Arnold was born on May 15, 1918 on a farm near Henderson, Tennessee. His father, a sharecropper, played the fiddle, while his mother played guitar. As a boy Arnold helped on the farm, which later gained him his nickname—the Tennessee Plowboy. Arnold attended Pinson High School in Pinson, Tennessee, where he played guitar for school functions and events. He quit before graduation to help with the farm work, but continued performing, often arriving on a mule with his guitar hung on his back. Arnold also worked part-time as an assistant at a mortuary.
In 1934, at age 16, Arnold debuted musically on WTJS-AM in Jackson, Tennessee and obtained a job there during 1937. He performed at local nightclubs and was a permanent performer for the station. During 1938, he was hired by WMPS-AM in Memphis, Tennessee, where he was one of its most popular performers. He soon quit for KWK-AM in St. Louis, Missouri, followed by a brief stint at WHAS-AM in Louisville, Kentucky.
He performed for WSM-AM on the Grand Ole Opry during 1943 as a solo artist. In 1944, Arnold signed a contract with RCA Victor, with manager Colonel Tom Parker, who later managed Elvis Presley. Arnold's first single was little noticed, but the next, "Each Minute Seems a Million Years", scored No. 5 on the country charts during 1945. Its success began a decade of unprecedented chart performance; Arnold's next 57 singles all scored the Top Ten, including 19 number one scoring successes.
In 1946, Arnold scored his first major success with "That's How Much I Love You". In 1948, he had five successful songs on the charts simultaneously. That year he had nine songs score the top 10; five of these scored No. 1 and scored No. 1 for 40 of the year's 52 weeks. With Parker's management, Arnold continued to dominate, with 13 of the 20 best-scoring country music songs of 1947–1948. He became the host of Mutual Radio's Purina-sponsored segment of the Opry and of Mutual’s Checkerboard Jamboree, a midday program shared with Ernest Tubb that was broadcast from a Nashville theater. Recorded radio programs increased Arnold’s popularity, as did the CBS Radio series Hometown Reunion with the Duke of Paducah. Arnold quit the Opry during 1948, and his Hometown Reunion briefly broadcasted in competition with the Opry on Saturday nights. In 1949 and 1950, he performed in the Columbia movies Feudin’ Rhythm and Hoedown.
Arnold began working for television in the early 1950s, hosting The Eddy Arnold Show. The summer program was broadcast successively by all three television networks, replacing the Perry Como and Dinah Shore programs. He also performed as a guest and a guest host on the ABC-TV show Ozark Jubilee from 1955–60. Arnold featured in the syndicated Eddy Arnold Time from 1955 to 1957. From 1960 to 1961, he hosted NBC-TV's Today on the Farm.
With the rise of rock and roll in the 1950s, Arnold's record sales declined, though he and fellow RCA Victor recording artist Jim Reeves had a greater audience with popular-sounding string-laced arrangements. Arnold annoyed many people of the country music establishment by recording with the Hugo Winterhalter Orchestra at RCA's studios in New York. The pop-oriented arrangements of "The Cattle Call" and "The Richest Man (in the World)", however, helped to expand his appeal beyond its country music base. This style, pioneered by Reeves and Arnold, became known as the "Nashville Sound". During 1953, Arnold and Tom Parker had a dispute, and Arnold dismissed him. From 1954 to 1963, Arnold's performances were managed by Joe Csida; during 1964 Csida was replaced by Jerry Purcell.
Arnold embarked on a second career that brought his music to a more diverse audience. In the summer of 1965, he had his first Number One country song in ten years, What's He Doing in My World and struck gold again six months later with the song that would become his most well-known Make the World Go Away accompanied by pianist Floyd Cramer on piano and featuring the Anita Kerr Singers. As a result, Arnold's rendition became an international success.
Bill Walker's orchestra arrangements provided the lush background for 16 continuous successes sung by Arnold in the late 1960s. Arnold performed with symphony orchestras in New York City, Las Vegas and Hollywood. He performed in Carnegie Hall for two concerts, and in the Coconut Grove in Las Vegas.[9] During 1966, Arnold was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, the youngest performer to receive the honor. The following year Arnold was voted the first-ever awarded Country Music Association's Entertainer Of The Year. Two years later, Arnold released an autobiography named It's A Long Way From Chester County.
Having been with RCA Victor since his debut during 1944, Arnold left the company in 1973 for MGM Records, for which he recorded four albums, which included several top 40 successes. He returned to RCA in 1976.
During the 1980s, Arnold declared himself semi-retired; however, he continued recording. In 1984, the Academy of Country Music awarded Arnold its Pioneer Award. His next album, You Don't Miss A Thing wasn't released until 1991. Arnold performed road tours for several more years. By 1992, he had sold nearly 85 million records, and had a total of 145 weeks of No. 1 songs, more than any other singer.
In 1996, RCA issued an album of Arnold's main successes since 1944 as part of its 'Essential' series. Arnold, then 76 years old, retired from active singing, though he still performed occasionally. On May 16, 1999, the day after his 81st birthday, he announced his final retirement during a concert at the Hotel Orleans in Las Vegas. That same year, the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences inducted the recording of "Make The World Go Away" into the Grammy Hall of Fame. In 2000, he was awarded the National Medal of Arts. In 2005, Arnold received a lifetime achievement award from the Recording Academy, and later that year, released a final album for RCA entitled After All These Years.
Eddy Arnold died from natural causes at 5:00 a.m. Central Time on May 8, 2008 in a nursing home in Nashville, exactly one week before his 90th birthday. His wife of 66 years, Sally Gayhart Arnold, had preceded him in death by two months. They were survived by two children (Richard E. Arnold, Jr., and JoAnn Arnold Pollard), two grandchildren (K. Michelle Pollard and R. Shannon Pollard, Jr.), and four great-grandchildren (Katie E. Pollard, Sophie Pollard, Rowan Pollard and Ben Johns).
On May 31, 2008, RCA released "To Life", as a single from the album After All These Years. It debuted at No. 49 on the Hot Country Songs charts, Arnold's first entry in 25 years and the recording by the oldest person to chart in Billboard magazine. It set the record for the longest span between a first chart single and a last: 62 years and 11 months ("Each Minute Seems Like a Million Years" debuted on June 30, 1945), and extended Arnold's career chart history to seven decades.
Anytime
Eddy Arnold Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Anytime you're feeling blue
Anytime you feel down hearted
That will prove your love for me is true
Anytime you're thinking 'bout me
That's the time I'll think of you
Anytime you say you want me back again
Anytime your world is lonely
And you'll find true friends are few
Anytime you see a rainbow
That will be a sign the storm is through
Anytime will be the right time
Anytime at all will do
Anytime you're sure you want only my love
That's the time I'll come back home to you
Anytime you're thinking 'bout me
That's the time I'll think of you
Anytime you say you want me back again
That's the time I'll come back home to you
The lyrics of Eddy Arnold’s song “Anytime” express a reassurance of love and availability to the listener. The song is a declaration of love from the singer to their significant other, assuring them that they can count on them regardless of the situation. The song’s chorus states that “anytime will be the right time” and that the singer will always be available for their lover.
The first verse of the song begins with “anytime you’re feeling lonely,” telling the listener that when they are alone and feeling blue, they can find comfort in knowing that the love they share with the singer is true. Similarly, in the second verse, the singer promises that “anytime you’re thinking ‘bout me, that’s the time I’ll think of you,” conveying that the love between them is mutual and that they will always stay in each other's thoughts.
The song’s final chorus advises the listeners that “anytime you’re sure you want only my love, that’s the time I’ll come back home to you.” Overall, the song conveys reassurance of love and availability, promising the listener that they can count on the singer to be there for them anytime they need them.
Line by Line Meaning
Anytime you're feeling lonely
No matter what time, if you're lonely, I'll be there for you.
Anytime you're feeling blue
Whenever you're sad, I'll be there to cheer you up.
Anytime you feel down hearted
Any moment you feel discouraged, just look to me for support and love.
That will prove your love for me is true
By turning to me in your moments of hardship, it shows me how deep your love for me truly is.
Anytime you're thinking 'bout me
Whenever you're pondering about our love, I'll be thinking about you too.
That's the time I'll think of you
When you're thinking of me, know that I too am thinking of you.
Anytime you say you want me back again
Whenever you express the desire to have me back in your life, I'll return to you.
That's the time I'll come back home to you
As soon as you want me back, I'll be back in your arms where I belong.
Anytime your world is lonely
Whenever you feel like the world is against you, I'll be your support system.
And you'll find true friends are few
When you realize you have few true friends, know that I'll always be one of them.
Anytime you see a rainbow
Whenever you see a rainbow, know that it's a sign that good things are coming your way, including our love.
That will be a sign the storm is through
When you witness a rainbow, know that the storm has passed and that better days are ahead of us.
Anytime will be the right time
No matter when you need me, I'll always be there for you.
Anytime at all will do
I don't care when you need me, as long as you need me, I'll be there for you.
Anytime you're sure you want only my love
When you know for certain that you only want my love, I'll come running back to you.
That's the time I'll come back home to you
When you know you want only me, I'll return home to you where I belong.
Lyrics © DistroKid, Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Herbert Happy Lawson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mema Ibrahim
Anytime you're feeling lonely
Anytime you're feeling blue
Anytime you feel down hearted
That will prove your love for me is true
Anytime you're thinking 'bout me
That's the time I'll think of you
Anytime you say you want me back again
That's the time I'll come back home to you
Anytime your world is lonely
And you'll find true friends a few
Anytime you see a rainbow
That will be a sign the storm is through
Anytime will be the right time
Anytime at all will do
Anytime you're sure you want only my love
That's the time I'll come back home to you
Anytime you're thinking 'bout me
That's the time I'll think of you
Anytime you say you want me back again
That's the time I'll come back home to you...💗
David Staples
1968 I was in basic training at ft bragg, nc. Had the opportunity to go to an Eddie Arnold concert. One of the best experiences of my life.
W.E1911
Thank you for your service
Jewel Dotson
The original mr. smooth of country music,
540rollerman
I loved Eddy Arnold singing on the radio when I was a child. Thank you for allowing us the pleasure to listen again.
Thomas Venam
You can get his greatest hits on cd now! 😊
Mema Ibrahim
Anytime you're feeling lonely
Anytime you're feeling blue
Anytime you feel down hearted
That will prove your love for me is true
Anytime you're thinking 'bout me
That's the time I'll think of you
Anytime you say you want me back again
That's the time I'll come back home to you
Anytime your world is lonely
And you'll find true friends a few
Anytime you see a rainbow
That will be a sign the storm is through
Anytime will be the right time
Anytime at all will do
Anytime you're sure you want only my love
That's the time I'll come back home to you
Anytime you're thinking 'bout me
That's the time I'll think of you
Anytime you say you want me back again
That's the time I'll come back home to you...💗
maureengodlewski
Why would I remember this song
Jenna Dundon
My popa loved this song. He was 91 when he passed away in December of 2019. We used to sing this song together a lot. Thank you for making this song available so I can sing it without him 💛
Jenna Dundon
@Ayeisha Swanson thank you 💛
Ayeisha Swanson
Godbless and condolences