Of Cajun ancestry, Preston sang in high school choral contests throughout the state of Texas. He formed a rock and roll band called 'The Shades', before recording his No. 1 hit single "Running Bear." The song was written in 1958 by J. P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson, who had died the previous year in the same plane crash that killed Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens.
Preston quickly followed up with a minor hit called "Cradle of Love," and made several other records during the early 1960s that met with modest success.
"Cradle of Love" however, was a big hit in Athens, Greece in the early 60s.
Preston's pioneering contribution to the genre was recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. He also performed at Dick Clark's American Bandstand Theater in Branson, Missouri. In 2009 and 2010, Preston performed with the Lamar State College (LSCPA)Touring Band at Lamar State College- Port Arthur, in his hometown.
Johnny Preston's pioneering contribution to the genre has been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. Preston died of heart failure in Beaumont, Texas on March 4, 2011.
Hearts of Stone
Johnny Preston Lyrics
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'Cause your love is never there, they just don't care
You can ask and plea, please, please, please work
And all your love is there to stay
These hearts of stone will cause you pain
Although you love there has stopped just the same
You can ask and plea, please, please, please work
But they'll say no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no
You daddy know, I thought I knew hearts made of stone
Hearts made of stone will never brake
'Cause your love is never there, they just don't care
You can ask and plea, please, please, please work
And all your love is there to stay
Cause they'll say no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no
You daddy know, I thought I knew hearts made of stone
"Hearts of Stone" is a song about the pain caused by unrequited love. The lyrics describe the frustration and heartache of trying to win over someone who has no interest in reciprocating your feelings. The repeating line "You can ask and plea, please, please, please work" highlights the desperate attempts to change the other person's mind, but ultimately coming to the realization that "hearts made of stone will never break" and that the love simply isn't there.
The phrase "hearts made of stone" is a metaphor for a person who is emotionally closed off or unfeeling towards another. The lyrics suggest that despite the pain caused by loving someone who doesn't love you back, the love that you feel will not simply disappear. The repetition of "no, no, no" serves to emphasize the finality of the rejection and the sense of hopelessness that can come with unrequited love.
Overall, "Hearts of Stone" is a poignant and relatable song that captures the universal experience of love and longing. The lyrics express the frustration and heartbreak of a love that cannot be, while the music provides a catchy and upbeat melody that perfectly complements the bittersweet sentiment of the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Hearts made of stone will never break
People who are emotionally detached will never get affected by emotional pain.
'Cause your love is never there, they just don't care
These emotionally detached people do not reciprocate love because they do not care enough.
You can ask and plea, please, please, please work
You can request for love and affection from these people as much as you want.
And all your love is there to stay
But even if you put all your love into it, their hearts will remain unchanged.
These hearts of stone will cause you pain
Dealing with emotionally detached people will cause you emotional pain.
Although you love there has stopped just the same
Even though your love for them may still be present, they may not feel the same way.
But they'll say no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no
These people will reject your requests for love and affection multiple times.
You daddy know, I thought I knew hearts made of stone
The artist believed that he knew how to deal with emotionally detached people but realizes that he was wrong.
Lyrics © REGENT MUSIC CORPORATION, BMG Rights Management
Written by: Edward Ray, Rudolph Jackson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind