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.
Send Me The Pillow You Dream On
Hank Locklin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't you know that I still care for you?
Send me the pillow that you dream on
So darling I can dream on it too
Each night while I'm sleeping oh so lonely
I'll share your love in dreams that once were true
Send me the pillow that you dream on
Send me the pillow that you dream on
Maybe time will let our dreams come true
Send me the pillow that you dream on
So darling I can dream on it too
I've waited so long for you to write me
But just a memory's all that's left of you
Send me the pillow that you dream on
So darling I can dream on it too
Hank Locklin's "Send Me the Pillow That You Dream On" is a song that is part of the vintage romantic ballads of the 1950s. It's a song sung to an old lover who has moved on, pleading to send a pillow so that the singer can sleep on it and have sweet memories of what once was.
The singer acknowledges that they still care for their ex-lover and longs to relive the memories of their love once again. The lyrics suggest that the singer has been waiting for a long time for their ex-lover to return, but they have failed to get any response. The song's chorus reveals how much the singer longs for their ex-lover's attention when they implore the beloved to send them the pillow that they use to dream on, so that they can feel close to the beloved once again.
The song's message portrays a feeling of nostalgia, longing, and loneliness. The singer's desperation drives them to cling onto the memories they have of their past relationship with a person who has longed departed. The song's essence is filled with sentiments about how love can leave us and leave us in despair, but even in such a hopeless state, we keep longing for that one thing that could give us some solace.
Line by Line Meaning
Send me the pillow that you dream on
I want the pillow that you dream on.
Don't you know that I still care for you?
I still love you and care about you, don't you know?
So darling I can dream on it too
I want to dream on the same pillow and hold onto the love we once had.
Each night while I'm sleeping oh so lonely
Every night I feel alone and wish I had you with me.
I'll share your love in dreams that once were true
In my dreams, I relive the love we once had together.
Maybe time will let our dreams come true
Perhaps in time, our dreams of being together again will come true.
I've waited so long for you to write me
I've been waiting for you to contact me for a long time.
But just a memory's all that's left of you
Sadly, all that remains of you in my life is a memory.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Hank Locklin, Stikkan Anderson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Enrique Aldanondo
Envíame la almohada con la que sueñas
¿No sabes que todavía me preocupo por ti?
Envíame la almohada con la que sueñas
Mi querida, yo también puedo soñar con ella.
Cada noche mientras duermo oh, tan solitario
Compartiré tu amor en sueños
que alguna vez fueron ciertos
Envíame la almohada con la que sueñas
Mi querida, yo también puedo soñar con eso.
Envíame la almohada con la que sueñas.
El tiempo hará que nuestros sueños se hagan realidad.
Envíame la almohada con la que sueñas
Mi querida, puedo soñar con ella.
También he esperado tanto tiempo para que me escribas
Pero solo un recuerdo es todo lo que queda de ti.
Envíame la almohada con la que sueñas
Mi querida, yo también puedo soñar con ella
Así que también puedo soñar con ella.
Holden Bohannon
I'm only but the young age of 26, but am infatuated with this era of music. Grew up listening to greats like Locklin, Cash, Jones, Loretta, Conway and many more. What an era to be around with such amazing music and context.
Travis Taylor
Hank and his wife Anita welcome me into their home when I wrote daddy's song. It was a special honor to be able to sit down in their home pick up one of Hank's guitars and play Daddy song for him. It was very nice for them to make me feel so comfortable. I will always be grateful and thankful for that. What wonderful people
Jody Carter
Wow what an incredible honor that must have been ❤️
Stephen McElroy
Every time that I find one of these fantastic classics posted here I thank the person who posted it. So, Shane, Thank You. If only the new "country" singers would take some time to appreciate real country music sung from the heart rather than the producer's bank account maybe they would understand why this music was loved.
Martin Slott
This song was originally given to locklin at a beer joint east of Conroe by a patron to give it try .
Janet Hollingsworth
Love this old song, reminds me of my daddy who used to sing it.
Cindy January
SO TRUE
Joan Boylan
Stephen McElroy Philomena begely England’s Moyer way
Sacred Fire Gaming
My grandpa just passed... and during a really long and slightly drunk conversation with family found out that this was the song my grandpa ever first sang and played. to my grandmother.. this touched my heart... and I'll never forget the rare occasion he would pick up his guitar and play after his accidents. In honor of you, Ed. I hope you've found peace..
Robert Sneddon
Brilliant old time country song.
They don't make like them anymore.