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).
Send Me the Pillow
Johnny Tillotson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't you know that I still care for you?
Send me the pillow that you dream on
So darling, I can dream on it, too
Each night while I'm sleeping oh, so lonely
I'll share your love in dreams that once were true
Send me the pillow that you dream on
Send me the pillow that you dream on
Maybe time will let our dreams come true
Send me the pillow that you dream on
So darling, I can dream on it, too
I've waited so long for you to write me
But just a memory's all that's left of you
Send me the pillow that you dream on
So darling, I can dream on it, too
So I can dream on it, too
The song "Send Me The Pillow You Dream On" by Johnny Tillotson is a heartbreaking plea from a lover to send them the pillow that they dream on. The song describes the loneliness and sorrow of being without the person you love and the comfort that even a piece of them would bring. The singer asks for this small gift so they can continue to dream about the person they long for and feel a connection with them once more.
The lyrics suggest that the couple's relationship has ended, but it is not clear who initiated the breakup or why it happened. The line "Maybe time will let our dreams come true" indicates that the singer still has hope for a future reconciliation, but it is uncertain, and they are left with only their memories and dreams. The final line "So I can dream on it, too" is a poignant reminder that even though the pillow may not actually bring the person back, it is a tangible object that can provide some comfort and solace in a time of heartache.
Overall, the song is a touching and relatable representation of the pain of losing someone you love and the power of small gestures to ease that pain.
Line by Line Meaning
Send me the pillow that you dream on
I long for something that reminds me of you, of the love we once shared.
Don't you know that I still care for you?
I want you to know that despite all that's happened, I still have feelings for you and I still care.
So darling, I can dream on it, too
I want something to hold onto that can make me feel like I'm still with you in my dreams.
Each night while I'm sleeping oh, so lonely
I'm spending my nights alone and longing for you, remembering what we used to have.
I'll share your love in dreams that once were true
In my dreams, I can still feel your love and everything that it meant to me. It keeps me going through the nights.
Maybe time will let our dreams come true
Perhaps if we keep hoping and dreaming, even though we're apart now, we can be together again someday.
I've waited so long for you to write me
I'm waiting for some sign of you, any indication that you still feel something for me and want us to be together again.
But just a memory's all that's left of you
All I have now are memories of you, but they're not enough to satisfy the longing I feel.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@miltonmoore5294
For what he did to
help popularize country music, Johnny Tillotson
should be enshrined in the COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME!
I daresay only Jim
Reeves had more
"crossover hits."
Nobody in ANY
genre of music had a more beautiful and seductive voice than Johnny Tillotson. His tender voice tore at one's heart strings, while at the same time charming the birds right out of the trees. He has
some rivals, but
no superiors. After
God created his unique voice box
and vocal chords,
He threw the mould away. I daresay that there
were few of his recordings where
God's angels themselves were
not listening in on
whilst they were
being made, especially this one.😃 😃😃😃😃
@chrishumphries1325
This song of the 60,s bring me back to the good old day,s when singer,s were truly great,
@douglasb.1238
Too bad we'll never hear great music like this again....
@deanmary1969
Freshman in high school sock hops what a time to be alive and young trying to ask that gal you've had your eyes on already missed a few songs and times a wasting 😑 ol couple way down in TX 52yrs!!! 1❤😘 Great post thanks 😊
@lindaacosta6156
I STILL LOVE HIS VOICE HIS SONGS HIT THE HEART SO SO, GOOD. I HADNT THOUGHT ABOUT HIM IN YEARS ,SORRY FOR THAT . LOVE HIS TALENT.....
@lindaunderwood8586
I love this beautiful song.it brings so many happy memories when days were so Care free,and I thought everything would never change,but I was wrong.
@anderander5662
And they're still changing not for the better
@mattcollier5957
A very special record to me, my Rock N Roll Teddy boy days will never be over.
@davedunn4879
When I was in the navy I would tell my girlfriend listen to the words of this song .Now 54 years later she always reminds me of the letters to listen to the song
@chrishumphries1325
This song take,s me back to the good day,s johnny was a lovely singer, one of the best from the 60,s folk,s,
@cathyweisel5090
This came out shortly after my Daddy passed took this one with my my stack of 45s.
Played this one first & skated with my Daddy in heart.
He taught me to dance on skates💗