Born in Valdosta, Georgia, and raised in Marietta, Georgia, Royal became a local star at the Bamboo Ranch in Savannah in the 1950s and 1960s. He is best known for the 1965 US Top 10 pop hit "Down in the Boondocks", which, along with the singles "I Knew You When" (Top 20, 1965) and "Hush" (1967), were written and produced by Joe South. Another South composition, "Yo-Yo," just missed the top 40 in Canada and charted poorly in the U.S. when Royal released it in 1967, but a later remake by The Osmonds was a much greater success. His 1969 single, "Cherry Hill Park", peaked at No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100. In the 1970s his recording of "Heart's Desire" gained popularity among Northern soul enthusiasts and was regularly played in Northern soul nightclubs.
During the 1980s, Royal had a successful comeback with several Top 10 country hits, including "Tell It Like It Is", "Burned Like a Rocket", and "I'll Pin a Note on Your Pillow".
Royal's career experienced a second major period during the 2000s due to regular airplay on "oldies" radio stations. His music was further exposed to younger generations through a movement known as The Beat Army, an online music forum based on Facebook which is operated by author and music producer Paul Collins. Royal continued to tour regularly, performing concerts at casinos, music festivals and clubs in Canada, the United States, Japan and throughout Europe. His set lists include a mixture of songs representing multiple genres from the 1960s to the present.
Royal played Robert Ally in the indie Western film Billy the Kid (2013), co-starring country singer Cody McCarver.
Royal died in his sleep on October 6, 2015 in Morehead City, North Carolina.
Tulsa
Billy Joe Royal Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Jamie was an innocent young lady
God only knows why she gave herself
To a guy like you
She called me crying
And said she was
Gonna have your baby
But you just
Turned your back on her
Like all cowards do
And I swore I'd get you
Don't let the sun
Set on you in Tulsa
Don't let the sun
Set on you in Tulsa
If the sun goes down on you
And you're still here
You're going down too
Don't let the sun
Set on you in Tulsa
Jamie's the only thing
I ever really cared for
And she don't deserve
This kind of shame
She's carrying a child
That you're to blame for
But you just laughed and said
Ain't no way he's gonna get your name
And I swore I'd get you
For what you're putting her through
And believe me, brother
The only reason I ain't got you
Jamie cried and begged me not to
Don't let the sun
Set on you in Tulsa
Don't let the sun
Set on you in Tulsa
If the sun goes down on you
And you're still here
You're going down too
Don't let the sun
Set on you in Tulsa
Don't let the sun
Set on you in Tulsa
Don't let the sun
Set on you in Tulsa
The lyrics of Billy Joe Royal's song "Steal Away" tells the story of a man who is seeking revenge against another man who has impregnated his girlfriend, Jamie, and abandoned her. The singer, who had left Tulsa, receives a distress call from Jamie who is carrying the baby of the man who abandoned her. The man, adding insult to injury, laughed at Jamie and flatly refused to assume responsibility for the baby or give the baby his name. The singer returns to Tulsa and vows to seek revenge against the other man, whom he views as a coward for refusing to own up to his actions. The singer tells the other man not to let the sun set on him in Tulsa, essentially a warning that his revenge is coming.
The theme of the song is betrayal and revenge. The singer's girlfriend, Jamie, entrusted her innocence to someone who did not value her, and the other man betrayed her by abandoning her when she needed him the most. The singer is consumed with anger, and it is apparent that he blames the other man entirely for the ordeal, which includes Jamie being ashamed of her situation. The lyrics suggest that the singer is willing to take matters into his own hands to achieve justice for Jamie.
Line by Line Meaning
When I left Tulsa
Upon leaving Tulsa, the singer encountered an innocent young lady named Jamie.
Jamie was an innocent young lady
Jamie is characterized as being pure and virtuous as she was viewed by the singer upon initially meeting her.
God only knows why she gave herself
The singer does not understand why someone as innocent as Jamie would be so intimate with a person like the one he is addressing.
To a guy like you
The singer is questioning the worthiness of the person that Jamie had previously been intimate with.
She called me crying
Jamie contacted the singer in a distressed state, expressing her emotional pain.
And said she was
Jamie revealed that she was expecting a child.
Gonna have your baby
Jamie informed the singer that the person he is addressing is the father of her child.
But you just
Despite the news, the person the singer is addressing was unresponsive.
Turned your back on her
The person the singer is addressing neglected his responsibilities and instead of providing Jamie the support she needed, he chose to ignore her.
Like all cowards do
The singer is suggesting that the person he is addressing is both irresponsible and cowardly.
And I swore I'd get you
The singer made a promise to himself that he will bring to justice the person who caused Jamie pain.
Don't let the sun
The singer issues a warning to the accused person.
Set on you in Tulsa
The singer implies that the person he is addressing will face severe repercussions, possibly even death.
If the sun goes down on you
If nightfall occurs, and the person the singer is addressing is still present in Tulsa,
And you're still here
The person the singer is addressing has not left Tulsa.
You're going down too
The person the singer is addressing will be punished accordingly.
Jamie's the only thing
Jamie is the most important person in the singer's life.
I ever really cared for
The singer deeply cares for Jamie, and her well-being has become his top priority.
And she don't deserve
Jamie does not deserve the treatment she has received from the person the singer is addressing.
This kind of shame
Jamie has to carry the burden of a child conceived under the worst of circumstances.
She's carrying a child
Jamie is currently pregnant with a child.
That you're to blame for
The father of Jamie's future child is the person the singer is addressing.
But you just laughed and said
Despite the seriousness of the situation, the person the singer is addressing lacks any empathy as shown by his reaction.
Ain't no way he's gonna get your name
The person the singer is addressing is denying any liability and is not willing to take responsibility for his actions.
And I swore I'd get you
The singer reaffirms his commitment to bring justice to the person who caused Jamie pain.
For what you're putting her through
The person the singer is addressing is directly responsible for the emotional and physical toll Jamie is experiencing right now.
And believe me, brother
The singer is commanding the person he is addressing to listen to his warning very closely.
The only reason I ain't got you
The person the singer is addressing has been spared his punishment temporarily.
Jamie cried and begged me not to
Jamie pleaded with the singer not to engage in any violent behavior towards the person she had previously been intimate with.
Don't let the sun
The singer once again issues his warning.
Set on you in Tulsa
The person the singer is addressing will face dire consequences if he does not leave Tulsa at once.
Don't let the sun
The singer's warning is delivered once more.
Set on you in Tulsa
The consequences that the person the singer is addressing will suffer will be due to his own neglect and irresponsibility.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: WAYNE CARSON THOMPSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind