Song Lyric Sunday – “My Maria” by Brooks & Dunn

This week Jim Adams has prompted us with choosing songs involving Maria | Marie | Mary for this week’s Song Lyric Sunday.

Ronnie Dunn, Me & Kix Brooks (October, 1993)

I chose “My Maria” by Brooks & Dunn which was a cover version released in 1996 and reached #1 on the US country chart and won the 1997 Grammy for Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. It is on the album “Borderline” which was released by Arista Records.

I had the honor of meeting Brooks & Dunn in 1993 after my first husband won front-row tickets with “Meet & Greet” backstage passes. I was so excited and I made matching shirts for us to wear to the concert. DON’T JUDGE my gawd-awful glasses & perm! I cut my ex out of the photo because I don’t want to call him and get permission to put him on the blog. The concert we attended was, of course, 3 years before Brooks & Dunn brought “My Maria” back to life after over 20 years.

Covering a song can become a bigger hit than the original version.

The original version, co-written by B.W. (Buckwheat) Stevenson and Daniel Moore was released by Stevenson in 1973, peaking at #9 on the US Pop Chart. It remained in the Top 40 for twelve weeks in 1973, plus spent one week at #1 on the US adult contemporary chart.

SONG FACTS

  • Daniel Moore had been working on “My Maria” for 2 years when B.W. Stevenson, a songwriter from Dallas, Texas helped him finish it. Stevenson had the lyrics finished in 15 minutes.
  • The 1973 original version reached #7 on the Canada RPM Top Singles and #1 on the Canada RPM Adult Contemporary.
  • The 1996 cover version by Brooks & Dunn made it to #79 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the Canada Country Tracks RPM.
  • Brooks & Dunn version stayed on the US Billboard Hot Country Singles chart for 3 weeks in May-June and finished at #1 for the Year-End US Billboard Country Songs chart for 1996.
  • Brooks & Dunn walked away with the 1997 Grammy for Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.
  • The original sold 950,000 singles and Brooks & Dunn’s cover sold over 6 million.

“My Maria”

My Maria don't you know I've come a long, long way
I been longin' to see her
When she's around she takes my blues away
Sweet Maria the sunlight surely hurts my eyes
I'm a lonely dreamer on a highway in the skies
Maria, (Oh Maria I love you girl, oh my Maria)
Maria, (Oh Maria I love you girl, Maria) I love you
My Maria there were some blue and sorrow times
Just my thoughts about you bring back my piece of mind
Gypsy lady you're a miracle work for me
You set my soul free like a ship sailing on the sea
She is the sunlight when skies are gray
She treats me so right lady take me away
My Maria (Oh Maria I love you girl, oh my Maria)
Maria (Oh Maria I love you girl, Maria) I love you
My Maria (Oh Maria I love you girl, oh my Maria)
Maria (Oh Maria I love you girl, Maria) I love you
My Maria (Oh Maria I love you girl, oh my Maria)
Maria (Oh Maria I love you girl, Maria) I love you
My Maria (Oh Maria I love you girl, oh my Maria)
Maria (Oh Maria I love you girl, Maria) I love you
My Maria (Oh Maria I love you girl, oh my Maria)
Maria (Oh Maria I love you girl, Maria) I love you
My Maria (Oh Maria I love you girl, oh my Maria)
Maria (Oh Maria I love you girl, Maria) I love you
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Louis C Stevenson / Daniel Joseph Moore
My Maria lyrics ยฉ Universal Music Publishing Group

25 Comments on “Song Lyric Sunday – “My Maria” by Brooks & Dunn

  1. I like their version. It’s doesn’t have the drive of BW’s but its good. I knew BW back in the day and have always liked his version of that song the best. Too bad B and D retired.

    Liked by 1 person

    • They are actually back together. They were supposed to be in Vegas with Reba but cancelled due to COVID19. Their new tour has been postponed to October as of now. ๐Ÿ˜Š guess I should have mentioned that in my post.

      Like

  2. Nice song Lisa. I am not very familiar with Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn, but whichever one sings Maria has a great voice. The B, W. Stevenson version was nice to hear also

    Liked by 1 person

  3. I’m on the late show again because I’d never heard B&D’s cover before today, but loved BW’s version for YEARS! B&D’s cover is good and I love the video! Thanks for the share!

    Liked by 1 person

  4. So cool you got your picture taken with such a well-known musical duo. I love the original and B&D do it justice in their cover.

    Liked by 1 person

%d bloggers like this: