Samuel Timothy McGraw, the full name of this chart-topping singer, was born on May 1, 1967 to Betty "McMom" Trimble and Tug McGraw. Although, McGraw was born in Delhi, Louisiana, Monroe is the city he considers home. During his upbringing, McGraw was always interested in sports. He always wanted to be an athlete. This pursuit landed him a sports scholarship Northeast Louisiana University. Even though, McGraw received his first guitar at the age of eleven, it was not until college that his interest in playing it peaked it peaked. He bought himself a new guitar on holiday and began teaching his self to play. His interest changed to singing, which took him to Nashville in the early ninety's. He signed a contract with Curb Records shortly thereafter and released his first self-titled album in 1992. This album failed to reach country radio audiences and things didn't look so goo

Finally, Let Me Love You, Set This Circus Down and Things Change have more of a soft rock aspect. They share their sounds with that of Christopher Cross. Even McGraw's voice does not impart the usual country voice as heard on the rest of the album. The music is typical of rock n' roll with the complement of the steel and electric guitars. The subjects of these remaining songs do not coincide with the others. Let Me Love You sounds like he is very much in love with someone who is afraid to trust. "Oh, if you could read my mind, you'd know everything I need. You'd see yourself through my eyes and you'd understand what I'm going through and just how much I want you. Oh let me love you." He wants her to know that she can trust and love him. This song also has sort of a Spanish overtone to it because of the guitar playing. Set This Circus Down says, "Baby, you're the one smiling with me. When the sun comes up; I got the wheel, you got the map and that's enough." This song boast, he is happy in love and she is all he needs. It can also be related to their recent tour together in, "And we go rolling down this highway, chasing all our crazy dreams.". Things Change seem to be the in your face reply to all the criticism he receives for his Country-pop style. In this song he refers to Hank Williams in the first verse, "They wouldn't let him play the Opry with whiskey on his breath and it didn't take them long to figure out what they missed. He went down that lost highway a legend disappeared before his time. Things change." The reference is obvious because he mentions the song Lost Highway and playing the Opry with whiskey on his breath. The last phrase refers to his early death. In the second verse, McGraw refers to Elvis Presley, "They said he was the devil, dressed in gold lame. The way he shook his hips up there on the stage but before that faithful day he left Tennessee, all of them were calling him the king. Things change." Gold lame, gyrating hips and the king are evident references to Elvis. McGraw goes on, "They might've have flown a little top high but somewhere somebody's playing their songs tonight. ...Some say it's too country, some say it's too rock 'n' roll but it's just good music if you can feel down in your soul and it doesn't really matter. It's all been the same. Life goes on, things change." In this song, McGraw is trying to show a comparison between himself, Williams and Presley. People thought the same about their music then, as some think about his music now. He is letting those who feel that way know that it is still good music and things do change. It took those people too long to realize it about Williams and Presley. Even though they may not appear to fit into the normal scope of the album singled out, they do fit into the overall theme of the album about finding love and loosing it. The music overall has a rock influence but still is mixed with a little honky-tonk and the overall theme still plays into the traditional country music themes.

to the attitude of present day plain folk. These songs display a "tell it like it is" attitude and I can do what ever I want. Things Change is a bold stand against traditional country music advocates. It says this is the way it is and this is the way things are going to be so either take it now or love it later. Angel Boy explores uncertainties about salvation with the idea that one can sometimes do too much wrong to be forgiven. This song highlights the importance of staying on the right track, keeping the faith and staying closer to God so things do not go so far astray. This entire album does exemplify the ideals of common folk these days. The suggestion of hard work does not really portray itself in the album today. The definition of hard work with most country-pop artist seems to be easy work for bigger pay, which does enable more time for love and family.

Wear blue jeans, t-shirts and sport jackets, typical of most count

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