He first performed in a children's choir at his local Presbyterian church. Williams and his three older brothers Bob, Dick, and Don, formed a quartet, the Williams Brothers, in the late 1930s. The brothers performed on radio in the Midwest, first at WHO in Des Moines, Iowa, and later at WLS in Chicago and WLW in Cincinnati. Williams graduated from Western Hills High School in Cincinnati. They appeared with Bing Crosby on the hit record "Swinging on a Star" (1944). This led to a nightclub act with entertainer Kay Thompson from 1947 to 1951.
Williams's solo career began in 1952 after his brothers left the act. He recorded six sides for RCA's label "X," but none of them were popular hits. After landing a spot as a regular on Steve Allen's Tonight Show in 1955, he was signed to a recording contract with Cadence Records, a small label in New York run by conductor Archie Bleyer. His third single, "Canadian Sunset" (1956) hit the Top Ten, and was soon followed his only Billboard #1 hit, "Butterfly" (a cover of a Charlie Gracie record on which Williams imitated Elvis Presley). More hits followed, including "The Hawaiian Wedding Song," "Are You Sincere," "The Village of St. Bernadette," and "Lonely Street," before Williams moved to Columbia Records in 1961, having moved from New York to Los Angeles. In terms of chart popularity, the Cadence era was Williams's peak although songs he introduced on Columbia became much bigger standards. Two top ten hits from the Cadence era, "Butterfly" and "I Like Your Kind of Love" were apparently believed to not suit Williams's later style; they were not included on a Columbia reissue of his Cadence greatest hits in the 1960s.
During the 1960s, Williams became one of the most popular vocalists in the country and signed what was to that time the biggest recording contract in history. He was primarily an album artist, and at one time he had earned more gold albums than any solo performer except Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley. By 1973 he had earned as many as 17 gold album awards. Among his hit albums from this period were Moon River, Days of Wine and Roses (number one for 16 weeks in mid-1963), The Andy Williams Christmas Album, Dear Heart, The Shadow of Your Smile, Love, Andy, Get Together with Andy Williams, and Love Story. In these recordings Williams displays an incredible vocal technique along with an uncanny ability to make each song his very own, often rivaling or surpassing the version by the original artist. These attributes, along with his natural affinity for the music of the 1960s and early 1970s, combined to make him one of the premier easy listening singers of that era.
Williams forged an indirect collaborative relationship with Henry Mancini, although they never recorded together. Williams was asked to sing Mancini and Johnny Mercer's song "Moon River" at the 1962 Oscar Awards (where it won), and it quickly became Williams's theme song. This was repeated the next year with the pair's "Days of Wine and Roses" (which also won), Mancini's "Dear Heart" at the 1965 awards and "The Sweetheart Tree" (also written with Mercer) at the 1966 awards.
Williams also competed in the teenage-oriented singles market as well and had several charting hits including "Can't Get Used to Losing You," "Happy Heart," and "Where Do I Begin", the theme song from the 1970 blockbuster film, Love Story. Building on his experience with Allen and some short-term variety shows in the 1950s, he became the star of his own weekly television variety show in 1962. This series, The Andy Williams Show, won three Emmy Awards for outstanding variety program. Among his series regulars were the Osmond Brothers. He gave up the variety show in 1971 while it was still popular and retrenched to three specials per year. His Christmas specials, which appeared regularly until 1974 and intermittently from 1982 into the 1990s, were among the most popular of the genre. Williams has recorded eight Christmas albums over the years. He hosted the Grammy Awards for three consecutive years in the 1970s. He returned to television to do a syndicated half-hour series in 1976-77.
In the early 1990s, Williams gave up most of his touring schedule in order to open his own theatre in Branson, Missouri, the Andy Williams Moon River Theater. He continues to do 8 to 12 shows a week from September to December and occasionally makes tours of Europe earlier in the year.
His 1967 recording of "Music to Watch Girls By" was a surprise UK hit in 1999, when it reached number 9 after featuring in an advert (beating the original peak of number 33 in 1967). In 2002 he took part in a new duet of "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" with British actress and singer Denise van Outen. Nearly everything Williams ever recorded has now been made available on CD through a series of compilations from 1997 to 2004.
Williams met Claudine Longet when he pulled over to aid her on a Las Vegas road. She was a dancer at the time at the Folies Bergere. They married on Christmas Day, 1961, and had three children, Noelle, Christian, and Robert. They separated in 1969 and finally divorced 6 years later. In 1976 Longet was charged with fatally shooting her boyfriend, skier Vladimir "Spider" Sabich and Williams supported her. He married a second time in May 1991 to the former Debbie Haas. They make their homes at Branson, Missouri and La Quinta, California. Williams' homes have been featured in Architectural Digest, and he is a noted collector of modern art. Williams is an avid golfer. He hosted a major golf tournament in San Diego for many years, which was known as the Andy Williams San Diego Open during that time.
Williams' birthplace is a tourist attraction open most of the year.
Fly By Night
Andy Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Please pity me (fly by night)
I fall in love so easily
Oh, fly by night (fly by night)
Don't fly away (from me)
Take my heart (fly by night)
Forever more to have and own
Oh, fly by night (fly by night)
Don't fly away (from me)
Be my angel true
Not my butterfly
For though they both have wings
Angels don't say goodbye
In my arms (fly by night)
There's love for you (fly by night)
So, please say you love me true
Oh, fly by night (fly by night)
Don't fly away (fly by night)
Oh, fly by night (fly by night)
Don't fly away (fly by night)
Oh, fly by night
Andy Williams's "Fly By Night" is a heartfelt plea for a loved one's affection. He acknowledges his tendency to fall in love easily and fears that his love will be fleeting to his crush, who seems to have a reputation for partying and leaving town without notice. He begs them to stay with him and take his heart, promising that it will always belong to them.
The title "Fly By Night" suggests the temporary and fickle nature of the relationship that the singer is in, as "fly by night" is commonly used to describe someone or something that is unreliable or not trustworthy. The repetition of the phrase throughout the song emphasizes the singer's desperation to hold onto their lover, hoping that they won't just suddenly leave without explanation.
The comparison of the lover to an angel, rather than a butterfly, suggests that the singer is looking for someone who is more than just a fleeting attraction. While butterflies are known to be symbolic of change and growth, angels represent something more lasting and ethereal. The final chorus expands on this sentiment, with the singer pleading for their lover to say that they love him truly, cementing the idea that he wants something more meaningful than just a short-lived romance.
Overall, "Fly By Night" is a touching plea for love and affection that captures the fear of being abandoned by someone who is not fully committed to a relationship. Its heartfelt lyrics and soothing melody make it a classic love song that is still enjoyed by listeners today.
Line by Line Meaning
Fly by night (fly by night)
Move quickly and secretly during the night (or) a metaphor for a fleeting romantic relationship that is not expected to last
Please pity me (fly by night)
I am vulnerable and easily hurt in love, so please be gentle
I fall in love so easily
My heart is open and I am quick to develop strong feelings for someone
Don't fly away (from me)
Please don't leave me alone or abandon our relationship
Take my heart (fly by night)
I am offering my heart to you, even if it may only be temporary
It's yours alone (fly by night)
If you accept my heart, you will have all of my love and devotion
Forever more to have and own
You will have my heart and love forever, even if our time together is short
Be my angel true
I am seeking a committed and dependable romantic partner
Not my butterfly
I do not want a fleeting or casual romance, but a deep and lasting connection
For though they both have wings
Both angels and butterflies are symbols of flight and freedom
Angels don't say goodbye
Unlike butterflies, who flit from flower to flower, angels are a symbol of permanence and commitment
In my arms (fly by night)
I want to hold you close and keep you safe, even if it is only for a short time
There's love for you (fly by night)
I have genuine feelings of love and affection for you
So, please say you love me true
I hope that you feel the same way about me and that our love can be mutual and authentic
Oh, fly by night (fly by night)
Reaffirms the temporary and fleeting nature of the relationship being described
Don't fly away (fly by night)
Reiterates the artist's desire for the relationship to continue, even if it must end soon
Oh, fly by night
A repeated refrain highlighting the central theme of the song
Contributed by Christopher A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@jayjones1686
im just 19 and i can honestly say this man has one of the most beautiful voices i have ever heard
@Crowder257
Thank you for your comments. I am so pleased that you like Andy Williams’ voice. He has always been one of my favourite singers. I got my love of music from my Dad. No internet then. We are all so lucky having access to so much music. I hope you continue to enjoy Andy Williams and of course being 19.
@allisonanderson7189
I heard this song by Andy Williams for the first time 3 days ago. I don't know why I don't remember hearing it on the radio years ago, because I grew up listening to him. Nevertheless, this song is definitely one of the prettiest he ever made.
@Crowder257
Thank you. I was looking for a song to show the butterflies and remember Poor Butterfly by Andy Williams and came across this lovely song. I think it was on an album. As you say it’s a pretty song.
@josiehoyle9314
A lovely song - with butterflies. Wonderful
@MichaelDaily1
One of my all time favorite songs and itjust happened to be by Andy Williams.
@Crowder257
Yes it’s a lovely song by Andy Williams. I enjoyed matching it up with the beautiful butterflies that were in my garden. Thank you for your comments.
@califgirl101
Wow, I am sooooooo happy to have found this wonderful Andy Williams tune again! All the times I've heard this particular tune in my head and I found it on youtube at last! Thank you thank you thank you! :)
@Crowder257
Thank you so much. I had never heard this lovely song until this year, and I thought it would go well with the butterflies. I am so pleased that you enjoyed listening to it again.
@Crowder257
Thank you. It was a great year for butterflies. 🦋