The Randy Travis Diggin’ Up Bones song stands as a shining example of heartfelt storytellling, capturing the anguish of love lost and the bittersweet comfort of memories. Country music star Randy Travis‘ “Diggin’ Up Bones” was written by Paul Overstreet, Al Gore, and Nat Stuckey. The song was released in July 1986 as the third single from his album Storms of Life and hit No.1 in both the United States and Canada.
Listen to it below!
Randy Travis Diggin’ Up Bones Audio
Lyrics That Strike a Chord
The lyrics of “Diggin’ Up Bones” paint a vivid picture of a man sifting through remnants of a failed relationship. He’s “exhuming things that’s better left alone,” such as old love letters and photographs. Each artifact evokes a mix of pain and nostalgia, as he confronts the reality of his heartbreak. The metaphor of “digging up bones” serves as a poignant representation of reliving the past and reopening emotional wounds that haven’t fully healed.
Randy Travis Diggin’ Up Bones Lyrics
Last night I dug your picture out from our old dresser drawer.
I set it on the table and I talked to it till four.
I read some old love letters right up to 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, I’m diggin’ up bones,
Exhuming things that’s better left alone.
And I’m resurrecting mem’ries 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 lingerie that I bought you to wear.
And I recalled how good you looked each time you had it on.
Yeah, tonight I’m sittin’ alone, diggin’ up bones.
I’m diggin’ up bones, I’m diggin’ up bones,
Exhuming things that’s better left alone.
And I’m resurrecting mem’ries of a love that’s dead and gone.
Yeah, tonight I’m sittin’ alone, diggin’ up bones.
When “Diggin’ Up Bones” was released, country music was undergoing a transformation. The genre was shifting away from the pop-infused sounds of the late 1970s and early 1980s, embracing a return to its roots. Randy Travis played a pivotal role in this movement, and “Diggin’ Up Bones” exemplifies the traditional style that fans were yearning for. The song’s success helped pave the way for other artists in the New Traditionalist wave, including George Strait, Alan Jackson, and Dwight Yoakam.
