Country Music Hall of Famer Johnny “The Singing Cowboy” Bond (1st of June 1… Read Full Bio ↴Country Music Hall of Famer Johnny “The Singing Cowboy” Bond (1st of June 1915 - 12th June 1978) and his band the Red River Valley Boys are prime examples from the days when jazz informed “hillbilly” music (or maybe it was the hillbilly informing the jazz).

Born Cyrus Whitfield Bond in Enville, Oklahoma, he learned ukelele and guitar headed to Oklahoma City as a teen to play dances and radio shows as a member of the Singing Cowboy Trio and later the Bell Boys. Bond’s big break came in 1939 as a member of the Jimmy Wakely Trio when they were brought out to Hollywood to appear in a western called "The Saga of Death Valley, starring Roy Rogers. By 1940 Jimmy Wakely's trio had relocated to California and become regulars on Gene Autry's Melody Ranch radio show, the trio disbanded, but Bond stayed on air for some 16 years until the show was dropped in 1956. Bond also ended up in some 38 films between 1939 and 1947, usually as a bit player, musical interlude or sidekick. In 1947, while his film career was ending, the notoreity remained and he had three top five country hits including "Divorce Me C.O.D.".

His legendary songcraft, healthy baritone voice and pioneering hillbilly-western swing sound is heard on enduring tracks from the 1940's like “I’ll Step Aside” and “I Wonder Where You Are Tonight”. “Cimarron” was covered by Johnny Cash, Bob Wills, Les Paul & Mary Ford and many others. "I'll Step Aside," became hits for everyone from Billy Vaughn & His Orchestra to Johnny Rodriguez, while “Tomorrow Never Knows” was a hit for Glen Campbell and also was covered by Lynn Anderson,Loretta Lynn and Elvis Presley amongst others! Bond was also a gifted guitar player who appeared on records by Rosemary Clooney, Jimmie Davis, Flat & Scruggs, and Marty Robbins. Other well known artists who recorded his songs include Jerry Lee Lewis,Hank Thompson,Arthur Alexander,the Sons of the Pioneers and Louvin Brothers.

Bond's recorded steadily from the 1940's, was a regular on the 1950s country music television series Town Hall Party, had his own radio show for awhile, and despite being dropped by Columbia in 1957, his biggest hits didn't arrive until the 1960's. The latter period chart toppers being 1964's "Ten Little Bottles" and the 1960 rebel rock n roll standard "Hot Rod Lincoln".

Autry revived his Melody Ranch show as a tv program for 5 years in 1965 and Johnny Bond stayed onboard as well, meanwhile The Starday label issued some 14 Johnny Bond titles between 1960 and 1971.

Bond's and his backing group The Red River Valley Boys were also well-known for doing double duty as Tex Ritter’s studio band. Members included Jimmy Wakely (popular vocalist and student of Gene Autry), Noel Boggs (pedal steel giant who played with Bob Wills and Spade Cooley), Wesley Tuttle (guitar player with the likes of Merle Travis and Ernest Tubb) and Paul Sells (accordion, organ and honky tonk piano player extraordinaire).

Tomorrow Never Comes
Johnny Bond Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Oh, you tell me that you love me
Yes, you tell me that you care
That tomorrow we'll be married
But tomorrow's never there

[Chorus:]
Oh, tomorrow never comes
No, tomorrow never comes

Now you tell me that you love me
But tomorrow never comes

Many weeks now have I waited
Many long nights have I cried
Just to see that happy morning
When I'd have you by my side

[Chorus:]

So tomorrow I'll be leaving
Yes, tomorrow I'll be gone
And tomorrow you'll be weeping
But tomorrow never comes

[Chorus:]

Overall Meaning

In Johnny Bond's song Tomorrow Never Comes, the singer is being told by their lover that they love them and that they will be getting married tomorrow. However, the singer is skeptical and says that tomorrow never actually comes. The singer has been waiting for weeks and has cried many nights just to be with their lover. They are hoping for a happy morning when they finally have their lover by their side. The lyrics suggest that the singer has been disappointed before and is fearful of being let down again. The singer decides to leave the next day and acknowledges that their lover will be weeping, but even then "tomorrow never comes."

The song is a poignant reminder that no one knows what the future holds and we should appreciate and cherish the time we have with the people we love. It also highlights the importance of honesty and not making promises that we can't keep. The lyrics are simple and honest and the melody is beautiful and heartfelt, creating a compelling country ballad.

Line by Line Meaning

Oh, you tell me that you love me
You claim to love me

Yes, you tell me that you care
You claim to care about me

That tomorrow we'll be married
You are planning to marry me in the future

But tomorrow's never there
However, the future never seems to arrive

Oh, tomorrow never comes
The promised future never materializes

No, tomorrow never comes
It is always out of reach

Many weeks now have I waited
I have been waiting for a long time

Many long nights have I cried
I have been crying myself to sleep for many nights

Just to see that happy morning
Hoping for a future filled with happiness

When I'd have you by my side
When we can finally be together

So tomorrow I'll be leaving
I am going to leave soon