Active: '60s, '70s, '80s, '90s, 20… Read Full Bio ↴Born: August 19, 1945, Lafayette, LA
Active: '60s, '70s, '80s, '90s, 2000s
Genres: Country
Instrument: Vocals
Representative Albums: "I Got Mexico: The RCA Victor Singles A's & B's," "Greatest Country Hits," "The Best of Eddie Raven"
Representative Songs: "I Got Mexico," "Joe Knows How to Live," "I'm Gonna Get You"
Edward Garvin Futch (born August 19, 1944, in Lafayette, Louisiana) is an American country music artist known professionally as Eddy Raven. Known for his Cajun-influenced country music, Raven has been a recording artist since 1962. He has charted more than thirty-five singles in his career, including the Number One hits "I Got Mexico", "Shine, Shine, Shine", "I'm Gonna Get You", "Joe Knows How to Live", "In a Letter to You" and "Bayou Boys", as well as several more Top Ten hits, including seventeen consecutive Top Tens between 1984 and 1990.
Edward Garvin Futch was born in Lafayette, Louisiana, on August 19, 1944, as one of 11 children. Influenced by Cajun music, the country music sounds from popular radio broadcasts such as the Louisiana Hayride, New Orleans blues, and the new sounds of rock and roll, Raven first played in a band at age thirteen.[2] Raven later went to work for a radio station in Georgia, where in 1962 he self-released the single "Once a Fool" under the name Eddy Raven.[2] When his family moved back to Louisiana, Raven worked at a record store called La Louisianne, where he recorded and released his first album, That Cajun Country Sound.[1]
Raven's record was heard by Jimmy C. Newman, who helped him sign to a publishing contract with Acuff-Rose Music. There, he wrote hit tunes for Don Gibson, Connie Smith, Jeannie C. Riley, and many others. He also wrote The Oak Ridge Boys' 1982 single "Thank God for Kids". Eventually, he moved to Nashville, Tennessee where he started recording for himself in 1974, having charted hits on ABC Records, including three albums and the No. 27 single "Good News, Bad News."[1] He later recorded for Monument Records and then Dimension Records, where he released the album Eyes, although none of its chart singles were major hits.
1980s1981 saw the release of Raven's breakthrough album for Elektra Records, Desperate Dreams. This album accounted for five singles, including his first Top Ten, "She's Playing Hard to Forget." Due to management issues, however, he left Elektra after only one album and switched to RCA Records.
Raven had his first Number One country hit in 1984 with "I Got Mexico", the first single from his RCA debut I Could Use Another You. This album also produced consecutive No. 9 hits in its title track and "She's Gonna Win Your Heart."[1] Continuing his streak of hit singles was 1985's Love & Other Hard Times, which also accounted for three more Top Ten hits. Right Hand Man followed in 1985, producing his second No. 1 in "Shine, Shine, Shine" in 1987. His final RCA album, The Best of Eddy Raven, accounted for two more Number Ones in "I'm Gonna Get You" and "Joe Knows How to Live" before he exited the label.
In 1989, he switched to Universal, with Temporary Sanity being released in 1989. Its first two singles ("In a Letter to You" and "Bayou Boys") both topped the charts. In 1990, Universal merged into Capitol Nashville. Temporary Sanity was re-released on Capitol Nashville followed by two more top ten songs (the No. 6 "Sooner or Later" and No. 10 "Island"). After it came "Zydeco Lady" which stopped at No. 56. Another album for Capitol Nashville, Right for the Flight, produced two charted singles, "Rock Me In The Rhythm Of Your Love" and "Two Much Candy For A Dime". Raven left the label after its release.
He continued to record for independent labels throughout the 1990s and into the 2000s, including a guest appearance alongside Jo-El Sonnier on The Bellamy Brothers' "Catahoula" and the 2001 single from his Living In Black And White release (RMG), "Cowboys Don't Cry" which spent one week at No. 60. In 2007, Raven could be found again on Joe Rucker's Untangle My Mind album on the song "Bermuda Shorts". According to his web site, Raven is still performing concert dates.[3]
Songwriting career - Eddy Raven has written songs for a wide range of rock and country recording artists, including Elvis Costello, Johnny Cash, Kenny Chesney, Roy Orbison, George Jones, Toby Keith, Waylon Jennings, Lefty Frizzell, Carl Smith, Heather Myles, Brenda Lee, Don Gibson, Faron Young, Jack Greene, Gene Watson, Jerry Jeff Walker, Lorrie Morgan, Roy Acuff, Jerry Reed, Oak Ridge Boys, Connie Smith, Charlie Louvin.
Studio albums
US Country CAN Country
1969 That Cajun Country Sound — — La Louisianne
1972 Bayou Boys — — ABC/Dot
Thank God for Kids — —
1975 This Is Eddy Raven — —
1980 Eyes 55 — Dimension
1981 Desperate Dreams 26 — Elektra
1984 I Could Use Another You 41 8 RCA
1985 Love & Other Hard Times 64 —
1987 Right Hand Man 18 —
1988 The Best of Eddy Raven 36 —
1989 Temporary Sanity 31 25 Capitol
1991 Right for the Flight — —
1994 Wild Eyed and Crazy — — Intersound
1996 Cookin' Cajun — — K-Tel
2000 That Cajun Country Soung (re-release) — — La Louisianne
2001 Living in Black and White — — Row Music
2005 Knowin' How to Live — — Intersound
Island
Eddy Raven Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There was a place I loved
That was my moment
That's just the way it was
Careless and crazy
Running to, God knows where
Now where is that heartland?
I can hear you calling
Wandering boy, come home soon
I hear the music
I see your face in the moon
Who am I fooling?
There's no need for me to pretend
I might sail forever
And never find that island again
I fight with my mem'ry
Find all the pieces I can
Of a beautiful woman
Who trusted her heart in my hands
Now what kind of sailor
Would let such a dream get lost?
Tonight we'd be sailing
Out under the southern cross
I can hear you calling
Wandering boy, come home soon
I hear the music
I see your face in the moon
Who am I fooling?
There's no need for me to pretend
I might sail forever
And never find that island again
Who am I fooling?
There's no need for me to pretend
I might sail forever
And never find that island again
I could sail forever
And never find that island again
Eddy Raven's song "Island" is a wistful ballad that reminisces on past memories and an idyllic island, while also admitting the futility of trying to recapture the past. The lyrics create a sense of nostalgia and longing for a simpler time, where the singer was carefree and reckless, running without purpose or direction. However, this carelessness also led to lost opportunities and a feeling of aimlessness. The lyrics suggest that the singer is now searching for that lost sense of purpose, represented by the unreachable "island" of his youth. He hears a call to return home, but ultimately realizes that he may never find the island again, and that searching for it is futile.
The song's melancholic tone is emphasized by Raven's soulful vocal performance, which emphasizes the longing and sadness of the lyrics. The song also showcases skilled musicianship with a guitar riff and a melodic piano, which add to the overall feeling of nostalgia and yearning. The repetition of the chorus emphasizes the futility of the search and the pain of the missed opportunity.
Line by Line Meaning
There was a time
In the past, there existed a certain period
There was a place I loved
There was a particular location that held significance to me
That was my moment
That was a time in my life that I cherished
That's just the way it was
That's the way things happened and unfolded
Careless and crazy
Acting without much concern or thought, in a wild manner
Running to, God knows where
Going towards some unknown destination or purpose
Now where is that heartland?
Where is that place that held so much meaning to me?
Where is the one who cares?
Where is that person who loved and supported me?
I can hear you calling
I can sense that someone is trying to reach me
Wandering boy, come home soon
Return to your roots and to the people who need you
I hear the music
I am reminded of a certain melody or tune
I see your face in the moon
I recall the visage of someone who was very dear to me
Who am I fooling?
Why do I deceive myself?
There's no need for me to pretend
I don't have to falsify anything or deceive myself
I might sail forever
I could possibly journey endlessly
And never find that island again
And never relocate that special place or person that I long for
I fight with my mem'ry
I struggle with the images and impressions that my past experiences left me with
Find all the pieces I can
Try to remember as many details and components as possible
Of a beautiful woman
About a stunning and wonderful lady
Who trusted her heart in my hands
Who placed her emotions and feelings in my care
Now what kind of sailor
What kind of voyager or traveler would I be?
Would let such a dream get lost?
Would allow such a beautiful ambition or aspiration to vanish and disappear?
Tonight we'd be sailing
We could be navigating together through the ocean right now
Out under the southern cross
Sailing among the constellations that are visible here in the southern hemisphere
I could sail forever
I have the possibility to perpetually journey
And never find that island again
But fail to rediscover my ideal destination or person
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: TROY HAROLD SEALS, EDDY RAVEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
David Hicks
I cannot believe that this song is not played more often. This is a beautiful song and Eddy does a great job. My wife of 55 years, who passed 3 years ago, and I loved this song. Now I play it and sit with tears, but I still love to play the song for me to hear and remember.
sharon kaye
I lost my husband of 46 yrs. Nov. 2020, loss is so very difficult! I enjoy this song, first heard it on Pandora a couple of months ago, now I play it quite often on Utube!
Thurgood Stubbs
You are so right my friend. Bless you!
Bobby Hutchinson
He has always been one of the best singer in country music,also he is a great song writer of our time.Love to hear him perform.Thanks for posting.
Trellis Crews
Great song, I've often wondered why Eddy never made it real big. Real nice guy.....easy on the eyes. He sings a different genre of music from the contemporary country you hear today.
judiekleng
This is the most relaxing song ever. Love it!
Richard Lane
When I was a country music DJ in Australia in the 1990's I played this song a lot. All instruments were played beautifully, especially the pedal steel guitar with it's haunting Hawaiian sound. Of course Eddie's voice was perfect.
Randall Terry
Such a beautiful song. This was when country music had soul. I miss this kind of music.
Loren Nicholls
This is a great song. Brings back great memories! Gotta like eddy!!
Matt M
Great song...….back when Country Music still had a soul.