Born in Sutherlin, Virginia, Martin was raised by a stage mother and a musician father. Before she was six, Martin could already play guitar and sing, modeling her vocal style after Eddy Arnold and Hank Williams. In time, she came to participate in statewide talent contests, beating out 200 participants. As a result, Martin was asked to play on the same bill as Cowboy Copas and Sunshine Sue, the latter being the host of the Old Dominion Barn Dance radio show, which was regularly broadcast on one of Virginia's most influential radio stations, on which Martin was now granted a spot.
As time went on, Martin tired of country music, and aspired instead to assign herself to a new, raucous style of music, which would come to be known as rockabilly. By chance, WRVA station announcer Carl Stutz had composed a song, "Will You Willyum", and asked Martin to record the song live as a demo for RCA Records. Suitably impressed with Martin's performance, RCA signed Martin, a mere two months after Elvis Presley had transferred to RCA from Sun Records. Backed with Martin's own composition, "Drugstore Rock 'n' Roll", "Will You Willyum" became a smash hit, the first in a series of country and rock hits such as "Barefoot Baby", a cover of Roy Orbison's "Ooby Dooby", and "My Boy Elvis".
Her initial success had garnered her appearances on nationwide television, as well the attention of Presley's manager, Colonel Tom Parker, and she was billed the official "Female Elvis". There were plans of a Martin/Presley double-bill, but wary of such a taxing tour -- Presley had recently collapsed on stage as a result of exhaustion -- Martin's parents rejected Parker's offer, and she instead toured as the top name of a series of Old Dominion Barn Dance shows.
Her last single of 1956 was "Let's Elope Baby"; in 1957, Martin did indeed elope with her boyfriend, a paratrooper, and got married. They kept their marriage secret from Martin's parents until the paratrooper was shipped off to Germany; as she was only fifteen at the time, her father attempted to have the marriage annulled. Although this did not come to pass, they aimed to keep the marriage a secret for the sake of their daughter's career. Upon her husband's return on leave, Martin became pregnant, causing RCA to drop her from the label. Though other major labels expressed interest, Martin signed with the Belgian Palette label, recording a series of downbeat love songs.
In 1960, Martin's second husband demanded that she leave the music business, an easy decision for a weary and somewhat disillusioned Martin. However, over the years, her love of music began to flourish once again, and come her husband's second such ultimatum, she chose music over him, performing with her new band, The Variations. In 1975, Martin told her untold story of teenage love in Goldmine magazine; at the time, there was a resurgence of rockabilly interest in Europe, and Martin departed on a tour of the region. With a revived career, several previously unreleased cuts were released as singles, and Bear Family released a nigh-comprehensive compilation of her '50s singles.
Martin died from cancer in 2007, only half a year after the death of her only son. Before her death, she had recorded an album with Rosie Flores, whom she had earlier worked together with alongside Wanda Jackson. These recordings were released as The Blanco Sessions in 2012. In 2010, the Library of Virginia recognized Martin as an influential Virginian, naming her one of the "Virginia Women in History". Martin's legacy endures to this day, remaining one of the most influential and beloved women of rockabilly.
William
Janis Martin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
William-William-will you will you hold me tight
Will you love me William, love me long and true
There's no one in the whole wide world who can love like you do
Oh William-William, will you be mine
If you want lovin', tonight's the time
Just kiss me baby, you make me thrill
Oh William-William, just say you will
Will you William will you take me by the hand
Keep me William won't you, under your command
William-William-will you walk me through the park
You're so brave and I'm so scared, it's so dark
Oh William-William don't wait too long
My heart's too weak, my love's too strong
Oh William-William come on let's go
'Cause you know baby, I love you so
At first glance, "William" by Janis Martin appears to be a simple song about a young woman asking a young man named William to walk her home and professing her love for him. However, upon closer inspection, it can be interpreted as a song about a woman who is scared of walking alone in the dark and is seeking comfort and safety from someone she trusts. She sees this safety and comfort in William and is hoping that he will protect her and hold her tight as they make their way through the park.
The lyrics "My heart's too weak, my love's too strong" suggest that the woman is vulnerable but also deeply in love with William. She is willing to give herself over to him completely and trusts him fully. The repetition of William's name throughout the song shows the woman's constant need for his reassurance and protection. The playful and flirtatious tone of the lyrics, along with the upbeat rockabilly rhythm, add a layer of youthful energy to the song.
Overall, "William" by Janis Martin is a timeless and relatable song about love, trust, and the need for safety and protection in a scary world.
Line by Line Meaning
William-William-will you walk me home tonight
Janis is asking William if he will accompany her on her way back home tonight.
William-William-will you will you hold me tight
Janis asks William if he will embrace her and keep her close to him.
Will you love me William, love me long and true
Janis wants unconditional love from William that would last forever.
There's no one in the whole wide world who can love like you do
Janis believes that William's love is unique and no one else's love can compare to it.
Oh William-William, will you be mine
Janis expresses her desire to make William hers.
If you want lovin', tonight's the time
Janis suggests that if William is interested in having a romantic relationship with her, tonight is the perfect time for it.
Just kiss me baby, you make me thrill
Janis is urging William to kiss her as he stimulates an intense emotional excitement in her.
Oh William-William, just say you will
Janis wants William to assure her that he will do everything she wants him to do.
Will you William will you take me by the hand
Janis asks William to hold her hands and guide her as she goes with him.
Keep me William won't you, under your command
Janis wants William to look after her and have control over her.
William-William-will you walk me through the park
Janis requests William to walk her through the park as she finds it scary to walk alone at night.
You're so brave and I'm so scared, it's so dark
Janis admits that she's frightened and feels insecure, but trusts William as he's courageous.
Oh William-William don't wait too long
Janis tells William not to delay in making a decision as it would be too difficult for her to wait for too long.
My heart's too weak, my love's too strong
Janis's heart is fragile, but her love for William is firm and powerful.
Oh William-William come on let's go
Janis wants William to leave with her and start their journey together.
'Cause you know baby, I love you so
Janis affirms her love for William and expresses her tender emotions towards him.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: CHRIS SCOTT, J.P. TOULON, JAMIE TOULON, JOSH SCOTT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Daniel Alejandro Alarcón Coya
Dónde estuviste todo este tiempo que me perdí de escucharte. Esta mujer y Wanda Jackson son de lo mejor
Martin Webb
My favourite Janis martin song this one have loved it ever since I first heard it on her LP that I bought years ago ..... I also love the songs drugstore rock n roll and my boy Elvis among others.
BananaOrangeLemon
it seems we have the same taste of music :)
Erika Odeh
Fantastisch
Enrico Baldi
Un po' di tempo fa girava un bellissimo video di ballo con questa canzone, che fine ha fattto?
Rebecca Cucumber
non ne ho idea, sarebbe bello ritrovarlo
imanuglyfrogtoo
@vinylmaus ...No it's not, it was recorded in 1958 but unissued, it's only available as an LP track on the albums shown in the slide show, some of which are only on CD and not vinyl.