[edit] Biography
Watson was born in Palestine, Texas, in 1943 and began his music career in the early 1970s, performing in local clubs at night while working in a Houston auto body shop during the day. He only recorded for a few small, regional record labels until 1974, when Capitol Records picked up his album Love in the Hot Afternoon and released it nationally. The title track, a mid-tempo ballad in 3/4 time, was released in June 1975 and it quickly reached Number 3 on the Billboard magazine Hot Country Singles chart.
Watson's national success continued throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s, as he recorded several Billboard top-40 hits, including "Where Love Begins," "Paper Rosie," "Should I Go Home (or Should I Go Crazy)," "Nothing Sure Looked Good on You." and "Farewell Party" which was released in 1979 and quickly became Watson's signature song and soon allowed Watson to name his band after the tragic ballad.
In 1982, after switching to the MCA label, he recorded the only number-one hit of his career, "Fourteen Carat Mind." He followed up with several more hits in the early 1980s, including "Speak Softly (You're Talking to My Heart)," "You're Out Doing What I'm Here Doing Without" and "Got No Reason Now for Going Home." By the mid-1980s, he was recording for Epic Records, where his most notable hit was 1985's "Memories to Burn."
Watson never gave up his classical country style, even as he continued to record music throughout the 1980s. He signed with Warner Bros. and released two new albums in 1989 and 1991. He recorded his last album, From the Heart, under the Row Music Group label in 2001.
In 2005, Watson released his latest album, "Then & Now."
In May 2007, Gene Watson signed with the independent Shanachie Records & began work on his first album for the label, which will include new material, along with at least 3 covers of some of Gene's favourite classic country tunes including Merle Haggard's classic "Today I started Loving You Again". The new album, 'In a Perfect World', will be officially released on Tuesday 25 September 2007.
It was also in May 2007 (Saturday 5 May 2007) that the (all new) Gene Watson Site went 'live'. The site, which is owned & maintained by Sean Brady, is based in the Republic of Ireland & receives full support from Sarah Brosmer at Lytle Management in Nashville (Gene Watson's management team) & Gene Watson himself.
In September 2007 "In A Perfect World" was released to the public. The album was received by the country music industry as being one of the best recordings of the year.
[edit] External links
The Official Gene Watson Site
Gene Watson Site Based in Ireland
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_Watson"
Categories: 1943 births | American country singers | American male singers | Living people | People from Anderson County, Texas | People from Houston, Texas
Though he can sing honky-tonk, Gene Watson built a reputation for soulful ballads in the classical country tradition. Born one of seven children in Palestine, TX, Watson married early and was working as an auto-body man when he began frequenting the clubs in Houston. He recorded for a few small-time regional labels during the early '70s like Wide World and Stoneway. Watson finally had success in 1974, when a steamy single for Resco "Love in the Hot Afternoon" was picked up for national distribution by Capitol Records, igniting a firestorm of national hits: "Where Love Begins," "Paper Rosie," "Farewell Party," "Should I Come Home (Or Should I Go Crazy)," and "Nothing Sure Looked Good on You." In 1982, shortly after moving to MCA, Watson recorded his only chart-topper, "Fourteen Carat Mind." A parade of Top Ten entries followed during the early '80s, including "Speak Softly (You're Talking to My Heart)" and "You're Out Doing What I'm Here Doing Without." Watson is a vocal stylist of considerable talent, and still owns his own body shop.
I Never Go Around Mirrors
Gene Watson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
One who never combs his hair or shaves his face
A man that leans on wine over love that's told a lie
Oh, it just tears me up to see a grown man cry
And I never go around mirrors
I can't stand to see me without you by my side
I never go around mirrors
I can't stand to be where heartaches hang around
It's so easy for the blues to get me down
To see a grown man crawl is more than I can stand
I can't look into these eyes of half a man
And I never go around mirrors
I can't stand to see me without you by my side
No, I never go around mirrors
'Cause I've got a heartache to hide
And it tears me up to see a grown man cry
In "I Never Go Around Mirrors," Gene Watson sings about the pain and heartbreak that comes from seeing a man who has lost his love and is struggling to cope with it. Watson expresses his disappointment with men who have given up on themselves and have turned to alcohol as a crutch for their broken hearts. He emphasizes that he cannot bear to see such men waste their lives away and fall into despair. The sight of a grown man crying is unbearable to him, and he wishes that he could somehow help them through their pain.
However, Watson admits that he, too, is struggling with his own heartache since losing his love. He cannot bear to see himself alone without her and hates to be reminded of the pain that she has caused him. For this reason, he never looks in the mirror and tries to avoid places that remind him of his heartache. He is hiding his heartache from the rest of the world, just as the broken men around him try to hide their own pain.
Overall, Gene Watson's "I Never Go Around Mirrors" is a poignant and emotional lament about the pain and heartbreak of lost love. Through his lyrics, Watson expresses his empathy for those who are struggling with their own heartache while also acknowledging his own pain.
Line by Line Meaning
I can't stand to see a good man go to waste
It's difficult to witness someone not living up to their full potential.
One who never combs his hair or shaves his face
Someone who neglects to take care of themselves properly.
A man that leans on wine over love that's told a lie
A person who uses alcohol to escape the pain of betrayal.
Oh, it just tears me up to see a grown man cry
It's saddening to witness someone who is usually strong and composed break down in tears.
And I never go around mirrors
The artist avoids looking at themselves in reflections.
I can't stand to see me without you by my side
The singer finds it uncomfortable to see themselves alone.
I never go around mirrors
The singer avoids mirrors entirely to avoid seeing themselves without their loved one.
'Cause I've got a heartache to hide
The reason for avoiding mirrors is to conceal the artist's pain.
I can't stand to be where heartaches hang around
The artist avoids places and situations where there is emotional pain and sadness.
It's so easy for the blues to get me down
The artist is susceptible to getting consumed by feelings of sadness and hopelessness.
To see a grown man crawl is more than I can stand
It's unbearable for the singer to witness a man who has lost all dignity and self-respect.
I can't look into these eyes of half a man
The artist cannot bring themselves to look into the eyes of someone who has given up on themselves.
And it tears me up to see a grown man cry
The singer finds it painful to witness men who are supposed to be strong and stoic cry.
Contributed by Arianna N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Katcrazy7
No one sings quite like Gene Watson ! I love the way he sings. Such range.... What a talent.... Thanks for sharing this song....
Gene Watson
Thanks for supporting my music 🎶,I’m so grateful and I hope you never stop being a fan. You have my maximum respect, and I want to appreciate you for being supportive.
Wileen Byroads
@Wileen Byroads I really love this man!
Wileen Byroads
HE IS AMAZING FOR SURE!
Fernand Laporte
I've heard this song by every top country singer out there and believe me there are many superb versions out there. He takes back seat to no one in this classic
Gene Watson
@Ann Gallant Thanks for supporting my music 🎶,I’m so grateful and I hope you never stop being a fan. You have my maximum respect, and I want to appreciate you for being supportive.
Ann Gallant
I have been following for as long as we have both been around,can't say he has done anything I don't like so don't stop now.
Ramsay Mery
A very special voice.A true artist.
Gene Watson
Thanks for supporting my music 🎶,I’m so grateful and I hope you never stop being a fan. You have my maximum respect, and I want to appreciate you for being supportive.
Douglas B.
Now there's a man that knows how to sing a country song. Great song, great country singer.....