Boel graduated from the Royal Danish Academy of Music in 1980 and studied a year at the Berklee School of Music in Boston. When she returned to Denmark, she worked as a music teacher for several years, but at the same time she had also been a member of the group Blast from 1981 until 1986. After that she worked as a choir soloist until she released her debut album Black Wolf. The album became a huge hit and won her a Danish Grammy as the Female Singer of the Year in 1989. In the years that followed, Boel's popularity as an artist continued with several successful record releases and concerts in Denmark and Scandinavia.
Albums:
* Black Wolf (debut album, October 1988)
* Dark Passion (May 1990)
* My Kindred Spirit (February 1992)
* Kinda Soul (November 1992)
* Misty Paradise (1994)
* Best of Hanne Boel (compilation, 1995)
* Silent Violence (September 1996)
* Need (April 1998)
* Strangely Disturbed (live album, March 1999)
* Boel & Hall (duo album with Martin Hall, 2000)
* Beware of the Dog (October 2002)
* Abaco (September 27, 2004)
* Private Eye (February 26, 2007)
* A New Kinda Soul (October 27, 2008)
Official website: www.hanneboel.dk/uk/home
Son Of A Preacher Man
Hanne Boel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Billy Ray was a preacher's son
And when his daddy would visit he'd come along
When they gathered around and started talkin'
That's when Billy would take me walkin'
Out through the back yard we'd go walkin'
Then he'd look into my eyes
The only one who could ever reach me
Was the son of a preacher man
The only boy who could ever teach me
Was the son of a preacher man
Yes, he was, he was, ooh, yes, he was
Bein' good isn't always easy
No matter how hard I try
When he started sweet talkin' to me
He'd come'n tell me, "Everything is all right"
He'd kiss and tell me, "Everything is all right"
Can I get away again tonight?
The only one who could ever reach me
Was the son of a preacher man
The only boy who could ever teach me
Was the son of a preacher man
Yes, he was, he was, ooh, yes, he was
(Yes, he was)
How well I remember
The look that was in his eyes
Stealin' kisses from me on the sly
Takin' time to make time
Tellin' me that he's all mine
Learnin' from each other's knowin'
Lookin' to see how much we've grown and
The only one who could ever reach me
Was the son of a preacher man
The only boy who could ever teach me
Was the son of a preacher man
Yes, he was, he was, oh yes, he was
(The only one who could ever reach me)
He was the sweet talkin' son of a preacher man
(The only boy who could ever teach me)
Was the son of a preacher man
(The only one who could ever reach me)
Was the sweet talkin' son of a preacher man.
Hanne Boel's song "Son of a Preacherman" tells the story of a young woman who falls in love with the son of a preacher. She describes how he would take her for walks and look into her eyes, ultimately becoming the only person who could ever truly reach and teach her. The lyrics suggest that the relationship may have been a secret one, as they would steal kisses from each other on the sly and he would tell her that everything is alright. However, despite any challenges they may have faced, the woman holds onto her love for him and remembers him as the sweet talking son of a preacher man.
The song portrays a complex mix of emotions, highlighting the difficulties of navigating forbidden love and the desire for someone who may not be widely accepted. The son of a preacher is traditionally seen as someone who holds himself to high moral standards and may be judged harshly if he strays from this path. The woman’s love for him is in conflict with the expectations of their community and the societal norms of the time. However, despite these challenges, she remains loyal to him and remembers him fondly. The song ultimately suggests that true love transcends societal expectations and boundaries.
Line by Line Meaning
Billy Ray was a preacher's son
Billy Ray's father was a preacher and he was his son
And when his daddy would visit he'd come along
Billy would tag along with his father when he would visit
When they gathered around and started talkin'
When they got together and started chatting
That's when Billy would take me walkin'
That's when Billy would take the singer for a walk
Out through the back yard we'd go walkin'
They would take a walk through the backyard
Then he'd look into my eyes
Billy would look into the singer's eyes
Lord knows, to my surprise
Surprisingly, the only one who could ever reach the singer was Billy, who was the son of a preacher man
The only one who could ever reach me
The only person who could ever connect with the singer emotionally
Was the son of a preacher man
Was Billy, who was the son of a preacher man
The only boy who could ever teach me
The only person who could ever teach the singer about love and life
Yes, he was, he was, ooh, yes, he was
Billy was the one who could do all these things
Bein' good isn't always easy
It's not always easy to be a good person
No matter how hard I try
Even when the singer tries very hard
When he started sweet talkin' to me
When Billy starts talking sweetly
He'd come'n tell me, "Everything is all right"
He would comfort the singer by saying everything is okay
He'd kiss and tell me, "Everything is all right"
He would express his love by kissing and assuring that everything is okay
Can I get away again tonight?
The singer longs to be with Billy again that night
How well I remember
The singer has a vivid memory of
The look that was in his eyes
The look Billy gave the singer
Stealin' kisses from me on the sly
They would kiss each other secretly
Takin' time to make time
They took their time to spend with each other
Tellin' me that he's all mine
Billy would reassure the singer that she is his
Learnin' from each other's knowin'
They learn from each other's experiences
Lookin' to see how much we've grown and
They reflect on how much they have learned and grown
(The only one who could ever reach me)
Billy was the only person who could connect with the singer
He was the sweet talkin' son of a preacher man
Billy was a charming and smooth-talking man who was also the son of a preacher
(The only boy who could ever teach me)
Billy was the only person who could teach the singer about love and life
(The only one who could ever reach me)
Billy was the only person who could emotionally connect with the singer
Was the sweet talkin' son of a preacher man
Again, Billy was a charming and smooth-talking man who was also the son of a preacher
Writer(s): John Hurley, Ronnie Wilkins
Contributed by Liliana N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.