HERE'S SKEETER SINGIN' HER HEART OUT ! Appearances are often deceiving. Take Skeeter Davis, for instance. Although she would be perfect casting for the girl next door, few would pick her for the part of dedicated performer and singing star. Yet the pretty, appealingly vivacious Skeeter Davis encompasses both these roles - and to perfection. Sincerity is her keynote, underlined by a particularly winsome charm. All Skeeter's individual qualities are part of her singing - and part of her success story. "The Skeeter Davis Story" would sound not quote "true to life" if made into a movie, yet how many of her fans don't know that Skeeter first made an impact in country music circles as half of the Davis Sisters, and that it was just after Skeeter and Betty Jack Davis had made their first hit recording (I Forgot More Than You'll Ever Know) that Betty Jack was killed in an automobile accident. The road back was not an easy one for Skeeter, but it is a trip she made successfully and with dignity. Her early months as one-half of a duo undoubtedly left their influence on Skeeter's way with a song, a style which has had a large impact of its own on pop music. The trend to overdubbing ("singing with yourself") owes much of its life force to Skeeter's two and three-track hits. And the "answer song" fad of a few years back got a big boost with Skeeter's (I Can't Help You) I'm Falling Too - the answer song to Hank Locklin Please Help Me I'm Falling. The answer song included in this album is Lost To A Geisha Girl, Skeeter's answer to Hank Locklin's Geisha Girl, one of his Foreign Love hits. Of course the favorite Blueberry Hill is a statement all by itself - as styled by Skeeter Davis, and some of her most famous tear drenched performances are also here. Somebody Else On Your Mind, Homebraker, Give Me Death. Here's Skeeter - singing her heart out!
SKEETER DAVIS
BLUEBERRY HILL
RCA Camden CAS-899July/1965
Produced by Chet Atkins & Anita Kerr
Chet Atkins, Hank Garland, James Wilson - guitarVelma Smith - rh.guitar
Buddy Emmons, Pete Drake - steel
Jerry Byrd, Bob Moore - bass
Buddy Harman - drums
Hargus Pig Robbins, Floyd Cramer - piano
Hal Smith - fiddle
Sept/1957, RCA Victor Studio, Nashville (4)
Dec/1957, RCA Victor Studio, Nashville (5)
July 1/1959, RCA Victor Studio, Nashville (8,10)
July/1961, RCA Victor Studio, Nashville (1,9)
Nov/1961, RCA Victor Studio, Nashville (2)
June 8/1962, RCA Victor Studio, Nashville (3)
Apr/1963, RCA Victor Studio, Nashville (7)
March/1964, RCA Victor Studio, Nashville (6)
1.
BLUEBERRY HILL
(Al Lewis - Larry Stock - Vincent Rose)« © '40 Chappell & Co, ASCAP / Larry Stock Music, ASCAP / Sovereign Music, ASCAP »
I found my thrill on Blueberry Hill
On Blueberry Hill when I found you
The moon stood still on Blueberry Hill
And linger until my dreams came true
Though wind in the willows plays love's sweet melody
But all of those vows we made were never to be
Though we're apart you're a part of me still
For you were my thrill on Blueberry Hill
[ strings ] Though wind in the willows plays...
Yes you were my thrill on Blueberry Hill
**********
2.
WHERE I OUGHT TO BE
(Harlan Howard)« © '61 Tree Publishing, BMI »
I got your wedding invitation I'm surprised you thought of me
But I don't believe your wedding is just where I ought to be
For you put your arms around her kissed her lips so tenderly
As she's standing there beside you that's just where I ought to be
Like a fool I introduced you I said baby meet my friend
Never thought that I could lose you but I lost you then and then
I took the diamond ring you gave me threw it way out in the sea
And I had an awful feeling that's just where I ought to be
Da da da de de dee da...
Like a fool I introduced you...
I took the diamond ring you gave me...
**********
3.
LITTLE MUSIC BOX
(Rudy Thacker)« © '62 Tree Publishing, BMI »
Take back the gifts you gave to me
All the pretty things you gave so free
Take back the promise take back the ring
Without your love they don't mean a thing
One think I ask before you go
How could you give and be so cold
Take every gift but leave just one
The little music box that plays our song
Now the little music box plays our song
As I listen I keep wondering what went wrong
All I have is mem'ries of your love that's strong
And the little music box that plays our song
[ vibes ] The pretty little tune it plays so sweet
Brightens up my heart with memories
And though it hurts me I will just pretend
When the music plays that we're in love again
Don't say you're sorry say goodbye
The longer you stay either the more I cry
Take every gift but leave just one
The little music box that plays our song
Now the little music box plays our song...
Just the little music box that plays our song
**********
4.
LOST TO A GEISHA GIRL
(Lawton Williams)« © '57 Unart Catalog, BMI »
There's a rattle in the paper from the tremble of my hand
Each time I read the note you sent from the island of Japan
Now you say you found another that has made your life worthwhile
And I've lost you to a geisha girl dressed in oriental style
I don't believe in tea leaves or the writing in the sand
You've let a foreign woman prove the weakness of a man
Where the dim lights of a tea house makes a lonely heart grow wild
I've lost you to a geisha girl dressed in oriental style
[ guitar ] Does the beauty of the islands and your oriental love
Make the moon and stars seem brighter as they shine each night above
Why a love song with no meaning makes you happy I don't know
I've lost you to a geisha girl where the ocean breezes blow
I don't believe in tea leaves...
**********
5.
WALK SOFTLY DARLING
(Helen Carter)« © '65 Acuff-Rose Music, BMI »
Walk softly darling you're steppin' on my heart
And every trampled part is truely yours
Walk softly darling each thoughtless step you take
Is making my heart break a little more
(Walk softly walk softly)
You tell me that you just want to be sure
That my love is the one
You're playing the field to find out if it's real
But while you have your fun
Walk softly darling my heart's the breaking kind
And looking close you'll find your footprints there
(Walk softly walk softly)
[ guitar ] Walk softly darling my heart's the breaking kind
And looking close you'll find your footprints there
(Walk softly)
**********
6.
FACE OF A CLOWN
(Carolyn Penick)« © '64 Johnny Bienstock Music, BMI »
It's hard for me to smile I feel like crying
Yet I always manage to grin
Friends won't know the pain that I feel
Or the misery that I'm in
Everyone thinks I'm so happy
For I smile and never frown
But looks are deceiving and nobody knows
The hurt behind the face of a clown
I've got my pride and my tears I'll hide
Whenever you are around
You'll never may know you hurt me so
For I have a face of a clown
I'll try to conceal this pain that I feel
I can't let it get me down
You won't have the pleasure of knowing
The hurt behind the face of a clown
(You won't have the pleasure of knowing)
The hurt behind the face of a clown
**********
7.
SOMEBODY ELSE ON YOUR MIND
(Skeeter Davis)« © '63 Johnny Bienstock Music, BMI »
When you take me in your arms and tell me that you love me
I want to think it's really true but my heart won't let me
For when you're kissing me it's plain for me to see
You've got somebody else on your mind
Somebody else is with you in your dreams
Somebody else now has your love it seems
Give her your kisses they're not really mine
You've got somebody else on your mind
[ strings ] When you're holding her so close and telling her you love her
What would she think if she just knew you also told another
Someday she will see you said those words to me
And that's somebody else on your mind
Somebody else is with you in your dreams...
**********
8.
HOMEBREAKER
(Marie Wilson - Skeeter Davis)« © '59 Tree Publishing, BMI »
Homebreaker that's what you're calling me
But he stopped loving you before he came to me
You're sayin' I broke up your home and that I stole your man
But that's not really true I never had it planned
You're giving me the blame but in your heart you should know
He stopped loving you a long time ago
Remember what he had to face when his day would end
Just another party night with you entertaining your friends
You gave them all your attention and he often sat alone
Neglected and left out of things in what you called a home
Homebreaker that's what you're calling me...
I was sittin' in a diner when he came in all alone
Why I bet you didn't miss him or even know that he was gone
I listened as he talked to me he had to tell someone
And he cried tears for you now yours have just begun
Well now you say you love him but if you really do
Then give him this chance at happiness the happiness he never had with you
Homebreaker that's what you're calling me...
**********
9.
OPTIMISTIC
(Aubrey Freeman)« © '61 Big D Music, BMI »
How long is the river how deep is the sea
How loong is forever that's how long you love me
My heart is beating fast I found true love at last
I'm so optimistic I know this new love will last
[ strings ] How high is the mountain how far out of space
How long could I hold you in a lover's embrace
Until the end of time a love that's so divine
I'm so optimistic about this new love of mine
**********
10.
GIVE ME DEATH
(Marie Wilson - Skeeter Davis)« © '59 Tree Publishing, BMI »
I'm standing in the courtroom the trial is for my life
The jury found me guilty the crime is killing twice
I found him with another I guess he loved her best
Then in a lover's jealous rage I shot them both to death
Give me death give me death
A lifetime in a prison is what they've given me
But in some lonely graveyard is where I'd rather be
So judge I beg for mercy please put my soul at rest
Judge please change my sentence from life and give me death
Give me death give me death give me death give me death
**********
