"Sincerity" is the word for Skeeter Davis. This is the one attribute more responsible for her success in country music than any other. It has gained for her a warm spot in the hearts of millions and was a principal factor in her being selected as a permanent member of WSM's "Grand Ole Opry." Skeeter Davis was born on a farm in Dry Ridge, Kentucky, the first of seven children in the family of Sarah and William Penick. In her early childhood she chose country music as her life's ambition, but the road to success was long and trying. She passed the first milestone in her quest the day she met Betty Jack Davis in a high school singing session. Thus was born "The Davis Sisters" duo. After months of travel and public appearances, they were auditioned and signed to a recording contract by RCA Victor. Their first record was I Forgot More Than You'll Ever Know. It was an overnight hit and was rated the top country song of 1953. Success for the Davis Sisters seemed just around the corner, but fate intervened. Their road to fame was tragically ended by the death of Betty Jack in a highway accident. If Skeeter was to succeed, she finally realized, she would have to walk her path alone. After months of recuperation she made her first appearance as a soloist. Within a short time Skeeter had become one of 1957's top-ranking country singers. Two years later she reached another important objective when she became a regular member of the "Grand Ole Opry," home of most of the top performers in the country music industry. Today, Skeeter Davis is a shining example to the singers of tomorrow. If sincerity, devotion to family, love of people and warmth of heart are the requirements of a country music star, then Skeeter rates Number One in her field.
Ott Devine - Station WSM, Nashville
SKEETER DAVIS
I'LL SING YOU A SONG AND HARMONIZE TOO
RCA Victor LSP-2197November/1959
Produced by Chet Atkins
Grady Martin, Hank Garland, Chet Atkins - guitarRay Edenton, Velma Smith - rh.guitar
Bud Isaac, Jimmy Day - steel
Bob Moore - bass
Buddy Harman - drums
Tommy Jackson, Donald Slayman - fiddle
Floyd Cramer - piano/organ
Recorded:
May/1958, RCA Victor Studio, Nashville (8)
Janu 30/1959, RCA Victor Studio, Nashville (6,11)
Sept/1959, RCA Victor Studio, Nashville
1.
JUST WHEN I NEEDED YOU
(Johnny Wright - Jack Anglin - Clyde Baum)« © '48 Acuff-Rose Music, BMI »
Just when I needed you you left and went away
You made my life so blue both night and day
You left me here behind with a troubled worried mind
So broken hearted too just when I needed you
I cried I cried I prayed I tried
To forget you and never call your name
What a shame what a shame you're the one who was to blame
You're the one who proved untrue just when I needed you
[ fiddle - steel ] No matter where you wander no matter where you go
There's a longing in my heart for only you
I love you just the same and I want you back again
Although you proved untrue just when I needed you
I cried I cried I prayed I tried...
**********
2.
AM I THAT EASY TO FORGET
(Carl Belew - W.S. Stevenson)« © '59 Acuff-Rose Music, BMI »
You say you've found somebody new
But that won't stop my loving you
I just can't let you walk away
Forget the love I have for you
Guess I could find somebody too
But I don't want no one but you
How can you leave without regret
Am I that easy to forget
Before you leave be sure you find
You want her love much more than mine
Then I'll just say we'd never met
If I'm that easy to forget
[ steel ] Before you leave be sure you find...
**********
3.
HAVE YOU SEEN THIS MAN
(Marie Wilson - Skeeter Davis - Justin Tubb)« © '59 Tree Publishing, BMI »
See that man there on the corner he can call his life his own
Dressed in rags and eyes so empty he's like a statue made of stone
Yet he chose this way of living another life that God had planned
And each day he's sinking lower with that bottle in his hand
Do you ever stop to wonder have you really seen this man
Or do you see just another bum with a bottle in his hand
[ steel ] Yes he sleeps in dingy alleys but great love this man has known
And each time our baby calls for him it cuts me to the bone
He was once so proud and worthy of a love at his command
But he lost it all forever for that bottle in his hand
If you ask me yes I love him but I just can't understand
But you help me find the answer to that bottle in his hands
**********
4.
YOUR CHEATIN' HEART
(Hank Williams)« © '52 Acuff-Rose Music, BMI »
Your cheating heart will make you weep
You'll cry and cry and try to sleep
But sleep won't come the whole night through
Your cheating heart will tell on you
When tears come down like falling rain
You'll toss around and call my name
You'll walk the floor the way I do
Your cheating heart will tell on you
[ guitar + fiddle + steel ] When your tears come down like falling rain...
**********
5.
ONE YOU SLIP AROUND WITH
(Harlan Howard - Charles Owen)« © '59 Tree Publishing, BMI / Jat Music, BMI »
I'd rather be the one you slip around with
Than be the one who's dream of love is gone
Yes I'd rather be the one you spend your time with
Than be the one at home all alone
I have the key to heaven when we married
And for a while I brought you happiness
I can't believe your love for me is buried
And every night you share another's kiss
And I'd rather be the one you slip around with...
[ steel ] Deep down inside I know that I should leave you
How many tears must fall before I learn
I think of many ways that I could grieve you
And yet I'm always here when you return
And I'd rather be the one you slip around with...
**********
6.
DEVIL'S DOLL
(Cindy Walker)« © '59 Unart Catalog, BMI »
I knew him when he held his head up high
And there was love and laughter in his eyes
And then one day the devil's doll came by
She tempted him and he fell
I knew him when he wouldn't stay away
From home all night and drink till break of day
But devil doll's all have a certain way
Of changing heaven to hell
She took his heart that never was untrue
And taught him things the devil taught her too
Till he became someone I never knew
Who lied and cheated and left me
But now and then I see him passing by
In shabby clothes and lost and empty eyes
With feel of hate for her that never dies
The devil's doll was she
I knew him when he loved me
**********
7.
CHAINED TO A MEMORY
(Jenny Lou Carson)« © '46 Unichappell Music, BMI »
Makes no difference if we two are far apart dear
I could never ever love somebody new
Cause there isn't any room inside my heart dear
While I'm chained to a memory of you
I could never tell another I belong to them
All those whispered words of love would not be true
I could never tell another that I long for them
While I'm chained to a memory of you
[ steel ] Maybe time will wear the links away and then dear
They will break and set me free to love a new
I could never love someone else again dear
While I'm chained to a memory of you
If the world should end tomorrow I'd be satisfied
Cause you're gone and there is nothing I can do
All my dreams and precious hopes of yesterday they have died
Yet I'm chained to a memory of you
**********
8.
I FORGOT MORE THAN YOU'LL EVER KNOW
(Cecil Null)« © '53 Unart Catalog, BMI »
I forgot more than you'll ever know about him
You think you know the smile on his lips the thrill at the touch of his fingertips
But I forgot more than you'll ever know about him
You think you'll find a heaven of bliss in each caress each tender kiss
But I forgot more than you'll ever know about him
You stole his love from me one day you didn't care how you hurt me
But you can never steal away mem'ries of what used to be
You think he's yours to have and to hold
Someday you'll learn when his love grows cold
That I forgot more than you'll ever know about him
[ guitar ] I forgot more than you'll ever know about him
**********
9.
STANDING IN THE SHADOWS
(Ray Price)« © '59 Tree Publishing, BMI »
When you're walking down the isle with your new love by your side
I'll be standing in the shadows watching you
When you say your sacred vows I'll repeat them with you too
But I'll be standing in the shadows watching you
I remember all the times you whispered you were mine
As I watch her take my place with you
When the rice begins to fly I throw a kiss as you go by
I'll be standing in the shadows watching you
[ steel ] When her mother starts to cry I stand and watch my dreams all die
I'll be standing in the shadows watching you
When they give the brighter way then I know you're gone to stay
I'll be standing in the shadows watching you
I remember all the times you whispered dear you're mine...
**********
10.
UNDER YOUR SPELL AGAIN
(Buck Owens - Dusty Rhodes)« © '59 Central Songs, BMI »
You've got me under your spell again thinking those things again
Making me believe that you're just mine
You've got me dreaming those dreams again thinking those things again
I've got to take you back just one more time
I swore the last time that you let me down
That I wouldn't see you if you came around
But I can't tell my heart what's right or wrong
And I've been so lonely since you've been gone
You've got me under your spell again...
[ guitar - steel ] Everybody tells me that I'm a fool
That I never should have put my faith in you
And way down deep inside I guess I know it's true
But no one else can make me feel the way you do
You've got me under your spell again...
**********
11.
SET HIM FREE
(Marie Wilson - Skeeter Davis - Helen Moyers)« © '59 Tree Publishing, BMI »
Set him free set him free for I love him you see
(Order in the court do you swear to tell the truth
The whole truth and nothing but the truth so help you God)
Yes I do Judge I've never believed in divorces unless they just have to be
But after you've heard my story then I know you'll set this man free
It began right after the wedding she cheated and she lied from the start
And I could see from the way they were headed
This woman would soon break his heart
Set him free set him free for I love him you see
The three of us were always the best of friends
And when I leave this courtroom Judge I know our friendship ends
If you could have heard the awful things that I've heard her say
Or she'd call his name and slapped his face and he'd just turn away
And the nights we went out for fun it was all so plain to see
Then she'd dance all night with someone else and leave him there with me
Set him free set him free for I love him you see
Now I ask you Judge to understand think it over slow
You see I fell in love with him and I don't care who knows
I'd respect him as a husband and I'd treat him like a man
I know I could help him find more happiness than this woman ever can
Well Judge you've heard my story it's true as true can be
I've even told you that I love him so Judge won't you please set him free
Set him free set him free for I love him you see
**********
12.
LET THOSE BROWN EYES SMILE AT ME
(Rusty Nail)« © '56 Golden West Melodies, BMI »
Let those brown eyes smile at me dear
That's what I wish with all my soul
Let those brown eyes smile at me dear
And turn my blue moon back to gold
Well we've been sweethears so long darling
But now you're growing tired of me
The last time that I saw you darling
Those brown eyes didn't smile at me
Let those brown eyes smile at me dear...
[ guitar ] Today my heart is sad and weary
I want a love that cannot be
The only time I'm really happy
Is when those brown eyes smile at me
Let those brown eyes smile at me dear...
[ fiddle - steel ] Let those brown eyes smile at me dear...
**********
