Tracy Byrd remains one of the most influential country artists of the 90s. Byrd hasnât released any music in several years, in part because the genre is much different than it was when he was one of the reigning hitmakeres.
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âI wonât argue that the country music of today is catchy and hugely popular,â Byrd says (via The Dawg). âBut itâs vastly different from what we did.â
Byrd turns 59 on December 17. In honor of his birthday, we are taking a look at four Tracy Byrd songs that every country music fan should know by heart.
âWatermelon Crawlâ

Byrd includes âWatermelon Crawlâ on his sophomore No Ordinary Man album. Written by Buddy Brock and Zack Turner, the song is a humorous story about a watermelon festival, and the joys and pitfalls of drinking too much âsweet red wine.â
âWatermelon Crawlâ says, âWell, we got a hundred gallons of sweet red wine / Made from the biggest watermelons on the vine / Help yourself to some, but obey the law / If you drink, donât drive, do the watermelon crawl.â
âDonât Take Her Sheâs All I Gotâ

âDonât Take Her Sheâs All I Gotâ started out as just âSheâs All I Gotâ. Written by Gary U.S. Bonds and Jerry Williams Jr., the song was first recorded by Freddie North, Conway Twitty, and Tanya Tucker. In 1997, Byrd also released his own version on his Big Love record.
The song is an uptempo tune about a man begging someone not to take the woman he loves. âDonât Take Her Sheâs All I Gotâ says, âLet me tell you now friend / Donât take her sheâs all Iâve got / Please donât take her love away from me / Iâm begginâ you friend / Donât take her sheâs all Iâve got / Sheâs everything in life Iâll ever need.â
âThe Keeper Of The Starsâ

Written by Dickey Lee, Danny Mayo, and Karen Staley, Tracy Byrd includes âThe Keeper Of The Starsâ on No Ordinary Man. The sweet love song is about thanking God for the gift of his significant other.
âThe Keepr Of The Starsâ says, âI tip my hat / To the keeper of the stars / He sure knew what He was doinâ / When He joined these two hearts / I hold everything / When I hold you in my arms / Iâve got all Iâll ever need / Thanks to the keeper of the stars.â
âThe Keeper of The Starsâ earned Byrd the only ACM Award of his career, for Song of the Year.
âTen Rounds With Jose Cuervoâ

âTen Rounds With Jose Cuervoâ earned Byrd the final No. 1 single of his career. Out in 2002 on his Ten Rounds album, the comedic song is written by Casey Beathard, Michael P. Heeney, and Marla Cannon-Goodman.
The tune is about a guy who goes to a bar to forget his heartache. Not surprisingly, he ends up drinking way too much tequila.
âTen Rounds With Jose Cuervoâ says, âWell, around five or round six / I forgot what I came to forget / After round seven or was it eight / I bought a round for the whole dang place / After nine rounds with Jose Cuervo / They were countinâ me out and I was about to give in / Then after ten rounds with Jose Cuervo / I lost count and started countinâ again.â