Lawrence Hankins 'Hank' Locklin (February 15, 1918 – March 8, 2009) was an … Read Full Bio ↴Lawrence Hankins 'Hank' Locklin (February 15, 1918 – March 8, 2009) was an American country music singer and songwriter. A member of the Grand Ole Opry for nearly 50 years, Locklin had a long recording career with RCA Victor, and scored big hits with "Please Help Me, I'm Falling", "Send Me the Pillow That You Dream On" and "Geisha Girl" from 1957-1960. His singles charted from 1949-1971.
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.

Seven or Eleven
Hank Locklin Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

A seven or eleven that would put me high
But it would be just my luck to roll an old snakeye
Well once I had a woman who lived just for me
But a pair of these old shining dice made us disagree
I should have been a farmer we've got along just fine
But I couldn't resist these old dice and a jug of warm red wine
A seven or eleven I could make the bar
But it would be just my luck to roll an old boxcar

[ fiddle - steel ]
Well a woman is like the ocean that flows so deep and wide
Someday she'll take a notion and leave you on the other side

Well a seven or eleven that would put me high
But it would be just my luck to roll an old snakeye

Overall Meaning

The song "Seven or Eleven" by Hank Locklin is a timeless classic that speaks about the joys and pitfalls of gambling. The lyrics describe the highs and lows of rolling the dice, with a seven or eleven being the desired outcome that would "put me high." However, the singer acknowledges the reality that luck can be fickle, with the possibility of rolling an "old snakeye" or "old boxcar," leading to disappointment and loss.

The song also touches on the destructive nature of gambling, with the singer reflecting on a failed relationship that was ruined due to his addiction to the "old shining dice" and "jug of warm red wine." He laments that he "should have been a farmer" and that he and his ex-lover could have "got along just fine" if not for the lure of the dice. The lyrics suggest that gambling is a tempting but ultimately dangerous pursuit that can lead to heartbreak and ruin.

Overall, "Seven or Eleven" is a cautionary tale that highlights the allure and dangers of gambling. It serves as a reminder that luck can be fickle, and that the pursuit of instant wealth and gratification can lead to long-term harm.

Line by Line Meaning

A seven or eleven that would put me high
Hank desires to roll a seven or eleven while playing dice as it will make him excited

But it would be just my luck to roll an old snakeye
He knows that getting a snake eye (1 and 1) will be terrible luck and he will lose the game.

Well once I had a woman who lived just for me
He once had a woman who loved him and wanted to be with him all the time.

But a pair of these old shining dice made us disagree
However, Hank got into some arguments with his lady love over playing these dice games.

I should have been a farmer we've got along just fine
Hank thinks farming might be a better life for him as he could avoid getting into arguments and just be content.

But I couldn't resist these old dice and a jug of warm red wine
However, he's unable to resist the temptation of playing this game, especially when he drinks some wine.

Seven or ElevenHank Locklin Lyrics

Brasilian Rose

Seven or Eleven
Hank Locklin Lyrics