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.
True Love Goes On And On
Burl Ives Lyrics
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My darling, I'll always love you
The white snow of Christmas will melt away
The darkness of evening will end the day
And time will wither the strongest tree
But nothing will change you and me
For true love goes on and on
Our love will be ever new
True love goes on and on
My darling, I'll always love you
The mightiest mountain may tumble down
The world may even stop spinning round
A star may fall to the deep blue sea
But nothing will change you and me
[Repeat chorus]
Some days the sun will forget to shine
In autumn, the leaves will desert the vine
An ocean may someday a desert be
But nothing will change you and me
[Repeat chorus]
In Burl Ives's song True Love Goes On And On, the songwriter sings about the longevity of true love. He emphasizes that true love never dies, it goes on and on. He talks about the inevitability of change and how everything changes with time, but true love remains constant. The lyrics paint a picture of a love that can withstand any obstacle thrown its way - the melting snow of Christmas, the darkness of evening, the withering of trees, the mightiest mountains, the world coming to an end, a star falling into the deep blue sea, the sun forgetting to shine, autumn leaves falling, and even the ocean one day turning into a desert. The only thing that will never change is the love between the two people.
The song is not only about the lengthy duration of love, but also about its power. The lyrics suggest that true love is stronger than anything life can throw at it, and that it is beyond the control of time and nature. The song also touches on the idea that true love is rare and special, something worth holding onto and cherishing even in the face of change.
In conclusion, True Love Goes On And On is a timeless love song that emphasizes the power and longevity of true love. It touches on the idea that love is an unbreakable bond that can overcome any obstacle or challenge that comes its way.
Line by Line Meaning
True love goes on and on
Love endures despite any changes that may happen.
My darling, I'll always love you
The singer will always have love for their partner.
The white snow of Christmas will melt away
Even the most beautiful things are temporary and will not last forever.
The darkness of evening will end the day
All things come to an end, even the longest of days.
And time will wither the strongest tree
Time has the power to weaken even the strongest of things.
But nothing will change you and me
Despite the passing of time or any external changes, the love between the singer and their partner will remain constant.
For true love goes on and on
Love is eternal and does not fade away with time or change.
Our love will be ever new
Love is always fresh and can continue to grow.
The mightiest mountain may tumble down
Even the most permanent and strong things are subject to change and destruction.
The world may even stop spinning round
Even the most fundamental things are subject to change and uncertainty.
A star may fall to the deep blue sea
Even things that seem impossible can happen and change the world.
Some days the sun will forget to shine
There will be days where everything seems dark and hopeless.
In autumn, the leaves will desert the vine
The changing seasons can symbolize the fleeting nature of all things.
An ocean may someday a desert be
The world is always changing and nothing lasts forever.
Contributed by Elliot H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.