Don't Take the Girl
Encyclopedia
"Don't Take The Girl" is the title of a song written by Craig Martin and Larry W. Johnson and recorded by American country music
artist Tim McGraw
. The song was Tim's fifth single overall, and his first number-one single on the Hot Country Songs
chart. It reached number one on the Canadian country chart as well and it was also a successful pop song, reaching number 17 on the Hot 100.
In the first verse, the young man (Johnny) is eight years old, about to go on a fishing trip with his father. A young, unnamed girl, apparently Johnny's age, is also present, with fishing pole in hand. Johnny does not want the girl to come fishing with them. So he begs his father to "take any boy in the world / Daddy please, don't take the girl".
The song's second verse finds Johnny and the girl ten years later, as teenagers, and they have fallen in love with each other and are now going steady. As Johnny and the girl are leaving the picture show (movie theater) on their date, they are stopped by a lone robber. He grabs the girl and tells Johnny to give in to his demands. Johnny surrenders his money, wallet, credit cards, his grandfather's watch, and car so that the girl would be safe (In the music video, the crook is only seen running away with the wallet).
Verse three takes place another five years after the second verse. At this point, Johnny and the girl are now married, when the girl is rushed to the hospital to have her baby delivered. The baby is safely delivered, but the doctor informs Johnny that his wife is "fading fast" (presumably dying of complications). Johnny then collapses to his knees and prays to God, asking that his own life be taken instead of his wife's. In the music video, it is revealed that Johnny's wife and child both survive.
The song ends with a repeat of the opening line of the song: "Johnny's daddy was taking him fishin' when he was eight years old" leaving the listener with the impression that the cycle has begun to repeat itself.
magazine reviewed the song favorably, saying that the song has the listeners "crying in their beer in the dancehalls down in Texas
." Price goes on to say that once radio gets a hold of it, the song will take off.
. It shows 5 actors, playing Johnny, his dad, the girl, the robber & the doctor. Intercut with Tim, performing in front of dark blue lights.
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
artist Tim McGraw
Tim McGraw
Samuel Timothy "Tim" McGraw is an American country singer and actor. Many of McGraw's albums and singles have topped the country music charts with total album sales in excess of 40 million units in the US, making him the eighth best-selling artist, and the third best-selling country singer, in the...
. The song was Tim's fifth single overall, and his first number-one single on the Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
chart. It reached number one on the Canadian country chart as well and it was also a successful pop song, reaching number 17 on the Hot 100.
Content
The song tells the story of two young lovers dealing with difficult scenarios at three different stages in their lives. In each situation, the man does all he can to make sure different people "don't take the girl."In the first verse, the young man (Johnny) is eight years old, about to go on a fishing trip with his father. A young, unnamed girl, apparently Johnny's age, is also present, with fishing pole in hand. Johnny does not want the girl to come fishing with them. So he begs his father to "take any boy in the world / Daddy please, don't take the girl".
The song's second verse finds Johnny and the girl ten years later, as teenagers, and they have fallen in love with each other and are now going steady. As Johnny and the girl are leaving the picture show (movie theater) on their date, they are stopped by a lone robber. He grabs the girl and tells Johnny to give in to his demands. Johnny surrenders his money, wallet, credit cards, his grandfather's watch, and car so that the girl would be safe (In the music video, the crook is only seen running away with the wallet).
Verse three takes place another five years after the second verse. At this point, Johnny and the girl are now married, when the girl is rushed to the hospital to have her baby delivered. The baby is safely delivered, but the doctor informs Johnny that his wife is "fading fast" (presumably dying of complications). Johnny then collapses to his knees and prays to God, asking that his own life be taken instead of his wife's. In the music video, it is revealed that Johnny's wife and child both survive.
The song ends with a repeat of the opening line of the song: "Johnny's daddy was taking him fishin' when he was eight years old" leaving the listener with the impression that the cycle has begun to repeat itself.
Critical reception
Deborah Evans Price, of BillboardBillboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
magazine reviewed the song favorably, saying that the song has the listeners "crying in their beer in the dancehalls down in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
." Price goes on to say that once radio gets a hold of it, the song will take off.
Music video
This was Tim's second music video. It was directed by Sherman HalseySherman Halsey
Sherman Halsey is an American music video and television director, producer, and artist manager. Sherman Halsey has produced and directed hundreds of television shows and music videos for artists such as Tim McGraw, Brooks and Dunn, Alan Jackson, BB King, Michael Bolton, Dwight Yoakam, and many...
. It shows 5 actors, playing Johnny, his dad, the girl, the robber & the doctor. Intercut with Tim, performing in front of dark blue lights.
Chart performance
"Don't Take the Girl" debuted at number 71 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks for the week of April 2, 1994.Peak positions
| Chart (1994) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada Country Tracks (RPM) | 1 |
End of year charts
| End of year chart (1994) | Position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 87 |
Parodies
- Country music parodist Cledus T. JuddCledus T. JuddBarry Poole is an American country music artist who records under the name Cledus T. Judd. Known primarily for his parodies of popular country music songs, he has been called the "Weird Al" Yankovic of country music, and his albums are usually an equal mix of original comedy songs and parodies...
recorded a parody of the song, called "Please Take the Girl", on his 1995 debut album Cledus T. Judd (No Relation)Cledus T. Judd (No Relation)Cledus T. Judd is the self-titled debut album of country music parodist Cledus T. Judd. The album's title is a reference the popularity of country duo The Judds...
.