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.
As Long as I Live
Hank Locklin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It was easy said that night we parted
That we'd forget we had ever met
I haven't forgotten I wonder if you have
Or if your heart's too full of regret
As long as I live if it be one hour
Or if it be one hundred years
I'll keep remembering forever and ever
I never thought that night we parted
That life alone could be so bad
I know it sounds funny I'll never forget you
The only joy that I've ever had
As long as I live
is a love song performed by Hank Locklin that shares an interesting story about true love, memories, and longing. The song's opening line, "I'll love you dear as long as I live," is an assurance that the love the singer has for the person they are addressing will transcend time. While parting ways with the person, they made a promise to forget each other, but the love was too strong to be forgotten easily. The singer questions if the person has also struggled to forget like they have.
The second verse shares the loneliness and emptiness that the singer feels after separating from the person they love. They never imagined life without the person would be that bad. The memory of their love is the only happiness they ever had, and they assure the person they will love them as long as they live, whether for an hour or a hundred years. The phrase "forever and ever" stresses the infinite nature of the love they have for the person.
Overall, the song is a beautiful display of true love, which is not subject to an expiry date. It further portrays that love cannot be forgotten so quickly, even after parting ways.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll love you dear as long as I live
I will remain committed to loving and caring for you indefinitely.
It was easy said that night we parted
It was effortless to promise to forget each other on the night we parted.
That we'd forget we had ever met
We vowed to put our past behind us and pretend our time together never existed.
I haven't forgotten I wonder if you have
I still fondly remember our time together and I question if you've been able to move on too.
Or if your heart's too full of regret
I'm unsure if your heart is still burdened with feelings of remorse for what could have been.
As long as I live if it be one hour
No matter how long I'm alive, even if it's only for one more hour,
Or if it be one hundred years
Or if I live for over a century,
I'll keep remembering forever and ever
I'll continue to cherish and hold onto our love's memories for eternity.
I'll love you dear as long as I live
My love for you will persist as long as my heart continues to beat.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DOLLY PARTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Peaceful
One of my husband 's favorite songs. I can still hear him sing this. He would get lost in the words. He's in heaven now. Miss him.
Freya Blue
This was one of my Mom's favorites. She joined my grandparents in heaven this morning. I love you mom❤💛❤💛
Gerald Gwinnett
My sincere condolences.
AGA CHESS
Condolence
Flossie Richard
Sorry to hear
Flossie Richard
This is one of my favs
Al Ciao
So sorry to hear. My condolences.
Concepcion Dennis
I love this song..it reminds my late father 😥❤
Diane Rittgers
My father loved this song and I love listening to it when I was young
stu dunsmore
This song means a great deal to me. My first wife and I were based in Germany. Special memories or a woman I loves deeply. RIP Wendy.