About The Song
In the rich tapestry of country music, certain songs transcend their moment, becoming more than just chart-toppers or radio staples—they become emotional touchstones, songs that listeners carry with them through life’s most personal seasons. “Believe” by Brooks & Dunn is one such song. Released in 2005 as part of their Hillbilly Deluxe album, this moving ballad diverges from the duo’s typical honky-tonk anthems, offering instead a deeply spiritual and soul-stirring meditation on faith, mortality, and the enduring power of belief.
By this point in their career, Brooks & Dunn were already established legends in the genre. Known for rollicking hits like “Boot Scootin’ Boogie” and “Only in America”, their blend of neo-traditionalism and radio-friendly hooks had made them one of the best-selling country duos of all time. Yet “Believe” revealed a side of the pair that was quieter, more introspective, and profoundly human. It demonstrated that beyond their energetic stage presence and dancehall-ready hits, Brooks & Dunn were capable of crafting songs of remarkable depth and emotional resonance.
At the heart of “Believe” is a simple story told with grace and humility. The narrator recalls a childhood friendship with an elderly neighbor, “Old Man Wrigley,” whose tales of love, loss, and unwavering faith left an indelible mark. When the old man passes, the boy—now grown—grapples with the memory, and with it, the enduring lesson of spiritual conviction. There are no heavy-handed sermons here, just the quiet assurance of a man whose belief carried him through the hardest parts of life.
Ronnie Dunn’s vocal performance on this track is arguably one of the finest of his career. There’s a hushed reverence in his voice, a restrained power that lends the lyrics an authenticity no studio effect could manufacture. The production, too, is stripped-down and tasteful—acoustic guitar, gentle piano, and soft harmonies provide a warm, understated backdrop that lets the song’s emotional core shine through.
Critically acclaimed and widely embraced by fans, “Believe” went on to win the 2006 CMA Award for Song of the Year and Music Video of the Year. But its legacy goes far beyond trophies. This is a song that continues to be played at memorial services, church gatherings, and quiet moments of reflection—wherever people are looking for comfort and hope.
In the broader context of country music, “Believe” stands as a powerful example of the genre’s capacity for storytelling with moral and emotional weight. It reminds us that sometimes the most powerful messages come not from grand declarations, but from the quiet testimony of those who have endured, believed, and loved deeply.
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Lyric
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Old man Wrigley lived in that white houseDown the street where I grew upMomma used to send me over with thingsWe struck a friendship upI spent a few long summers out on his old porch swingSaid he was in the war when in the navyLost his wife, lost his babyBroke down and asked him one timeHow ya keep from goin’ crazyHe said, “I’ll see my wife and son in just a little while”I asked him what he meantHe looked at me and smiled, saidI raise my hands, bow my headI’m findin’ more and more truth in the words written in redThey tell me that there’s more to life, than just what I can seeOh I believe, hmmFew years later I was off at collegeTalkin’ to mom on the phone one nightGettin’ all caught up on the gossipThe ins and outs of the small town lifeShe said, “Oh, by the way sonOld man Wrigley has died”Later on that night, I laid there thinkin’ backThought about a couple long-lost summersI didn’t know whether to cry or laughIf there was ever anybody deserved a ticket to the other sideIt’d be that sweet old man who looked me in the eye, saidI raise my hands, bow my headI’m findin’ more and more truth in the words written in redThey tell me that there’s more to life than just what I can seeI can’t quote the book, the chapter or the verseYou can’t tell me it all ends in a slow ride in a hearseYou know I’m more and more convinced, the longer that I liveYeah, this can’t be, no, this can’t be, no, this can’t be all there isLord, I raise my hands, bow my headOh, I’m findin’ more and more truth in the words written in redThey tell me that there’s more to thisThan just what I can see (just what I can see)I believeOh, I, I believeI believehmm(I believe) I believe(I believe) I believe (I believe)(I believe) oh, I believe(I believe, )(I believe)(I believe)