Seminal country western hitmak… Read Full Bio ↴(b Feb 16 1914, died Sept. 23 1982).
Seminal country western hitmaker of the 1940's who was signed first to Decca, and later joined Capitol. Wakely also had a national radio show that ran until the 1960's on CBS. His early hits on Decca included 'Too Late', 'Cimmaron', 'Cattle Call', and the WWII patriotic song 'There's A Star-Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere'. While with Capitol he also crossed over onto the Pop charts and recorded seven duets with Margaret Whiting including 'Slippin' Around' which was a no. 1 country hit in 1949. One of his last albums was on his own Shasta label "Jimmy Wakely Country '75".
He'll Have To Go
Jimmy Wakely Lyrics
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Let's pretend that we're together, all alone.
I'll tell the man to turn the jukebox way down low,
And you can tell your friend there with you he'll have to go.
Whisper to me, tell me do you love me true,
Or is he holding you the way I do?
Tho' love is blind, make up your mind, I've got to know,
You can't say the words I want to hear
While you're with another man,
If you want me, answer "yes" or "no,"
Darling, I will understand.
Put your sweet lips a little closer to the phone.
Let's pretend that we're together, all alone.
I'll tell the man to turn the jukebox way down low,
And you can tell your friend there with you he'll have to go.
The lyrics of Jimmy Wakely's song "He'll Have to Go" depict a conversation between two lovers who are not able to be together due to the presence of another person. The singer asks his love interest to move closer to the phone so that they can pretend to be together and have an intimate conversation without being interrupted. He then asks her if she truly loves him or if she is with another man who holds her the same way as he does. Even though love is blind, he needs to know the truth so that he can move on. He urges her to make a decision and choose between him and the other man. In case she chooses him, all she needs to say is yes or no, and he will understand.
The song was written by two Nashville songwriters, Joe and Audrey Allison, in 1959, and was originally recorded by Jim Reeves. Jimmy Wakely recorded his version of the song in the same year, and his cover became a hit on the US Country charts, reaching number two.
Line by Line Meaning
Put your sweet lips a little closer to the phone.
Come closer to the phone so that we can pretend to be physically together and intimate.
Let's pretend that we're together, all alone.
We can imagine that we are in each other's company, in privacy and without interference.
I'll tell the man to turn the jukebox way down low,
I will request the music to be lowered, and create a comfortable atmosphere where we can talk.
And you can tell your friend there with you he'll have to go.
If your companion is not you, I suggest that they leave because I want to talk to you alone.
Whisper to me, tell me do you love me true,
Speak softly and admit your true feelings for me. Do you genuinely love me?
Or is he holding you the way I do?
Is he physically emoting love to you the way I do? Is he holding you the same way that I do?
Tho' love is blind, make up your mind, I've got to know,
While love can cloud our judgment, I urge you to make a clear decision. I need to know where we stand.
Should I hang up, or will you tell him he'll have to go?
Should I terminate our conversation or are you going to ask your companion to leave so that we can talk privately?
You can't say the words I want to hear while you're with another man,
You cannot truthfully respond to my open-ended questions and declarations of love while you are physically intimate with another man.
If you want me, answer "yes" or "no,"
If you want to be with me, please respond simply with either 'yes' or 'no'.
Darling, I will understand.
Regardless of your response, I will try to understand and respect your answer.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Joe Allison, Audrey Allison
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind