[edit] Career
At a young age, he was interested in music but his primary interest was athletics. He purchased a guitar at the age of 12 and although he learned to play it, most of his time was devoted to sport. This eventually resulted in being offered a baseball scholarship to the University of Idaho at Moscow.
King later returned to Shreveport and joined the Louisiana Hayride, a popular TV and radio show broadcast in the U.S. and the United Kingdom, produced in Shreveport, Louisiana. The Louisiana Hayride ranked second only to the Grand Ole Opry in terms of television and radio importance in the early 1950s to the 1960s and King was frequently billed on the same shows with other famous legends such as Elvis Presley, John Ritter's father, Tex Ritter, Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, Webb Pierce, Kitty Wells, Jimmie Davis, Slim Whitman, Faron Young, Johnny Horton, Jim Reeves, George Jones and Lefty Frizzell, among many others who became big music stars in the 1960s.
King recorded a few songs for Gotham Records, although none were successful. In 1961, he became more serious about a musical career and signed with the Nashville, Tennessee division of Columbia Records. He struck immediately, cutting "Big River, Big Man", a country Top 10 and even a small pop crossover success. He soon followed with "The Comancheros" inspired by the movie of the same title, starring John Wayne. It was a Top 10 country hit in late 1961, also crossing over to the pop charts.
King made his "career" recording in the spring of 1962. "Wolverton Mountain", written with Nashville veteran Merle Kilgore, was based on a real character, Clifton Clowers, who lived on Wolverton Mountain in Arkansas. The song became an immediate hit, going to No.1 for nine weeks during its 26-week run on the Billboard Country charts. It was also a pop Top 10.
King followed up that year with an American Civil War song, "The Burning Of Atlanta" which also went Top 10 on the country charts and again generated a lot of interest on the pop lists. In late 1962, he recorded "I've Got The World By The Tail" which narrowly missed the country Top 10.
He had another good year in 1963, scoring three solid country hits with "Sheepskin Valley", "Building a Bridge" and "Hey Lucille!". The hits continued in 1964 with "Sam Hill" and in 1965 he was back in the Top 10 with "Tiger Woman", co-written by Merle Kilgore. King also did well that year with "Little Buddy". His smooth country style continued to find a flavor throughout the decade, especially songs like "Catch a Little Raindrop" and the Top 10 "All For The Love Of A Girl" in 1969. His singles continued to hit the country charts through 1972. He left the label in 1973 after having accomplished 29 hits.
Besides a successful career recording and touring, King also performed as an actor in several movies, and like his nephew, Chris Aable, King is also among a minority of actors who are members in both the Screen Actors Guild and the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. He appeared in the 1982 television miniseries The Blue and the Gray and appeared in several feature films. King is no relation to another actor by the same name, born in 1875 in England.
In 1981, Arkansas Governor Frank D. White paid tribute to King and his big 1962 hit by declaring August 7 "Wolverton Mountain Day". By that time, King had almost retired from recording.
After being absent from recording for over 20 years, King recently released a new CD called Cowboy in the White House. Most of the songs were written or co-written by him. Elvis Presley's guitarist, James Burton performed guitar for the release.
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claude_King"
Friend Lover Woman Wife
Claude King Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She's the answered prayer ev'ry lonely man dreams of.
She's a temptress, she's a lady, she's the mother of my baby.
I thank God I'm the lucky man she loves.
Sometimes I lie awake and watch her sleeping;
and I just wanna bust and the teardrops fill my eyes.
And I wonder what she'd think if she woke up and caught me weeping;
The morning always seems to catch us laughing
with the baby in the bed between us, safe and warm.
And I thank the Lord above for all the good times that I'm having
wrapped up in my woman's loving arms.
She's a friend, she's a lover, she's a woman, she's a wife.
She's the answered prayer ev'ry lonely man dreams of.
She's a temptress, she's a lady, she's the mother of my baby.
I thank God I'm the lucky man she loves.
And when the load gets heavy on my shoulders;
and I can't keep the pace, and I need a place to hide,
I run home to my own little world and take her in my arms,
and hold her; and I soon forget there's another world outside.
'cause she's a friend, she's a lover, she's a woman, she's a wife.
She's the answered prayer ev'ry lonely man dreams of.
She's a temptress, she's a lady, she's the mother of my baby.
I thank God I'm the lucky man she loves.
I thank God I'm the lucky man she loves.
The song “Friend Lover Woman Wife” by Claude King is a romantic tribute to a man’s love for his partner who fulfills different roles in his life- as a friend, a lover, a woman, and a wife. The lyrics paint a picture of a woman who is everything a man could hope for- a companion, a seductress, a caretaker, and a mother. The singer expresses gratitude for being able to love and be loved by such a remarkable woman.
The second verse of the song shows vulnerability as the singer admits to watching his partner sleep and feeling emotional. He wonders how she would react if she saw him crying as men are not supposed to show their emotions. The couple seems to value their private moments, especially when they are with their baby. The man thanks God for being able to share good times with his partner and for her loving arms.
Line by Line Meaning
She's a friend, she's a lover, she's a woman, she's a wife.
She fulfills multiple roles in my life and is both a true companion and partner.
She's the answered prayer ev'ry lonely man dreams of.
She is the perfect woman and the answer to all my prayers for love and companionship.
She's a temptress, she's a lady, she's the mother of my baby.
She is seductive but also refined, as well as being an amazing mother to our child.
I thank God I'm the lucky man she loves.
I feel incredibly fortunate that she has chosen me to love and spend her life with.
Sometimes I lie awake and watch her sleeping;
I am in awe and wonder of her beauty and presence even when she sleeps.
and I just wanna bust and the teardrops fill my eyes.
I am so overwhelmed with emotion and love for her that it brings me to tears.
And I wonder what she'd think if she woke up and caught me weeping;
I am afraid of being vulnerable and crying in front of her, but also curious about how she would react.
'cause daddies and heroes ain't supposed to cry.
Society often tells men that they should not show emotion or vulnerability, especially as fathers or heroes in their loved ones' eyes.
The morning always seems to catch us laughing
We have a beautiful relationship in which we often start our day with joy and laughter.
with the baby in the bed between us, safe and warm.
We share the love and care for our child, who is both a symbol of our beautiful union and a source of joy between us.
And I thank the Lord above for all the good times that I'm having
I am deeply grateful to a higher power for the many moments of joy and love that I experience with my wife.
wrapped up in my woman's loving arms.
My wife's embrace is a place of safety and comfort, where all the love and beauty in the world seems to converge.
And when the load gets heavy on my shoulders;
When I am weighed down by life's responsibilities and struggles,
and I can't keep the pace, and I need a place to hide,
I turn to my wife, who is my sanctuary and place of refuge when the world is overwhelming.
I run home to my own little world and take her in my arms,
My wife is the center of my world, and our love is a magical, safe haven that I can always return to.
and hold her; and I soon forget there's another world outside.
In my wife's arms, I feel completely at peace and forget about the problems and chaos of the outside world.
I thank God I'm the lucky man she loves.
I am infinitely grateful for the immense love and joy that my wife brings to my life, cherished beyond measure.
I thank God I'm the lucky man she loves.
I am infinitely grateful for the immense love and joy that my wife brings to my life, cherished beyond measure.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MAC DAVIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
fish doctor
Claude had a pretty good run of hits in the 70's. Sure do miss real country music..
Ruth Boykin
loved this song.
Daniel Burns
this song went to #18 on the country charts in 1969!!!
Rudolph Bosch
Excellent song!! Thanks for sharing. Rudi
Milton Moore
My favorite song by
Claude King; however,
during the rehearsals
for this recording I
wish someone had
advised Claude that
there is no letter T
at the end of the word
temptress.
graham “Gus” bull
Milton Moore ...thanks Milton,it's now on my latest playlist!
Ruth Boykin
Great song, Milton, really enjoyed it..could not find it on Wayne Harvey channel!