(1) A country singer an… Read Full Bio ↴There are at least two artists by this name:
(1) A country singer and songwriter from Texas.
(2) An alias of techno producer Thomas Wendel.
(1) Don Williams (Born May 27, 1939, in Floydada, Texas - Died September 8, 2017) spent much of his childhood in Corpus Christi, Texas. His father was a mechanic whose job took him to other regions, his mother played guitar and he grew up listening to country music. He and Lofton Kline formed a semi-professional folk group called the Strangers Two, and then, with the addition of Susan Taylor, they became the Pozo-Seco Singers, the phrase being a geological term to denote a dry well. Handled by Bob Dylan's manager Albert Grossman, they had major pop hits in the U.S. with "Time," "I Can Make It With You" and "Look What You've Done." Following Kline's departure, they employed several replacements, resulting in a lack of musical direction. After Williams had failed to turn the trio towards country music, they disbanded in 1971.
He then worked for his father-in-law but also wrote for Susan Taylor's solo album via Jack Clement's music publishing company. Clement asked Williams to record albums of his company's best songs, mainly with a view to attracting other performers. In 1973, Don Williams, Volume 1 was released on the fledgling JMI label and included such memorable songs as Bob McDill's apologia for growing old, "Amanda," and Williams' own "The Shelter of Your Eye." Williams' work was reissued by Dot Records, and Don Williams, Volume 2 included "Atta Way to Go" and "We Should Be Together." Williams then had a country No. 1 with Wayland Holyfield's "You're My Best Friend," which has become a standard and is the perennial sing-along anthem at his concerts. By now, the Williams' style had developed: gently paced love songs with straightforward arrangements, lyrics and sentiments. Williams was mining the same vein as Jim Reeves, but he eschewed Reeves' smartness by dressing like a ranch-hand. Besides having a huge contingent of female fans, Williams counted Eric Clapton and Pete Townshend among his admirers. Clapton recorded his country hit "Tulsa Time," written by Danny Flowers, a member of Williams' band.
Williams played a band member himself in the Burt Reynolds film W.W. & the Dixie Dance Kings and also appeared in Smokey and the Bandit 2. Williams' other successes include "Till the Rivers All Run Dry," "Some Broken Hearts Never Mend," "Lay Down Beside Me" and his only U.S. solo pop hit, "I Believe in You." Unlike most established country artists, he has not sought duet partners, although he and Emmylou Harris found success in 1981 with their version of Townes Van Zandt's "If I Needed You." Among the highlights of Williams' recording career is his interpretation of "Good Ol' Boys Like Me," McDill's homage to his southern roots. Moving to Capitol Records in the mid-'80s, Williams released such singles as "Heartbeat in the Darkness" and "Senorita," but the material was not as impressive. He took a sabbatical in 1988, but subsequent RCA Records recordings showed that nothing had changed.
In 1998, Williams released I Turn the Page on Giant Records, but the label soon closed its country music division. Following a live album in 2001, Williams retuned in 2004 with My Heart to You.
Maintaining his stress-free style, Williams continues to be a major concert attraction, especially in the U.K. and South Africa.
Williams initially started out as a songwriter for Jack Music Inc., since he lacked belief about going solo but then signed with JMI as a solo artist. His 1974 song "We Should Be Together" reached number five and he was signed on with ABC/Dot. His first single with ABC/Dot, "I Wouldn't Want to Live If You Didn't Love Me," became a number one hit, and was the first of a string of top ten hits he had between 1974 and 1991. In fact, only four of his 46 singles didn't make it to the Top Ten. Recently (as of 2012), he released the album And So It Goes.
From His Own Website.
They came to call Don Williams “the Gentle Giant” in the decades he was a dominating country hit maker because of his unique blend of commanding presence and that laid-back, easy style that has appealed to adult men and women alike—cutting across national and genre boundaries. If those personal and musical qualities stood out strongly across the 1970s, ‘80s and ‘90s, they are all the more distinctive in 2012, when so many country and pop records seem to work as check off lists of somebody’s idea of how to be a man, or hard-sell attempts to indicate affection for a woman. Don Williams has never sounded like he felt the need to sell somebody something, or to prove anything.
On And So It Goes, available from Sugar Hill on June 19th, that winning, self-assured ease is again front and center, and the musical style that has made Don a ballad vocal model for performers ranging from Eric Clapton (with whom he’d traded songs—“Tulsa Time,” “Lay Down Sally”) to Keith Urban (who guests on this release). One listen to the characteristically right-on-target vocals on this first Don Williams recording in eight years and his admirers will be wondering what he’s done to maintain that strength over the hiatus.
“Well, there are things that I don’t do,” Don laughs. “I don’t do a whole lot of sitting around chit-chatting, laughing, and carrying on—especially when I’m on the road, where that just makes you tired, anyway. Even at home on the farm there are literally days on end that I may not say anything but for an hour or two a day.”
This man who so clearly loves the quiet home life can still fill an auditorium or stadium across the U.S., the U.K., Europe and Africa; his special role as an international ambassador for American country and pop music is ongoing and his musical appeal, he has long since been astonished to find, is about the same from the Central Time Zone to central Africa.
“The weird thing about that is—no; I don’t change my show to go play England or Nairobi. I can pretty much choose anything from my repertoire and it works wherever I am, and that still amazes me, because you’re talking about different cultures, sometimes different languages, and the whole nine yards.”
The hundreds of memorable songs in that repertoire—over fifty of them major hits—whether contemplative ballads, affecting love songs or change-up rhythm numbers, have always been a core Don Williams strength and focus. Don and long-time producer Garth Fundis, who returns in that role on this new album, each credit the other with having contributed to their own song-picking and sequencing skills—skills well put to shared use again when Nashville’s finest writers submitted hundreds of songs for consideration for Don’s return to recording. They both knew what they were looking for in selections that would appear on And So It Goes:
“They’re very well written, they’re interesting, and the melody and the lyric are saying the same thing,” Don says. “Even when we’re starting looking for the songs, just experimenting, Garth and I are just in agreement; we just want to make good music that touches our hearts and, hopefully, touches others’ in the process. For many years, though, Garth has fussed at me about one thing— that we need to be sure and do whatever song that I wrote, because I would just pass over it. I get more excited about a new song that I’ve just heard than I do my own material!” (There are, in fact, two Don Williams co-writes among the ten outstanding songs on this new release.)
Riding and crossing the line between country and pop, and all the more distinctive for doing it, Don brought a sound and sensibility to the country charts that proved a smash—a development that was initially a surprise even to him.
“When I was just a wee lad,” he recalls, “I really appreciated people like Johnny Horton, Johnny Cash and Jim Reeves; all of those guys back then meant a lot to me, but at the same time, I really loved Brook Benton, and the Platters and all of those people. But even when I was ‘in pop’ myself, with everything that I wrote, the only people who really seemed to appreciate it were country fans. That has to tell you a little bit about where your heart’s at, whether your head agrees with it or not!”
Born in Floydada, Florida in 1939 and growing up near Corpus Christi, Texas, Don was playing guitar by age twelve, taught by his mother, and performed in folk, country and rock bands as a teenager. He first gained musical attention as a member of the pop folk trio The Pozo Seco Singers, which had six pop chart hits in 1966-’67, then was signed as a songwriter by Nashville’s Cowboy Jack Clement in 1971—the sort of songwriter whose demos demanded attention. Between 1974 and 1991, Don had at least one major hit every year, including such country standards to be as “ Good Ole Boys Like Me,” “Till the Rivers All Run Dry,” “It Must Be Love,” “I’m Just a Country Boy,” “Amanda” and “I Believe in You.” He also had a hit duet with Emmylou Harris on Townes Van Zandt’s “If I Needed You.” Don was the CMA Male Vocalist of the Year in 1978; his “Tulsa Time” was the ACM Record of the Year for 1979.
In 2010, Don received country music’s highest honor, with his induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Don Williams died on 8 september 2017 after a short illness. He was 78 years old.
(2) Founder and owner of Mojuba & A.R.T.less Records and one half of the Tokomak Records company. He is the creative force behind these imprints and Tokomak's main founding member. His musical influences ranges from Classic, Funk and Jazz via Drum & Bass and Trip Hop to his beloved Detroit Techno and US House, which can be still enjoyed throughout his DJ-Sets. After a few releases on the legendary Pure Plastic imprint, he delivers tracks of his own brand of funk on labels like Rewired, Styrax Leaves and 100% Pure.
I Believe In You
Don Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Organic food and foreign cars
I don't believe the price of gold
The certainty of growing old
That right is right and left is wrong
That north and south can't get along
That east is east and west is west
And being first is always best
But I believe in love, I believe in babies
I believe in mom and dad, and I believe in you
Well I don't believe that heaven waits
For only those who congregate
I like to think of God as love
He's down below, He's up above
He's watching people everywhere
He knows who does and doesn't care
And I'm an ordinary man
Sometimes I wonder who I am
But I believe in love, I believe in music
I believe in magic, and I believe in you
I know with all my certainty what's goin'
With you and me is a good thing
It's true, I believe in you
I don't believe virginity
Is as common as it used to be
In working days and sleeping nights
That black is black and white is white
That Superman and Robin Hood
Are still alive in Hollywood
That gasoline's in short supply
The rising cost of getting by
But I believe in love, I believe in old folks
I believe in children, I believe in you
I believe in love, I believe in babies
I believe in mom and dad
And I believe in you
In Don Williams's song "I Believe in You," the opening lines declare the singer's disbelief in superstars, organic food, foreign cars, and the traditional definition of right and wrong. He also rejects the notion that being first is always the best. However, he professes his belief in love and family, babyhood and childhood, and specifically in the person to whom the song is addressed. In the second verse, the singer manifests his belief in a loving God who is everywhere, watching over people and caring for them, regardless of their creed, race, or social status. Here, the singer acknowledges his ordinariness and sometimes feels uncertain about his identity. Still, he stands in his belief in love, music, magic, and humanity's goodness.
The song's sentiment is a declaration of the singer's faith in simple things that bring joy and comfort in life. The declarative style can be interpreted as a reaction against the prevailing materialism, consumerism, and political division of the time. The singer affirms his belief in what may appear ordinary or trivial, things that remind us of our common humanity and transcend class, gender, or racial boundaries. The song's catchy melody, straightforward lyrics, and the singer's earnest delivery have made it a classic country-pop song with an enduring appeal.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't believe in superstars
I don't put much stock in the fame and fortune of celebrities.
Organic food and foreign cars
I don't believe in putting too much value on trendy things like expensive cars and certain types of food.
I don't believe the price of gold
I don't think that the perceived high value of gold is necessarily a good thing.
The certainty of growing old
I don't think that aging is a certainty that we can take for granted.
That right is right and left is wrong
I don't believe that there is always a clear delineation between right and wrong in every situation.
That north and south can't get along
I don't believe that cultural or political differences between regions should prevent people from getting along.
That east is east and west is west
I don't believe that people from different geographic locations are fundamentally different from each other.
And being first is always best
I don't believe that being the first at something necessarily makes it the best.
But I believe in love, I believe in babies
Despite all of my cynicism about many things, I still believe that love and babies are wonderful and worth believing in.
I believe in mom and dad, and I believe in you
I think that parents and loved ones are some of the most important people in our lives, and I believe in the power of the people around me, including you.
Well I don't believe that heaven waits
I don't think that only certain people will be rewarded with going to heaven.
For only those who congregate
I don't believe that you have to be part of a certain group or religion to get into heaven.
I like to think of God as love
I think that God is a loving presence in our lives.
He's down below, He's up above
I believe that God is everywhere, both within us and beyond us.
He's watching people everywhere
I believe that God is aware of everything that we do, both good and bad.
He knows who does and doesn't care
I believe that God is aware of the intentions and emotions behind our actions.
And I'm an ordinary man
Although I don't have any special talents or abilities, I still have faith in the people around me and my own ability to make a difference.
Sometimes I wonder who I am
Despite my beliefs and values, I still have moments of uncertainty and doubt about my own identity and purpose in life.
But I believe in love, I believe in music
Despite my uncertainty and doubt, I still find joy and solace in things like love and music.
I believe in magic, and I believe in you
I believe that there is still magic and wonder in the world, and I have faith in your ability to be a part of it.
I know with all my certainty what's goin'
I have confidence in what I know to be true and what I believe, despite any opposition or disagreement.
With you and me is a good thing
I believe that our relationship and connection is a positive force in our lives.
It's true, I believe in you
I have faith in your character and ability to succeed in life, whatever that may mean for you.
I don't believe virginity
I don't think that there is a moral or ethical superiority to being a virgin.
Is as common as it used to be
I believe that the norms and expectations around sexuality have changed over time, and that's okay.
In working days and sleeping nights
I believe that people have the right to balance their work and rest in whatever way makes the most sense for them.
That black is black and white is white
I don't believe that everything is cut-and-dry, and that there is room for nuance and complexity in most situations.
That Superman and Robin Hood
I don't believe that the heroes we see in movies and stories are necessarily realistic, but they can inspire us to be better people nonetheless.
Are still alive in Hollywood
I recognize that Hollywood is a place of fantasy and imagination, and that's okay as long as we don't take it too seriously.
That gasoline's in short supply
I don't believe that we have to rely on non-renewable resources like gas forever.
The rising cost of getting by
I recognize that the economy is changing and there are real struggles that people face in making ends meet.
I believe in love, I believe in old folks
I still have faith in the power of love and the value of older generations.
I believe in children, I believe in you
I believe that children and young people have the power to change the world, and I also believe in your ability to be a part of that change.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Roger F. Cook, Sam Hogin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Bickliffe Oba
This was when music was music; and it was played by those who really knew it.
Thank you Don Williams where you are, even as you rest in peace.
Eybon
It's 2023 and this song still hits hard. It goes to prove that music and art generally is immortal.
Carolina Fight Club
We still have a lot of the same problems he refers to in the song!! :)
Umuringa Peace
Am here 2 old is gold
auliva tonez
@Carolina Fight Club
Debbie Gallo
Love the oldie a masterpiece
Marcus Wyatt
2023 now, still awesome.
Bentley Bailey
Respect goes out to don williams and his family
RIP LEGEND ❤
Lahn Han
I'm 28 years old and have never heard this song until tonight. I have it on repeat. It resonates and has helped me soften my heart in so many ways with some hardships going on. I love music.
MrPizza063
this song was released way back in 1980 when i was in high school it looked into the future because this song makes more sense today than yesterday amazing huh