Walker was born in Ralls, Texas, in 1929, and became active in the Dallas music scene in the late 1940s. After a brief stint with Capitol Records, he signed with Columbia Records in 1951 at the same time as Ray Price. Walker was a cast member on ABC-TV's Ozark Jubilee in the late 1950's.
He is most famous for his 1962 hit "Charlie's Shoes." He is also well known for his 1961 cover version of Willie Nelson's "Funny How Time Slips Away" and his 1964 hit "Cross the Brazos at Waco." [1]. Walker joined the Grand Ole Opry on January 1, 1960, and he was an active member until his death in 2006.
On Sunday, May 21, 2006, Walker died when the van he was driving back to Nashville after a performance in Foley, Alabama veered off Interstate 65 in Fort Deposit, Alabama and overturned. His wife Bettie, bassist Charles Lilly Jr., son of Everett Lilly of Bluegrass Hall of Fame Inductees, "The Lilly Brothers", and guitarist Daniel Patton were also killed in the 12:40 a.m. crash. Walker's grandson, Joshua Brooks, survived the crash with serious injuries.
Billy Walker played all over the world and was loved everywhere for his smooth singing and gentle mind. Several times in the 1980s Billy Walker sang at The International Festival of Country Music at Wembley Arena in London. Only one month before his death, Walker once again was in contact with Europe, recording the duet "All I Ever Need Is You" with the Danish singer [[Susanne Lana] for Hillside House Records. The recording took place in Nashville, Tennessee, at Signal Path Studio and was produced by Charlie McCoy.
Gold
Billy Walker Lyrics
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She wanted things I couldn't buy I knew I'd lose her love
And she was everything in life that I've been dreaming of
And desperation one dark night began my life a crime
I knew where someone captured a gun and now the gun was mine
I had to have the gun to get the gold and I had to have the gold to get the girl
I robbed and stole I even killed to win her for my own
I drew my gun they tried to run never made the door
And by their side I threw the gun I wouldn't need no more
No I wouldn't need the gun to get the gold
For I wouldn't need the gold to get the girl
Now very soon I'll meet my doom the rope hangs just outside
But when I found her in his arms that's when I really died
Oh I had to have the gun to get the gold and I had to have the gold to get the girl
Oh I had to have the gun to get the gold and I had to have the gold to get the girl
The lyrics of Billy Walker's Gold describe a man's desperation to win the love of his dream girl. He believes that she won't love him if he can't afford to buy her the things she wants, and so he sets out on a criminal path to get the money he needs to impress her. The desperation in his voice and the urgency of the lyrics make it clear that he is willing to do whatever it takes to win her over, even if it means killing or stealing.
However, when he finally does win her over and brings her home, he discovers that she has been unfaithful to him. In a fit of rage, he kills her and her lover. This act seals his fate and he is condemned to die. The haunting final line, "That's when I really died," underscores the sense of tragedy that runs through the entire song.
Overall, Gold is a powerful cautionary tale about the dangers of letting desperation and desire cloud a person's judgment. It also posits the idea that true love cannot be bought or acquired through criminal means, and that ultimately, such actions lead only to ruin and despair.
Line by Line Meaning
I had to have the gun to get the gold and I had to have the gold to get the girl
The singer needed money to impress the girl he loved, but he had to resort to robbing and killing to get it.
She wanted things I couldn't buy I knew I'd lose her love
The girl desired material possessions that the singer couldn't afford, which made him feel like he would eventually lose her.
And she was everything in life that I've been dreaming of
The singer thought the girl was the perfect partner he had always dreamed of having in his life.
And desperation one dark night began my life a crime
The artist decided to turn to criminal activities, out of desperation to win over the girl he loved, which marked the beginning of his criminal life.
I knew where someone captured a gun and now the gun was mine
The artist located a person who had a gun and took it for himself to carry out his criminal activities.
I robbed and stole I even killed to win her for my own
The singer resorted to robbery, theft, and even murder to win the girl over and possess her as his own.
Then found her in an another's arms one night when I came home
The singer discovered the girl in the arms of another person one night when he returned home.
I drew my gun they tried to run never made the door
The artist drew his gun on the couple, and although they attempted to escape, they were unsuccessful because he didn't let them go.
And by their side I threw the gun I wouldn't need no more
After killing the pair, the artist discarded the gun beside them, knowing he wouldn't need it again.
No I wouldn't need the gun to get the gold
The artist no longer needed the gun to acquire money, as he had killed for it already.
For I wouldn't need the gold to get the girl
The singer learned that having money wasn't enough to win a person's heart, especially when immoral activities are involved in acquiring it.
Now very soon I'll meet my doom the rope hangs just outside
The artist knows he is about to face his punishment and will soon be executed for his criminal activities.
But when I found her in his arms that's when I really died
The singer felt like he had truly died inside when he saw the girl in someone else's arms, finally realizing the extent of his mistakes.
Oh I had to have the gun to get the gold and I had to have the gold to get the girl
The chorus is repeated at the end of the song, reminding listeners of the singer's belief that he had to commit criminal acts to win over the girl he loved, even though he ultimately failed to do so.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: BUDDY MIZE, HARLAN HOWARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind