Born in Shreveport, Louisiana, Cramer grew up in the small town of Huttig, Arkansas, teaching himself to play the piano. After finishing high school, he returned to Shreveport, where he worked as a pianist for the Louisiana Hayride radio show.
In 1952, he made his way to Nashville at a time when the use of piano accompanists in country music was growing in popularity. Before long, Cramer would become one of the busiest studio musicians in the industry, playing piano for stars such as Elvis Presley, Brenda Lee, Patsy Cline, The Browns, Jim Reeves, Roy Orbison, Don Gibson and the Everly Brothers, and many others. It is Cramer's piano that is heard, for example, on Presley's first national hit, "Heartbreak Hotel."
However, Cramer remained a virtual unknown to anyone but music industry insiders until he recorded a 45 rpm single in 1960 called "Last Date." An instrumental, the music exhibited a relatively new concept for piano playing known as the "slip note" style. The record went to Number two on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music chart. By the mid-1960s, Cramer had become a respected performer, making numerous record albums and touring with guitar maestro Chet Atkins and saxophonist Boots Randolph.
Floyd Cramer died of lung cancer in 1997 at the age of 64 and was interred in the Spring Hill Cemetery in the Nashville suburb of Madison, Tennessee.
In 2003, he was inducted into both the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tennessee offers the "Floyd Cramer Competitive Scholarship."
Have I Told You Lately That I Love You
Floyd Cramer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Could I tell you once again somehow
Have I told, with all my heart and soul how I adore you
Well darlin' I'm tellin' you now.
This heart would break in two if you refuse me
I'm no good without you anyhow
Dear have I told you lately that I love you
Well darlin' I'm tellin' you now.
Have I told you lately that I miss you
When the stars are shinin' in the sky
Have I told you why the nights are long when you're not with me
Well darlin' I'm tellin' you now
This heart would break in two if you refuse me
I'm no good without you anyhow
Dear have I told you lately that I love you
Well darlin' I'm tellin' you now.
Have I told you lately when I'm sleepin'
Every dream I dream is you somehow
Have I told you who I'd like to share my love forever
Well darlin' I'm telling you now
This heart would break in two if you refuse me
I'm no good without you anyhow
Dear have I told you lately that I love you
Well darlin' I'm tellin' you now.
The song, "Have I Told You Lately That I Love You" by Floyd Cramer is a beautiful love song that expresses an individual's deep affection and longing for their beloved. The singer asks their loved one if they have been told recently how much they are loved and expresses their desire to tell them once again, with all their heart and soul. The lyrics are filled with a sense of urgency as the singer does not want to wait any longer to proclaim their love, and it is evident throughout the entire song as they repeat the same line, "Well darlin' I'm tellin' you now."
The song opens with a question, "Have I told you lately that I love you?", followed by the desire to express their affection once again somehow. This is a common feeling in any romantic relationship where one person wants to ensure that their partner knows how much they are loved. The singer then goes on to explain how they adore their beloved with all their heart and soul. The line "this heart would break in two if you refuse me, I'm no good without you anyhow" gives an insight into the singer's vulnerability and dependence on their partner's love.
In the subsequent verses, the lyrics continue to express the longing and need for their lover, discussing the feeling of missing them, the dream of being with them forever and how every dream the singer dreams is about them. The song ends with another repetition of the chorus, emphasizing the urgency of telling their beloved how much they love them.
Line by Line Meaning
Have I told you lately that I love you
I need to remind you of my love for you
Could I tell you once again somehow
May I express this feeling to you once more
Have I told, with all my heart and soul how I adore you
Have I conveyed my deep affection for you
Well darlin' I'm tellin' you now.
I want to declare it to you once again
This heart would break in two if you refuse me
My heart cannot bear the thought of being without you
I'm no good without you anyhow
My life has no meaning without you by my side
Dear have I told you lately that I love you
I want to make sure you know how much I love you
Have I told you lately that I miss you
I long for your presence in my life
When the stars are shinin' in the sky
During the night sky's brilliance
Have I told you why the nights are long when you're not with me
I want to explain why I feel so lonely without you
Have I told you lately when I'm sleepin'
Even in my dreams, you are constantly on my mind
Every dream I dream is you somehow
All my dreams involve you in some way
Have I told you who I'd like to share my love forever
I want to spend the rest of my life with you
Well darlin' I'm telling you now
I want to make this clear to you
This heart would break in two if you refuse me
I cannot imagine living without you
I'm no good without you anyhow
I am incomplete without you
Dear have I told you lately that I love you
I want you to know that I still love you deeply
Well darlin' I'm tellin' you now.
I want to express my love to you in this moment
Contributed by Jasmine M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@user-yd1gq1ow3h
I’m ninty years old not much pleasures left Floyd Cramer is one of my favourite musicians of all time,,
@costiniucmircea
I wish you many years and to continue listening to the truly wonderful music
@gregoreweka
God bless you sir
@lindabragg2356
One of the best
@sardula9858
Many years ago this was one of my favourite songs too now it has been re kindled - thank you very much
@costiniucmircea
Thank you !
@lindabragg2356
One of the best thanks
@lindaowens2657
One of the best piano players of all time no dought,
@costiniucmircea
That's why I love him!
@gregoreweka
So beautiful, thanks for sharing musics like this are hard to get