Words of Wisdom in a Song From Birthday Girl Lee Ann Womack “I Hope You Dance” [Video]

Personally, I think this song should be played for every freshman student whether they're entering high school or college.  It's a vulnerable time in their lives. One that starts a lifetime of "correct" choices.  Decisions about health, friends, career and so much more start to shape who they are, who they will become.  With the most important message being, don't sit it out.  Get out and be who you want to be, realize your dreams and inspire to reach those goals.

What a delight for Lee Ann to be able to make the video to this song using her own daughters. It was written by Tia Sillers and Mark Sanders. Sillers also wrote "There's Your Trouble" for The Dixie Chicks and "Blue On Black" for Kenny Wayne Shepherd. Sanders has written several Country hits, including "Blue Clear Sky" for George Strait and "No News" for Lonestar.

Tia Sillers was going through a divorce when she wrote it. Said Sillers: "For 'I Hope You Dance,' I had written the opening line, 'I hope you never lose your sense of wonder. I had just broken up with someone, going through a brutal divorce. I needed to get away, so I went to a beach on the Florida Gulf Coast. Sitting on the beach and reflecting about the break-up, I felt so small and inconsequential. But out of this difficult time came the inspiration to write 'I Hope You Dance.' As I was leaving the beach, I remember thinking that things weren't really so bad, that I would get through it. That's when I came up with the line, 'I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean.'"

This song is about taking chances and not being afraid to try something new.

This won the Grammy Award for Best Country Song and also the Country Music Award for Song Of The Year. It was a #1 Country hit and also #1 on the Adult Contemporary charts.  There was also a book released based on this song.

Oh, and happy 47th birthday to beautiful lady, Lee Ann Womack!