It was the latter brief diversion that got the boy labeled the Singing Milkman at the outset of his career. At 16, his mother entered him in a local talent contest and he won by singing "Love Letters in the Sand." He got to a final round, where he specifically avoided doing the standard Elvis Presley imitations that his competitors presented. This led to an appearance at a variety show on the island, where he was seen by London agent Bunny Lewis, whose wife was performing on the same bill. She, in turn, was impressed with the boy's poise and professionalism. Lewis arranged for singing lessons for the 16-year-old and began grooming him for a career on the stage in London. Lewis gave him the name Craig Douglas after seeing it outside a house in Scotland.
His breakthrough came on The Six-Five Special, then the only real showcase for rock & roll on British television. Douglas was booked on the show the same week that Cliff Richard and Joe Brown appeared, but he made an impression even in their company: A few days later, he was presented with two huge sacks of fan mail from the performance. The Six-Five Special led Douglas to a recording contract and a string of successes. Much of Douglas' career was spent at EMI, for which he had a number one hit with his version of "Only Sixteen," but also charted very high with "A Teenager in Love," "The Heart of a Teenage Girl," "Pretty Blue Eyes," and "When My Little Girl Is Smiling." Douglas wasn't really a rock & roll singer, his diction being too good and his delivery too straight-ahead for that designation.
His early records call up images of Ricky Nelson but, like a lot of young British singers of his era, he quickly aimed for a more mature audience. His singing was very emotive but also very clean. He was obviously more comfortable with dignified pop music, such as "Time," than with the more rocking numbers like "Ring-A-Ding" that he was occasionally called upon to record, with its slurred lyrics, honking saxes, and loud electric guitars (although Douglas acquitted himself well in that setting). He made the usual moves, appearing on film soundtracks (Two and Two Make Six) and in movies (It's Trad, Dad; A Painted Smile), as well as numerous television shows. Douglas' appearance alongside his EMI stablemate Helen Shapiro in It's Trad, Dad (which was Richard Lester's first feature and a dry run for A Hard Day's Night) showed off his strengths and weaknesses. He was charismatic simply based on his good looks, but was rather a stiff on camera as an actor, especially next to the vivacious Shapiro (who was also about five years younger than the then 21-year-old Douglas).
Rock & roll was just another musical genre to Douglas, which is not to say he was wrong, it's just that antique numbers like "It All Depends on You" or "Five Foot Two, Eyes of Blue" done straight will never resonate the same way "Dream Lover" or "Rainbows" will to listeners born after 1945. Douglas' time on the English charts ended in 1962 and his major recording career came to a halt a year later with the advent of the Liverpool sound, but he continues to perform regularly in clubs, on cruises, and in cabarets, as well as international tours. Indeed, well into the 1990s, he had an annual month-long booking in Hong Kong. He's a fondly remembered and talented exponent of England's early flirtation with rock & roll. ~ Bruce Eder, All Music Guide
It All Depends on You
Craig Douglas Lyrics
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I can be good or I can be bad
It all depends on you
I can be lonely out in a crowd
I can be humble, I can be proud
I can save money, or spend it
Go right on living, or end it
You're to blame, Honey
For what I do
I know that I can be beggar
I can be King
I can be almost any old thing
It all depends on you
It all depends on you
It all depends on you
I can save money, or spend it
Go right on living, or end it
You're to blame, Honey
For what I do
I know that I can be beggar
I can be King
I can be almost any old thing
It all depends on you
The lyrics to Craig Douglas's "It All Depends On You" explore the idea of how love and relationships can affect one's mood, behavior and decisions. The singer states that their state of being (happy or sad, good or bad) and their actions (saving or spending money, living or ending life) are all determined by the person they are in love with. They claim that they can be anyone or anything depending on this person's influence on them. The lyrics end with the singer acknowledging that it all depends on their partner, insinuating that their happiness and well-being are directly linked to their relationship.
The song's sentiment is not only reflective of the era in which it was written (the 1950s), but it is also something that many people can relate to throughout time. The idea that love and relationships can heavily influence one's emotions and actions is a universal theme that has been explored in countless songs, books and films. Through its simple yet catchy lyrics and upbeat melody, the song highlights the power of love and its effects on our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
I can be happy, I can be sad
My emotions are fickle and can easily change based on your actions.
I can be good or I can be bad
My behavior is influenced by how you treat me.
It all depends on you
My happiness and actions are solely dependent on your behavior towards me.
I can be lonely out in a crowd
Even when surrounded by others, your absence can make me feel alone and isolated.
I can be humble, I can be proud
My confidence is influenced by how you interact with me.
I can save money, or spend it
My financial decisions are based on your involvement in my life.
Go right on living, or end it
The actions I take towards my own survival are a reflection of your influence over me.
You're to blame, Honey
For what I do
I place full responsibility for my actions on you, because you have the power to influence me so greatly.
I know that I can be beggar
I can be King
I can be almost any old thing
I am capable of being anything, but my abilities and potential are determined by your involvement in my life.
It all depends on you
It all depends on you
It all depends on you
I cannot stress enough the impact you have on my life, and how everything depends solely on your actions towards me.
Writer(s): Brown Lew, De Sylva B G, De Sylva B G Ballantine Interest, Henderson Ray
Contributed by Max O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.