Billy Walker (January 14, 1929 – May 21, 2006) was an American country-musi… Read Full Bio ↴Billy Walker (January 14, 1929 – May 21, 2006) was an American country-music singer and guitarist, nicknamed "The Tall Texan."

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.

Plaything
Billy Walker Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴

Like a child with a toy I was your plaything
But it filled my heart with joy to be your plaything
Everybody knows how the story goes you took your little toy and broke its heart strings

Like a little bitty boy loves his mother I needed you and could love no other
Now that I've lost you to somebody new look at your little toy your broken plaything
You just used me as you needed me the toy that you could leave easily
I was to-love-you all the time while your heart never was to-be-mine

Like a child with a toy

You just used me
And like a child with a toy

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Billy Walker's song "Plaything" depict a relationship where the singer feels like they were treated as a disposable toy by their partner. The singer compares themselves to a child with a toy, implying that they were vulnerable and easily controlled in the relationship. They found joy in being their partner's plaything, but ultimately, their heartstrings were broken when their partner discarded them. The singer acknowledges that it is a familiar story where someone takes their little toy (the singer) and breaks their heart.

The analogy of a little boy loving his mother is used to express the singer's dependence on their partner. They needed their partner and could not love anyone else. However, their partner moved on to someone new, leaving the singer as a broken plaything. The singer realizes they were only used by their partner, who found it convenient to have them around and easy to leave when no longer needed. The singer loved their partner unconditionally, while their partner's heart was never meant to belong to the singer.

Overall, the song "Plaything" portrays a bittersweet tale of love and heartbreak, where the singer's vulnerability was exploited by their partner, leaving them feeling broken and discarded.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: BILLY WALKER, FREDDIE HART

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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