George Hege Hamilton IV (July 19, 1937 – September 17, 2014) was an America… Read Full Bio ↴George Hege Hamilton IV (July 19, 1937 – September 17, 2014) was an American country musician. He began performing in the late 1950s as a teen idol, later switching to country music in the early 1960s.

Hamilton was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, on July 19, 1937. While a 19-year-old student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Hamilton recorded "A Rose and a Baby Ruth" for a Chapel Hill record label, Colonial Records. The song, written by John D. Loudermilk, climbed to No. 6 on the United States Billboard Hot 100 chart. By 1960, "A Rose and a Baby Ruth" had attained gold record status for ABC-Paramount (which had acquired the song from Colonial). The self-penned B-side of the record, "If You Don't Know", revealed Hamilton's ambitions to be a rockabilly-country singer. In late 1959, Hamilton moved his family to Nashville, Tennessee to further his work as a country musician. On February 8, 1960, Hamilton officially became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Later that same year, he began recording for RCA Records, having been signed by Chet Atkins. In the UK he was less successful, with his biggest hit being "I Know Where I'm Going" in 1958. In 1984 he appeared with Billy Graham on his UK tour 'Mission England' and made other appearances as a solo performer in venues around the UK at this time.

Hamilton's breakthrough hit was the 1961 song "Before this Day Ends". His biggest hit came two years later with "Abilene", another song penned by Loudermilk and Bob Gibson. The song spent four weeks at No. 1 on Billboard's country singles chart and reached the Top 20 of the Hot 100. The success of "Abilene" was followed with the song "Fort Worth, Dallas or Houston" (a Top 5 hit in late 1964).

By the mid-1960s, Hamilton's music began showing a decidedly folk influence. This was especially evident with 1966's "Steel Rail Blues" and "Early Morning Rain" (both by Gordon Lightfoot), and 1967's "Urge for Going" by Joni Mitchell. Another 1967 hit was "Break My Mind" (by John D. Loudermilk). One more Hamilton song of this genre was a moderate hit in 1969—the Ray Griff-penned "Canadian Pacific". His last Top 5 single came in 1970, with "She's a Little Bit Country".

After his American chart success declined in the early 1970s, Hamilton began touring the world, across the Soviet Union, Poland, Australia, the Middle East and East Asia. These widely acclaimed international performances earned Hamilton the nickname The International Ambassador of Country Music. He also hosted several successful television programs in the UK and Canada during the 1970s, and in the 1990s he played himself in the West End musical Patsy, based on the life of Patsy Cline.

In 2004, he recorded an acoustic gospel album with producer Dave Moody titled On a Blue Ridge Sunday which earned Hamilton a Dove Award nomination in the "Best Bluegrass Album of the Year" category by the members of the Gospel Music Association. A single from the album, "Little Mountain Church House", won nominee recognition in the "Best Bluegrass Recorded Song" category the following year.

Until the very late years of his life, Hamilton was a regular at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville and in country shows throughout the U.S. and the UK. He mainly concentrated on gospel tours both at home and abroad. In 2007 he collaborated with Live Issue, a group from Northern Ireland, to record a live album based on the life of Joseph Scriven, who wrote the hymn "What a Friend We Have in Jesus". The two also toured together again in 2009.

In 2008, Hamilton released a parody of his classic hit "Abilene" in the height of the soaring U.S. gas prices called "Gasoline". The acoustic single featured "The Oil Spots" (a.k.a. The Moody Brothers & George Hamilton V) and became a hit with audiences during Hamilton's Opry appearances. Hamilton was also a regular participant in the Country's Family Reunion video series.

In 2010, Lamon Records released the album Old Fashioned Hymns, recorded transatlantic with producers Dave Moody in Nashville and Colin Elliott in Ireland. Hamilton was joined on the 28-track collection by a number of musical guests, including Ricky Skaggs, Marty Stuart, Gail Davies, Pat Boone, Del McCoury, Bill Anderson, Connie Smith, Tommy Cash, Cliff Barrows, George Beverly Shea and many others.

Hamilton had a heart attack on September 13, 2014, and died on September 17 at Saint Thomas Midtown Hospital in Nashville.[8] On September 24, the Ryman Auditorium hosted a memorial service which include performances by Marty Stewart, Ricky Skaggs, The Whites, Jett Williams, Gail Davies, Connie Smith, Dave Moody, Jimmy Capps, Barry and Holly Tashian, The Babcocks, Andrew Greer and Cindy Morgan. English music historian and journalist Tony Byworth, music writer and author Frye Galliard, artists and songwriters John D. Loudermilk and Bill Anderson, Grand Ole Opry general manager Pete Fisher, and WSM announcer Eddie Stubbs all shared stories of Hamilton's life and career during the memorial. The service concluded with "Amazing Grace" performed on bagpipes by Nashville Pipes and Drums Pipe Sergeant David Goodman.

Hamilton was inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame in 2010.

The North Carolina Board of Transportation voted to name a bridge on Business 40 for Hamilton. The ceremony naming the bridge was held on July 19, 2016, which would have been Hamilton's 79th birthday.

Discography

It has been suggested that this section be split out into another article titled George Hamilton discography. (Discuss) (August 2016)
Albums
Year Album Chart Positions Label U.S. Country U.S.
1958 On Campus — — ABC-Paramount
Sing Me a Sad Song — —
1961 To You and Yours — — RCA Victor
1963 Abilene 18 77
1964 Fort Worth, Dallas or Houston — —
1965 Mister Sincerity...A Tribute to Ernest Tubb 19 —
1966 Coast-Country 21 —
Steel Rail Blues 3 —
1967 Folk Country Classics 3 —
Folksy 21 —
1968 The Gentle Country Sound of George Hamilton IV 25 —
In the 4th Dimension 36 —
1969 Canadian Pacific — —
1970 The Best Of — —
Back Where It's At — —
1971 North Country 45 —
West Texas Highway — —
1972 Country Music in My Soul — —
Travelin' Light — —
International Ambassador — —
1973 Out West Country — —
1974 The Best Of Volume 2 (UK only) — —
"Greatest Hits" 35 —
1975 Trendsetter — —
Back to Down East Country — —
1976 Back Home at the Opry — —
1977 Fine Lace and Homespun Cloth — — Anchor
1978 Feels Like a Million — —
1979 Forever Young — — MCA
1982 Songs for a Winter's Night — — Ronco
1983 Country Beat — — Supraphon
1984 Music Man's Dream — — Range
1985 George Hamilton IV — — MCA
1986 American Country Gothic with The Moody Brothers — — Lamon Records
1990 HomeGrown with George Hamilton V — — Lamon Records
2004 Blue Ridge Sunday — — Lamon Records
2006 Heritage and Legacy — — Lamon Records
2010 Old Fashioned Hymns and Gospel Songs for Those Who Miss Them — — Lamon Records (US) and Hillcrest Recordings (Ireland)
2011 In The Heart Of Texas — — Heart Of Texas Records
2012 Luke The Drifter (The Other Side of Hank Williams) — — Lamon Records

I Know Where I'm Goin'
George Hamilton IV Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I know where I'm going,
And I know who's going with me
I know who I love,
And I know who I will marry
I need no robes of silk,
Nor shoes of fine green leather
As long as she is with me,
When we stroll across the heather

Feather beds are soft
And painted rooms are bonny
But I know she'll leave them all,
For her loving Winsom Johnny
All her wit and grace,
Like a starry cluster shine
Giving light and beauty
To this simple soul of mine

I know where I'm going,
And I know who's going with me

And I know who I love,
But the Dear knows who I'll marry

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to George Hamilton IV's classic folk song, "I Know Where I'm Goin'" tell the tale of a young woman who is confident in her path in life. She knows exactly where she is headed and who will accompany her on her journey. She also knows who she loves and the person she will marry – a man called Winsome Johnny. The woman does not need fine clothes or lavish possessions, as long as she has Johnny by her side to walk across the heath with. The song's lyrics express the idea that true love and companionship can bring happiness more than material possessions.

The song conveys a message of simplicity, love, and loyalty, as the singer paints a vivid picture of the life she has chosen with the one she loves. The lyrics are relevant in today's world as they emphasize the importance of love, companionship, and choosing the right partner over materialistic and superficial possessions. The song's melody is peaceful and gentle, often associated with an image of seclusion and nature.

I Know Where I'm Goin'George Hamilton IV Lyrics

patrick ryan

Robert Simpson

patrick ryan

Patrick Fleming

John McAuley

Jim Rader

I Know Where I'm Goin'
George Hamilton IV Lyrics