About the song
Scotty McCreery’s I Love You This Big is more than just a debut single; it’s a heartfelt declaration of innocence, sincerity, and wide-eyed devotion wrapped in the warm embrace of country music tradition. Released in 2011 as his first official song after winning American Idol, the track serves as an introduction to McCreery’s deep baritone, which, even in his teenage years, carried the rich timbre of a seasoned country storyteller. I Love You This Big is a simple yet poignant ballad about young love, its lyrics painting a picture of a man struggling to express the depth of his emotions in words, resorting instead to a childlike gesture—stretching his arms out as far as they can go—to demonstrate the boundlessness of his feelings.
Produced by Mark Bright, a veteran known for his work with Carrie Underwood and Rascal Flatts, the song leans into the polished side of modern country, blending gentle acoustic strumming with sweeping orchestration. This is not the twang-heavy, honky-tonk style of classic country, but rather the cinematic, contemporary Nashville sound that dominated the early 2010s—perfectly suited for an artist launching his career in the post-Idol era. The instrumentation remains restrained, allowing McCreery’s voice to take center stage, and it’s his deep, warm delivery that gives the song its emotional weight.
Lyrically, I Love You This Big embraces simplicity, which is both its charm and its limitation. It doesn’t attempt poetic complexity or intricate storytelling; instead, it taps into universal sentiment. The chorus, with its directness—*”I love you this big, eyes have never seen this big”—mirrors the way young love often feels: overwhelming, larger than life, impossible to quantify. For some, this straightforwardness may feel saccharine, but for others, it strikes at something pure and unguarded, reminiscent of the earnest love songs that have always found a place in country music’s heart.
As a debut, I Love You This Big served its purpose well, introducing McCreery as an artist with both commercial appeal and an old soul. It showcased his ability to deliver emotion with understated power, setting the stage for a career that would, over the years, grow into something deeper and more nuanced. While it may not be the most complex song in his catalog, it remains a sentimental favorite—a snapshot of youthful devotion, framed in the warm glow of country radio nostalgia.
Video
Lyrics
I know I’m still young
But, I know how I feel
I might not have too much experience
But, I know when love is real.By the way my heart starts pounding
When I look into your eyes
I might look a little silly
Standing with my arms stretched open wide.I love you this big
Eyes have never seen… this big
No-one’s ever dreamed… this big
And I’ll spend the rest of my life
Explaining what words cannot describe but, I’ll try
I love you this bigI’ll love you to the moon and back
I’ll love you all the time
Deeper than the ocean
And higher than the pines.Cause girl, you do something to me
Deep down in my heart
I know I look a little crazy
Standing with my arms stretched all apart.I love you this big
Eyes have never seen… this big
No-one’s ever dreamed… this big
And I’ll spend the rest of my life
Explaining what words cannot describe but, I’ll try
I love you this bigSo much bigger than I ever dreamed my heart ever would
I love you this big
And I’d write your name in stars across the sky
If I could, I wouldI love you this big
Oh, eyes have never seen… this big
No-one’s ever dreamed… this big
And I’ll spend the rest of my life
Explaining what words cannot describe but, I’ll try
I love you this bigI love you this big
Oh, eyes have never seen… this big
No-one’s ever dreamed… this big
And I’ll spend the rest of my life
Explaining what words cannot describe but, I’ll try
I love you this big
