As a member of the United States Merchant Marine, Husky entertained the troops on his ship in World War 2. After the war, Husky became a DJ in Missouri and Bakersfield, California, where he began using the moniker Terry Preston in order to hide his rural roots. He also recorded " Gone " under the name of Terry Preston and was a semi-hit.. He re-recorded it in later 50's and was a hit.. As a honky tonk singer, Husky signed with Capitol Records in 1953 under the guidance of Cliffie Stone, also the manager for Tennessee Ernie Ford. With Capitol Records, he reverted to his given name. A few singles failed before "A Dear John Letter" with Jean Shepard became a #1 hit. The followup was called "Forgive Me John".
In 1955, Husky had a solo hit with "I Feel Better All Over (More Than Anywhere's Else)"/"Little Tom", and developed Simon Crum as a comic alter ego. As Crum, Husky signed a separate contract with Capitol Records and began releasing records, the biggest of which was 1959's "Country Music is Here to Stay" (No. 2 for three weeks).
In the late 1950s, Husky had a long string of hits, including the #1 "Gone", (he first recorded Gone as Terry Preston in 1952) and he began an acting career on the Kraft TV Theatre program and the film Mr. Rock & Roll. Bob Ferguson's "Wings of a Dove" became his biggest hits, topping the country charts for ten weeks and attaining #12 on the pop charts. Although he didn't have any more number 1's, between 1961 and 1972 he had over two dozen hits with the biggest of which being the Top 5's, "Once" (1967) and "Just For You" (1968). In late 1972, after over 20 years with Capitol Records, Ferlin signed with ABC Records, where he scored several Top 40 hits into 1975 with the biggest of his hits there being the Top 20 "Rosie Cries A Lot" (1973). Ferlin briefly retired in 1977 following heart surgery but resumed touring after that. He remains a popular concert draw, performing at the Grand Ole Opry and elsewhere.
As Long as I Live
Ferlin Husky Lyrics
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When they have passed away
Roses adorn the narrow bed
Over the sleeping clay
Give me the roses while I live
Trying to cheer me on
Useless the flowers that we give
After the soul is gone
Praises are heard not by the dead
Roses they can not see
Let us not wait til souls have flaked
Generous friends to be
Give me the roses while I live
Trying to cheer me on
Useless the flowers that we give
After the soul is gone
Faults are forgiven when they lie
Cold in their narrow bed
Let us forgive them before they die
Now should the words be said
Give me the roses while I live
Trying to cheer me on
Useless the flowers that we give
After the soul is gone
After the soul is gone
The lyrics to Ferlin Husky's song "As Long As I Live" touch on the theme of appreciating and cherishing someone while they are alive, rather than waiting until they have passed away to give them praise and recognition. The first verse expresses the sentiment that it is pointless to wait until someone has died to give them flowers and speak well of them, as they cannot appreciate it once they are gone. The second verse reinforces this idea, stating that we should not wait until someone has died to be generous, but should instead strive to uplift and support them while they are alive. The final verse speaks to the importance of forgiving someone before they pass away, rather than waiting until they are dead to begin to appreciate their good qualities and let go of their faults.
Overall, the message of the song is clear: we should strive to show kindness, generosity, and forgiveness to those around us while they are still alive, rather than waiting until it is too late. The song's use of flowers as a metaphor for appreciation and recognition adds a poignant touch to the lyrics, emphasizing the fleeting nature of life and the importance of seizing every opportunity to show love and support to others.
Line by Line Meaning
Wonderful things of folks are said
People only say nice things about someone after they die
When they have passed away
Once they are no longer alive
Roses adorn the narrow bed
Flowers decorate the grave
Over the sleeping clay
Above the body that has been buried
Give me the roses while I live
I want to be appreciated and loved while I am still alive
Trying to cheer me on
To bring happiness and encouragement to my life
Useless the flowers that we give
It's pointless to give flowers after someone has died
After the soul is gone
Once the person has passed away
Praises are heard not by the dead
Dead people can't hear compliments
Roses they can not see
Deceased individuals can't appreciate flowers
Let us not wait til souls have flaked
We shouldn't wait until a person dies to appreciate them
Generous friends to be
We should be kind and loving friends
Faults are forgiven when they lie
People tend to forget about a person's flaws after they have died
Cold in their narrow bed
Buried and resting in peace
Let us forgive them before they die
Don't wait to forgive someone before it's too late
Now should the words be said
Speak kindly and forgive now while they are still alive
After the soul is gone
Once the person has passed away
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JAMES ROWE, R.H. CORNELIUS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind