Locklin was one of country music's early honky tonk singers. He first recorded for Royalty, a small label in northeast Texas, but soon moved to 4 Star Records, a regional country music label, before signing a long contract with RCA Victor. He had an estimated 15 million record sales worldwide and his songs were recorded by many other artists, including Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Roy Rogers, Dwight Yoakam and Dean Martin. He regularly appeared on the Grand Ole Opry beginning in 1960, making his final appearance in 2007.
Locklin had 70 chart singles, including six No. 1s on Billboard's country chart. Locklin's biggest hits included "Send Me the Pillow That You Dream On", "Geisha Girl" and his signature "Please Help Me, I'm Falling", which went to number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music chart. Billboard's 100th anniversary issue listed it as the second most successful country single of the rock and roll era. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc by the RIAA. Other hits for Locklin included "Happy Journey" (1961), "Happy Birthday To Me" (1962) and "The Country Hall Of Fame" (1968).
Born in McLellan in the Florida Panhandle, Locklin grew up working in the cotton fields to supplement his family’s low income. He began playing the guitar at the age of nine after being seriously injured by a school bus.
His first marriage to Willa Jean Murphy ended in divorce. In 1970 he married Anita Crooks of Brewton, Alabama. He had a son and four daughters, 12 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and a few close great nieces and nephews such as Sarah Locklin.
In the 1960s, Locklin built a ranch house called The Singing L in the field in McClellan where he had picked cotton as a boy. He was later made the honorary mayor of the town.
Locklin had a strong following in Europe, and in Ireland. His popularity was such that in 1963 he recorded an album called Irish Songs Country Style. He has a fan club in Langeli, Bjerkreim, Norway. The obituary in The Times described Locklin as "the last remaining link between country music’s hillbilly roots and the lusher, modern pop sound of Nashville."
In 2006, Locklin appeared on the PBS special, Country Pop Legends in which he performed "Send Me the Pillow That You Dream On," and "Please Help Me I'm Falling". Until his death at the age of 91 in 2009, he was the oldest living member of the Grand Ole Opry. Hank had recently released his 65th album, By the Grace of God, a collection of gospel songs.
In 2007 he was inducted to the Florida Artists Hall of Fame.
He moved to Brewton Alabama, where he remained throughout his later years, and died there at home in the early morning on March 8, 2009.
Anna Marie
Hank Locklin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Here in my dreams I can see
The white cherry blossoms of Shima
Where I walked with Anna Marie
Anna Marie, Anna Marie
My heart remembers and sighs
Sabu, sabu, miami, vatoo
My love was pledged to another
But I knew as I crossed the sea
That I'd never loved any other
As I loved my Anna Marie
Anna Marie, Anna Marie
I miss you Anna Marie
The Hank Locklin song "Anna Marie" is about a man who is dreaming about his past love, Anna Marie, while the snow is falling. He remembers the white cherry blossoms of Shima where he used to walk with Anna Marie in Japan. The chorus of the song is a melodic reminiscence of their time together, punctuated with the nostalgic refrain "Sabu, sabu, miami, vatoo". The lyrics also reveal that the singer of the song was already in love with someone else when he met Anna Marie, but he could not help falling in love with her. Even though he loved another woman, he knew deep down that he would never feel the same way about anyone as he did about Anna Marie.
Line by Line Meaning
Tonight while the snowflakes are falling
As the snowflakes fall, my mind wanders to my dreams.
Here in my dreams I can see
In my mind's eye, I can clearly see.
The white cherry blossoms of Shima
I recall the cherry blossoms in Shima.
Where I walked with Anna Marie
I remember walking with my beloved Anna Marie.
Anna Marie, Anna Marie
My heart is filled with thoughts of Anna Marie.
My heart remembers and sighs
I sigh as I remember my love for Anna Marie.
Sabu, sabu, miami, vatoo
In my memories, I recall the places we went: Sabu, Miami, Vatoo.
I miss you Anna Marie
I long to be with Anna Marie again.
My love was pledged to another
I was promised to another person.
But I knew as I crossed the sea
As I traveled across the ocean, I realized.
That I'd never loved any other
No one else could ever compare to my love for Anna Marie.
As I loved my Anna Marie
The depth of my feelings for Anna Marie was unparalleled.
Anna Marie, Anna Marie
My heart is filled with thoughts of Anna Marie.
I miss you Anna Marie
I continue to long for Anna Marie.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CINDY WALKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@bettystephenson7094
love this version thanks for the share
@DavidLRogers1959
Just because I'm curious kinda guy, I tried to translate the line in this song that goes, Sabu sabu miami vatoo, as it's given by numerous lyrics sites, I checked 5 they all showed the same spelling and grammer. Now as far as translation goes, there is none in writing I could find, anyone know? I believe the language Hank is singing is Japanese if I'm not mistaken, I bet my friend Tadashi could help here? Anyway, cute song, the girl is cuter though :)
@gdit1410
I'll take a crack at this , David . I believe the lyrics are c'est vous c'est vous , (it's you it's you ) , mi ami beaucoup which literally translates to my friend very much . I think the language in question is French .
@bluedream428
he is singing that part in French...bo koo is french for a lot