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).
Suff'rin' from a Heartache
Johnny Tillotson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But on the day you went away my heart broke right in two
You made me the laughing stock of everyone in town
Now I'm sufferin' from a heartache since love's turned me down
I'm sufferin' from a heartache and I don't know what to do
And I just can't keep from cryin' each time I think of you
Oh I guess I must be crazy to love you like I do
I know I should forget you but it's hard to make the change
Cause mem'ries keep on coming back when someone speaks your name
You left me for the glamour of the bright lights of the town
Now I'm sufferin' from a heartache since love's turned me down
I'm sufferin' from a heartache...
The lyrics of Suff'rin' from a Heartache by Johnny Tillotson describe the emotions of a person who has experienced heartache caused by unrequited love. The opening lines of the song indicate that the singer had never cared for someone as much as they did for the person who left. However, when that person left, the singer's heart broke into two pieces. The second line reveals the gravity of the situation and how it left the singer feeling.
The next lines of the song suggest that after the person left, the singer became the subject of ridicule and mockery by others in town. This adds insult to injury, making the heartache even more difficult to bear. The singer is now sufferin' from heartache since love turned them down. The chorus repeats the theme of hopelessness, as the singer cries each time they think of the person who left.
The final lines of the song reveal that the singer is struggling to move on, as memories of the person keep coming back whenever their name is mentioned. The person who left did so for the bright lights and glamour of the town, leaving the singer to suffer the consequences of heartbreak.
Overall, the lyrics of the song paint a picture of someone who has been deeply hurt by love and is struggling to move on. The lyrics are relatable, and many people can identify with the feelings expressed in the song.
Line by Line Meaning
I never thought that I could care the way I cared for you
I didn't believe that I could love someone so deeply as I loved you.
But on the day you went away my heart broke right in two
When you left, my heart shattered instantly.
You made me the laughing stock of everyone in town
You embarrassed me in front of everyone that we both knew.
Now I'm sufferin' from a heartache since love's turned me down
I'm in great pain because love did not treat me kindly and I'm heartbroken.
I'm sufferin' from a heartache and I don't know what to do
I'm going through agony but don't know how to deal with it.
And I just can't keep from cryin' each time I think of you
Whenever you cross my mind, I break down in tears.
Oh I guess I must be crazy to love you like I do
Loving you so much despite your actions is probably a form of madness.
And I'm sufferin' from a heartache cause by you
I'm experiencing this pain only due to your actions.
I know I should forget you but it's hard to make the change
I recognize that I should move on, but it's extremely difficult to actually do so.
Cause mem'ries keep on coming back when someone speaks your name
Whenever somebody mentions your name, I'm haunted by memories of our time together.
You left me for the glamour of the bright lights of the town
You left me for the bright lights and excitement of city life.
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