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).
Take Good Care of Her
Johnny Tillotson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Writers Arthur Kent, Edward C. Warren
Take good care of her, take good care of her I suppose I ought to say congratulations For you've won the only girl I ever loved But I hurt too much to face the situation Just take good care of her, take good care of her Just to be around her was my greatest pleasure She was everything my future held in store So remember when you take my only treasure Just take good care of her, take good care of her I must accept it, she loves you more than me So with my broken heart I'll bow out gracefully Please don't send me any wedding invitation For I couldn't bear to see her there with you If she's happy, that will be my consolation Just take good care of her, take good care of her Take good care of her, take good care of her Take good care of her, take good care of her.....
"Take Good Care of Her" is a heart-wrenching song by Johnny Tillotson, released in 1961. The song, written by Arthur Kent and Edward C. Warren, is about a man who has lost his love to another man. The singer of the song congratulates the new couple and advises the new man to take care of the woman because she was everything he had to look forward to in his future. The singer's painful emotions are evident in the repetition of the phrase "take good care of her," which he says three times in the chorus.
The singer talks about the joy he had just being around his love, but he is leaving her with another man because he knows she is in good hands. As he bows out, he advises the new man not to send him any wedding invitations, as he couldn't bear the thought of seeing her with another man. He hopes that she will be happy with her new love and that it will be his consolation. The song is a beautiful way of expressing the pain of letting go of someone you love but wishing them all the happiness in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Take good care of her, take good care of her
The singer is asking the person who has won over the girl he loves to take good care of her.
I suppose I ought to say congratulations
The singer acknowledges the fact that the person has won over the girl he loves and congratulates them.
For you've won the only girl I ever loved
The girl that the person has won over is the only girl the singer ever loved.
But I hurt too much to face the situation
The singer is hurt by the situation and finds it difficult to accept.
Just take good care of her, take good care of her
The singer repeatedly asks the person to take good care of the girl since he can no longer be with her.
Just to be around her was my greatest pleasure
Being in the presence of the girl was the singer's greatest happiness.
She was everything my future held in store
The girl represented the singer's future and everything he hoped for.
So remember when you take my only treasure
The girl is the singer's most valued possession and the person is reminded to take good care of her.
I must accept it, she loves you more than me
The singer acknowledges that the girl loves the person more than she loves him.
So with my broken heart I'll bow out gracefully
The singer will gracefully step aside despite his broken heart.
Please don't send me any wedding invitation
The singer cannot bear to attend the wedding of the person and the girl he loves.
For I couldn't bear to see her there with you
The singer cannot bear to see the girl he loves with someone else.
If she's happy, that will be my consolation
The singer will find solace in knowing that the girl he loves is happy with the person.
Take good care of her, take good care of her
The singer reiterates his request for the person to take good care of the girl.
Take good care of her, take good care of her
The singer concludes the song with the same request for the person to take good care of the girl.
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Ed Warren, Arthur Kent
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Milton Moore
He had one of
those faces that
you couldn't imagine ever
turning into an
old man! His
many recordings leave a legacy of imperishable
beauty. Great
music would
never have been what it is
without the existence of
Mr. Johnny Tillotson!!!
Milton Moore
For Gloria Pierce:
Yes it is. In case
you are unaware,
it means: of its
own kind, unique,
etc. Non pariel
is another good
Latin synonym.
Good words to use to keep at
least some Latin
alive as we burn
out on the English
equivalents. Thanks for your
interest and obvious good nature.
Milton Moore
How in God's name could ANYONE not like this voice?
Bad possum4
sometimes i think there is a computer program that hits random dislike buttons.
Gloria Pierce
Sounds like a forever voice.
barrygioportmorien1
Got to agree with you there, one of the best ever.....
Lorna Fraser Waterworth
One of Johnny’s greatest hits! I still love it. ❤️
Cheryl Daniels
Johnny was one of the few performers who sang on stage straight and sober. He took his career seriously.
Socorro Villamejor
Cheryl Daniels ppim
Cheryl Daniels
He sings with such depth of emotions like it happened to him personally.
Winnie Fernandes
Exactly
Myra King
Love this guy..I have met him twice here in New Zealand..and he sung to me once..What a beautiful voice..xx