Don’t love make a diamond shine.
Don’t love make a diamond shine…
Credit: Screen capture via YouTube.com.
