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.)
The Games That Daddies Play
Conway Twitty Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And with a voice that sounded older
He said mom I've got something on my mind
I don't want to bother you
But I sure need to talk to you
If you could only spare the time
And mom I hope you understand
How much I love and need you and
But don't you think I'm old enough
And big enough and strong enough to play
The games that daddies play
My friend Billy Parker's dad
Came by today to see me and
He wondered if I'd like to go
With him and Billy on a hike
And maybe camp out overnight
The way I've seen them do in picture shows
And there's one thing I'd like to do
And maybe if I asked him to
He's sit and talk to me man to man
We'd only be gone overnight
And I could find out what it's like to play
The games that daddies play
She quickly turned to hide the tears
From her son of seven years
He didn't know she'd read between the lines
He'd never really known his dad
And although he'd never ask
She knew exactly what was on his mind
She searched her mind in desperation
Six long years of separation
Dimmed the words she knew she had to say
I hope you're never big enough
Or old enough or bold enough to play
The games that daddies play
I know you need and want his love
But son, you're the victim of
Another kind of games that daddies play
Conway Twitty's song The Games That Daddies Play is a poignant and heartfelt depiction of a young boy’s longing for his father’s love and attention. In the song, the boy approaches his mother, seeking her permission to spend time with his friend’s father so he can experience the “games that daddies play.” The mother, however, is forced to confront her own fears and heartaches over her estranged relationship with the boy’s father. She understands that her son’s desire to be with his father reflects his yearning for a paternal figure in his life, but she also knows the damage that can be wrought by a father who plays games with his children’s emotions. As she holds back her tears, she tells her son that he is the victim of another kind of game that some fathers play.
The song has a universal appeal and is relatable to anyone who has experienced the pain of a broken family or a distant father figure. It conveys the longing of a child for the attention of his parents and the hurt that comes with the realization that some things may never change.
Line by Line Meaning
He put his arms around her shoulder
He embraced his mother with a hug
And with a voice that sounded older
Speaking with a more mature tone
He said mom I've got something on my mind
He confided that he had something to say
I don't want to bother you
He didn't want to be a burden
But I sure need to talk to you
He needed to express his feelings
If you could only spare the time
If she had time to listen
And mom I hope you understand
He hoped his mother would comprehend
How much I love and need you and
He expressed his love and dependence
I don't want you to take this the wrong way
He didn't want to be misinterpreted
But don't you think I'm old enough
He felt mature enough
And big enough and strong enough to play
Physically and emotionally ready for
The games that daddies play
To do things fathers do with their sons
My friend Billy Parker's dad
His friend's father
Came by today to see me and
Visited him earlier
He wondered if I'd like to go
Asked if he was interested to join
With him and Billy on a hike
To go hiking with them
And maybe camp out overnight
Stay outdoors for the night
The way I've seen them do in picture shows
Like how he had seen in movies
And there's one thing I'd like to do
He had something he wanted to try
And maybe if I asked him to
If he requested
He's sit and talk to me man to man
To have a heart-to-heart conversation
We'd only be gone overnight
For just one night
And I could find out what it's like to play
See and experience firsthand
The games that daddies play
What fathers and sons do together
She quickly turned to hide the tears
His mother tried to conceal her emotions
From her son of seven years
Her young son
He didn't know she'd read between the lines
He wasn't aware she understood his unspoken request
He'd never really known his dad
He had never really got to know his father
And although he'd never ask
He wouldn't demand it from her
She knew exactly what was on his mind
She knew what he was thinking
She searched her mind in desperation
She struggled to find the right thing to say
Six long years of separation
After six years of being apart
Dimmed the words she knew she had to say
Made it difficult to express what needed to be said
I hope you're never big enough
She wished he'd never grow up
Or old enough or bold enough to play
She didn't want him to experience
The games that daddies play
The activities she associated with fathers
I know you need and want his love
She knew he craved his father's affection
But son, you're the victim of
But unfortunately, he was suffering the consequences of
Another kind of games that daddies play
Another form of emotional gameplaying by fathers
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CONWAY TWITTY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind