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.
Country Green
Don Gibson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She's true and pure like country green
I feel her hand upon my shoulder
Waking me from a drawn out sleep
I'm the only man to ever hold her
What we share ain't nothin' cheap
Sunday evening, we spend at mine
Quiet nights down by the sawmill
We sit and talk, her hand in mine
Country green, do you know what I mean?
She's true and pure like country green
Country green, just a poor boy's dream
She makes me feel like country green
Summer rain falls down the chimney
Umm, makes a puddle on the floor
It's so good to have her with me
I don't know what I did before
Country green, do you know what I mean?
She's true and pure like country green
Country green, just a poor boy's dream
She makes me feel like country green
Country green, do you know what I mean?
She's true and pure like country green
The song "Country Green" by Don Gibson is a sweet and simple love song about the singer's relationship with his partner. The phrase "country green" is used as a metaphor for the purity and authenticity of their love. The singer describes his partner as someone who is true and pure like country green. He is grateful to have her in his life and feels lucky to be the only man to hold her.
The lyrics describe the couple's quiet and simple life, spending Sundays at church and evenings together. The mention of the sawmill and the summer rain adds to the imagery of country living. The singer reflects on how having his partner with him has changed his life for the better. The line "I don't know what I did before" suggests that he was lost without her and that she brings meaning and purpose to his life.
Overall, "Country Green" is a charming and heartfelt expression of love. The use of the metaphor of country green portrays the singer's feelings of gratitude and reverence for the authentic love he shares with his partner.
Line by Line Meaning
Country green, do you know what I mean?
The singer is asking if the listeners understand what he means by 'country green.'
She's true and pure like country green
The woman the singer is referring to is honest and genuine like the natural surroundings of the countryside.
I feel her hand upon my shoulder
The singer is awakened by the touch of his lover's hand on his shoulder.
Waking me from a drawn out sleep
He is roused from a prolonged slumber by her touch.
I'm the only man to ever hold her
The singer is the only person that his lover has ever been with intimately.
What we share ain't nothin' cheap
Their relationship is not based on material things, it is true and genuine.
Sunday morning, we spend at God's house
They go to church together every Sunday morning.
Sunday evening, we spend at mine
They spend their Sunday evenings together at the singer's house.
Quiet nights down by the sawmill
They spend peaceful evenings down by the sawmill.
We sit and talk, her hand in mine
The two of them chat and enjoy each others company, holding hands.
Country green, just a poor boy's dream
Being with this woman, who is as pure as the beauty of country life, is a dream come true for the singer.
She makes me feel like country green
Being with her makes the singer feel as fresh and pure as the natural surroundings of the countryside.
Summer rain falls down the chimney
Rain comes down the chimney during summertime.
Umm, makes a puddle on the floor
The rain gathers into a pool on the floor.
It's so good to have her with me
The singer is happy to have his lover with him during this moment.
I don't know what I did before
He cannot imagine how he ever got by without her.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: FUTCH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mike Lacey
A great song. Don Gibson's songs are outstanding. Love his music.
chevellejack
I love this song. When it came out I was in the first grade. Brings back a lot of memories. Thanks for sharing. Jack
TheFurthurLSD25
usually a fan of retro rock like zeppelin and sabbath, but when i heard Don Gibson for the first time after finding an old 45 I was hooked on Oh, Lonesome Me and it's gotten better ever since. This is real country music.
Model a
Same Here!
Joan Roméo
I love this song
Huguette17
Super song, super singer.
Christopher Brian
Hi 👋
tch2rd2
Thank you thank you so much for posting this song!
Christopher Brian
Hi dear
John Erwin
Something heard on radio 'bout 40 yrs.ago. Simple, catchy tune. Never knew the singer. Thanks for the post!