After Guy Mitchell caught his set at one club, Jerry Vale began recording demonstration discs for Columbia. When A&R supremo Mitch Miller heard his excellent voice, however, he signed Vale to his own contract. Vale first hit the charts in 1953 with "You Can Never Give Me Back My Heart" (arranged by Percy Faith), and continued during the mid '50s with "Two Purple Shadows," "I Live Each Day," and his biggest hit, "You Don't Know Me." Though his first explicitly Italian recording, "Innamorata (Sweetheart)," finally appeared in 1956, it wasn't until 1962 that Vale convinced the notoriously conservative Miller to record a full album of Italian songs. "I Have But One Heart" proved a big seller and was followed one year later by "Arrivederci, Roma" and a continental LP, "The Language of Love," both of which placed even higher than the first on the album charts.
Though the mid '60s were a trying time for traditional pop singers, Vale continued to be successful, with singles like "Have You Looked Into Your Heart" and "For Mama," and Top 40 LPs like "There Goes My Heart" and "It's Magic." Even after his albums began failing to make the charts in the early '70s, Vale remained a popular name in clubs and on television throughout the '70s and '80s. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide
Vaya Con Dios
Jerry Vale Lyrics
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Now the time has come to part, the time for weeping
Vaya con Dios, my darling
Vaya con Dios, my love
Now the village mission bells are softly ringing
If you listen with your heart, you'll hear them singing
Vaya con Dios, my darling
Wherever you may be, I'll be beside you
Although you're many million dreams away
Each night I 'll say a prayer, a prayer to guide you
To hasten every lonely hour of every lonely day
Now the dawn is breaking through a gray tomorrow
But the memories we share are there to borrow
Vaya con Dios, my darling
Vaya con Dios, my love
Vaya con Dios, my love
The lyrics of Jerry Vale's song Vaya con Dios bring about a sense of melancholy, nostalgia and longing as it talks about separating from someone you deeply love. The opening phrase “Now the hacienda’s dark, the town is sleeping” sets a dark mood, wherein one could imagine a deserted town at night. It signifies the sadness and emptiness one feels when they are about to part ways with their loved one. The lines “If you listen with your heart, you’ll hear them [mission bells] singing” suggest that there is indeed a divine force that is present and watches over the parted couple, reassuring them that even though they may be apart physically, they are still connected through their love.
The chorus of the song, “Vaya con Dios, my darling, vaya con Dios, my love” effectively communicates the sentiment of wishing someone the best possible outcome as they journey away. It conveys the sense of hope and love that the person singing the song has for the loved one, even though he/she may go far away. The final lines “But the memories we share are there to borrow” suggests that while they may be separated by distance, their memories of love will always be with them and they can draw strength from them when they are apart.
Line by Line Meaning
Now the hacienda's dark, the town is sleeping
The night has come, and everything is quiet and still in the hacienda and the town.
Now the time has come to part, the time for weeping
Sadly, it is time to say goodbye and shed tears.
Vaya con Dios, my darling
Go with God, my beloved.
Vaya con Dios, my love
Depart with God, my love.
Now the village mission bells are softly ringing
The mission bells in the village are ringing softly.
If you listen with your heart, you'll hear them singing
If you listen closely with your heart, you will hear the bells singing.
Wherever you may be, I'll be beside you
Wherever you are, I will always be by your side.
Although you're many million dreams away
Even though you are far away in your dreams.
Each night I 'll say a prayer, a prayer to guide you
Every night I will pray for you to be guided and protected.
To hasten every lonely hour of every lonely day
To make time go by faster during the lonely hours and days.
Now the dawn is breaking through a gray tomorrow
The dawn is breaking through a cloudy and uncertain future.
But the memories we share are there to borrow
But we can always cherish and borrow the memories we have shared.
Vaya con Dios, my darling
Go with God, my beloved.
Vaya con Dios, my love
Depart with God, my love.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management
Written by: Buddy Pepper, Inez James, Larry Russell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind