Beat Up Bible

Album: The Breaker (2017)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • In this song, Kimberly Schlapman sings about a worn-out bible that "Don't look like much but it'll get you through hell."

    "It's a beautiful, heartfelt sentiment about faith and family" her bandmate Karen Fairchild said.
  • Little Big Town used several songwriters on The Breaker album. This one was written by Shane Stevens, Hillary Lindsey and Cary Barlowe.
  • Speaking with Radio.com, Karen Fairchild expanded on the song's meaning:

    "It doesn't matter what you believe, the things that give you faith and your family are the things that you go back to in the times that you're struggling. and it's the truths that were passed down… for a lot of people in the south, it's centered around their faith and having that Bible and that belief in God. It gets passed down from generation to generation and it's what people hold on to when they're struggling."
  • For both Kimberly Schlapman and Jim Westbrook, the song acts a reminder of significant women in their lives. "That song just fills up my heart," Schlapman said, "and I see my great-grandmother and her little trailer where I used to stay with her, reading her Bible."

    "I see so many pictures in my head as I sing that song," she continued. "We have, in my family, a beat up Bible… The binding's falling off, some of the pages are just stuffed in there… In the front is written the births of all the children since the mid-1800's. Ah! It's so special. It's such a treasure."

    Jimi Westbrook added how the song becomes a living picture of his grandma as well. "Where I grew up, I lived here and my grandmother was kinda just out the back door," he said. "And I spent a lot of time there when my parents were working… I stayed with her. She's got the big centerpiece Bible when you walk in the living room." It's out under the Jesus picture."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Marc Campbell - "88 Lines About 44 Women"

Marc Campbell - "88 Lines About 44 Women"They're Playing My Song

The Nails lead singer Marc Campbell talks about those 44 women he sings about over a stock Casio keyboard track. He's married to one of them now - you might be surprised which.

Mick Jones of Foreigner

Mick Jones of ForeignerSongwriter Interviews

Foreigner's songwriter/guitarist tells the stories behind the songs "Juke Box Hero," "I Want To Know What Love Is," and many more.

He Hit Me (And It Felt Like A Kiss): A History Of Abuse Pop

He Hit Me (And It Felt Like A Kiss): A History Of Abuse PopSong Writing

Songs that seem to glorify violence against women are often misinterpreted - but not always.

Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, Heaven And Hell

Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, Heaven And HellSongwriter Interviews

Guitarist Tony Iommi on the "Iron Man" riff, the definitive Black Sabbath song, and how Ozzy and Dio compared as songwriters.

Daryl Hall

Daryl HallSongwriter Interviews

Daryl Hall's TV show is a hit, and he's been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame - only one of these developments excites him.

Angelo Moore of Fishbone

Angelo Moore of FishboneSongwriter Interviews

Fishbone has always enjoyed much more acclaim than popularity - Angelo might know why.