About The Song
Few artists in the history of country music have mastered the art of blending heartbreak and grace quite like Randy Travis. Known for his rich baritone, understated emotional delivery, and steadfast commitment to traditional country roots, Travis carved out a lasting legacy by singing about life’s quiet truths with profound sincerity. Released in 1998, “Out of My Bones” stands as a haunting and eloquent testament to love lost—a track that finds Travis at his most vulnerable, interpreting emotional devastation with a kind of gentle dignity that only he could deliver.
“Out of My Bones” was the lead single from the album You and You Alone and quickly made its mark on country radio, reaching the top ten on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. Written by Gary Burr, Robin Lerner, and Sharon Vaughn—all seasoned and respected Nashville songwriters—the song is a beautifully crafted meditation on the enduring physical and emotional residue of heartbreak. The lyrics are rich with metaphors, expressing a longing so deep that the narrator wishes he could literally remove the memory of a past love from his body. “If I could just get you out of my bones / If I could just get you out of my blood…” he sings, drawing a visceral connection between heartache and the very essence of being.
What sets “Out of My Bones” apart is not only its lyrical depth but also its sonic texture. The production leans more contemporary than some of Travis’s earlier neotraditional work, with layered instrumentation and atmospheric flourishes that lend the track a cinematic quality. Yet at its core, it remains deeply rooted in the emotional directness that characterizes classic country. The mournful strains of steel guitar echo the aching in the lyrics, while Travis’s voice anchors the song with steady, soulful restraint.
There’s a kind of universality in the pain expressed in “Out of My Bones.” It’s not just about a breakup—it’s about the way memories linger, the way love can embed itself so deeply into a person’s identity that it becomes indistinguishable from flesh and blood. Travis’s ability to embody that sentiment without tipping into melodrama is part of what makes the song so affecting.
In the broader context of Randy Travis’s illustrious career, “Out of My Bones” showcases his enduring relevance during a period of shifting trends in country music. It’s a reminder that while production styles may evolve, the emotional truths at the heart of great country songwriting—loss, longing, resilience—remain timeless.
Video
Lyric
🎵 Let’s sing along with the lyrics! 🎤
[Verse 1]
I’m in need of a remedy
To cure me from loving you
It may sound a little extreme
I’ll do what I have to do[Chorus]
Bury your jacket in my backyard
Carry your picture in my shoe
And keep walking ’til the hurting stops
Keep walking ’til my temperature drops
Keep walking ’til the fever is gone
And you’re out of my bones[Verse 2]
I’m in need of a medicine
Something strong that’ll work real fast
That I can take to fortify me
To keep my arm from taking you back[Chorus]
Chase that ghost out from under my bed
Still these voices in my head
They keep talking, weaving their spell
But I’m talking to myself
I keep ’em talking from daylight to dawn
‘Til you’re out of my bones[Bridge]
Sweet amnesia, come and set me free
I just need to get you out of me[Chorus]
Bury your jacket in my backyard
Carry your picture in my shoe
And keep walking ’til the hurting stops
Keep walking ’til my temperature drops
Keep walking ’til the fever is gone
And you’re out of my bones
You’re out of my bones