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."
I'll Never Fall in Love Again
Floyd Cramer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A guy with a pin to burst your bubble
That's what you get for all your trouble
I'll never fall in love again
I'll never fall in love again
What do you get when you kiss a guy?
You get enough germs to catch pneumonia
I'll never fall in love again
Don't you know that I'll never fall in love again
Dont' tell me what's it all about
'Cause I've been there and I'm glad I'm out
Out of those chains, those chains that bind you
That is why I'm here to remind you
What do you get when you fall in love?
You only get a life of pain and sorrow
So for at least until tomorrow
I'll never fall in love again
No, no, I'll never fall in love again
I'm out of those chains, those chains that bind you
That is why I'm here to remind you
What do you get when you fall in love?
You only get lies and pain and sorrow
So for at least until tomorrow
I'll never fall in love again
Don't you know that I'll never fall in love again
I'll never fall in love again
The lyrics to Floyd Cramer's song "I'll Never Fall in Love Again" capture the singer's disillusionment with love and relationships. The first verse presents the idea that falling in love leads to disappointment and pain, as represented by the "guy with a pin to burst your bubble." The second verse extends this pessimistic view, suggesting that physical affection is also risky and ultimately unrewarding.
The chorus repeats the titular phrase, emphasizing the singer's resolve to avoid love altogether. The third verse is the most explicitly critical of love, with the singer warning against the societal expectations and restrictions that can come with being in a relationship. Overall, the lyrics express a sense of bitterness and defeat towards love and the ways in which it can trap and hurt people.
Line by Line Meaning
What do you get when you fall in love?
The experience of falling in love brings nothing but disappointment.
A guy with a pin to burst your bubble
Getting involved romantically with someone only leads to heartbreak.
That's what you get for all your trouble
Love brings trouble and difficulties.
I'll never fall in love again
The artist has no intention of ever letting themselves fall in love again.
I'll never fall in love again
The artist is emphatic about their resolve to not let themselves fall in love.
What do you get when you kiss a guy?
Kissing someone may lead to illness or rejection.
You get enough germs to catch pneumonia
Kissing someone is risky and potentially hazardous.
After you do, he'll never phone ya
Once you kiss someone, they may lose interest and stop contacting you.
Don't you know that I'll never fall in love again
The artist reiterates their determination to avoid love.
Dont' tell me what's it all about
The artist is dismissive of romantic love and does not want to hear about it.
'Cause I've been there and I'm glad I'm out
The singer has experienced love before and is relieved to be free from its grip.
Out of those chains, those chains that bind you
Love can be a trap that holds you back and limits your freedom.
That is why I'm here to remind you
The singer wants to warn others about the dangers of romantic love.
You only get a life of pain and sorrow
Love is not worth the suffering it brings.
So for at least until tomorrow
The singer will not consider love again, at least not in the near future.
No, no, I'll never fall in love again
The artist is resolute and unyielding in their decision.
Writer(s): Burt F. Bacharach, Hal David
Contributed by Colton K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.