Donald Eugene Gibson (April 3, 1928 – November 17, 2003) was an American co… Read Full Bio ↴Donald Eugene Gibson (April 3, 1928 – November 17, 2003) was an American country musician.

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.

Tennessee Waltz
Don Gibson Lyrics

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I was dancin' with my darlin' to the Tennessee Waltz
When an old friend I happened to see
I introduced him/her to my loved one and while they were dancin'
My friend stole my sweetheart from me

I remember the night and the Tennessee Waltz
Now I know just how much I have lost
Yes, I lost my little darlin' the night they were playing

The beautiful Tennessee Waltz

I was dancin' with my darlin' to the Tennessee Waltz
When an old friend I happened to see
I introduced him/her to my loved one and while they were dancin'
My friend stole my sweetheart from me

I remember the night and the Tennessee Waltz
Now I know just how much I have lost

Yes, I lost my little darlin' the night they were playing
The beautiful Tennessee Waltz

Overall Meaning

The song Tennessee Waltz, written by Redd Stewart and Pee Wee King, is a mournful and melancholic ballad that tells the story of a person who is betrayed by their lover. The singer is dancing with their loved one to the slow and sentimental tune of the Tennessee Waltz when they spot an old friend. The singer introduces their friend to their partner and steps aside to let them dance together. However, to the singer's surprise, their friend steals the partner away from them, leaving them feeling heartbroken and watching the two dance to the beautiful melody of the Tennessee Waltz. The singer reflects on the painful memory of the night and the precious person they lost forever.

The song, released in 1950, became hugely popular and was recorded by many artists in various genres, such as Patti Page, Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, and Ella Fitzgerald. The single by Patti Page became a number one hit in the US charts and stayed in the top ten for almost six months. The lyrics' emotional depth and heartfelt delivery, combined with the charming and wistful melody, make it a classic ballad that stands the test of time. The song has become synonymous with lost love and missed opportunities, making it a popular choice at weddings as well as funerals.

The song's lyrics were written by Redd Stewart, who was inspired by his encounter with a couple dancing to the Tennessee Waltz at a dance hall. Pee Wee King, the composer of the melody, originally called it No Name Waltz, and it was only later entitled Tennessee Waltz. The song features a unique combination of a catchy melody with heart-wrenching lyrics, making it a timeless piece of music that resonates even today.

Tennessee WaltzDon Gibson Lyrics

Tennessee Waltz
Don Gibson Lyrics