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.
Geisha Girl
Hank Locklin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well you've met her in a teahouse on the Island of Japan
And have you ever traveled over a many thousand miles
To see a pretty Geisha girl dressed in Oriental style
They read it in the Tea Leaves and it's written in the sand
I found love by the heartful in the foreign distant land
Tell the homefolks that I'm happy with someone that's true I know
I love a pretty Geisha girl where the ocean breezes blow
I have stood and watched the sunrise from the waters of the sea
And wondered how much beauty in this whole world can there be
My dreams are all worth dreaming and it makes my life worth while
To see my pretty Geisha girl dressed in Oriental style
They read it in the Tea Leaves and it's written in the sand
I found love by the heartful in the foreign distant land
Tell the homefolks that I'm happy with someone that's true I know
I love a pretty Geisha girl where the ocean breezes blow
Hank Locklin's classic song "Geisha Girl" is a love song about finding happiness with someone from a different culture. The song is about a love interest that he met in a teahouse on the Island of Japan. The song describes the beauty of the Geisha girl in her Oriental style dress and how he traveled a great distance to see her. The lyrics also describe the happiness and love that they share despite their cultural differences.
Locklin uses vivid imagery to describe the experience of standing by the waters of the sea and watching the sunrise while dreaming of his Geisha girl. He emphasizes how much beauty there is in the world and how his dreams are worth pursuing because they bring him closer to his love interest. The chorus of the song is catchy and memorable, with the repeated line "I found love by the heartful in the foreign distant land" expressing the joy he feels in his newfound relationship.
Overall, "Geisha Girl" is a song that celebrates love that defies cultural barriers. It recognizes the challenges that come with cross-cultural relationships but ultimately celebrates the joy it brings in spite of those challenges.
Line by Line Meaning
Have you ever heard a love song that you didn't understand
Have you ever been confused by a love song because you haven't experienced that kind of love before?
Well you've met her in a teahouse on the Island of Japan
You found her in a Japanese teahouse on an island in Japan
And have you ever traveled over a many thousand miles
Have you ever traveled thousands of miles to find true love?
To see a pretty Geisha girl dressed in Oriental style
To see a beautiful Geisha girl dressed in traditional Oriental clothing
They read it in the Tea Leaves and it's written in the sand
It was predicted in tea leaves and prophesied in the sand
I found love by the heartful in the foreign distant land
I found true love in a faraway foreign land
Tell the homefolks that I'm happy with someone that's true I know
Let my loved ones know that I'm happy with someone who truly loves me
I love a pretty Geisha girl where the ocean breezes blow
I love a beautiful Geisha girl where the ocean breeze blows
I have stood and watched the sunrise from the waters of the sea
I've watched the sunrise from the sea and marveled at its beauty
And wondered how much beauty in this whole world can there be
I've wondered how much beauty exists in this world
My dreams are all worth dreaming and it makes my life worth while
My dreams are worth pursuing and give my life meaning
To see my pretty Geisha girl dressed in Oriental style
To see my beautiful Geisha girl dressed in traditional Oriental clothing
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Lawton Williams
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Clayton Browm
How great the songs of the 50's. One of the great "Hanks". Skeeter does a great job.
Micky May
Two wonderful singers singing great lovely tunes. Thanks for posting this video!
usmale 49
Thank you for uploading the Skeeter Davis "answer" song! I just wish she had recorded it with her amazing three-part self harmonies (over dubbing) with a tad bit more "echo" added! But she was still a very good vocalist without it!
Ivor Vaz
Two terrific songs by two of the greatest country music stars of the '50s. We lost both Hank Locklin & Skeeter Davis in the millennium, but we'll always remember their music fondly.
Lydia Jacobs
Just a amazing singer. Sure wish we had more singer's like this.
Alan Stevenson-Graham
Gotta love these great country legends
glenarmone
These songs take me back a few years love it
Norma Dinsdale
Another great singer love his music 🥰🎵
betty stephenson
love that version
Esme Mohabir
He’s a great singer God Bless him .🌺💕