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.
Love Story
Billy Vaughn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I like your brother
I like you
And you like me too
We'll get a preacher
I'll buy a ring
We'll hire a band
With an accordion
And a tenor who can sing
You and me you and me, baby
You and me you and me you and me, baby
You and me you and me you and me, baby
You and me you and me you and me, baby
We'll have a kid
Or maybe we'll rent one
He's got to be straight
We don't want a bent one
He'll drink his baby brew
From a big brass cup
Someday he may be president
If things loosen up
You and me you and me, baby
You and me you and me you and me, baby
You and me you and me you and me, baby
You and me you and me you and me, baby
I'll take the train into the city
Every mornin'
You may be plain, I think you're pretty
In the mornin'
And some nights we'll go out dancin'
If I'm not too tired
Some nights we'll sit romancin'
Watching the Late Show by the fire
When our kids are grown
With kids of their own
They'll send us away
To a little home in Florida
We'll play checkers all day
Until we pass away
The lyrics to Billy Vaughn's Love Story depict a whimsical and lighthearted view of a couple's journey beginning from their attraction to each other, to their eventual marriage, and beyond. The songwriter, while maintaining a breezy tone, alludes to the beauty and simplicity of love and the joys of life spent together. Starting with the line "I like your mother, I like your brother, I like you, and you like me too," the song portrays a sweet and easy romance without any complexities. The couple plans their future together, getting married, hiring a band with an accordion, a violin, and a tenor who can sing, and having a kid or renting one, all while maintaining a sense of humor. The lyrics about the kid's big brass cup and the possibility of future presidency show the innocent and comic side of the couple's aspirations. Finally, the song moves on to the couple's golden years, imagining that when their children have grown up and have their own children, the couple will move to Florida and play checkers all day until they pass away.
Overall, the song is an enjoyable and romantic portrayal of a couple's journey together, emphasizing the simple pleasures in life and the importance of staying together through thick and thin.
Line by Line Meaning
I like your mother
I respect and have good relations with your mother.
I like your brother
I respect and have good relations with your brother.
I like you
I have a strong fondness for you and appreciate you.
And you like me too
You reciprocate my fondness and appreciation for you.
We'll get a preacher
We'll have a religious ceremony officiated by a preacher to mark our love.
I'll buy a ring
I'll purchase a ring as a symbol of our engagement and commitment.
We'll hire a band
We'll arrange for lively music to celebrate our union.
With an accordion
We'll have an accordion to add to the liveliness of the celebration.
A violin
We'll have a violin to add to the beauty of the celebration.
And a tenor who can sing
We'll have a tenor who can sing to add to the joyousness of the celebration.
We'll have a kid
We'll have a child to bring more happiness to our lives.
Or maybe we'll rent one
We'll consider fostering or adopting a child who needs a loving home.
He's got to be straight
We'll want any child we raise to be honest and upright.
We don't want a bent one
We won't tolerate any child we raise being dishonest or corrupt.
He'll drink his baby brew
Our child will drink healthy drinks to help his growth.
From a big brass cup
Our child will drink from a large, sturdy cup as a symbolic representation of the strong foundation we'll provide for him.
Someday he may be president
Our child has the potential to achieve greatness and become a successful leader.
If things loosen up
If the political and social environment support equal opportunity for success.
I'll take the train into the city
I'll do whatever it takes and make sacrifices to provide for our family.
Every mornin'
This is a daily commitment and responsibility.
You may be plain, I think you're pretty
I may have reservations about your physical appearance, but I find you attractive because of your inner qualities.
In the mornin'
This appreciation for you is not just at night, but it exists every morning too.
And some nights we'll go out dancin'
We'll make time for fun and entertainment together and enjoy going out dancing as a couple.
If I'm not too tired
But I'll be pragmatic and realistic about the time and energy I have after working hard to provide for our family.
Some nights we'll sit romancin'
We'll make time for intimate moments together and not just focus on external entertainment.
Watching the Late Show by the fire
We'll enjoy having cozy evenings together, sitting by the fire and watching the Late Show.
When our kids are grown
At some point in the future when our children are independent adults.
With kids of their own
With their own families to take care of and look after.
They'll send us away
Our children will arrange for a comfortable retirement home for us to relax and enjoy our golden years.
To a little home in Florida
Probably a quiet, cozy retirement home to relax under the Florida sun.
We'll play checkers all day
We'll have plenty of leisure time to enjoy playing games like checkers together.
Until we pass away
We'll pass away peacefully and happily in each other's company.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management
Written by: RANDY NEWMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind