Swan's role in the music industry was, originally, largely invisible. His first big break was in 1962 when Clyde McPhatter recorded "Lover Please", a song written by Swan that quickly became a Top Ten hit. Moving to Nashville allowed Swan to write hit country songs for numerous artists, including Conway Twitty, Waylon Jennings, and Mel Tillis.
In 1969, Swan first took on the role of record producer, publishing Tony Joe White's Top Ten hit "Polk Salad Annie". Swan played bass guitar for Kris Kristofferson, and signed a deal with Monument Records.
Swan's first album included the popular song "I Can Help", a rockabilly number that topped both the Billboard Hot 100 and country charts in 1974. Swan recorded the song in two takes (without overdubs) with an organ that Kristofferson and singer Rita Coolidge had bought for him as a wedding gift.
However, other albums with Monument, A&M, and Epic did not have nearly the success of his first.
Swan continued to tour with Kristofferson, and has recorded two albums with Randy Meisner. As of 2005, Swan was still a back-up and session musician.
Swan was married to his late wife Marlu for 30 years. They had two daughters, recording artists Planet Swan & Sierra Swan.
Another Bill Swan is guitarist for the American band The Muffins.
Vanessa
Billy Swan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I quit that messing around
So won't you come back to me?
I'll be good to you sweetheart, I'm begging for a new start
Vanessa, it ain't necessary for you to keep on hurting me?
Now I know I've been wrong but you ain't been right
Treat me like another man, never had a thing
I call you on the phone and it just rings, rings, rings
Vanessa, I learned my lessons
I quit all that messing around
So won't you come back to me?
I'll stay home with you sweetheart, I'm begging for a new start
Vanessa, it ain't necessary for you to keep on hurting me?
Tell me baby, sort of maybe
You've been turning and coming back
Don't you be so foolish
Don't you treat me foolish like that
I hate that, Vanessa
I spoke to your mom and I talk to your dad
They just sympathized with all other guys
My friends say they see ya and ya not doing bad
That makes me wanna go home and cry, cry, cry
Oh Vanessa, I learned my lessons
I quit that messing around
So won't you come back to me
I'll be good to you sweetheart, I'm asking for a new start
Vanessa, it ain't necessary for you to keep on hurting me?
And no Vanessa, no Vanessa, got no Vanessa
No Vanessa, no Vanessa, Vanessa, Vanessa
Vanessa, Vanessa
Oh no, Vanessa, Vanessa, Vanessa, Vanessa, Vanessa
Oh, Vanessa, Vanessa, Vanessa, Vanessa, Vanessa
Oh, Vanessa, oh Vanessa, oh Vanessa, oh Vanessa
Got no Vanessa, no Vanessa, no Vanessa
The song Vanessa by Billy Swan is about a man who has made mistakes in his relationship and is begging for forgiveness from his lover Vanessa. He confesses that he has stopped cheating on her and has learned his lessons but Vanessa has been treating him poorly, turning off the lights or ignoring his phone calls. Despite speaking to Vanessa's parents and friends, they don't seem to be helping him in his attempts to win her back. The song ends with the singer realizing that he may have lost her for good and he is left without her in his life.
The song portrays a man who is trying to repair his relationship with his partner but is facing difficulties in doing so. He has learned from his mistakes but struggles to convince Vanessa to give him another chance. The chorus of the song repeats the message that he has learned his lessons and is asking for forgiveness, showing his sincerity towards their relationship. The lyrics of the song are simple yet poignant, conveying the singer's desperation to make amends and his pain in the face of rejection.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh Vanessa, I learned my lessons
The singer apologizes to Vanessa for his past behavior and promises to be a better partner
And I quit that messing around
The singer admits to having cheated or played games with Vanessa before, but has stopped doing so
So won't you come back to me?
The singer wants Vanessa to give him another chance and come back to him
I'll be good to you sweetheart, I'm begging for a new start
The singer promises to treat Vanessa well and start fresh with her
Vanessa, it ain't necessary for you to keep on hurting me?
The singer asks Vanessa to stop hurting him and give him a chance to make things right
Now I know I've been wrong but you ain't been right
The singer acknowledges his past mistakes but points out that Vanessa has also mistreated him in some way
Treat me like another man, never had a thing
Vanessa has been ignoring or mistreating the singer, as if they never had any connection before
I come by your house and you turn off the light
When the singer tries to visit Vanessa, she avoids him and doesn't want to see him
I call you on the phone and it just rings, rings, rings
When the singer tries to call Vanessa, she doesn't answer or return his calls
Tell me baby, sort of maybe
The singer is uncertain about whether Vanessa might want to reconcile with him
You've been turning and coming back
The singer thinks that Vanessa has been sending mixed signals or changing her mind about their relationship
Don't you be so foolish
The singer warns Vanessa not to play games with him or make foolish decisions
Don't you treat me foolish like that
The singer again asks Vanessa not to treat him wrongly or unfairly
I spoke to your mom and I talk to your dad
The singer has tried to reach out to Vanessa's family to get their support or help
They just sympathized with all other guys
Vanessa's family doesn't have any useful advice or assistance to offer the singer, and they seem to empathize with other men who have gone through similar problems
My friends say they see ya and ya not doing bad
The singer's friends have told him that Vanessa seems to be doing well and moving on without him
That makes me wanna go home and cry, cry, cry
The singer is sad and upset to hear that Vanessa is doing fine without him, and it makes him want to cry
And no Vanessa, no Vanessa, got no Vanessa
The singer repeats that he doesn't have Vanessa anymore, emphasizing his loss
Vanessa, Vanessa
The singer keeps saying Vanessa's name, perhaps as a way of expressing his longing or pain
Oh no, Vanessa, Vanessa, Vanessa, Vanessa, Vanessa
The singer repeats Vanessa's name many times in a row, possibly as an emotional outburst
Oh, Vanessa, Vanessa, Vanessa, Vanessa, Vanessa
The singer keeps repeating Vanessa's name, perhaps as a way of trying to hold onto her memory
Oh, Vanessa, oh Vanessa, oh Vanessa, oh Vanessa
The singer repeats Vanessa's name with different inflections, perhaps as a way of trying to find comfort or meaning in it
Got no Vanessa, no Vanessa, no Vanessa
The singer repeats that he doesn't have Vanessa anymore, emphasizing his loss
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DENNIS LINDE, BILLY SWAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind