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.
Tonight's the Night
Bobby Helms Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tonight's the night I cry to leave you like this I'd rather die
I know that I can't have you even though I love you so
I know you found another it's better that I'll go
Tonight's the night I cry because you're saying goodbye
Tonight's the night I cry...
In the song "Tonight's the Night" by Bobby Helms, the singer is lamenting about the end of a relationship. The lyrics are describing the emotions that come with the realization that the person he loves is leaving him for someone else. The first line, "Tonight's the night I cry because you're saying goodbye", is expressing the sadness and disappointment that he feels about the impending breakup. He is unable to accept the fact that he's losing his love interest, which is why he is crying.
In the next line, "Tonight's the night I cry to leave you like this I'd rather die", the singer is highlighting the pain he feels at having to leave his love interest behind. He would rather die than leave her, but he knows that he has no other option. The last two lines, "I know that I can't have you even though I love you so. I know you found another it's better that I'll go", is expressing the singer's understanding of the situation. He knows that his love interest has moved on, and it's better for him to leave than hold onto a relationship that's over.
Overall, the song "Tonight's the Night" is a melancholy ballad that portrays the emotions a person feels when their relationship comes to an end. The lyrics describe the pain and sorrow that come with losing someone you love and having to move on.
Line by Line Meaning
Tonight's the night I cry because you're saying goodbye
Tonight is the night when I shed tears because you are leaving me
Tonight's the night I cry to leave you like this I'd rather die
Tonight is the night when I cry because leaving you like this is unbearable and I'd rather die
I know that I can't have you even though I love you so
I understand that I can't be with you even though I love you deeply
I know you found another it's better that I'll go
I know you have found someone else and it's better that I leave
Contributed by Avery B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.