About The Song
“Diggin’ Up Bones” was part of Randy Travis’ first album, Storms Of Life. Released as a single, it was his second Country #1, following “On the Other Hand.” Just a few years earlier, he was known by his real name, Randy Traywick, and washing dishes at a place called The Nashville Palace, where he also got to perform. An A&R rep for Warner Bros. caught his act and signed him, a decision that paid off for the label as Travis became one of the top stars in country music.
This song was written by Paul Overstreet and Al Gore. Overstreet also co-wrote “On the Other Hand” and ended up writing more hits for Travis, including “Forever And Ever, Amen” and “Deeper Than The Holler.” Al Gore – not the former Vice President and almost-President in 2000 – had written a song called “Jesus Let Me Slide” (co-written and recorded by Dean Dillon) and had done production work for various artists.
Many of us have skeletons in our closets, but also bones buried from the memories of past loves. In this song, Randy Travis, faced with another night alone, takes a swan dive into his sorrow by pulling out a picture of his ex along with some love letters from their time together. He even finds their wedding rings; he puts his on his finger and flings hers across the room.
This song puts a name to this wallow: diggin’ up bones. Resurrecting these painful memories is like exhuming bones that are best left buried.
Overstreet and Gore wrote it on Thanksgiving day, 1983, at Gore’s house where they were having Thanksgiving dinner. Overstreet had the title, and from there they fleshed out the concept by trading lines back and forth. Overstreet thought about recording it himself, but when Warner Bros. called asking for more songs for Travis, it went to Randy.
This song has a lot of staying power; in 2021 it was certified Gold as a digital download for 500,000 downloads.
Video
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