Starting off singing at the local Optimist Club, Young was discovered by Webb Pierce, who brought him to star on the Louisiana Hayride radio program on KWKH in 1951.
He was drafted into the Army in late 1952, just after he was signed to Capitol Records. Nicknamed "The Hillbilly Heartthrob" and "The Singing Sheriff," he had many hits including:
"Young Love"
"If You Ain't Lovin' (You Ain't Livin')"
"Live Fast, Love Hard, Die Young"
"Sweet Dreams"
"Alone With You"
"Hello Walls" (written by Willie Nelson)
"It's Four in the Morning" (written by Jerry Chesnut).
"Here I Am In Dallas"
"I've Got Five Dollars and It's Saturday Night"
Young made several appearances during the late 1950s on ABC-TV's Ozark Jubilee.
His #1 country hit "It's Four in the Morning" was written at his request as he was recuperating from a serious automobile accident in which he suffered head injuries. His tongue had been partly severed in the accident, and it took him several months before he could regain normal speaking ability. He had particular trouble with the "s" sound in most words, so he asked for a song which largely avoided that sound as his comeback effort.
Faron Young's band, the Country Deputies, was one of country music's top bands, and toured with him for many years.
Young co-founded, with Preston Temple, the Nashville trade newspaper, The Music City News.
Young died at the age of sixty-four of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He had been in failing health when he took his own life.
Legacy and influence
A performance video clip of "It's Four In The Morning" was the first video to air on CMT when it first launched on March 5, 1983.
In 1985, the country singer inspired homage from British rock group, Prefab Sprout, whose multimillion-selling album, "Steve McQueen" contains the song "Faron Young." The song has the refrain: You give me Faron Young four in the morning / Forgive me Faron Young four in the morning..."
In 2000, he was posthumously inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame
In the comic strip Peanuts, Frieda's cat was named "Faron" after Faron Young, of whom Charles Schulz was a fan.
Worked with Webb Pierce on the Louisana Hayride in 1951. First recorded with Tillman Franks & his Rainbow boys in 1951. Went solo in 1952. Appeared in the 1956 movie "Hidden Guns" and got his nickame "The Young Sheriff", and his band name, "Country Deputies" from that movie. Also appeared in the movies, Stampede, Daniel Boone, Raiders Of Old California, and That's Country. Founder and one-time publisher of the Music City News in Nashville. First charted song "Going Steady went to #2 on the Country Charts in 1953. Put 79 songs into the top 40 of the country charts from 1953-1978. Had 5 #1s. Last # 1 was It's Four In the Morning in 1971. During the '90s, Young was stricken with a debilitating emphysema. Depressed by his poor health, he shot himself on December 9, 1996, and passed away the next day Source Joel Whitburn's Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country
Funny How Time Slips Away
Faron Young Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My it's been a long, long time
How am I doin'?
Oh, I guess that I'm doin' fine.
It's been so long now
But it seems like it was only yesterday
Gee, ain't it funny
How's your new love?
I hope that he's doin' fine.
I heard you told him
That you'd love him till the end of time.
Now that's the same thing you told me
It seems like only yesterday
Gee, ain't it funny
How time slips away.
Gotta go now
I guess I'll see you around
I don't know whenm though never know when
I'll be back in town.
But remember what I tell you
Oh, in time you're gonna pay
And it's surprising
How time slips away.
Yeah, ain't it funny
How time slips away...
The song "Funny How Time Slips Away" by Faron Young tells a bittersweet story of two past lovers who cross paths after a long time of not seeing each other. They exchange pleasantries, catch up on their current state of being, and discuss their new relationships. The song reminisces on how time has passed so quickly, despite the pain of their past. The lyrics express the strange quality of time and how it warps our memories.
The opening lines of the song capture the awkwardness of encountering someone you haven't seen in a long time. The singer asks “how am I doing?” which serves as a form of small talk before they delve into the real topic at hand. The next verse shifts to a different topic, asking about the new love interest of the former partner. This shows the mature way they handle this encounter, despite some unresolved feelings. The chorus magnifies the central theme of the song; time and how it can play tricks on memory.
The bridge brings a sense of foreboding and tension to the song. Here, the singer says their final goodbyes and warns their ex-partner that “in time you're gonna pay.” The lyrics suggest that the pain of the past will catch up to them eventually. The repetition of the chorus adds to the sense of unresolved tension in the song, leaving the listener with a feeling of loneliness that lingers long after the song ends.
Overall, this song is a timeless classic that has been covered by many famous artists such as Willie Nelson and Elvis Presley. It embodies the complexity of human relationships and how they can be painfully affected by the passing of time. Its enduring popularity is a testament to its relatable themes and beautifully written lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, hello there,
Greetings, it has been a significant amount of time
My it's been a long, long time
It's been a while since we last saw each other
How am I doin'?
Is everything alright with me?
Oh, I guess that I'm doin' fine.
I suppose I am doing well
It's been so long now
It has been a considerable amount of time since our separation
But it seems like it was only yesterday
Yet it feels like it was just yesterday when we were still together
Gee, ain't it funny
It's ironic to think about how much time passed
How time slips away.
The way time passes by unnoticed becomes amusing
How's your new love?
How is your current romantic interest?
I hope that he's doin' fine.
I wish him well
I heard you told him
I listened to you say to him
That you'd love him till the end of time.
You mentioned that you love him indefinitely
Now that's the same thing you told me
You made the same promise to me in the past
It seems like only yesterday
It feels like it happened so recently
Gee, ain't it funny
It's ironic how history repeats itself
How time slips away.
Time continually passes unnoticed
Gotta go now
I must depart now
I guess I'll see you around
Perhaps we will cross paths again
I don't know whenm though never know when
I can't predict the time of our next meeting
But remember what I tell you
Keep in mind what I am about to say
Oh, in time you're gonna pay
One day, you will come to understand the consequence of your actions
And it's surprising
It's unexpected
How time slips away.
How effortlessly time continues to pass by
Yeah, ain't it funny
Indeed, it's ironic
How time slips away...
How quickly time passes by without us noticing
Contributed by Mila I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Baskerville22
Ray Price had one of the finest C & W singing voices ever
@elisabethvalade9866
True!!!!
@GUNSnBACON318
True
@Johnnycdrums
He was early on shunned.
They deemed him too sophisticated.
Until he could not be ignored.
@mervingravos3811
@elisabethvalade9866 Ray had a different sound for his many great songs.They get better every time I hear .
@mervingravos3811
them.
@-.Steven
Two Legends! Two of the greatest voices in real country music.
@dcaru57
the sheriff and the Cherokee cowboy
@patmitchell2389
I agree with you
@GUNSnBACON318
100% agree with you.