Thompson's musical style, characterized as Honky Tonk Swing, is a mixture of big-band instrumentation, fiddle and steel guitar that supports his distinctive, gravelly baritone vocals on songs he often writes himself. His backing band, The Brazos Valley Boys, was voted the No.1 Country Western Band for 14 years in a row by Billboard Magazine.
He decided to pursue his musical talent after serving in the U.S. Navy in World War II as a radioman and studying electrical engineering at the university level. His first single was "Whoa Sailor" in 1946. The year 1952 brought his first #1 disc, "The Wild Side of Life", which contained the memorable line "I didn't know God made honky-tonk angels" (which inspired the Kitty Wells response, "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels"). Other hits followed in quick succession in the 1950s and 1960s. Although not as prominent in later decades, he has remained an active and respected performer in the field, finding new audiences as a result of the resurgence of a harder-edged sound in country music.
Hank Thompson was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1989 and was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1997. He was born 3 September 1925 in Waco, Texas, and passed away at home in Keller, Texas, on 6 November 2007, just four days after cancelling his final tour.
Simple Simon Simple Heart
Hank Thompson Lyrics
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Miss your timin' simple heart when you thought that she could care
Simple simon you're not smart she gave her love to someone new
Simple simon simple heart oh what a lesson you guessen what to do
Shame oh shame true to your name you had to tag along
You didn't know it was a game couldn't tell that it was wrong
Simple simon simple heart let me tell you what to doSimple simon simple heart now you'd better forget her like she forgot you
[ guitar - fiddle ]
Simple simon simple heart you never went to school
Here's your rhymein' simple heart she forgot the golden rule
Simple simon you'd be smart to be stubborn like a mule
Simple simon you're the sort to be taken mistaken for a fool
Shame oh shame...
The song "Simple Simon Simple Heart" by Hank Thompson follows the story of a naive man, Simple Simon, who fell in love with a girl that he met at a fair but unfortunately for him, she did not reciprocate his feelings. The man is inexperienced in matters of the heart, and he was not aware that he was caught up in a game that was not meant for him. He feels ashamed that he was fooled and is advised to forget about the woman who has already moved on with someone else. Throughout the song, the repetition of the phrase "simple heart" reinforces the idea that Simon is inexperienced and does not understand the ways of love.
The song captures the familiar theme of heartbreak and unrequited love, which is relatable to many people, especially those who have been in a similar situation as Simple Simon. The use of rhyming helps to create a sing-song quality to the lyrics, making it easy for the audience to follow and sing along. The implication that this man is uneducated further compounds his naivety and ignorance of love. Overall, the simple yet poignant lyrics rely on relatable themes and straightforward phrasing to deliver their message.
Line by Line Meaning
Simple simon simple heart you met a girlie at the fair
You, Simple Simon, who is innocent and pure at heart, met a girl at the fair.
Miss your timin' simple heart when you thought that she could care
You missed the perfect timing, Simple Simon, when you believed that she had feelings for you.
Simple simon you're not smart she gave her love to someone new
You, Simple Simon, were not wise enough to see that she gave her heart to someone else.
Simple simon simple heart oh what a lesson you guessen what to do
Oh, what a life lesson it was for you, Simple Simon, but now you know what to do.
Shame oh shame true to your name you had to tag along
Shame on you, Simple Simon, true to your name, for following her blindly.
You didn't know it was a game couldn't tell that it was wrong
You didn't realize that it was just a game, and you couldn't see that it was not right.
Simple simon simple heart let me tell you what to do
Let me, someone who understands, tell you, Simple Simon, what you should do.
Simple simon simple heart now you'd better forget her like she forgot you
Now you, Simple Simon, had better forget her, just as she forgot about you.
Simple simon simple heart you never went to school
You, Simple Simon, did not receive an education.
Here's your rhymein' simple heart she forgot the golden rule
Here is a rhyme for you, Simple Simon - she forgot the golden rule.
Simple simon you'd be smart to be stubborn like a mule
You, Simple Simon, have the potential to be smart if you are stubborn like a mule.
Simple simon you're the sort to be taken mistaken for a fool
You, Simple Simon, are the kind of person who is easily taken advantage of and mistaken for a fool.
Shame oh shame...
Shame on you, Simple Simon.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: TOM GLAZER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind