Unearthing the Tale Behind Randy Travis’s Classic Hit: “Diggin’ Up Bones”
In the annals of country music history, “Diggin’ Up Bones” stands as a timeless gem that catapulted Randy Travis to stardom in 1986. It’s a story of patience, perseverance, and a fateful Thanksgiving dinner that birthed a Halloween-appropriate title.
Randy Travis’s journey to success was far from meteoric. A decade of persistent nightclub performances under the wing of manager Lib Hatcher laid the foundation for his eventual triumph. The turning point arrived with the release of the song “1982.” His career soared like a rocket, transforming him into a country music phenomenon within the year.
By October, Randy‘s “Storms Of Life” album had gone gold, and he received accolades from the Country Music Association, including the Horizon award. His song “On The Other Hand” was honored as Song and Single of the Year, and the album “Storms Of Life” was crowned Album of the Year. The pinnacle was reached in February 1987 when “Storms Of Life” became the first debut country album to sell a million copies within a year of its release.
The song “Diggin’ Up Bones” was the third single from that groundbreaking album. Despite its Halloween-esque title, the song’s origins trace back to a more heartwarming holiday: Thanksgiving 1983. Songwriters Paul Overstreet and Al Gore (not the former Vice President) teamed up for a turkey dinner at Gore’s house, and the creative sparks ignited.
During their songwriting session, Paul introduced the curious title “Diggin’ Up Bones,” which lacked a clear meaning at the time. However, once they settled on a concept, the lyrics flowed effortlessly. Al Gore, who initially started his career as an engineer for Starday Records in 1964, took nearly three years to experience his greatest songwriting success. Interestingly, Paul Overstreet initially intended to record “Diggin’ Up Bones” himself, but fate intervened when Warner Bros. requested an album from Randy Travis following the success of “On The Other Hand.”
As it happened, Al Gore received the news of Randy Travis recording “Diggin’ Up Bones” while tending to his garden. Producer Kyle Lehning’s enthusiasm for the song was infectious, exclaiming, “How can you not record a song that’s figured out how to use the word ‘exhuming’? You gotta cut that!”
What adds another layer of intrigue to this song’s history is the unexpected credit given to singer-songwriter Nat Stuckey, who played no part in composing it. His 1976 hit “Sun Comin’ Up” coincidentally shared an almost identical melody with Gore and Overstreet’s new tune. Surprisingly, Stuckey’s credit as a one-third writer only surfaced long after his death in 1988. In fact, until 2005, Billboard’s official chart publications only acknowledged Albert Gore and Paul Overstreet as the song’s sole writers, with no mention of Stuckey. The exact year of the official designation remains elusive, and the events leading up to it are shrouded in mystery.
“Diggin’ Up Bones” unearthed its way to the top of Billboard’s country singles chart the week after Halloween, on November 8, 1986. This quirky, hauntingly titled track not only solidified Randy Travis’s place in country music history but also offered a glimpse into the serendipitous nature of songwriting, where Thanksgiving dinners and mysterious melodies come together to create unforgettable hits.
Released: 1986
Album: Storms of Life
Artist: Randy Travis
Nominations: American Music Award for Favorite Country Single, Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance
Lyrics
Last night, I dug your picture out from my old dresser drawer
I set it on the table and I talked to it ’til four
I read some old love letters right up ’til the break of dawn
Yeah, I’ve been sittin’ alone, diggin’ up bones
Then I went through the jewelry and I found our wedding rings
I put mine on my finger and I gave yours a fling
Across this lonely bedroom of our recent broken home
Yeah, tonight, I’m sittin’ alone, diggin’ up bones
I’m diggin’ up bones (diggin’ up bones)
I’m diggin’ up bones (diggin’ up bones)
Exhumin’ things that’s better left alone
I’m resurrectin’ memories of a love that’s dead and gone
Yeah, tonight, I’m sittin’ alone, diggin’ up bones
And I went through the closet and I found some things in there
Like that pretty negligee that I bought you to wear
And I recall how good you looked each time you had it on
Yeah, tonight, I’m sittin’ alone, diggin’ up bones
I’m diggin’ up bones (diggin’ up bones)
I’m diggin’ up bones (diggin’ up bones)
Exhumin’ things that’s better left alone
I’m resurrectin’ memories of a love that’s dead and gone
Yeah, tonight, I’m sittin’ alone, diggin’ up bones
I’m resurrectin’ memories of a love that’s dead and gone
Yeah, tonight, I’m sittin’ alone, diggin’ up bones (diggin’ up bones)
I’m diggin’ up bones (diggin’ up bones)
Exhumin’ things that’s better left alone
I’m resurrectin’ memories of a love that’s dead and gone
Yeah, tonight, I’m sittin’ alone, diggin’ up bones (diggin’ up bones)
I’m diggin’ up bones (diggin’ up bones)
Exhumin’ things that’s better left alone
I’m resurrectin’ memories of a love that’s dead and gone
Yeah, tonight, I’m sittin’ alone, diggin’ up bones
