Debby Boone was born September 22, 1956 in Hackensack, New Jersey, the daug… Read Full Bio ↴Debby Boone was born September 22, 1956 in Hackensack, New Jersey, the daughter of singer and 1950s icon Pat Boone and Shirley Lee Foley Boone (daughter of country music star Red Foley). When Boone was 14 years old, she began touring with her parents and three sisters - Cherry, Lindy and Laury. The sisters recorded as The Boones. Although they primarily recorded gospel music, they twice reached Billboard's AC charts with "When The Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes" (No. 25) and "Hasta Manana" (No. 32) which featured Debby as lead vocalist.
You Light Up My Life
Boone released her first solo effort, You Light Up My Life, in 1977. The song became the biggest hit of the 1970's on the Billboard Hot 100 spending 10 weeks at the No. 1 - longer than any of her father's No. 1 Billboard hits. At the time, only Elvis Presley's double-sided Don't Be Cruel/Hound Dog spent more weeks (11) atop Billboard's Hot 100. The song earned her a Grammy award for Best New Artist and an American Music Award for Favorite Pop Single. She also received Grammy nominations for Best Pop Female and Record of the Year. You Light Up My Life also reached No. 1 Adult Contemporary (one week) and No. 4 Country. The single and the album (No. 6 Pop, No. 6 Country) of the same name were both certified platinum. Boone's overnight success led to a tour with her father and frequent television appearances.
The song, written and produced by Joe Brooks, was from the film of the same name. Brooks earned Song of the Year awards at both the 1978 Grammys and Oscars for writing the song. Boone's version, contrary to popular belief, was not used in the movie or featured on its soundtrack. The song was lip-synched in the film by its star, Didi Conn, performing to vocals recorded by Kasey Cisyk. Although written as a love song, Boone admitted it was instead God who "lit up her life."
Boone was unable to maintain her success in Pop music after You Light Up My Life. Her follow-up single, California (also written and produced by Joe Brooks), stumbled peaking at No. 50 Pop and No. 20 AC. California was included on Boone's second album, Midstream, which faltered at No. 147 Pop. Her next single, the double-sided God Knows/Baby I'm Yours, performed even worse peaking at No. 74 Pop becoming her last entry on the Hot 100. However, the single returned Boone to the Country (No. 22) and AC (No. 14) charts. Boone then released another movie theme, When You're Loved, from The Magic of Lassie. Like You Light Up My Life, the song was nominated for an Academy Award for its composers, the Sherman Brothers. But, it failed to replicate the chart success of her first single only reaching No. 48 AC. Boone's wholesome persona was in contrast to the image-conscious Pop music industry leading her in different musical directions.
[edit] Country Music
With the crossover success of You Light Up My Life and God Knows/Baby, I'm Yours, Boone began to focus on Country music. (Her father, Pat, and maternal grandfather, Red Foley, had also recorded in that genre.) Her first country single, 1978's In Memory of Your Love, fizzled at No. 61. But, she then hit No. 11 in 1979 with a remake of Connie Francis' My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own. Boone amassed three more Top 50 country singles that year - two more Connie Francis remakes (the No. 25 Breakin' In A Brand New Broken Heart and the No. 48 Everybody's Somebody's Fool) and a remake of the Happenings' See You In September (No. 41 Country, No. 45 AC). Boone included the Francis remakes, but not See You In September, on her 1979 eponymous album which failed to chart.
Her next album, 1980's Love Has No Reason (No. 17 Country), was produced by Larry Butler who guided much of Kenny Rogers' music during this period. It resulted in the No. 1 Country and No. 31 AC hit, Are You on the Road to Lovin' Me Again. Two weeks before Road ascended to No. 1, Boone was part of a historic Top 5 on the Billboard Country chart. For the week ending April 19, 1980, the Top 5 positions were all held by women:
Crystal Gayle (It's Like We Never Said Goodbye)
Dottie West (A Lesson in Leavin')
Debby Boone (Are You on the Road to Lovin' Me Again)
Emmylou Harris (Beneath Still Waters)
Tammy Wynette (Two Story House with George Jones)
The album generated two more Country singles, the No. 14 Free to Be Lonely Again and the No. 44 Take It Like a Woman. The latter charted simultaneously with her father's Colorado Country Morning (No. 60). Butler also produced Boone's next album, 1981's Savin' It Up (No. 49 Country), which yielded two more country singles, the No. 23 Perfect Fool (also No. 37 AC) and the No. 46 It'll Be Him.
[edit] Broadway Bound
Boone wrote her autobiography, Debby Boone So Far, in 1981 and spent a year touring the United States with the stage adaptation of the film Seven Brides For Seven Brothers. The play was a success nationwide before reaching Broadway in July 1982. The Broadway reviews were lackluster, but a scathing review by the New York Times led the show to close after just five performances. The day after the show's closing, several of the the show's stars and theater-goers protested the closing outside the New York Times building hoping for a retraction of its review and the re-opening of the show. But, despite the enthusiastic reception of the show from Broadway theater-goers, the producers believed that the show could not overcome its reviews and the show remained closed.
Boone continued her theater work appearing periodically in stage productions nationwide including lead roles in Camelot, Meet Me in St. Louis, Mississippi Love, South Pacific, The Human Comedy and The King and I. Boone returned twice to the New York stage. Her 1990 performance as Maria in The Sound of Music at Lincoln Center garnered her a Drama Desk nomination. In 1996, Boone played against her image as Rizzo in the 1990's revival of Grease.
Boone occasionally acted on television as well. Her first foray into television was a 1978 musical adaptation of O'Henry's The Gift of the Magi co-starring John Rubinstein. Boone headlined two of her own NBC television music specials - The Same Old Brand New Me (1980) and One Step Closer (1982). She stunned many in 1984 by portraying Clarissa Hope, a former call girl turned Christian singer, in the television movie, Sins of the Past. The film, co-starring Anthony Geary, Barbara Carrera and Kim Cattrall, was a Top 10 Nielsen hit. Boone also made guest appearances on several television shows including Step by Step and Baywatch Nights and was featured in the television films Come On Get Happy: The Partridge Family Story and Treehouse Hostage.
[edit] Faith and family
After Seven Brides For Seven Brothers, Boone followed her heart and turned her musical career to Christian music winning two GMA Dove Awards and two more Grammys. Boone first recorded in this genre in 1980 with the Grammy winning With My Song ... I Will Praise Him. Subsequent Christian albums included Surrender (1983), Choose Life (1985), Friends For Life (1987) and Be Thou My Vision (1989). In 1989, Boone released her Christmas album, Home For Christmas, which boasted a duet with her mother-in-law, Rosemary Clooney, on Clooney's signature White Christmas.
Boone's career was always secondary as she devoted herself first to raising her four children: son Jordan (b. 1980), twin daughters Gabrielle and Dustin (b. 1983), and daughter Tessa (b. 1986). Boone married her husband, Gabriel Ferrer (son of Jose Ferrer and Rosemary Clooney and cousin of George Clooney), in 1979. The couple collaborated on several children's books. Boone wrote Bedtime Hugs For Little Ones (1988), Tomorrow Is a Brand New Day (1989), Snow Angel (1991), Welcome to This World (1996), Nightlights (1997) and Counting Blessings (1998) which were all illustrated by her husband. Boone and her children appeared frequently on the cover of Good Housekeeping magazine as they grew. Boone also released two children's videos, Debby Boone's Hug-a-Long Songs: Volumes 1 and 2.
Once her children were grown, Boone revived her recording career in 2005 with the release of Reflections of Rosemary. The CD was a fond tribute to her mother-in-law, Rosemary Clooney, featuring songs performed by Clooney as well as other songs not associated with Clooney which Boone felt showed Clooney as the person she and her family knew and loved. Boone toured extensively for the album including several nights at New York's famed cabaret, Feinstein's, where Clooney often performed.
You Light Up My Life
Boone released her first solo effort, You Light Up My Life, in 1977. The song became the biggest hit of the 1970's on the Billboard Hot 100 spending 10 weeks at the No. 1 - longer than any of her father's No. 1 Billboard hits. At the time, only Elvis Presley's double-sided Don't Be Cruel/Hound Dog spent more weeks (11) atop Billboard's Hot 100. The song earned her a Grammy award for Best New Artist and an American Music Award for Favorite Pop Single. She also received Grammy nominations for Best Pop Female and Record of the Year. You Light Up My Life also reached No. 1 Adult Contemporary (one week) and No. 4 Country. The single and the album (No. 6 Pop, No. 6 Country) of the same name were both certified platinum. Boone's overnight success led to a tour with her father and frequent television appearances.
The song, written and produced by Joe Brooks, was from the film of the same name. Brooks earned Song of the Year awards at both the 1978 Grammys and Oscars for writing the song. Boone's version, contrary to popular belief, was not used in the movie or featured on its soundtrack. The song was lip-synched in the film by its star, Didi Conn, performing to vocals recorded by Kasey Cisyk. Although written as a love song, Boone admitted it was instead God who "lit up her life."
Boone was unable to maintain her success in Pop music after You Light Up My Life. Her follow-up single, California (also written and produced by Joe Brooks), stumbled peaking at No. 50 Pop and No. 20 AC. California was included on Boone's second album, Midstream, which faltered at No. 147 Pop. Her next single, the double-sided God Knows/Baby I'm Yours, performed even worse peaking at No. 74 Pop becoming her last entry on the Hot 100. However, the single returned Boone to the Country (No. 22) and AC (No. 14) charts. Boone then released another movie theme, When You're Loved, from The Magic of Lassie. Like You Light Up My Life, the song was nominated for an Academy Award for its composers, the Sherman Brothers. But, it failed to replicate the chart success of her first single only reaching No. 48 AC. Boone's wholesome persona was in contrast to the image-conscious Pop music industry leading her in different musical directions.
[edit] Country Music
With the crossover success of You Light Up My Life and God Knows/Baby, I'm Yours, Boone began to focus on Country music. (Her father, Pat, and maternal grandfather, Red Foley, had also recorded in that genre.) Her first country single, 1978's In Memory of Your Love, fizzled at No. 61. But, she then hit No. 11 in 1979 with a remake of Connie Francis' My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own. Boone amassed three more Top 50 country singles that year - two more Connie Francis remakes (the No. 25 Breakin' In A Brand New Broken Heart and the No. 48 Everybody's Somebody's Fool) and a remake of the Happenings' See You In September (No. 41 Country, No. 45 AC). Boone included the Francis remakes, but not See You In September, on her 1979 eponymous album which failed to chart.
Her next album, 1980's Love Has No Reason (No. 17 Country), was produced by Larry Butler who guided much of Kenny Rogers' music during this period. It resulted in the No. 1 Country and No. 31 AC hit, Are You on the Road to Lovin' Me Again. Two weeks before Road ascended to No. 1, Boone was part of a historic Top 5 on the Billboard Country chart. For the week ending April 19, 1980, the Top 5 positions were all held by women:
Crystal Gayle (It's Like We Never Said Goodbye)
Dottie West (A Lesson in Leavin')
Debby Boone (Are You on the Road to Lovin' Me Again)
Emmylou Harris (Beneath Still Waters)
Tammy Wynette (Two Story House with George Jones)
The album generated two more Country singles, the No. 14 Free to Be Lonely Again and the No. 44 Take It Like a Woman. The latter charted simultaneously with her father's Colorado Country Morning (No. 60). Butler also produced Boone's next album, 1981's Savin' It Up (No. 49 Country), which yielded two more country singles, the No. 23 Perfect Fool (also No. 37 AC) and the No. 46 It'll Be Him.
[edit] Broadway Bound
Boone wrote her autobiography, Debby Boone So Far, in 1981 and spent a year touring the United States with the stage adaptation of the film Seven Brides For Seven Brothers. The play was a success nationwide before reaching Broadway in July 1982. The Broadway reviews were lackluster, but a scathing review by the New York Times led the show to close after just five performances. The day after the show's closing, several of the the show's stars and theater-goers protested the closing outside the New York Times building hoping for a retraction of its review and the re-opening of the show. But, despite the enthusiastic reception of the show from Broadway theater-goers, the producers believed that the show could not overcome its reviews and the show remained closed.
Boone continued her theater work appearing periodically in stage productions nationwide including lead roles in Camelot, Meet Me in St. Louis, Mississippi Love, South Pacific, The Human Comedy and The King and I. Boone returned twice to the New York stage. Her 1990 performance as Maria in The Sound of Music at Lincoln Center garnered her a Drama Desk nomination. In 1996, Boone played against her image as Rizzo in the 1990's revival of Grease.
Boone occasionally acted on television as well. Her first foray into television was a 1978 musical adaptation of O'Henry's The Gift of the Magi co-starring John Rubinstein. Boone headlined two of her own NBC television music specials - The Same Old Brand New Me (1980) and One Step Closer (1982). She stunned many in 1984 by portraying Clarissa Hope, a former call girl turned Christian singer, in the television movie, Sins of the Past. The film, co-starring Anthony Geary, Barbara Carrera and Kim Cattrall, was a Top 10 Nielsen hit. Boone also made guest appearances on several television shows including Step by Step and Baywatch Nights and was featured in the television films Come On Get Happy: The Partridge Family Story and Treehouse Hostage.
[edit] Faith and family
After Seven Brides For Seven Brothers, Boone followed her heart and turned her musical career to Christian music winning two GMA Dove Awards and two more Grammys. Boone first recorded in this genre in 1980 with the Grammy winning With My Song ... I Will Praise Him. Subsequent Christian albums included Surrender (1983), Choose Life (1985), Friends For Life (1987) and Be Thou My Vision (1989). In 1989, Boone released her Christmas album, Home For Christmas, which boasted a duet with her mother-in-law, Rosemary Clooney, on Clooney's signature White Christmas.
Boone's career was always secondary as she devoted herself first to raising her four children: son Jordan (b. 1980), twin daughters Gabrielle and Dustin (b. 1983), and daughter Tessa (b. 1986). Boone married her husband, Gabriel Ferrer (son of Jose Ferrer and Rosemary Clooney and cousin of George Clooney), in 1979. The couple collaborated on several children's books. Boone wrote Bedtime Hugs For Little Ones (1988), Tomorrow Is a Brand New Day (1989), Snow Angel (1991), Welcome to This World (1996), Nightlights (1997) and Counting Blessings (1998) which were all illustrated by her husband. Boone and her children appeared frequently on the cover of Good Housekeeping magazine as they grew. Boone also released two children's videos, Debby Boone's Hug-a-Long Songs: Volumes 1 and 2.
Once her children were grown, Boone revived her recording career in 2005 with the release of Reflections of Rosemary. The CD was a fond tribute to her mother-in-law, Rosemary Clooney, featuring songs performed by Clooney as well as other songs not associated with Clooney which Boone felt showed Clooney as the person she and her family knew and loved. Boone toured extensively for the album including several nights at New York's famed cabaret, Feinstein's, where Clooney often performed.
Are You on the Road to Lovin' Me Again
Debby Boone Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Are you here just to pass the time of day
Or is it love that brings you back my way
Did you miss me anytime we've been apart
Are you lookin' for a way back to my heart
Are you on the road to lovin' me again
Did the trail of yellow brick come to an end
Did you realize the future lies right here where you began
Are you on the road to lovin' me again
I don't need any promises and such
Only you and the way we used to touch
Do I really see or could my heart be blind
Is it really me you're coming back to find
Are you on the road to lovin' me again
Did the trail of yellow brick come to an end
Did you realize the future lies right here where you began
Are you on the road to lovin' me again
Are you on the road to lovin' me again
Did the trail of yellow brick come to an end
Did you realize the future lies right here where you began
Are you on the road to lovin' me again
Or is it love that brings you back my way
Did you miss me anytime we've been apart
Are you lookin' for a way back to my heart
Are you on the road to lovin' me again
Did the trail of yellow brick come to an end
Did you realize the future lies right here where you began
I don't need any promises and such
Only you and the way we used to touch
Do I really see or could my heart be blind
Is it really me you're coming back to find
Are you on the road to lovin' me again
Did the trail of yellow brick come to an end
Did you realize the future lies right here where you began
Are you on the road to lovin' me again
Are you on the road to lovin' me again
Did the trail of yellow brick come to an end
Did you realize the future lies right here where you began
Are you on the road to lovin' me again
The lyrics of Debby Boone's song "Are You on the Road to Lovin' Me Again" depict a plea from the singer to a former lover who has returned. She asks him if he is simply passing the time of day or if his return is motivated by love. She is curious if he has missed her while they were apart and if he is trying to find a way back to her heart. She then wonders if he has realized that they belong together, that the future of their relationship is where it all began. She doesn't want promises, she wants the intimacy they used to share and she questions if what she sees is the truth or simply a hopeful heart.
The song is about the painful and uncertain journey that often follows the ending of a relationship. The singer is hesitant to trust her ex but at the same time, she is hopeful for their future together. The lyrics are emotive and raw, expressing both the pain of the broken relationship and the hope for reconciliation.
Line by Line Meaning
Are you here just to pass the time of day
Are you only here to kill time or do you have a genuine intention to see me?
Or is it love that brings you back my way
Are you coming back to me because of love or just a casual feeling?
Did you miss me anytime we've been apart
Did you ever think of me when we were not together?
Are you lookin' for a way back to my heart
Do you intend to find your way back into my heart?
Are you on the road to lovin' me again
Are you trying to love me again?
Did the trail of yellow brick come to an end
Did your journey take you to its end?
Did you realize the future lies right here where you began
Have you come to the realization that your future is with me?
Are you on the road to lovin' me again
Are you trying to love me again?
I don't need any promises and such
You don't have to make any promises to me.
Only you and the way we used to touch
All I need is for you to be here and the way we used to touch.
Do I really see or could my heart be blind
Am I seeing clearly, or is my heart misleading me?
Is it really me you're coming back to find
Are you looking for me as the one you want to be with?
Are you on the road to lovin' me again
Are you trying to love me again?
Did the trail of yellow brick come to an end
Did your journey take you to its end?
Did you realize the future lies right here where you began
Have you come to the realization that your future is with me?
Are you on the road to lovin' me again
Are you trying to love me again?
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BOB MORRISON, DEBBIE HUPP
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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@ravennewyummy7169
Are you here just to pass the time of day
Or is it love that brings you back my way
Did you miss me anytime we've been apart
Are you lookin' for a way back to my heart
Are you on the road to lovin' me again
Did the trail of yellow brick come to an end
Did you realize the future lies right here where you began
Are you on the road to lovin' me again
I don't need any promises and such
Only you and the way we used to touch
Do I really see or could my heart be blind
Is it really me you're coming back to find
Are you on the road to lovin' me again
Did the trail of yellow brick come to an end
Did you realize the future lies right here where you began
Are you on the road to lovin' me again
Are you on the road to lovin' me again
Did the trail of yellow brick come to an end
Did you realize the future lies right here where you began
Are you on the road to lovin' me again
@sauquoit13456
On this day in 1980 {April 19th} Billboard Magazine published it's Hot Country Singles chart for the week ending April 19th, 1980...
And for the first time in Country Singles chart history the Top 5 positions were held by female artists:
#1. "It's Like We Never Said Goodbye" by Crystal Gayle
#2. "A Lesson in Leavin'" by Dottie West
#3. "Are You on the Road to Lovin' Me Again" by Debby Boone
#4. "Beneath Still Waters" by Emmylou Harris
#5. "Two Story House" by Tammy Wynette (duet with George Jones)
The following week Ms. West bumped Ms. Gayle out of the top spot, then Ms. Boone replaced Ms. West at #1, and finally Ms. Harris then moved into the #1 position {all four records spent one week each at #1}...
"Two Story House" just missed reaching #1, it peaked at #2...
@dianac.amoyen7772
Are you here just to pass the time of day
Or is it love that brings you back my way
Did you miss me anytime we've been apart
Are you lookin' for a way back to my heart
Are you on the road to lovin' me again
Did the trail of yellow brick come to an end
Did you realize the future lies right here where you began
Are you on the road to lovin' me again
I don't need any promises and such
Only you and the way we used to touch
Do I really see or could my heart be blind
Is it really me you're coming back to find
Are you on the road to lovin' me again
Did the trail of yellow brick come to an end
Did you realize the future lies right here where you began
Are you on the road to lovin' me again
Are you on the road to lovin' me again
Did the trail of yellow brick come to an end
Did you realize the future lies right here where you began
Are you on the road to lovin' me again
@hamidmydin9717
Never get tired of this song
Listening today at 3.40pm Tuesday, August 2023….
@marcussmith3934
Happy 67th Birthday Debby Boone!(Born September 22, 1956)😃🥳🎂🎉🎊🎈🎁🍾🥂🎀🌷🌹💐👍👏🙌
@jeffvetter4598
I was bar tending in Milwaukee when this was a hit. Heard almost a hundred times a weekend on the jukebox. When you could play three songs for a quarter which was the price of gas back then. Put a dollar in and cruise all night. They also pumped your gas, washed your wind shield and checked your oil. Sure miss those days.
@rainbowhunter9781
Debbie Boone has been known in Korea or other countries, including the United States, only with "You light up my life," but I prefer "Are you on the road loving me again?"
When I was in the U.S., I bought a tape and played this song so much that it broke down when I drove. Yang Soo-kyung's "Love is like rain outside the window" and "Are you on the road to loving me again" were two songs I listened to a lot then.
I feel sorry that Debbie Boone is now a singer who only sings gospel songs. Do I miss Debbie Boone or her songs? Or do I miss those days? It's a song that makes me want to go back to my youth sometimes.
@dianeprice3332
So beautiful one of my favorite songs ❤
@hubertmyers489
This song makes my heart beats faster.
@sonnyjames8922
Love the album cover, love the song.
@MrWc867
Very popular "interstate traveling"song when I was a kid. Never forget those 200 mile family trips to grandparents house and hearing this song on the radio and at the restraunts . Great times.
@dianeprice3332
So beautiful ❤️
@williamallison9146
I haven't heard this song in over 35 years. Thanks for posting