Country Music

Brooks & Dunn -Building Bridges

Introduction

“Building Bridges” is a heartfelt country ballad originally penned by Hank DeVito and Larry Willoughby. Though it first appeared in earlier recordings—most notably by Nicolette Larson and Willoughby himself—the song gained its greatest recognition when revived by Brooks & Dunn. In 2005, the powerhouse duo included it on their platinum-selling ninth studio album, Hillbilly Deluxe, released August 30, 2005.

For its single release in 2006, Brooks & Dunn transformed “Building Bridges” into a soaring, three-part harmony, enlisting country superstars Sheryl Crow and Vince Gill for background vocals. This collaborative approach injected the track with rich vocal layers and broadened its emotional resonance . Critics responded positively—Billboard reviewer Deborah Evans Price praised Dunn’s “compelling” lead vocal and noted how Crow’s and Gill’s voices made the song “distinctive” .

The single climbed to number four on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, marking another Top‑Ten hit for Brooks & Dunn . It also earned awards attention: nominated for CMA Musical Event of the Year in 2006 and ACM Vocal Event of the Year in 2007 .

Visually, the music video complements the song’s emotional tone. Directed by Shaun Silva, it places the trio in a stark desert landscape, singing in front of large screens at dusk—a fitting metaphor for connection and distance .

As part of Hillbilly Deluxe, “Building Bridges” sits alongside other major singles like “Play Something Country” and “Believe.” It stands out for its collaborative spirit and lyrical emphasis on unity and healing—using the evocative metaphor of bridge‑building to explore themes of reconciliation and hope .

In choosing this track as a single, Brooks & Dunn not only underscored their gift for powerful duets but also reaffirmed the enduring appeal of country music’s capacity to heal through unity and shared voices.

Video

https://youtu.be/PcBmcjvbca4?si=89PiCtJQ30Uk4bh_

Lyric

[Verse 1]
Since you’ve gone, my heart said something’s wrong
How long can this keep going on?
I’m still blue over losing you
What else am I going to do?

[Chorus]
I’m building bridges straight to your heart
An’ all of this distance won’t keep us apart
Won’t keep us apart

[Verse 2]
Talk to me, talk to me about sympathy
Don’t leave me begging on my knees
Since you’ve gone, my heart says something’s wrong
How long can this keep going on?

[Chorus]
I’m building bridges straight to your heart
An’ all of this distance won’t keep us apart
Won’t keep us apart

[Chorus]
I’m building bridges straight to your heart
An’ all of this distance won’t keep us apart
Won’t keep us apart
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[Chorus]
I’m building bridges straight to your heart
An’ all of this distance won’t keep us apart
Won’t keep us apart

[Chorus]
I’m building bridges straight to your heart
An’ all of this distance won’t keep us apart
Won’t keep us apart

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