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
Why Don't They Understand
George Hamilton IV Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
George Hamilton IV
Why, why don't they understand
Why lead us by the hand
Why don't they understand
Why, why do they smile and say
Why don't they understand
Can it be wrong
Caring for you the way I do
It can't be wrong
Sharing with you
The warmth of love
Of loving, belonging
And so we'll wander hand in hand
Into love's wonderland
Then they will understand
It can't be wrong
Sharing with you
The warmth of love
Of loving, belonging
And so we'll wander hand in hand
Into love's wonderland
Then they will understand
Then they will understand
Then they will understand
The lyrics to George Hamilton IV's song "Why Don’t They Understand" reflects the struggle that two people face when their love is not accepted by others. The song discusses the resistance and disapproval that comes from a society that is not open to change and different types of love. The first verse of the song expresses the confusion of why others feel the need to dictate and control people's actions and emotions: "Why, why don't they understand? Why lead us by the hand? Why don't they understand?" The second verse highlights the fact that there is resistance and pushback to different kinds of love: "Why, why do they smile and say love can't be ours today? Why don't they understand?"
The chorus is a reflection of the relationship between two people in love, who experience a strong connection and belonging with one another despite the challenges that they face: "Can it be wrong caring for you the way I do? It can't be wrong sharing with you the warmth of love, of loving, belonging." The two continue to hold on to their love and choose each other, despite outside opinion. The last verse of the song is about hope for the future: "And so we'll wander hand in hand into love's wonderland, then they will understand."
In summary, "Why Don't They Understand" by George Hamilton IV is a poignant plea for acceptance, exploring themes of ostracism and social exclusion. It speaks to the universal fear and sadness that comes with rejection and societal norms.
Line by Line Meaning
Why, why don't they understand
Expressing confusion as to why certain people do not comprehend something.
Why lead us by the hand
Questioning the need for guidance or direction.
Why don't they understand
Reasserting the confusion as to why certain people do not understand.
Why, why do they smile and say
Asking why people are being insincere or deceptive while expressing affection.
Love can't be ours today
Rejecting the idea that love cannot be shared between two people who care for each other.
Why don't they understand
Again expressing the confusion that others cannot understand their feelings towards each other.
Can it be wrong
Questioning whether or not their feelings for each other are morally incorrect.
Caring for you the way I do
Expressing the depth of his feelings towards the other person.
It can't be wrong
Asserting that these feelings cannot be morally incorrect, despite what others may think.
Sharing with you
Describing the mutual feelings they possess.
The warmth of love
Describing the depth and purity of said feelings.
Of loving, belonging
Expressing the mutual desire to be together and belong together.
And so we'll wander hand in hand
Describing the peaceful contentment they experience in each other's company.
Into love's wonderland
Describing the euphoria of being together in their mutual love.
Then they will understand
Expressing the hope that others will eventually come to understand their feelings.
It can't be wrong
Reiterating the assertion that their feelings for each other are not morally incorrect.
Sharing with you
Again describing the mutual feelings they share.
The warmth of love
Reiterating the depth and purity of their feelings.
Of loving, belonging
Reasserting their mutual desire for togetherness.
And so we'll wander hand in hand
Echoing the feeling of contentment in each other's company.
Into love's wonderland
Describing the euphoric experience of being in mutual love once again.
Then they will understand
Reiterating the hope that others will eventually come to comprehend their feelings.
Contributed by Nolan P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Randy Shelden
They don't make music like this anymore. You can actually understand the words! This was always one of my favorites. I once had the record like the one shown here.
James Amato
ive always loved this song its great to hear it once more
James Amato
very pretty song always loved it since it came out
Paulimacs channel
Beautiful Arrangement by Don Costa.
John O'Sullivancalsmso
One of my favourites Thanks George!
Diane Cho
Great old song 17-85 have loved it
Teo My
👍👍❤️❤️
Michael Brooks
Almost sounds like Rick Nelson
Laura Marzz
YEAH ! AND HE EVEN LOOKS A LITTLE LIKE HIM TOO !
Cristina Letechipía
@Laura Marzz La voz puede ser, pero enlo físico no se parece en nada.Ricky era guapísimo.