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.
The Rich and the Poor
Hank Locklin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Though there's people all around me still I feel so sad and blue
Then I heard your happy laughter as though an angel were to sing
And I knew that I was bankrupt and you were wealthy as a king
My heart's so cold and lonely that I live in poverty
Your heart's so warm and lovin' you are richer more than me
Won't you share your precious laughter you're so rich in happiness
Lend your love to one who needs it and your share will not grow less
A wealth you have to offer can't be bought with wordly gold
The love that gold can purchase is kinda bit and oh so cold
I am just a beggar pleading for a smile from you
Lend your love to one who needs it won't you make me wealthy too
In Hank Locklin's song, "The Rich and the Poor," the melancholic mood is set in motion when the singer feels alone even when surrounded by others. He longs to feel the same happiness that he sees in someone else, someone he describes as having a warm and loving heart, and so he imagines possessing that heart too. The lyrics then become particularly insightful when the singer says that this person's happiness is more valuable than worldly gold, and that the love that can be bought by mere wealth is cold and kind of bitter. He then goes on to ask for something she has that is so abundant: her laughter, for it is a sign of the richness within her, a richness that cannot be bought. He asks her to share it with him, for he is poor in spirit and his heart is cold.
The meaning of this song is significant because it speaks about what truly makes someone rich, and it isn't just financial wealth. It is about how happy you are in your heart, and how much you can share that with others. This message is still relevant today, particularly during these times of economic uncertainty and societal upheaval, where people are returning to what truly matters in life - love, happiness and connection. The reminder to be more generous with these things is particularly poignant.
Line by Line Meaning
Sometimes I get so lonely and I don't know what to do
At times, I feel very alone and lost and do not know how to cope
Though there's people all around me still I feel so sad and blue
Even though there are people around me, I still feel unhappy and down
Then I heard your happy laughter as though an angel were to sing
But when I heard your joyous laughter, it was like an angel singing
And I knew that I was bankrupt and you were wealthy as a king
I realized that I was poor in spirit, while you were very fortunate
My heart's so cold and lonely that I live in poverty
I am so empty and alone inside that I am like a poor person
Your heart's so warm and lovin' you are richer more than me
Your heart is so loving and kind that you have more wealth than me
Won't you share your precious laughter you're so rich in happiness
Can you share your wonderful sense of humor, since you have so much happiness?
Lend your love to one who needs it and your share will not grow less
If you help someone who needs love, you will not lose any of your own love
A wealth you have to offer can't be bought with wordly gold
The kind of richness you possess can't be purchased with money
The love that gold can purchase is kinda bit and oh so cold
The love that can be bought with money is shallow and lifeless
I am just a beggar pleading for a smile from you
I am humbly asking for even just a smile from you
Lend your love to one who needs it won't you make me wealthy too
Please share your love with someone who is lacking it, and in doing so, you will make me rich as well
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HERMAN SHOSS, TED DAFFAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Brasilian Rose
VERY GOO TUNE you got a lot of great songs in your collection do you have a place to sit lol thanks friend,Keith Cheers
Brasilian Rose
@marcus Brazil I destroyed my first collection and bought em all back over the years,I got nothing left a lot of bickering ladies of course they dont like Hank Snow,Ernest Tubb and OF COURSE Paulette Carlson,hey shes a woman big suprise eh lol
marcus Brazil
@Brasilian Rose Really, as collections go, it is probably a medium size. I do not have it arranged as I would like since I had to move when I got divorced but it is OK.
Brasilian Rose
Good not Goo my bad lol