Deeper Than The Holler – Randy Travis (Live)

Check out Randy Travis as he performs “Deeper Than The Holler” during the 1988 MDA Labor Day Telethon! This is a moving performance guaranteed to have you tapping to the beat! The MDA Labor Day Telethon was an enchanting yearly variety show that ran for half a century. Hosted for many years by Jerry Lewis, the telethon featured top stars from the world of music, comedy, and Broadway and was like no other show on earth. The telethon was created to help support the Muscular Dystrophy Association, which is leading the fight against muscular dystrophy. MDA dedicates itself to strength, independence and life. To learn more about MDA and to donate, please visit http://www.MDA.org.

“Deeper Than the Holler” is a classic country song by Randy Travis, released in 1988 as the second single from his album Old 8×10. The song became one of Travis’s signature hits, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. Written by Paul Overstreet and Don Schlitz, the song is a heartfelt love ballad that uses vivid rural imagery to express deep and unwavering affection. With Travis’s smooth baritone voice and traditional country instrumentation, the song embodies the neotraditional country sound that he helped popularize in the late 1980s.

Lyrically, the song stands out for its poetic comparisons of love to elements of nature and country life. The narrator describes his love as being “deeper than the holler, stronger than the river,” and “higher than the pine trees growin’ tall upon the hill.” These metaphors draw from the Southern landscape, making the song feel both personal and universal to those familiar with country living. The sincerity of the lyrics and the simple yet profound message contribute to the song’s enduring appeal.

Musically, Deeper Than the Holler features a gentle melody with a steady rhythm, allowing Travis’s rich vocals to take center stage. The arrangement includes acoustic and steel guitars, fiddle, and a soft drum beat, all of which create a warm and inviting sound. The song’s mid-tempo pace and singable chorus make it a favorite for country fans and an enduring choice for weddings and romantic occasions.

Beyond its success on the charts, the song has solidified its place as one of Randy Travis’s most beloved tracks. It showcases the traditional values and storytelling that define classic country music. Even decades after its release, Deeper Than the Holler remains a staple of country playlists, a testament to the timeless nature of Travis’s music and the power of a well-crafted love song.