About The Song
Full of ups and downs when it comes to love, Tim McGraw’s “Don’t Take The Girl” takes you for a spin in the inspiring love story of a man named Johnny and his wife.
With the slow strumming of a guitar, Tim McGraw’s solid vocals and mid-tempo melody that fits the whole concept, “Don’t Take The Girl” is a perfect song that’s both inspiring and heart-wrenching. It even has bitter-sweet lyrics that’ll make you believe in the power of true love, isn’t that sweet?
The riveting tale started when the protagonist named Johnny met a girl when he and his father headed out to go fishing one day. Although it was fine weather to go out in the water and there are plenty of rooms for all of them, the young boy doesn’t want the girl to come with them even though she has her fishing rod.
A couple of years later, the second verse opens up with the two of them as teenagers. The two have fallen in love and started dating, which is a sweet surprise. They decided to watch a film on the “picture show” (now known as a movie theatre), but tragedy started when the couple was standing outside the place, and a man pointed a gun at them. Johnny surrendered his wallet, money, credit cards, and a watch from his grandfather for the safety of his girlfriend. Well, it worked, and the crook runs away.
The last verse and chapter of the story is the thing that makes people cry. Johnny and the girl got married and are expecting their first child. They experienced a complication during the delivery and had the girl in danger. His faith was tested with his knees collapsing and praying to God that she’ll survive. It even got to the point where he asked for his life to be taken away instead of his wife. In the end, Johnny’s wife does survive.
Tim McGraw songs are always chart-topping, and this single is no stranger to that success. Impressively, it’s McGraw’s first number one hit on the Hot Country Songs chart. The song reached number one on the Canadian country charts too. Fans even say that it’s the song that has drawn them to country music.
Meanwhile, critics like Deborah Evans Price of Billboard magazine and Southern sports celebrity Brandon Walker have only positive feedback. They perceived the song to be deserving of calling it a top country hit.
Video
Lyrics
Johnny’s daddy was takin’ him fishin’
When he was eight years old
A little girl came through the front gate
Holdin’ a fishin’ pole
His dad looked down and smiled
Said, “We can’t leave her behind
Son, I know you don’t want her to go
But someday you’ll change your mind”
And Johnny said
Take Jimmy Johnson, take Tommy Thompson
Take my best friend, Bo
Take anybody that you want as
Long as she don’t go
Take any boy in the world
Daddy, please, don’t take the girl
Same old boy, same sweet girl
Ten years down the road
He held her tight and kissed her lips in
Front of the picture show
Stranger came and pulled a gun
Grabbed her by the arm
Said, “If you do what I tell you to, there
Won’t be any harm”
And Johnny said
Take my money, take my wallet
Take my credit cards
Here’s the watch that my grandpa gave me
Here’s the key to my car
Mister, give it a whirl
But, please, don’t take the girl
Same old boy, same sweet girl
Five years down the road
There’s gonna be a little one and she
Says, “It’s time to go”
Doctor says, “The baby’s fine
But you’ll have to leave
‘Cause his momma’s fadin’ fast” and
Johnny hit his knees
And there he prayed
Take the very breath you gave me
Take the heart from my chest
I’ll gladly take her place if you’ll let me
Make this my last request
Take me out of this world
God, please, don’t take the girl
Johnny’s daddy was takin’ him fishin’
When he was eight years old