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.
Peace In The Valley
Hank Locklin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Till the Lord will come and call call me away oh yes
Well the morning's so bright and the lamb is the light
And the night night is as black as the sea oh yes
(There will be peace in the valley for me some day)
There will be peace in the valley for me oh Lord I pray
(There'll be no sadness no sorrow my Lord no trouble trouble I see)
Oh well the bear will be gentle and the wolf will be tame
And the lion shall lay down by the lamb oh yes
And the beast from the wild will be lead by a child
And I'll be changed changed from this creature that I am
(There will be peace...
The lyrics of Hank Locklin's song, "Peace In The Valley," convey a sense of weariness and longing for a better and peaceful existence. The singer is tired and weary, but they continue on their journey until the day the Lord calls them away. The mention of the morning being bright and the lamb being the light suggests hope and a new beginning, while the darkness of the night symbolizes the struggles and challenges faced in life.
The chorus expresses the singer's prayer for peace in the valley. They yearn for a future where sadness, sorrow, and trouble cease to exist. The repetition of the phrase "peace in the valley" emphasizes the singer's deep desire for a tranquil and harmonious existence.
The second verse brings forth images of an idyllic and transformed reality. Wild animals like bears, wolves, and even lions will become gentle and tame. In a remarkable reversal, the lion will lie down peacefully with the lamb, symbolizing a world where all conflicts are resolved. The mention of a child leading the beasts from the wild indicates a harmonious coexistence between humans and nature. The final line suggests that the singer wishes for a personal transformation, where they will be changed from who they currently are, perhaps indicating a desire for inner peace and spiritual enlightenment.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh well I'm tired and so weary but I must go along
Even though I am exhausted and burdened, I have no choice but to continue on my journey.
Till the Lord will come and call call me away oh yes
I will keep going until the moment when the Lord sends for me.
Well the morning's so bright and the lamb is the light
The dawn brings hope and the gentle lamb symbolizes guidance and enlightenment.
And the night night is as black as the sea oh yes
Despite the darkness of the night, it feels endless and overwhelming.
(There will be peace in the valley for me some day)
I have faith that one day there will be tranquility and harmony in my life.
There will be peace in the valley for me oh Lord I pray
I earnestly pray for peace to enter my life.
(There'll be no sadness no sorrow my Lord no trouble trouble I see)
In that peaceful valley, there will be no more grief, sorrow, or any kind of trouble.
There will be peace in the valley for me
I firmly believe that I will find peace in the valley.
Oh well the bear will be gentle and the wolf will be tame
In this peaceful state, even the fiercest creatures like bears and wolves will be calm and harmless.
And the lion shall lay down by the lamb oh yes
Even the king of the jungle, the lion, will peacefully coexist with the meek lamb.
And the beast from the wild will be lead by a child
A child, representing innocence and purity, will guide and control the untamed creatures.
And I'll be changed changed from this creature that I am
Through this transformative experience, I will shed my current nature and become a different being.
(There will be peace...
In that tranquil valley, there will be harmony and serenity.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Tratore, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Bluewater Music Corp., Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Thomas A. Dorsey
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind