Welcome to Music Friday, when we spotlight songs that feature jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the lyrics or title. Today, Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Mary Chapin Carpenter gives love a second chance in her 2010 ballad, “Last Night I Put My Ring Back On.”
In this poignant song, Carpenter stands at a crossroads in a long relationship. The narrator has thrown her wedding ring “down, down, down,” weighed down by pain and frustration. But as the night unfolds, she experiences a quiet awakening — an emotional turning point that leads her to slip the ring back on her finger. With that simple gesture, she reclaims faith, hope and commitment.
She sings, “Who knows where faith comes from / But last night I put my ring back on / ’Cause here with you is where I belong.”
The ring in this song is far more than a piece of jewelry — it’s a symbol of promise renewed. In taking it off, the singer acknowledges the fragility of love and the human impulse to flee from pain. But in putting it back on, she affirms that love is not about perfection; it’s about persistence. The ring becomes both a circle of devotion and a mirror of endurance, reminding us that reconciliation can be as profound as the initial vow.
Co-written and performed by Carpenter, the song appears as the third track on The Age of Miracles, an album that reached #6 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart. Vince Gill lends his smooth harmony vocals, adding warmth and depth to the track’s reflective tone.
Born in Princeton, NJ, in 1958, Carpenter developed her passion for music as a teenager, teaching herself guitar and performing folk songs during high school. After graduating from Brown University in 1981, she immersed herself in Washington, DC’s thriving folk scene — a move that eventually led to a Columbia Records deal and a remarkable career spanning more than 17 million albums sold.
Over the years, Carpenter has collected five Grammy Awards, including four consecutive wins for Best Female Country Vocal Performance (1992–1995). She’s also the fifth cousin of legendary songwriter and humanitarian Harry Chapin of “Cat’s in the Cradle” fame.
Now in her mid-sixties, Carpenter remains as eloquent and active as ever. She recently wrapped up her 2025 fall tour alongside Brandy Clark and continues to share updates and reflections with fans on social media.
Please enjoy the audio track of Carpenter performing “Last Night I Put My Ring Back On.” The lyrics are below if you’d like to sing along...
“I Put My Ring Back On”
Written and performed by Mary Chapin Carpenter.
Who knows where faith comes from
But last night I put my ring back on
‘Cause here with you is where I belong
Last night I put my ring back on
No life’s without uncertainty
We both know how hard this love can be
It’s just this hurting inside of me that threw it down,
Down down down
Who knows where hope comes from
But last night I put my ring back on
‘Cause here with you is where I belong
Last night I put my ring back on
We can’t speak like lovers we used to be
We can’t change ancient history
And love wounds with such simplicity
And I threw it down, down, down, down, down
Your heart is all I want to see
Your hand reaching out to me
And your kiss remembers the mystery
Time was, I’d be as good as gone
But last night I didn’t want to run
‘Cause here with you is where I belong
Last night I put my ring back on
Last night I put my ring back on
Last night I put my ring back on
Credit: Screen capture via YouTube / Carey McGleish.