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To Have and To Hold
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I've been in the entertainment busines...in some form or fashion...for many years. I got into music purely by accident and ended up fronting a band out of Austin in '96. I struck out on my own in '98 and have, through those years, assembled a group of stellar players that have the same drive to produce a high quality "show" each time we play...rather than a standard "bar band" type situation. One of the highest compliments that we have ever received was when we were told it was more like a "concert" than just a "dance". I firmly believe that the folks that pay money to get in the door of a venue that we are playing deserve to get every penny of their money back, with a little extra, in the form of great music and ENTERTAINMENT! I feel as though as long as we keep that focus we will continue to be sucessful as a group.
Song Info
Genre
Country • Country General
Charts
#8,497 today Peak #73
#3,046 in subgenre Peak #27
Author
Les Hartman
Rights
1999
Uploaded
March 15, 2014
Track Files
MP3
MP3 4.5 MB • 160 kbps • 3:55
Story behind the song
This is probably one of the most special songs that I have ever written in my life. Back in '98 I got a phone call from my brother...the first thing he asked me, once we said our hello's, was "would you like to be my best man?"   Wow! He had asked his girlfriend to marry him and I, of course, was incredibly happy to oblige. They also asked if I would bring the band and play at the reception. I agreed, we talked a little more and then hung up the phone. I was overwhelmed with emotions...I was so happy for them. I immediately started playing around on my guitar and started writing this song. I finished it and never really said anything to them about it. That year, at Christmas, we were all over at our parent's house. Her family was there too and I told them that I had written this song and, if they liked it, I wanted it to be the first song that they would dance to at the reception. I sat on the fireplace hearth and played the song...the ladies cried...I think my dad did too, but don't tell him I told you...and I figured that was a good sign. As the wedding grew closer, they told me that they just wanted the song played by me, and not the whole band. I needed a little help though, so I recruited one of our friends from high school...Cory Stovall...and we worked up a different arrangement. I played acoustic and he played electric lead. I was a nervous wreck playing this on that day. I was worried that I would start bawlin' in the middle of it and wouldn't be able to pull it off. Somehow or another (by simply not looking at them very often while they were dancing) I pulled it off. Since then, that song has been played at several weddings. I have even had the opportunity to play it live a few times...like when my friend Bill Hecke got married. That was like going back in time...I played it in their living room, sitting on the fireplace hearth....imagine that!  Recorded January 3-4, 2004 Rosewood Studios -- Tyler, Texas Produced/Engineered by Greg Hunt and Gary Leach Musicians: Drums - Marty Arbter Bass Guitar - Shayne Morrison Acoustic Guitar - Steve Murray Lead Guitar - Chad Ware Piano/Organ - Gary Leach Steel/Fiddle/Mandolin - Milo Deering Background Vocals - Gary Leach
Lyrics
WITH THIS RING YOU GIVE ME THE REST OF MY LIFE TO HOLD YOU IN THESE ARMS OF MINE WITH THIS RING I’M GONNA MAKE YOU MY WIFE A LOVE ANY STRONGER WE’LL NEVER FIND TO HAVE AND TO HOLD TILL DEATH DO US PART ALL OF THOSE WORDS COME FROM MY HEART WITH THIS RING I GIVE YOU A TRUE HEART TO HOLD ONE THAT WILL ALWAYS BELONG TO YOU WITH THIS RING THAT HEART WILL NEVER GROW OLD THROUGH ALL THE YEARS IT’LL FEEL BRAND NEW THROUGH GOOD TIMES AND BAD HAPPY OR SAD IT’S THE BEST LOVE WE’VE EVER HAD BRIDGE HERE WE ARE STANDIN’ TOGETHER WALKIN’ DOWN THE ROAD TO FOREVER HAND IN HAND WILL MAKE IT THOUGH WITH THIS RING WE’RE GONNA START A NEW LIFE ONE THAT OTHERS ONLY DREAM ABOUT WITH THIS RING WE’LL BE HOLDIN’ ON TIGHT TO ALL OF THE MEM’RIES WE’RE MAKIN’ NOW TO HAVE AND TO HOLD TILL DEATH DO US PART ALL OF THOSE WORDS COME FROM MY HEART
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