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.
Once
Ferlin Husky Lyrics
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And I let my once get away
I was happy - once
You'd never believe it today
I got careless - once
All at once you got away
Life had beauty - once
It's not worth livin' today
All at once you slipped away
Oh great regret like the flavor of wine
Only grows deeper with the passing of time
Life had meaning - once
It's cold and so empty today
I was foolish - once
I let my once get away
The song "Once" by Ferlin Husky is a heartfelt ballad that talks about a man's regret for losing someone special in his life. It's a reflection of the mistakes he made in the past while he was young and foolish, and how those decisions ultimately led to his current state of loneliness and despair.
The lyrics are a powerful and emotional expression of the theme of lost love. The singer is full of regret and pain as he reflects on his past mistakes. He admits his own foolishness, which led him to lose the love of his life. The chorus of the song is particularly poignant, as it describes the depth of his sorrow and how it has affected his life: "Life had meaning - once, It's cold and so empty today."
The song's message is about the importance of not taking love for granted and the lasting impact that a bad decision can have on one's life. It reminds us that we should cherish and appreciate those who we love, and that sometimes it's too late to turn back the clock and undo our mistakes.
Line by Line Meaning
I was foolish - once
At one point in time, I made an unwise decision
And I let my once get away
My opportunity slipped through my fingers due to my own actions
I was happy - once
At one point in time, I experienced true joy and contentment
You'd never believe it today
My current demeanor or circumstances suggest that I've never been happy before
I got careless - once
At one point in time, I acted recklessly or without caution
All at once you got away
Suddenly and unexpectedly, the person or thing I valued disappeared from my life
Life had beauty - once
The world and my surroundings were filled with wonder and splendor at one point in time
It's not worth livin' today
My current existence seems pointless and unbearable compared to what I once experienced
I slipped out - once
I left or departed without giving it much thought or consideration at one point in time
All at once you slipped away
Suddenly and unexpectedly, the person or thing I valued disappeared from my life
Oh great regret like the flavor of wine
The feeling of remorse intensifies over time, like the taste of wine that improves with age
Only grows deeper with the passing of time
As more time goes by, the weight of my regret becomes more significant and apparent
Life had meaning - once
There was a time when my existence felt purposeful and fulfilling
It's cold and so empty today
My current existence seems devoid of warmth or fulfillment compared to what I once experienced
I was foolish - once
At one point in time, I made an unwise decision
I let my once get away
My opportunity slipped through my fingers due to my own actions
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: TED HARRIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind