About the song
“Diggin’ Up Bones” is a timeless country music ballad that has captured the hearts of listeners for decades. Written by Paul Overstreet, Al Gore, and Nat Stuckey, this poignant song was recorded by the legendary American country music artist Randy Travis and released in August 1986 as the third single from his album Storms of Life. The song’s impact was immediate, as it soared to the top of the charts, reaching number-one in both the United States and Canada.
The song’s narrative is a poignant reflection on lost love, as the male narrator yearns for a relationship that has long since passed. Despite the pain and longing that permeates the lyrics, the song’s melody is a beautiful, mid-tempo ballad that showcases Travis’s signature smooth vocals. The narrator’s emotional plea to hold onto memories of the past is a universal theme that resonates with listeners of all ages.
One of the most striking aspects of “Diggin’ Up Bones” is its ability to evoke a sense of nostalgia and longing. The song’s lyrics are a poignant reminder of the power of love and memory, as the narrator digs through the remnants of a past relationship, holding onto items that serve as tangible connections to the love that has been lost. This emotional depth is a hallmark of Travis’s songwriting style, and “Diggin’ Up Bones” is a prime example of his ability to craft songs that speak to the human experience.
Throughout its history, “Diggin’ Up Bones” has been covered by numerous artists, including Mel Tillis, who recorded a version for his album California Road in 1985. Despite the many interpretations of this song, Randy Travis’s original recording remains the most iconic and enduring, a testament to his status as one of country music’s greatest artists.
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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