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 Same Sweet Girl
Hank Locklin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the love I've shared with you I won't forget
And if we should ever reach a hundred years dear
You will be the same sweet girl as when we met
I'm so glad that I have found you little darling
In my heart I hold the sweetest memory
And each time I gaze into your eyes it's heaven
I can see the same sweet girl so dear to me
You will never have to live on just a promise I will always be around you when you call
I will never share my kisses with another only with the same sweet girl my one and all
The lyrics of Hank Locklin's song, The Same Sweet Girl, are a testament to the timeless nature of true love. The opening line, "All the years have seemed so short since I have known you," sets the tone for the rest of the song - that the love shared between two people is enduring and unchanging. The singer reflects on the love he has shared with his partner, promising that he will never forget the memories that they have made together. Even after a hundred years, he tells her, she will still be the same sweet girl that he fell in love with.
Locklin's lyrics paint a picture of a man who is deeply devoted to his partner. He describes her as "the sweetest memory" that he holds in his heart, and as someone who is always there for him when he needs her. He promises to never break the trust between them, saying "You will never have to live on just a promise. I will always be around you when you call." Together, the lyrics of The Same Sweet Girl convey a message of unending love and commitment - that even in a world where things are constantly shifting and changing, true love remains a constant.
Line by Line Meaning
All the years have seemed so short since I have known you
Time has flown by since we've been together
And the love I've shared with you I won't forget
I'll always remember how much I've loved you
And if we should ever reach a hundred years dear
Even if we live to be 100 years old
You will be the same sweet girl as when we met
You'll always be the same sweet, lovely person I met
I'm so glad that I have found you little darling
I'm so happy I found you, my dear
In my heart I hold the sweetest memory
My memory of you is the sweetest thing I have
And each time I gaze into your eyes it's heaven
Looking into your eyes feels like being in paradise
I can see the same sweet girl so dear to me
When I look at you, I still see the same sweet girl I met and fell in love with
[ piano ]
Musical interlude
You will never have to live on just a promise
I won't make promises I can't keep
I will always be around you when you call
I'll always be there for you when you need me
I will never share my kisses with another
I'll never kiss anyone else
Only with the same sweet girl my one and all
Only with you, my one and only true love
Lyrics © HIPGNOSIS SONGS GROUP, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: LOCKLIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Milton Moore
Dear Bianca: Did you
purposely feature the
photo of the horses
kissing, at 2:20, to fit
with the lyrics: "I will never share my kisses with another,"
or was this just a magical coincidence?
(I did not notice this
until it dawned on me
after repeated viewings.) I would love to have heard a
recording by this song by Jim Reeves
with his inimitable rich baritone! Thanks again!😀😀😀😀😀
Milton Moore
One of the purest voices in the history of country music. Happy to have heard this! Thanks, BeMisty!😀😀😀😀
Barbara Mattox
Great song, beautiful words. Thanks for sharing!!
BeMisty
You're welcome, Barbara!
CountryBoy Williams
GREAT SONG BY HANK....BEAUTIFUL, AS ALWAYS
BeMisty
Thank you!
Primrose Haran
Fantastic love this song from hank great voice thank you for this lovely post
BeMisty
My pleasure!
Susie Johnson
Beautiful song..
BeMisty
Thanks, Susie!
Alan Weston
This afternoon my wife and I will be hosting our 61st wedding anniversary dinner. I plan on singing this to her at the event.