Ives began his career as an itinerant singer and guitarist, eventually launching his own radio show, The Wayfaring Stranger, which popularized traditional folk songs. In 1942, he appeared in Irving Berlin's This Is the Army and became a major star of CBS Radio. In the 1960s, he successfully crossed over into country music, recording hits such as "A Little Bitty Tear" and "Funny Way of Laughin'". Ives was also a popular film actor through the late 1940s and '50s. His film roles included parts in So Dear to My Heart (1948) and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958), as well as the role of Rufus Hannassey in The Big Country (1958), for which he won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Ives is often associated with the Christmas season. He did voice-over work as Sam the Snowman, narrator of the classic 1964 Christmas television special Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Ives also worked on the special's soundtrack, including the songs "A Holly Jolly Christmas" and "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer", both of which continue to chart annually on the Billboard holiday charts into the 2020s.
Pearly Shells
Burl Ives Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
From the ocean (from the ocean)
Shining in the sun (shining in the sun)
Covering the shore (covering the shore)
When I see them
My heart tells me that I love you
More than all the little pearly shells
I've got a kiss for you
And I've got more left over
For each star that twinkles in the blue
Pearly shells (pearly shells)
From the ocean (from the ocean)
Shining in the sun (shining in the sun)
Covering the shore (covering the shore)
When I see them
My heart tells me that I love you
More than all the little pearly shells
For every grain of sand upon the beach
I've got a kiss for you
And I've got more left over
For each star that twinkles in the blue
Pearly shells (pearly shells)
From the ocean (from the ocean)
Shining in the sun (shining in the sun)
Covering the shore (covering the shore)
When I see them
My heart tells me that I love you
More than all the little pearly shells
(More than all the little pearly shells)
The lyrics of Burl Ives's song "Pearly Shells" are a poetic expression of love, conveyed through the imagery of shells on the beach. The shining, pearly shells reflect the light of the sun and cover the shore, creating a beautiful natural landscape. The singer expresses that when they see these shells, their heart tells them that they love their partner more than anything else in the world, even more than all the little pearly shells.
The second verse continues this theme of abundance and infinity, with the singer promising to give their partner a kiss for every grain of sand on the beach and even more left over for each star that twinkles in the blue sky. In this way, the song conveys a deep and eternal love, one that is as vast and unending as the sea and the sky.
Overall, "Pearly Shells" is a simple yet poetic expression of devotion and love, using the natural world as a metaphor for the singer's feelings. The repetition of the chorus reinforces this message, reminding the listener that the singer's love is greater than anything else in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Pearly shells (pearly shells)
The song talks about pearly shells that are found on the ocean shores.
From the ocean (from the ocean)
They are derived from the ocean as a byproduct of creature activity.
Shining in the sun (shining in the sun)
The shells are shiny and lustrous when sunlight falls on them.
Covering the shore (covering the shore)
They are visible every where covering the shore and adding beauty to it.
When I see them
Seeing these pearly shells invokes strong emotions of love.
My heart tells me that I love you
The sight of these shells compels the singer to realize their love for someone.
More than all the little pearly shells
The singer's love for the person is greater than anything in the world, even more than the vast number of pearly shells on the shore.
For every grain of sand upon the beach
The artist has a kiss to spare for the person for every grain of sand on the beach.
I've got a kiss for you
The artist wants to express their love for someone and have kisses to spare for them.
And I've got more left over
The artist's love for the person knows no bounds and they have kisses left over for other things too.
For each star that twinkles in the blue
The singer has kisses left over even for each star that twinkles in the sky at night.
(More than all the little pearly shells)
This line is a repetition of the previous line reaffirming that the person's love is greater than anything in the world.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Webley Edwards, Leon Pober
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
tropicwave1
PEARLY SHELLS
BURL IVES
Pearly Shells, from the ocean
Shining in the sun
Covering up the shore
When I see them
My heart tells me that I love you,
More than all the little pearly shells
For every grain of sand upon the beach
I got a kiss for you
And I've got more left over
For each star
That twinkles in the blue
Pearly shells, from the ocean
Shining in the sun
Covering up the shore
When I see them
My heart tells me that I love you
More than all the little pearly shells
For every grain of sand upon the beach
I've got a kiss for you
And I've got more left over
For each star
That twinkles in the blue
Pearly shells, from the ocean
Shining in the sun
Covering up the shore
When I see them
My heart tells me that I love you
More than all the little pearly shells
More than all the little pearly shells
Written by: LEON POBER, WEBLEY EDWARDS
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Brendan Williams
Fantastic. One of Burl Ives greatest hits. A musical and acting marvel, none of the actors of today could hold a candle to the greatest performers, Burl Ives was a perfect fitting man in that category.
Salty Croc
This album came out when I was a toddler. It brings back memories of sitting on my grandmother's lap while my grandfather played the eukalele to it. It was a different world then, a better one in some ways, and Burl Ives songs formed a big part of my childhood. This song, like no other, makes me cry for those who I loved who are gone. I can not explain why.
Georgia Hume
Played by my father at my grandmother's funeral, the first time I saw him cry. A beautiful song
Niki Cannell
WE just did the same on Monday for my 93 yr old grandmother. Played her out on piano
Barbara Hart
People it is not fast no of course not even know you play the Beautiful song that I dance to it always means dancing dancing with Jesus he will see them again he promised he'll bring them all together you and the ones before how to do you it's a mystery and the thought of Jesus and just saying that with a brother Jesus Hallelujah
Gary Wood
This singer was my Dad's favorite. This song played in our house on an old "Hi-Fi" along with all the stars from that day. I too grew up with Burl Ives, Dean Martin, Jo Stafford, Julie London, Jim Reeves on and on. On the television we watched Bonanza, Red Skelton, Milton Berle, Arthur Godfrey. We didn't know it but that was such a gentle innocent time compared to what we have today. I miss it greatly as I get older.
danfuller1000
There are times you need to feel like a child again, this brings that back to me each and every time!
Loretta Walsh
He warms my heart always, love this man, what a wonderful person he is. Heard him when I was a child and fell so in love with his voice, love his music yet to this day! RIP dear Burl <3
Eva Conde
One of my mother favorite song in the 1970's when i was young 💖🎶✨😁
Gunnar Lian
Great man and artist from a time period never will be forgotten.