In 1957 while still in high school, Tillotson was making records and performing on stage; as a student at the University of Florida, he had his own musical variety show on regional television. Following graduation in 1959 with a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism and Communications, he signed with Cadence Records and moved to New York City to pursue his music career. In 1960, he recorded his first hit, a composition entitled "Poetry in Motion" (written by Anthony/Kaufman), that went to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S. and #1 on the UK Singles Chart.
A "crossover" artist, several of Tillotson's songs were successful on both the country music charts and pop charts. He earned a Grammy Award nomination for another of his own compositions, "It Keeps Right On a-Hurtin," and also for the song "Heartaches by the Number," nominated for Best Vocal Performance of 1965. He also appeared in the 1963 film "Just for Fun" and sang the theme song for the 1965 Sally Field television comedy "Gidget".
In a career spanning more than 40 years, Tillotson has recorded 26 singles that made it onto Billboard's charts, and performed at venues across the United States and other places around the globe.
He was featured in the 1966 camp comedy The Fat Spy starring Jayne Mansfield, Jack E. Leonard, Phyllis Diller, Brian Donlevy and Jordan Christopher & the Wild Ones. This film was featured in the 2004 documentary The 50 Worst Movies Ever Made (#46).
Cold Cold Heart
Johnny Tillotson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yet you're afraid each thing I do is just some evil scheme
A mem'ry from your lonesome past keeps us so far apart
Why can't I free your doubtful mind and melt your cold cold heart
Another love before my time made your heart sad and blue
And so my heart is paying now for things I didn't do
In anger unkind words are said that make the teardrops start
You'll never know how much it hurts to see you sit and cry
You know you need and want my love yet you're afraid to try
Why do you run and hide from life to try it just ain't smart
Why can't I free your doubtful mind and melt your cold cold heart
There was a time when I believed that you belonged to me
But now I know your heart is shackled to a memory
The more I learn to care for you the more we drift apart
Why can't I free your doubtful mind and melt your cold cold heart
Johnny Tillotson's song "Cold Cold Heart" is a heart-wrenching ballad about unrequited love. The singer is deeply in love with someone, but their partner's past is hindering their ability to accept that love. Throughout the song, the singer pleads for his lover to trust him and let go of their doubts and fears.
The first verse shows the singer's desperation to prove his love to his partner. No matter what he does, his lover's doubts and fears haunt their relationship. The second verse reveals that there was a previous relationship that left his partner with a broken heart. Consequently, that pain has caused the singer's partner to be emotionally distant and afraid of letting anyone close again. The chorus repeatedly asks why he can't help their partner overcome their doubts and painful memories, allowing for their love to flourish.
The third verse adds a sense of passion and desire to the plea. The singer cannot bear to see his beloved suffering in silence and begs them to let go of their fears and give their love a chance. The final verse, however, paints a grim picture of their relationship's future. The singer recognizes that, no matter how much he cares or how hard he tries, his lover's past will continue to hold them back, resulting in their love drifting apart.
Overall, the song is a testament to the pain of unreciprocated love and the struggles of overcoming past heartaches to open oneself up to new experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
I tried so hard my dear to show that you're my every dream
I made every possible effort to express that you are my only dream and the love of my life.
Yet you're afraid each thing I do is just some evil scheme
Even though I intend to do good, you believe that all my actions have ill intentions.
A mem'ry from your lonesome past keeps us so far apart
A past memory of yours constantly haunts you, making it difficult for us to get closer.
Why can't I free your doubtful mind and melt your cold cold heart
I am trying hard to convince you, but your doubtful mind and cold heart make it difficult for me to do so.
Another love before my time made your heart sad and blue
You had a previous experience of heartbreak that has caused you sadness and despair even before I came into your life.
And so my heart is paying now for things I didn't do
I am dealing with the consequences of someone else's actions and paying the price for things I never did.
In anger unkind words are said that make the teardrops start
When angry, hurtful words are spoken, causing tears to flow.
Why can't I free your doubtful mind and melt your cold cold heart
I want to reassure and comfort you, but your doubtful mind and heart of stone make it difficult for me to do so.
You'll never know how much it hurts to see you sit and cry
It pains me greatly to witness you crying in agony in front of me.
You know you need and want my love yet you're afraid to try
I am sure that you need and desire my love, but fear is holding you back from giving it a chance.
Why do you run and hide from life to try it just ain't smart
You are running away from life, and it's not wise to do so.
Why can't I free your doubtful mind and melt your cold cold heart
I am trying hard to make you understand and feel my love, but your mind and heart are resistant.
There was a time when I believed that you belonged to me
In the past, I was confident that you and I belonged to each other and were meant to be together.
But now I know your heart is shackled to a memory
Now I realize that your heart is imprisoned by a past memory that won't allow you to move on.
The more I learn to care for you the more we drift apart
As I grow fonder of you, our distance only seems to widen.
Why can't I free your doubtful mind and melt your cold cold heart
I am struggling to break through to you and thaw the icy barrier between us.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network
Written by: Hank Williams, Sr.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Milton Moore
Hank Williams could write 'em, but Johnny Tillotson far exceeded Hiram "Hank Williams' ability to sing 'em.
"PURE GOLD!"
Johnny Tillotson is one of the greatest country music stars that never was.
[Anyone notice how the vibraphone in the opening of the recording can barely be heard, but fortunately got more audible as the song progressed.]
[EVERYONE SHOULD GOOGLE "LOVE IS A MANY SPLENDORED THING," on the Dharma channel
and LEROY VAN DYKE on AM I THAT EASY TO FORGET on the dvdman49 channel, and I'VE NEVER BEEN LOVED on the same channel.]
Juanita Lord
Such a beautiful voice and perfect delivery. Love all his music.
Ginny Bagwell
Love every song I've heard him sing. He doesn't put up sweat when he sings. It rolls out so smoothly and sounds great.
pat dee
Amen. His voice came from Jesus thus it is innate. His demeanor was the same. So he did not have to act or engage in chacanary. He simply used what he was born with. He also was very kind and soft spoken. No smoking, no drinking and no doing drugs. How do I know this? I was his steel guitar player in the 60's on the Toby Dowty TV show in Jax, FL every Saturday night.
Ginny Bagwell
@pat dee I am so glad to hear this. Not everyone are same on or off stage. I have always had a high respect on how humble He was and the respect he shows people. I am 69 yrs old and grew up listening to this man and glad that I had this chance. I have NEVER heard anything bad on him. Glad you told me I was right in my feelings. Thx
pat dee
@Ginny Bagwell Yes indeed kind person. I am 88 now, and these video's of JT brings back tearful nostalgia. Yet is was 60 yrs ago. But I remember it as now.
Before he came to "fame", my company transferred me far away from Johnny. I only saw him one time since. That was 30+ yrs ago, when I went into a men's room in Atlanta airport. He was coming out. I was in a hurry, so the meeting was quite short.
He is a memory that I shall never forget. May Jesus bless him and his family always.
pat dee
@Ginny Bagwell @Ginny Bagwell Yes indeed kind person. I am 88 now, and these video's of JT brings back tearful nostalgia. Yet is was 60 yrs ago. But I remember it as now.
Before he came to "fame", my company transferred me far away from Johnny. I only saw him one time since. That was 30+ yrs ago, when I went into a men's room in Atlanta airport. He was coming out. I was in a hurry, so the meeting was quite short.
He is a memory that I shall never forget. May Jesus bless him and his family always.
Sharon Rodriguez
There isn't anything Johnny can't take and make it his own. Beautiful man. Beautiful voice!
Bill Lampton, Ph.D.
What talent! When music depended on violins, not violence.
Gerard Sauvage
Que de belles chansons...et une voix superbe Félicitations...🤩🤗🤗🤗❤❤❤
Angela Mena
Beautiful voice ..
REST IN PEACE..!!