Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you sweet songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, country star Mary Chapin Carpenter gives love a second chance in her 2010 tune, "I Put My Ring Back On."
In the song, we learn that Carpenter is about to walk out on a long-term relationship. She has thrown her ring "down, down, down" because of the "hurting inside." Her life is at a crossroads and she's very tempted to say goodbye. But then she has a change of heart and realizes that their love is worth fighting for.
She sings, "Who knows where faith comes from / But last night I put my ring back on / 'Cause here with you is where I belong / Last night I put my ring back on."
By returning the ring to her finger, Carpenter delivers a literal and symbolic message of how committed she is to making the relationship work.
Composed by Carpenter, "I Put My Ring Back On" appeared as the third track on The Age of Miracles, an album that peaked at #6 on the U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums chart and #28 on the U.S. Billboard 200 albums chart.
Born in Princeton, N.J., Carpenter developed her love for music in high school. She played the guitar and piano, and her classmates famously threatened to cut her guitar strings if she played "Leaving on a Jet Plane" one more time.
Despite graduating from Brown University in 1981 with a degree in American Civilization, the Ivy League scholar decided to immerse herself in the Washington, D.C., music scene. A few years later, Carpenter scored a deal with Columbia Records.
Over the course of her career, Carpenter has sold more than 12 million records and landed five Grammy awards, including an unprecedented run of four consecutive wins for Best Female Country Vocal Performance (1992-1995).
Trivia: Did you know that Mary Chapin Carpenter is the fifth cousin of the late singer and humanitarian Harry Chapin ("Cat's in the Cradle," 1974).
More Trivia: Country star Vince Gill makes a guest appearance as a background vocalist on today's featured song.
Please check out the audio track of Carpenter performing "I Put My Ring Back On." The lyrics are below if you'd like to sing along...
"I Put My Ring Back On"
Written and performed by Mary Chapin Carpenter.
Who knows where faith comes from
But last night I put my ring back on
'Cause here with you is where I belong
Last night I put my ring back on
No life's without uncertainty
We both know how hard this love can be
It's just this hurting inside of me that threw it down,
Down down down
Who knows where hope comes from
But last night I put my ring back on
'Cause here with you is where I belong
Last night I put my ring back on
We can't speak like lovers we used to be
We can't change ancient history
And love wounds with such simplicity
And I threw it down, down down down, down
Your heart is all I want to see
Your hand reaching out to me
And your kiss remembers the mystery
Time was, I'd be as good as gone
But last night I didn't want to run
'Cause here with you is where I belong
Last night I put my ring back on
Last night I put my ring back on
Last night I put my ring back on
Credit: Screen capture via YouTube.com.