An original Mousketeer in 1955, Crawford has acted on stage, in films, and on television.
He received an Emmy Award nomination at the age of 13 for his role as "Mark McCain," the son of Lucas McCain, played by Chuck Connors, on the Four Star Television series The Rifleman, which originally aired from 1958-1963 on ABC. During this time, he had wide popularity with American teenagers and a recording career that generated five Top 40 hits, including the single "Cindy's Birthday," which peaked at #8 on Billboard's Top 40 Hit Chart in 1962.
Crawford played "Horsey," Tommy Kirk's cowboyish sidekick in the 1965 film Village of the Giants which also featured Joy Harmon, Beau Bridges, and Ron Howard.
The Naked Ape, a 1973 film directed by Donald Driver — based on the book — starred Crawford and Victoria Principal.
Crawford had a key role in the early career of Victoria Jackson of Saturday Night Live fame; after appearing together in a summer stock production of "Meet Me in St. Louis," he presented her with a one-way airline ticket to California and encouraged her to pursue a Hollywood career. This led to her early TV appearances on The Tonight Show before she was cast as a regular on Saturday Night Live.
Crawford is currently the leader of the California-based Johnny Crawford Orchestra, which specializes in traditional jazz, early big band, and classical styles of music.
He reconnected with his high school sweetheart Charlotte in 1990, and they wed in 1995.
PROUD
Johnny Crawford Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I just let you walk away
'Cause I was proud
So proud and strong
Yes I was much too proud to say I was wrong
You turned back crying and called to me
But I just stood there silently
So proud and strong
Yes I was much too proud to say I was wrong
Some other guy might have crawled to you
And said don't go, I need you so
But I wouldn't do it
No, I couldn't do it
And so I let you say good-bye
And I was proud to let you cry
Proud I held my head up high
And now I'm just a proud and lonely guy
The lyrics to Johnny Crawford's song "Proud" explore themes of pride and its consequences in a romantic relationship. The singer describes a recent quarrel with their partner, which ended in the partner walking away while the singer remained silent out of pride. The singer acknowledges that they were "much too proud to say I was wrong," suggesting an unwillingness to compromise or admit fault in the relationship.
The second verse continues this theme, as the partner turns back and cries out to the singer, but he remains silent and unmoving due to his pride. The singer seems to recognize that another person might have acted differently, saying "Some other guy might have crawled to you / And said don't go, I need you so." However, the singer admits that he "couldn't do it," and instead allows his partner to leave without attempting to reconcile.
The final lines of the song show the singer reflecting on his decision to let his pride get in the way of his relationship, resulting in his current state of loneliness. The repeated refrain of "I was proud / So proud and strong" emphasizes the central theme of the song and the singer's regret at the role his pride played in the breakup.
Overall, "Proud" is a poignant reflection on the ways that excessive pride can damage a relationship and lead to loneliness and regret.
Line by Line Meaning
We had a quarrel the other day
Recently, we had an argument
And I just let you walk away
I allowed you to leave without trying to stop you
'Cause I was proud
My ego and self-importance prevented me from making amends
So proud and strong
I felt confident and resolute in my decision to let you go
Yes I was much too proud to say I was wrong
My pride prevented me from admitting my mistake and apologizing
You turned back crying and called to me
You looked back with tears in your eyes and called out to me
But I just stood there silently
I remained still and didn't respond to your plea
'Cause I was proud
My ego and self-importance prevented me from showing vulnerability
So proud and strong
I felt resolute and unwavering despite your emotional display
Yes I was much too proud to say I was wrong
My pride prevented me from acknowledging my part in the argument
Some other guy might have crawled to you
Another person may have humbled himself to win you back
And said don't go, I need you so
He might have pleaded with you not to leave him because he can't bear to be without you
But I wouldn't do it
However, I could not bring myself to do that
No, I couldn't do it
It was beyond my capacity to appear weak and needy
And so I let you say good-bye
So, I allowed you to depart from me
And I was proud to let you cry
I felt good that I could resist the urge to comfort you
Proud I held my head up high
My pride made me stand up straight and look confident despite the pain I felt
And now I'm just a proud and lonely guy
Unfortunately, my pride has left me feeling aloof and isolated
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: BARRY MANN, CYNTHIA WEIL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@oldbeatpete
Really like all the historical notes about the songs, writers and performers.
@tubecrazy65
This is great
@louishubbard8036
R I P Johnnny Crawford
@gregorymckinnon3290
Love the song
@louishubbard8036
good tune
@childofgod269
I had no idea Mark McCain was the singer! 😭 This song was wonderful.
@bufb
Great Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil song
@louiewitoski7363
RIP Johnny Crawford.
@raymondmalcuit8361
THIS SONG WENT TO NUMBER 29 ON THE BILLBOARD HOT-100 CHART IN 1963.
@NI000NoIdentity
Check out the tribute to Johnny Crawford "Music Absolute Perfection Endless Johnny Crawford" which contains over 400 songs of yesteryear themed if adventurous listen to all or just to Johnny that begins the mind excursion through time.