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.
Funny Familiar Forgotten Feelings
Don Gibson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As I lay searching for sleep.
Her soft hand reached out, she whispered my name
As she brushed a tear from my cheek.
And then those funny familiar forgotten feelings
Started walkin' all over my mind.
It's sad, so sad to watch love go bad,
I'm just thankful for the good times we've had
For without them I could not go on,
With all those funny familiar forgotten feelings
Walkin' all over my mind.
I must go on, be strong,
Though millions of teardrops may fall,
Before these funny familiar forgotten feelings
Stop walkin' all over my mind.
Before these funny familiar forgotten feelings
Stop walkin' all over my mind.
The lyrics to Don Gibson's song Funny Familiar Forgotten Feelings speak about the power of memories and emotions associated with past loves. The narrative depicts the singer struggling to sleep as his mind is filled with thoughts of a past lover. In his imagination, she reaches out to him and wipes away a tear, highlighting the fact that her presence is still very much felt in his life. The words "funny familiar forgotten feelings" are repeated throughout the song, reflecting the mental turmoil that arises as the singer tries to deal with the emotions brought on by his memories.
The verses allude to the sadness of a love that has gone wrong, but simultaneously express gratitude for the good times shared. The repeated plea to "go on, be strong" reflects a sense of resilience that seems to run through the song. Despite the overwhelming presence of memories and emotions, the singer ultimately asserts his determination to move on from his past, with the hope that the "funny familiar forgotten feelings" will eventually stop walking all over his mind.
Overall, the song is a poignant reflection on the complexities of love and memory, and the strong hold they can have on our emotions and psyche.
Line by Line Meaning
Last night, quietly, she walked through my mind
The singer has been thinking about someone from their past.
As I lay searching for sleep.
At night, the singer thinks about this person and struggles to fall asleep.
Her soft hand reached out, she whispered my name
In the singer's daydream, the person touches and talks to them.
As she brushed a tear from my cheek.
The person comforts the artist, wiping away their tears.
And then those funny familiar forgotten feelings
Past emotions resurface, causing nostalgia.
Started walkin' all over my mind.
These emotions consume the singer's thoughts.
It's sad, so sad to watch love go bad,
Reflecting on a relationship that failed is heartbreaking.
But a true love would not have gone wrong.
The artist acknowledges that a real, deep love would not have ended.
I'm just thankful for the good times we've had
Despite the love ending, the artist is grateful for the happy memories.
For without them I could not go on,
Remembering the good times helps the artist cope with the sadness of the breakup.
With all those funny familiar forgotten feelings
The returned feelings make it harder for the singer to move on from the past.
Walkin' all over my mind.
The emotions are overwhelming and hard to ignore.
I must go on, be strong,
The singer recognizes that they need to move forward from the past and be strong despite their sadness.
Though millions of teardrops may fall,
The healing process may be difficult and emotional.
Before these funny familiar forgotten feelings
The singer wants to overcome the emotions that keep returning.
Stop walkin' all over my mind.
The artist wants to be able to move forward without constantly thinking about the past.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MICKEY NEWBURY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind