Origin of Jenkins Stage Name--------- Jenkins felt that his real name wasn't marketable, and he changed his show business name in 1957. (Harold Lloyd Jenkins would always remain his legal name, however). Looking at a road map, he spotted Conway, Arkansas and Twitty, Texas. Thus, he went with the professional name of "Conway Twitty".[citation needed]
Alternatively, Jenkins met a Richmond, VA, man named W. Conway Twitty Jr. through Jenkins' manager in a New York City restaurant. The manager served in the army with the real Conway Twitty. Later, the manager suggested to Jenkins that he take the name as his stage name because it had a ring to it. The Richmond Conway Twitty subsequently recorded the song, "What's in a Name But Trouble," in the mid-1960s, lamenting the loss of his name to Jenkins. The flip side of the 45 RPM record was "The Purple, Purple People Eater, Eater." (The more well known version of Purple People Eater, however, now having sold over 100,000,000 copies, was recorded by Sheb Wooley.)
Play Guitar Play
Conway Twitty Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Take me back to yesterday
Let me see, cotton growing, in the fields
Let me hear, my momma calling
Look a-yonder ya-all who's coming
Down the road, he's a coming home
But they know I never will
I didn't tell them I just packed my clothes and run
Play, guitar play
Help me through another day
Help me make another dollar, before I go
We got time, for one more song
Then we'll have to move along
Another town, another crowd
Lord I wonder if they know
Can they read between the lines in my song
As I sing about a good boy that's went wrong
Guitar we got years to kill
We got to climb that distant hill
I wonder if they think of me
Guitar play
In Conway Twitty's song, "Play Guitar Play," the lyrics take listeners on a nostalgic journey of a man yearning for simpler times. The song begins with him requesting the guitar to take him back to his childhood days of watching cotton grow in the fields and hearing his mother's voice. However, as the song progresses, it becomes clear that the man left his family behind and has been living a life on the run. He didn't tell them about his departure and just packed his clothes and left, living with the guilt of his actions.
As the man and the guitar continue on their journey, they find themselves in a new town, performing for a new crowd. The man wonders if they can read between the lines of his songs, understanding the message of a boy who went wrong. The guitar is the man's solace, his way of coping and making a living. Together, they face the uncertain future and the distant hills they aim to climb. In the end, the man wonders if his family thinks of him, hoping that the guitar can provide some kind of connection and solace.
Overall, "Play Guitar Play" is a poignant and emotional song about longing for simpler times and redemption. The guitar serves as a metaphor for the man's emotional journey, providing comfort and a way to make sense of his life.
Line by Line Meaning
Play, guitar play
Let the music from the guitar take control and bring back memories
Take me back to yesterday
Transport me back to a time when things were simpler and life was easier
Let me see, cotton growing, in the fields
Remind me of my roots and the hard work of those who came before me
Let me hear, my momma calling
Bring back the comforting sound of my mother's voice that guided me through tough times
Look a-yonder ya-all who's coming
See that someone is returning home after a long journey
Down the road, he's a coming home
A family member or friend is returning home from a distant place
But they know I never will
I can never return home because I left on bad terms
I left them living with that awful thing I done
I did something that caused pain to those I left behind
I didn't tell them I just packed my clothes and run
I didn't have the courage to face my family and friends and simply ran away
Help me through another day
Give me the strength to face another day and the challenges it may bring
Help me make another dollar, before I go
Help me earn enough money to support myself before I leave town
We got time, for one more song
We have a moment to play music before we must leave
Then we'll have to move along
We need to continue our journey and find another place to play
Another town, another crowd
We are starting over in a new place and performing for a new audience
Lord I wonder if they know
I wonder if the people we're playing for understand the struggles we've faced
Can they read between the lines in my song
Do they understand the deeper meaning behind the lyrics of my music
As I sing about a good boy that's went wrong
As I sing about someone who made mistakes and is paying for the consequences
Guitar we got years to kill
We have many more years to play and create music
We got to climb that distant hill
We have to push ourselves to reach our goals and aspirations
I wonder if they think of me
I wonder if my family and friends back home still remember me
Guitar play
Continue playing music and using it to tell my story
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CONWAY TWITTY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Dan Wolf
Anybody who hears this song and isn't moved by it has no soul. R.I.P Conway.
peel river
It flows right through you like waves wow
Lets go brandon
If they aren’t moved by this song then they are probably Florida/Georgia line fans.
Josh Scott
So So True 👍
William Johnson
@Janitor Bill This & Believe.
William Johnson
100%
David Dewey
This song plays over and over again in my mind,it's hard for me to unwrap my brain from Conway's music.
EDDIE ayyash
yes iv had the same telln about this song
Tracy Garner
Love Conway, I remember listening to him when I was a kid with my daddy and his box of 8 track tapes.
Larry Bill
Hello Tracy how are you doing!!