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.
When You're Lovin' You're Livin'
Hank Thompson Lyrics
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You'll sing louder and you're prouder you belong to the human race
You'll be spritely goin' nightly at the age of ninety-five
If you're lovin' then you're livin' and it's great to be alive
If you're livin' and you're lovin' life can be a lot of fun
Things behind you just can't find you makes no difference what you've done
What passion rages turn the pages and don't let old age arriveWhen you're lovin' then you're livin' and it's great to be alive
When you're livin' then be given all the things that's good and true
For your favor you'll find later that it all comes back to you
You'll be singin' bells're ringin' and your blues will take a dive
When you're lovin' and you're livin' and it's great to be alive
If you're not kissin' then you're missin' all the things that's nice and sweet
I can't feature any creature with the life so incomplete
So let's look yonder hopes're fonder and don't love we can survive
When you're lovin' then you're livin' and it's great to be alive
The song "When You're Lovin' You're Livin'" by Hank Thompson is a joyful and upbeat celebration of the power of love and its ability to bring happiness and fulfillment to one's life. The lyrics emphasize the idea that when a person is in love, they are truly alive and able to experience all the joys that life has to offer.
The first stanza speaks to the physical effects of being in love. When you are in love, you can't help but have a smile on your face, sing louder, and feel a sense of pride and belonging. The lyrics suggest that this feeling is so powerful that it can sustain a person well into their old age, keeping them spritely and alive even at the age of ninety-five.
The second stanza emphasizes the idea that love can make life fun and worthwhile, no matter what might have happened in the past. If you're living and loving, life is full of possibility, and the passion that comes with it can keep you feeling young and engaged. The suggestion is that, with the right attitude and a commitment to love, one can avoid getting bogged down by the weight of age.
The final stanza speaks to the idea that love is not only a personal benefit, but that it can also bring positive things into your life. When you love, the world feels full of good things, and good things come back to you. Even the blues and difficulties of life can be overcome by the power of love. The song suggests that we should all be living for love, because it's the ultimate source of joy and living life to the fullest.
Overall, "When You're Lovin' You're Livin'" is a heartwarming and optimistic song that encourages us to embrace the power of love and to live our lives to the fullest.
Line by Line Meaning
When you're lovin' and you're livin' there's a smile upon your face
When you are experiencing love and living life to the fullest, you cannot help but smile with joy.
You'll sing louder and you're prouder you belong to the human race
Your sense of pride in being human will increase as you sing louder and with more enthusiasm.
You'll be spritely goin' nightly at the age of ninety-five
You'll still be young at heart at the age of 95 if you have love in your life and live it to the fullest.
If you're lovin' then you're livin' and it's great to be alive
Living life to the fullest by embracing love makes being alive a wonderful experience.
If you're livin' and you're lovin' life can be a lot of fun
Life can be full of enjoyment and pleasure if you are living and loving fully.
Things behind you just can't find you makes no difference what you've done
The past cannot catch up to you or bring you down when you are fully experiencing life and love.
What passion rages turn the pages and don't let old age arrive
Let your passions drive you and don't let the onset of old age dampen your zest for life and love.
When you're lovin' then you're livin' and it's great to be alive
Reiterating the fact that loving life to the fullest makes being alive a great experience.
When you're livin' then be given all the things that's good and true
Living life fully comes with enjoying all the good and true things that come your way.
For your favor you'll find later that it all comes back to you
By living life to the fullest and being open to the good, you'll find good things come back to you in return.
You'll be singin' bells're ringin' and your blues will take a dive
Living joyfully and embracing love will make you feel like singing and ring bells, drowning out any sadness or negativity.
When you're lovin' and you're livin' and it's great to be alive
Reiterating the main theme that loving and living to the fullest makes being alive a great experience.
If you're not kissin' then you're missin' all the things that's nice and sweet
Not experiencing the sweetness of love through kisses means missing out on a wonderful part of life.
I can't feature any creature with the life so incomplete
It's hard to imagine any living creature having a fulfilling life without experiencing love and joy.
So let's look yonder hopes're fonder and don't love we can survive
Looking to the future with hope and positivity, one can survive anything as long as they have love and embrace it fully.
When you're lovin' then you're livin' and it's great to be alive
Closing with a final reminder that loving life to the fullest makes being alive an incredible experience.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BILLY GRAY, HANK THOMPSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind