He retired from performing in 1979. He had many famous hits including, "Kisses Don't Lie", "Are You Teasing Me", "Hey Joe", and many others.
In 2003, he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. He is probably best known for the recording of "Times A-Wastin'" with June Carter.
Just Wait Till I Get You Alone
Carl Smith Lyrics
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But wait till I get you alone
I'm bolder than you know, my arms will tell you so
Just wait till I get you alone
I used to blush and hang my head and stutter and stammer
Even when I tried to call you on the phone
But love has made me brave and love is what I crave
Your eyes dare me to try your kisses on the sly
Just wait till I get you alone
I'll teach you not to flirt, I'll squeeze you till it hurts
Just wait till I get you alone
I may seem bashful in the crowd don't let it fool you
You'll no better when I make your lips my own
If love is what you need I'm ready yes indeed
Just wait till I get you alone
The lyrics to Carl Smith's song "Just Wait Till I Get You Alone" speak to a common theme of shyness giving way to boldness in the context of romantic pursuit. The singer is being told that he is too shy, but he assures the object of his affection that it won't be long until he has her alone, at which point he will unveil his true, bolder self. He describes how he used to be too shy to even call her on the phone, but now love has made him brave and he craves her affection. He asserts that once they're alone, he will make it clear that he won't tolerate any flirting - he will squeeze her until it hurts. He concludes by suggesting that his bashfulness is only apparent in public, and that when they're alone, she will see just how ready he is for love.
On one level, these lyrics can be seen as an expression of the common experience of feeling emboldened by privacy and intimacy. When we know that we are free from public scrutiny, it can be easier to let our true selves shine through. On a deeper level, however, the lyrics might be interpreted as expressing a certain kind of toxic masculinity - a desire to exert power and control over the object of one's desire, and to punish her for any perceived transgressions. The imagery of squeezing until it hurts, and teaching her not to flirt, could be seen as troubling.
Line by Line Meaning
You tell me I'm too shy, a bashful sort of guy
You say that I'm shy and lack confidence.
But wait till I get you alone
But just wait until I have you alone without an audience.
I'm bolder than you know, my arms will tell you so
I'm actually more confident than you realize and my actions will prove it.
Just wait till I get you alone
Just wait until I have you alone to show you my true self.
I used to blush and hang my head and stutter and stammer
I used to struggle with showing my feelings and expressing myself.
Even when I tried to call you on the phone
I had trouble even calling you on the phone to talk to you.
But love has made me brave and love is what I crave
Love has brought out the courage in me and it's all I want.
Just wait till I get you alone
Just wait until I have the chance to prove myself to you without any distractions.
Your eyes dare me to try your kisses on the sly
Your eyes entice me to kiss you secretly.
Just wait till I get you alone
Just wait until there's no one around to witness our kiss.
I'll teach you not to flirt, I'll squeeze you till it hurts
I will show you not to tease and I'll hold you tightly to prove it.
Just wait till I get you alone
Just wait until we're alone so I can show you my tough side.
I may seem bashful in the crowd don't let it fool you
I may appear to be shy in public, but don't let that deceive you.
You'll no better when I make your lips my own
You'll understand my true intentions when I finally kiss you.
If love is what you need I'm ready yes indeed
If you're looking for love, I'm ready for it and excited to share it with you.
Just wait till I get you alone
Just wait until I have the opportunity to show you how much I care about you.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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