She was the first American singer to record at Abbey Road Studios in England. Her fan base even included Asia and the Philippines. She had 7 top hits, including "Why Don't You Believe in Me?", "Your Cheating Heart," "Almost Always," and "Have You Heard?"
She married composer Tony Acquaviva in 1956. In 1964, she dropped out of the public eye to take care of him and did so until 1986, when Mr. Acquaviva passed away. She began to tour again in the 1990's. She was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Your Cheatin' Heart
Joni James Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You'll cry and cry and try to sleep
But sleep won't come the whole night through
Your cheating heart will tell on you
When tears come down like falling rain
You'll toss around and call my name
You'll walk the floor the way I do
When tears come down like falling rain
You'll toss around and call my name
You'll walk the floor the way I do
Your cheating heart will tell on you
Joni James's song "Your Cheatin' Heart" is a cautionary tale about the consequences of infidelity. The song paints a vivid picture of the aftermath of cheating, with the chorus repeatedly warning that the "cheating heart will tell on you." The first verse sets the scene for the heartache to come, with the singer predicting that the cheater will be unable to sleep or find peace. The second verse adds to the emotional depth of the narrative, with the singer describing the physical anguish of the cheater, who will wander the floor and call out the singer's name.
The lyrics of the song speak to the timeless theme of betrayal and heartbreak that resonates with people across generations. Cheating is a common occurrence in relationships and this song serves as a warning against the temptation to indulge in such behavior. By pointing out that a cheating heart will inevitably lead to remorse and suffering, "Your Cheatin' Heart" highlights the importance of honesty and fidelity in relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Your cheating will make you weep
When you cheat, you will feel the guilt and sorrow of your actions and it will bring you to tears
You'll cry and cry and try to sleep
Your remorse and sadness will prevent you from finding peace and rest
But sleep won't come the whole night through
Your guilty conscience will keep you awake throughout the night
Your cheating heart will tell on you
Your inner emotions and guilt will eventually reveal your betrayal to those around you
When tears come down like falling rain
Your intense emotions and suffering will be evident through your tears
You'll toss around and call my name
You will be tormented by your actions and call out to the ones you have hurt with your infidelity
You'll walk the floor the way I do
You will experience the same agony and restlessness that I experienced when you cheated on me
Your cheating heart will tell on you
Your guilt and remorse will ultimately reveal your betrayal to yourself and those around you
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave
Written by: Hank Williams, Sr.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
John Seiden
She has a superb voice!
Andres
I fell in love with this song exactly 1 year ago and it brings nostalgia for a time i didn't even live through😂❤️
Joe James
My dad's favorite song! And one of mine. The background on this song was unreal and it complemented her voice perfectly. Had a great beat and low end that is not heard on today's eqpt. Please bring back the large speaker cabinets.
suzieQ195
The lovely Joni James with the golden voice!! love
J. Bruce Fox
One wonderful performer , one of the best.
Wayne Brasler
Regarding the low end of the sound, that resulted from the ribbon microphone being used at Universal Recording Studios in Chicago, where Joni recorded her first two years. When she moved to New York City, there they used a Telefunken 47 mike and that brought out the highs both in her voice and in the orchestra. She did come back to Chicago in 1957 and did more sessions at Universal, including two songs using the old mike, "Nothing Will Ever Change" and "Does It Show."
Benjamin Isaac
One of my favorites.
kjboogie
She could make any tune wonderful !!
Edward Peterson
She is fantastic
L.D. Wood
I remember this pretty young lady, she did an awesome job on the old Hank Williams tune.