[edit] Career
Henson's career started in his home state of Oklahoma, performing at clubs around Oklahoma City and Tulsa. His family was active in politics and raised buffalo on a ranch outside Oklahoma City. In the mid 1960s, Henson moved to Nashville and became a member of the vocal group The Kimberlys. After leaving the group, Henson started on his solo career, and in 1967, he signed with Monument Records, and he immediately scored in a big way with a song called "Skip a Rope". The song became a huge hit, spending six weeks at Number 1 on the country charts in 1968 and also making the Top 25 on the Pop charts.
[edit] After Skip a Rope and Later Career
After "Skip a Rope", Cargill continued to have Top 20 hits with such songs as "Row Row Row" (1968), "None Of My Business" (his only other Top 10) (1969), and "The Most Uncomplicated Goodbye I Ever Heard" (1970). Later, he had a television show, Country Hayride, and performed for many years in Reno and Las Vegas. Johnny Cash was godfather to his oldest son, Cash.
After leaving Monument Records, Henson moved to Mega Records in 1971, where he scored several minor hits. In 1973, he made a strong comeback to the charts when he signed with Atlantic Records and scored 2 Top 30 hits in 1974 with "Some Old California Memory" and a version of Mac Davis' "Stop And Smell The Roses". In 1980, he formed his own record label Copper Mountain Records and he scored his last Top 30 hit that year with "Silence On The Line". In the late 1980s he retired to Oklahoma City and died on March 24, 2007
Distant Drums
Henson Cargill Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Far away, far away.
And if they call for me to come,
Then I must go, and you must stay.
So, Mary, marry me, let's not wait.
Let's share all the time we can before it's too late.
Love me now, for now is all the time there may be.
If you love me, Mary, Mary, marry me.
I hear the sound of bugles blowing,
Far away, far away.
And if they call, then I must go
Across the sea, so wild and gray.
So, Mary, marry me, let's not wait,
Or the distant drums might change our wedding day.
Love me now, for now is all the time there may be.
If you love me, Mary, Mary, marry me.
Henson Cargill's song "Distant Drums" features lyrics that tell a story about the potential consequences of war on love. The sound of distant drums and bugles serve as symbols of war and the call to fight, which may take the singer away from his love, Mary. The lyrics express the urgency of the singer's desire to marry Mary, as he fears that the drums and bugles may change their wedding day forever. He implores Mary to love him now, as the present moment might be the only time they have together.
The lyrics contain a bittersweet message of love and sacrifice. The singer must choose between his duty to his country and his love for Mary, knowing that his decision may alter the course of their lives forever. The lyrics also highlight the fleeting nature of time and the importance of cherishing each moment with loved ones, as one never knows when they will be separated.
Line by Line Meaning
I hear the sound of distant drums,
I am aware of an impending call to duty that may require me to leave soon.
Far away, far away.
It's happening somewhere that is not within our immediate locality.
And if they call for me to come,
If I get summoned, I have a duty to head there immediately.
Then I must go, and you must stay.
I will have to leave you behind while I attend to my obligation.
So, Mary, marry me, let's not wait.
We should tie the knot as soon as possible, so we can take advantage of the time we have now.
Let's share all the time we can before it's too late.
We should enjoy each other's presence as much as we can before I have to leave.
Love me now, for now is all the time there may be.
We should live in the moment and cherish our time together, as it may all we have.
If you love me, Mary, Mary, marry me.
If you truly love me, then marry me now, don't wait for what might happen tomorrow.
I hear the sound of bugles blowing,
The sounds of bugles suggest that my departure may be imminent.
And if they call, then I must go
If I receive the call, I have no choice but to leave and fulfill my duty.
Across the sea, so wild and gray.
I may have to travel by sea, where the conditions would be harsh and unpredictable.
Or the distant drums might change our wedding day.
If I have to leave, our wedding might have to be postponed or even called off.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network
Written by: CINDY WALKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ron Taylor
on So Many Ways of Saying She's Gone
first time ive heard all these songs-wonderful