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."
The Rose
Floyd Cramer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Ooh-ooh)
(Ooh-ooh
(Ooh-ooh)
(Ahh-ah)
(Ahh-ah-ah)
Da, da, da, da-da
Da, da, da-da
Da, da, da, da-da
Da, da-da-da, da-da
Da, da, da, da-da
Da, da, da-da
Da, da, da, da-da
(Ahh-ah)
(Ahh-ah, ahh-ahh)
As this song is an instrumental, there are no lyrics to interpret. The sounds in the brackets are merely vocalizations and do not carry any meaning. However, the repetitive melody and upbeat tempo create a lively and energetic atmosphere, giving the sense of a festive occasion. The use of piano and guitar create a duet that intertwines and harmonizes throughout the piece. The song features a unique blend of various genres such as country, western swing and honky-tonk, which is a distinctive feature of the artist's style.
San Antonio Rose was recorded in 1961 by Floyd Cramer, an American pianist, and songwriter. It is a cover version of a song written by Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys in 1938. The original song was released during the Great Depression era and became an instant hit, securing a place in the Western Swing hall of fame. Cramer's version is an instrumental arrangement that remains faithful to the original while adding a unique touch. The song has been used in various TV shows, movies, and commercials over the years, including the 1990 movie "Dick Tracy" and the "Expedia" commercial in 2019.
Line by Line Meaning
(Ooh-ooh)
Hush, be quiet and listen.
(Ahh-ah)
Sighing as if to express deep emotion.
Da, da-da-da, da-da
Introducing the melody of the song.
Da, da, da, da-da
Continuing the melody of the song.
Da, da, da-da
Playing out the melody with appropriate rhythm.
Da, da, da, da-da
Repeating the melody with subtle variations to keep it interesting.
(Ahh-ah, ahh-ahh)
Sighing once again at the beauty of the music.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: James Robert Wills
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind