Gibson was born in Shelby, North Carolina into a poor working-class family, he dropped out of school in the second grade.
Gibson's first band was called Sons of the Soil, with whom he made his first recording in 1948. Among his greatest hits were "Oh Lonesome Me" (later recorded by both Ray Charles and Neil Young) and "Blue Blue Day" (both No. 1 hits in 1958); "Don't Tell Me Your Troubles" (1959); "Sea of Heartbreak" (1961); "Lonesome No. 1" and "I Can Mend Your Broken Heart" (1962); and "Woman (Sensuous Woman)" (a No. 1 hit in 1972).
Gibson recorded a series of successful duets with Dottie West in the late 1960s, the most successful of which were the No. 2 country hit "Rings of Gold" (1969) and the top 10 hit "There's a Story Goin' Round" (1970). In 1957, Gibson travelled back to Nashville to record "Oh Lonesome Me" for RCA. He and producer Chet Atkins decided to abandon the traditional steel guitar and fiddle and use a new sound featuring only guitars, a piano, a drummer, upright bass, and background singers. It became one of the first examples of what would be called the Nashville Sound and won Gibson a #1 hit; it also set the pattern for a long series of other RCA hits, including “Blue Blue Day” (1958).
A talented songwriter, Gibson was nicknamed "the sad poet" because he frequently wrote songs that told of loneliness and lost love. He wrote and sang "I Can't Stop Loving You", a song that would be recorded by more than 700 artists, most notably by Ray Charles with a pop version in 1962. He also wrote and recorded "Sweet Dreams" that would become a major 1963 crossover hit for Patsy Cline. A great fan, in 1967 Roy Orbison recorded an album of his songs simply titled: Roy Orbison Sings Don Gibson.
Don Gibson was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1973 and in 2001 into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
On his passing in 2003, he was interred in the Sunset Cemetery, in his hometown of Shelby, North Carolina.
Blue Blue Day
Don Gibson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I feel like runnin' away
I feel like runnin' away from it all
My love has been untrue
She's found somebody new
It's been a blue, blue day for me
What can I do
Fell like praying' (praying') sayin' (sayin')
I'm glad we're through
It's been a blue, blue day
I feel like runnin' away
I feel like runnin' away from the blues
I cannot make believe
That I don't sit and grieve
It's been a blue, blue day for me
I can't pretend and say
That I don't love her anyway
It's been a blue, blue day for me
I feel like cryin' (cryin') dying' (dying')
What can I do
Fell like praying' (praying') sayin' (sayin')
I'm glad we're through
It's been a blue, blue day
I feel like runnin' away
I feel like runnin' away from the blues
I feel like runnin' away from the blues
The lyrics to Don Gibson's song "Blue Blue Day" paint a picture of heartbreak and despair. The singer has been dealt a devastating blow, as his lover has been unfaithful and found someone new. He is overwhelmed by his emotions and feels likes running away from it all. The repeated phrase "it's been a blue, blue day" serves to emphasize the depth of his sadness and the fact that he has been struggling for some time.
Despite the pain he is experiencing, the singer cannot deny his love for his former partner. He can't pretend that he doesn't sit and grieve, and he can't say that he doesn't love her anyway. This conflicting emotion adds another layer to the sadness present in the song. The singer's inability to distance himself from his feelings makes his situation even more tragic.
The chorus of the song, with its refrain of "I feel like crying, dying...fell like praying, saying I'm glad we're through" further emphasize the emotional turmoil that the singer is experiencing. He is caught between wanting to express his love and wanting to move on from the relationship. In the end, he feels like running away from the blues, but it's clear that his heart won't let him escape his feelings so easily.
Line by Line Meaning
It's been a blue, blue day
Today has been a difficult day for me
I feel like runnin' away
I have the desire to escape the situation I am currently in
I feel like runnin' away from it all
I want to completely escape my current situation and not deal with it anymore
My love has been untrue
The person I love has been disloyal
She's found somebody new
The person I love has started a new relationship
It's been a blue, blue day for me
This has been a very difficult day for me emotionally
I feel like cryin' (cryin') dying' (dying')
I am overcome with feelings of sadness and despair
What can I do
I feel powerless to change the situation
Fell like praying' (praying') sayin' (sayin')
I am considering turning to a higher power for guidance or comfort
I'm glad we're through
I am relieved that my relationship with my love has ended
I cannot make believe
I cannot pretend or deceive myself
That I don't sit and grieve
I cannot help but feel deep sadness and sorrow
I can't pretend and say
I am unable to lie to myself or others
That I don't love her anyway
Despite the pain she has caused me, I still have feelings of love for her
I feel like runnin' away from the blues
I want to escape the overwhelming feelings of sadness and despair
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave
Written by: DON GIBSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
saddlebum38
This song came out the year I joined the Navy--Loved it then and love it now, Great song and great singer,
Don Gibson---one of the BEST! :)
jennifur sun
thank you for your service
djangorheinhardt
Superb guitar solo by Chet Atkins ,I believe.It really fits with the song,tempo and feel.
jennifur sun
thought it might be Grady Martin turns out to be Sugerfoot Garland
djangorheinhardt
@jennifur sun it was someone on these posts who seemed quite knowledgeable who said it was Chet Atkins so I took it as read .There is video of Don singing this song live and the guitar break is played by Hank Garland,a very fine player. So I am not sure ??!!
MrRockabilly70
Great song. I haven't heard this in years. Don Gibson was so talented he recorded some wonderful songs in the late 50's and early 60's and I love the car as well. Thank you for the clip.
Zeus Nerios
This is some of the realest music made real feeling that people can relate to
JAIME PEPITO
I was still in my short pants when I first heard this song from my parents singing with my father in the guitar! Loved it!!!
my naphsha
I’m a millennial but I remember my mother singing this song to us when we were little and I kinda like it 😀👍
Ruth Boykin
Great hearing this again! It's been a good while!