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.
Diana
Billy Vaughn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This, my darling, I've been told
I don't care just what they say
'Cause forever I will pray
You and I will be as free
As the birds up in the trees
Oh, please stay by me, Diana
Oh, my darling, you're the most
I love you but do you love me
Oh, Diana, can't you see
I love you with all my heart
And I hope we will never part
Oh, please stay with me, Diana
Oh, my darlin', oh, my lover
Tell me that there is no other
I love you with my heart
Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh
Only you can take my heart
Only you can tear it apart
When you hold me in your loving arms
I can feel you giving all your charms
Hold me, darling, ho-ho hold me tight
Squeeze me baby with-a all your might
Oh, please stay by me, Diana
Oh, please, Diana
Oh, please, Diana
Oh, please, Diana
The song "Diana" by Billy Vaughn talks about a young man who is in love with a woman who is much older than him. The opening lines of the song highlight the age difference between the two and the fact that people have told the young man that he should not be with her. However, the singer does not care about what others think and he will continue to pray for their love to prosper. The idea of being free like the birds in the trees reinforces the notion that the singer does not want any restrictions to their love.
The second verse reaffirms his love for the woman and the excitement he feels when she holds him close. He professes his love for her and wonders if she loves him back. He hopes that they will never part and asks her to stay with him. In the final verse, he pleads with Diana to tell him that there is no other and that she loves him too. He expresses that only she can take his heart and tear it apart with her love. The repetition of the words "oh please, Diana" emphasizes his desperation and his plea for her to stay.
The song "Diana" was originally composed by Paul Anka in 1957 and recorded by him the same year. Billy Vaughn's instrumental version of the song was released in 1958 and reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm so young and you're so old
Although you are older than me, I am not bothered about the age gap
This, my darling, I've been told
People criticize our age difference
I don't care just what they say
I don't let their criticism faze me
'Cause forever I will pray
I will always hope to be with you
You and I will be as free
Our love will be unrestrained, like birds in the sky
As the birds up in the trees
Just like the freedom birds experience up in the trees
Oh, please stay by me, Diana
I want you to always be by my side
Thrills I get when you hold me close
The rush of excitement I feel when you embrace me
Oh, my darling, you're the most
You are the best thing that has ever happened to me
I love you but do you love me
Although I love you, my concern is whether you love me too
Oh, Diana, can't you see
I hope you realize my feelings for you
I love you with all my heart
My love for you is wholehearted
And I hope we will never part
I hope we remain together forever
Oh, please stay with me, Diana
Once again I ask you to stay with me
Oh, my darlin', oh, my lover
Adjectives used to describe my intense feelings for you
Tell me that there is no other
Assurance that there's nobody else in your life
I love you with my heart
My heart is full of love for you
Only you can take my heart
Only you can have my heart
Only you can tear it apart
Only you have the power to break my heart
When you hold me in your loving arms
Your embrace is full of love and tenderness
I can feel you giving all your charms
I can sense all the love you have for me in your touch
Hold me, darling, ho-ho hold me tight
Holding me close and tightly
Squeeze me baby with-a all your might
Hold me with great love and passion
Oh, please stay by me, Diana
I plead with you to stay with me
Oh, please, Diana
Repetition of the plea for Diana to stay with me
Oh, please, Diana
Reiteration of the plea for Diana to remain by my side
Oh, please, Diana
Final passionate plea for Diana to not leave me
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Wayne Shorter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind