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).
it keeps right on a hurtin"|"--"|"--"|"--"|"--"|"--"
Johnny Tillotson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wishing I could hold you tight
Life seems so empty since you went away
The pillow where you'd lay your head
Now holds my lonely tears instead
And it keeps right on a-hurtin' since you're gone
[Chorus]
Every hour you're away I feel so lonely
And I can't help it, I don't think I can go on
And it keeps right on a-hurtin' since you're gone
They say a man should never cry
But when I see you passin' by
My heart breaks down and cries a million tears
You broke my heart and set me free
But you forgot your memory
And it keeps right on a-hurtin' since you're gone
[Chorus]
The lyrics to Johnny Tillotson's "It Keeps Right On A-Hurtin'" are a melancholic expression of the pain of heartbreak. The singer laments the emptiness in their life since their loved one has left, and the constant ache that does not fade. The image of the pillow where their loved one used to lay their head being replaced by tears illustrates the depth of loneliness and sorrow the singer feels. The chorus repeats the notion that the hurt persists every minute of the day, and it is an unbearable burden that makes it difficult for the singer to continue living.
The second verse explores the societal expectation that men should not cry, but the singer confesses that they cannot help it when they see their former lover. The pain overwhelms them, and they end up crying a million tears. The heartbreak is compounded by the fact that their loved one has moved on and forgotten about them, leaving them alone with their pain.
Overall, the song is a poignant reflection on the reality of heartbreak, and the difficulty of moving on from a lost love.
Line by Line Meaning
I cry myself to sleep each night
I can't help but shed tears every night, longing for your presence
Wishing I could hold you tight
My deepest desire is to be able to embrace you closely again
Life seems so empty since you went away
My life lost its meaning and joy since you left me alone
The pillow where you'd lay your head
The same pillow where you used to rest your head now gets soaked with my tears instead
Now holds my lonely tears instead
My pillow became a repository of my sadness and loneliness
And it keeps right on a-hurtin' since you're gone
The pain still lingers even though it's been some time since you left
It keeps right on a-hurtin' every minute of the day
The ache never stops, and it's there every moment of the day
Every hour you're away I feel so lonely
Your absence leaves me feeling desolate and alone every passing hour
And I can't help it, I don't think I can go on
The agony is overwhelming, I find it hard to go on without you
They say a man should never cry
Society expects men not to show vulnerability by shedding tears
But when I see you passin' by
When I catch a glimpse of you, my emotions get the better of me
My heart breaks down and cries a million tears
My heart is shattered, and I'm inconsolable; I cry out millions of tears
You broke my heart and set me free
You freed me from our relationship, but it came at the cost of breaking my heart
But you forgot your memory
You moved on quickly without looking back, forgetting our memories together
And it keeps right on a-hurtin' since you're gone
The hurt never fades away, and it stays entrenched since you left
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@miltonmoore5294
Sorry I evidently
didn't see your
earlier comment,
there being so many to scroll
through. (For a change of pace,
when you have 22
minutes to spare,
please watch Natalie Schwamova play
Tchaikovsky Piano
Concerto #1.
I have more comments on
this video than any other! You
probably would poop out trying
to scroll through
for all of them!)
@julz12100
I used to lay in my bed and listen to my beautiful dad playing these songs. I wish I could go back to those days. I miss you so much dad ❤ RIP. Thankyou for the music and the love and life we shared ❤️
@RandyBful1
I had a terrible childhood. These beautiful songs kept me strong and brought me much joy, in spite of my abusive childhood. They were great memories that more than balanced the bad.
@danshackleton9304
Hang in there Remember to forgive it releases the anger I was so angry until I decided to forgive the people that hurt me wish you the best
@cherylburgoon9679
So sorry to hear that you had a bad childhood so did my brother Greg w/ ours dad he was forever picking and nothing my brother ever did was good in his eyes and he gave my dad the shirt off his back and never still appreciated until almost his passing.
@rosecastillo8397
My heart was breaking when I read your post. May God bless you.
@ruthowens2640
Same here my friend 🙏
@lynndrowns4391
I'm so sorry
@marshajurach1317
This ERA had the very best music. The kids today have no idea. We grew up in the best of times. Sadly that time will never happen again.
@busyguy7479
I was adopted into a fine family that loved me for who i was a very loving lady that had a heart of gold. i think i was about a year old at the time. if only everyone had the chance i had to grow up and live listening to these songs of the past . may God bless everyone out there as you go about your way.
@ThePhotogPhil
My first wife, Michele, had this album and I played it every time I called on her. Breast cancer took her from everyone who ever met her. She was a great person, and if she isn't in Heaven, I don't want to go.