Born in Bloomington, Indiana into a musical family, he began performing as a duo with his brother before going on to a successful solo career in country music. In 1956, Helms made his way to Nashville, Tennessee where he signed a recording contract with Decca Records. The following year would be filled with astonishing successes. Helms' first single in 1957 titled "Fraulein" went to No. 1 on the country music charts and made it into the Top 40 on the pop music charts. Later that same year he released "My Special Angel" that also went to No. 1 on the country charts and entered the Top 10 on Billboard magazines pop music charts, peaking at No. 7.
Released just a few days before Christmas of 1957, his song "Jingle Bell Rock" was a big hit but uniquely, it re-emerged four out of the next five years and sold so well that it repeated each time as a top hit and became a Christmas classic still played to this day.
Bobby Helms continued touring and recording for the next three decades. His pioneering contribution to the genre has been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.
Helms spent most of his later years living just outside of Martinsville, Indiana, until the time of his death from emphysema and asthma in 1997.
Plaything
Bobby Helms Lyrics
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I'm just a plaything someone to enjoy
Plaything to play with till you're true
And then too close aside like a broken heart
You may be sorry for all the wrong you've done
Always remember that you two play the game as well as one
And someday someone will come my way
And then I'll never be your plaything anymore
(You may be sorry for all the wrong you've done)
Always remember that you two play the game as well as one
And someday someone will come my way
And say that I'm the only one that they adore
And then I'll never be your plaything anymore
In Bobby Helms's song "Plaything," the lyrics showcase a heartbreaking reality of a person who is used as a means of convenience for someone else's pleasure, only to be discarded when their purpose has been served. The song illustrates the depth of hurt and betrayal that the singer feels, especially as they come to the realization that they have been used and that their emotional investment has been disregarded. The lyrics convey the message that even though it may seem like there is no way out of feeling like a "plaything," one day someone will come along who genuinely cares for them, and they will be able to escape this cycle of emotional manipulation.
Throughout the song, the singer highlights that they are aware of their situation and that they are hurt by it. They are conscious that they are being strung along and that the person they are with has no genuine interest in them. However, they stay in the relationship because they believe that the other person will eventually come around and start treating them with respect and love. The singer is holding onto the hope that someday they will meet someone who cares for them and they will be free from the pain of being used.
In conclusion, "Plaything" by Bobby Helms is a poignant tale of a person who is used as a disposable object for someone else's pleasure. The lyrics speak to the feeling of betrayal and the desperation that comes with being confined to a relationship that has no emotional depth. Ultimately, the song holds the message of hope, that even though it may seem like there is no way out, someone will come along who sees the value in them and loves them for who they are.
Line by Line Meaning
Plaything that's all I am to you
You view me as nothing more than an object to play with and don't value me as a person
I'm just a plaything someone to enjoy
You derive pleasure from using me for your own amusement
Plaything to play with till you're true
You will continue to use me until you find someone else to commit to
And then too close aside like a broken heart
Once you have found someone else, you will discard me and leave me feeling hurt and alone
(You may be sorry for all the wrong you've done)
There may come a time when you regret how you treated me
Always remember that you two play the game as well as one
Both of us were responsible for the unhealthy dynamic of treating each other as objects to use and discard
And someday someone will come my way
In the future, someone will come into my life
And say that I'm the only one that they adore
That person will value me and see me as someone worth loving and cherishing
And then I'll never be your plaything anymore
Once I am valued and loved by someone who sees my worth, I will no longer allow myself to be treated as a disposable object in a game of love.
Contributed by Joshua F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.