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.
Free to Be Lonely Again
Debby Boone Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Since I lost you I'm finding myself
Trying the old things now seems so new
It's amazing what freedom can do
I'm free to sit alone every night
Cry if I want til the morning light
No one to make my heartache end
Don't get me wrong the chains weren't so bad
Now and then I wish I had them back
But I really don't have time to think of you
Doing all the things I'm finally free to do
I'm free to sit alone every night
Cry if I want til the morning light
No one to make my heartache end
I'm free to be lonely again
I'm free to sit alone every night
Cry if I want til the morning light
No one to make my heartache end
I'm free to be lonely again
Debby Boone's song "Free to Be Lonely Again" is a song about the newfound freedom that one experiences after a breakup. The song expresses how there is a sense of strength and independence that comes with singlehood. The lyrics, "You'd be surprised I'm doing so well, Since I lost you I'm finding myself, Trying the old things now seems so new, It's amazing what freedom can do" indicate how much the singer has grown since losing their partner. They are discovering new things about themselves and enjoying their newfound freedom.
The chorus of the song, "I'm free to sit alone every night, Cry if I want til the morning light, No one to make my heartache end, I'm free to be lonely again" speaks to the idea that although it may be lonely, there is a sense of freedom that comes with being single. The singer is no longer trapped in a relationship that was causing them heartache. They can now experience their emotions freely without worrying about what their partner may think or feel. The lyrics "Don't get me wrong the chains weren't so bad, Now and then I wish I had them back, But I really don't have time to think of you, Doing all the things I'm finally free to do" also indicate that while the singer has moved on, there are times when they long for the "chains" or the familiarity of their past relationship. However, they are too busy enjoying their new life and freedom to dwell on it.
Overall, "Free to Be Lonely Again" is a song about the strength and independence that comes with singlehood. It speaks to the idea that although it may be lonely at times, there is a sense of freedom that comes with being alone.
Line by Line Meaning
You'd be surprised I'm doing so well
Contrary to expectations, I am doing remarkably well after the breakup.
Since I lost you I'm finding myself
I have been realizing who I truly am since our split.
Trying the old things now seems so new
I am rediscovering things I used to do, but they feel fresh and exciting again.
It's amazing what freedom can do
Having the freedom to be myself and indulge in activities I enjoy is truly incredible.
I'm free to sit alone every night
I am at liberty to have alone time every night now, should I so choose.
Cry if I want til the morning light
I am free to cry all night long if I feel the need, without someone telling me to stop.
No one to make my heartache end
There is no one there to console me and ease my heartache, but I am coming to terms with that.
I'm free to be lonely again
I am able to appreciate the feeling of loneliness and solitude once again.
Don't get me wrong the chains weren't so bad
I do not necessarily regret being in a relationship, but I am not entirely unhappy with being single again.
Now and then I wish I had them back
Occasionally, I reminisce about what it was like to be in a relationship, and am reminded of some of its positive aspects.
But I really don't have time to think of you
Overall, I am keeping busy and occupied, and do not often find myself dwelling on thoughts of my former partner.
Doing all the things I'm finally free to do
I am making the most of my newfound freedom and exploring activities and experiences that I did not have the chance to pursue before.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ruth Adele West Cole
Beautiful, sad song. Debby sings it so well.
Life Rhythm Love
This album love has no reason is brilliant!!! Also savin it up her best albums
Dolores Cortes Amaral
Canta muito đđčđ linda talentosa,sou sua fĂŁ Brasil
Christopher M Turner
THANK YOU who whoever posted this one! A gem I've looked for, literally for years! THANK YOU!
J.W. Gauntt
Chris M MacNeil you're welcome but you can thank the lovely Muzikgirl67 for sending this great tune, thank you for listening & commenting
sumanamjs
Remembered just the last words of this song yesterday, wishing that I could find it on YouTube - I got lucky! Thank you, Muzikgirl67 and JW Gauntt for bringing back sweet music and precious memories!!!
Irenee Shubert
I had this in a record collection
john sandiford
Nice song,thanks for sharing Jack
J.W. Gauntt
john sandiford thanks for listening Rock
foley muzieklover
Great job,Jack.