He was born in Glasgow, Kentucky, where his father was a barber who loved music and inspired Billy to teach himself to play the mandolin at age 3, while suffering a case of the measles. He went on to learn a number of other instruments.
In 1941, Vaughn joined the United States National Guard for what had been planned as a one-year assignment, but when World War II broke out, he was sent abroad till the war ended in 1945. He decided to make music a career when he was discharged from the army at the end of the war, and attended Western Kentucky State College, now known as Western Kentucky University, majoring in music composition. He had apparently learned barbering from his father, because he did some while studying at Western Kentucky to support himself financially, when he was not able to get jobs playing the piano at local night clubs and lounges. While he was a student there, three other students, Jimmy Sacca, Donald McGuire and Seymour Spiegelman, who had formed a vocal trio, The Hilltoppers, recruited Vaughn to play the piano with them. He soon added his voice to theirs, converting the trio to a quartet. As a member of the group, he also wrote their first hit song, Trying, which charted in 1952.
In 1954 he left the group to join Dot Records in Gallatin, Tennessee as music director. He subsequently formed his own orchestra, which had a big hit in that same year with Melody of Love. He went on to have many more hits over the next decade and a half, and based purely on chart successes, was the most successful orchestra leader of all time.
Auld Lang Syne
Billy Vaughn Lyrics
Jump to: Line by Line Meaning ↴
僕は手にするんだ
はかなき 胸に そっと
ひかり 燃えていけ
逢いたくなるの「衝動」
哭きたくなるの「純情」
ホタルはかえらない
あなたは何も言わず
接吻を残して
火傷つくまま
うなずいたね
哀しいほど命
揺らめいていた
SHA LA LA いつかきっと
僕は手にするんだ
はかなき 胸に そっと
ひかり 燃えていけ
SHA LA LA 愛しきひと
あなたもみえているの
まばゆい 月が そっと
明日を照らして
強く
強く輝いて
風に吹かれるほど
烈しくなる心に
はぐれそうな想い出が
また優しく灯る
夢中で駆けだしたら
触れられる気がした
意志くまま
手を伸ばすよ
切ないほど命
揺らめいていく
SHA LA LA 僕はずっと
唄いつづけていくよ
ふるえる 胸に そっと
ひかり 燃えていけ
SHA LA LA 愛しきひと
あなたに届くように
はてない 空に そっと
想い つのらせて
強く
強く 響かせて
SHA LA LA いつかきっと
ホタルは燃え尽き散って
きえゆく 胸に そっと
夢よ 輝いて
SHA LA LA 愛しきひと
あなたも忘れないで
きらめく 夏に そっと
願いを重ねて
SHA LA LA いつかきっと
僕は手にするんだ
はかなき 胸に そっと
ひかり 燃えていけ
SHA LA LA 愛しきひと
あなたもみえているの
まばゆい 月が そっと
明日を照らして
強く
強く 輝いて
SHA LA LA いつかきっと
This is a hopeful intro to the song, setting a tone of anticipation and looking towards the future.
僕は手にするんだ
The singer is saying that they will definitely attain something they are seeking for.
はかなき 胸に そっと
Gently and carefully, the singer has placed something fleeting and intangible in their heart.
ひかり 燃えていけ
The light within the singer is burning bright, and they want it to keep burning and growing.
逢いたくなるの「衝動」
Sometimes there is an irresistible impulse to see someone again after being apart.
哭きたくなるの「純情」
Feeling pure, unadulterated emotion can make someone want to cry.
夏の火に飛び込んだ
Like a firefly drawn to the summer heat, someone has taken a leap of faith into something dangerous or unknown.
ホタルはかえらない
Once they've made the jump, there is no going back; the singer is lamenting that some things cannot be undone.
あなたは何も言わず
The singer's partner chose to stay silent.
接吻を残して
But before leaving, they left a kiss behind.
火傷つくまま
With a burning ache, the singer carries the remnant of that kiss.
うなずいたね
The pain is acknowledged, but the singer agrees to bear it.
哀しいほど命
The singer is saying that their emotional pain is so strong, it gives life to their spirit.
揺らめいていた
The intense emotions were causing the singer to quiver or tremble.
SHA LA LA 愛しきひと
The singer expresses deep affection towards someone dear to them.
あなたもみえているの
The singer is curious whether that special someone is looking back at them with the same affection.
まばゆい 月が そっと
The singer wants the dazzling moon to gently guide them towards a brighter tomorrow.
明日を照らして
The moon is symbolic of hope, lighting the way to a brighter future.
強く
The singer wants to be strong, both spiritually and emotionally.
強く輝いて
They want to shine bright, like a beacon of their own inner fortitude and strength.
風に吹かれるほど
The singer is feeling such strong emotions that their heart is buffeted by the wind.
烈しくなる心に
Those feelings are intensifying in the singer's heart.
はぐれそうな想い出が
Memories that seem like they might scatter any moment are coming to mind.
また優しく灯る
Despite being fragile, the memories are gently shining in the singer's heart.
夢中で駆けだしたら
If someone runs forward with all their might, they will feel like their heart is completely in it.
触れられる気がした
They might feel like they can touch or grasp their dreams if they really go for it.
意志くまま
The singer wants to follow their heart and act according to their own willpower.
手を伸ばすよ
They are reaching out towards their goals or someone they desire to be close to.
切ないほど命
The singer is putting so much of their passion and energy into their pursuits that it's almost painful.
揺らめいていく
The intense emotions continue to cause the singer to quiver or tremble.
SHA LA LA 僕はずっと
The singer is committed to something and will continue on with it.
唄いつづけていくよ
They will sing out their emotions for as long as they need to.
ふるえる 胸に そっと
The singer's heart is trembling, but they are taking care to treat it gently.
ひかり 燃えていけ
The light within them keeps burning and growing stronger.
あなたに届くように
The singer wants to reach someone they care about deeply.
はてない 空に そっと
The sky is limitless and vast, and the singer wants their feelings to reach all the way up there.
想い つのらせて
Their loving feelings will stack up and form a beautiful pile in the sky.
強く
The singer wants to be strong, both spiritually and emotionally.
強く 響かせて
Their emotions will vibrate and echo, making a lasting impact on their beloved.
SHA LA LA いつかきっと
Again, an enthusiastic and hopeful intro to the song, looking forward to the future.
ホタルは燃え尽き散って
Even though fireflies have a short lifespan and may disappear without warning, they still burn bright while they can.
きえゆく 胸に そっと
Something fleeting and intangible is slowly fading in the singer's heart.
夢よ 輝いて
The singer is telling a dream to shine brightly before it fades away completely.
あなたも忘れないで
The singer wants their special someone to remember something important.
きらめく 夏に そっと
They are hoping their memory will be preserved like a sparkling star in the summer sky.
願いを重ねて
Their wish and memories are stacked up and held dear to their heart.
Writer(s): Traditional
Contributed by Cole O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.