Les Paul (Lester William Polsfuss, June 9, 1915 – August 12, 2009) and Mary Ford (Iris Colleen Summers, July 7, 1924 – September 30, 1977) were introduced to each other by Gene Autry in 1946 and married in 1949.
They first appeared in the pop charts in 1950. Between the years 1950 and 1954, Les Paul and Mary Ford had 16 top-ten hits. They had five top-ten hits within nine months. "Tennessee Waltz", "Mockin' Bird Hill", "How High the Moon" (#1 for nine weeks), "The World Is Waiting for the Sunrise" and "Whispering". From August 1952 to March 1953 they had five more top-ten hits; "My Baby's Coming Home", "Lady of Spain", "Bye Bye Blues", "I'm Sitting on Top of the World" and "Vaya Con Dios" (#1 for 11 weeks). Their 1954 version of "I'm a Fool to Care" went to #6, and was featured in a memorable Southern Comfort commercial in 2013 that got over 1 million views on YouTube.
In 2009, they were inducted into the Hit Parade Hall of Fame.
Les Paul and Mary Ford are famous for creating a makeshift recording studio in their garage. In their garage studio, they used multitrack recording to record many of their hits including ‘Lover’, ‘Nola’, ‘Brazil’ and ‘Whispering' with only the two of them.
YouTube has a large selection of clips from their syndicated TV show "Les Paul & Mary Ford At Home" (1954-'55).
Les Paul and Mary Ford divorced acrimoniously in December 1964, which also ended the collaboration between the two.
The duo have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Les Paul had hosted a 15-minute radio program, The Les Paul Show, on NBC in 1950, featuring his trio (himself, Ford, and rhythm player Eddie Stapleton) and his electronics, recorded from their home and with gentle humour between Paul and Ford bridging musical selections, some of which had already been successful on records, some of which anticipated the couple's recordings, and many of which presented dazzling re-interpretations of such jazz and pop selections as "In the Mood," "Little Rock Getaway," "Brazil," and "Tiger Rag." Several recordings of these shows survive among old-time radio collectors today.
The show also appeared on television a few years later with the same format, but excluding the trio and retitled The Les Paul & Mary Ford Show (aka Les Paul & Mary Ford At Home) with "Vaya Con Dios" as a theme song. Sponsored by Warner Lambert's Listerine, it was widely syndicated during 1954–55 and was only five minutes long (one or two songs) on film and therefore used as a brief interlude or fill-in on programming schedules. Since Les created the entire show himself, including audio and video, he maintained the original recordings and was in the process of restoring them to up-to-date quality at the time of his death.
Vaya Con Dios
Les Paul & Mary Ford Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Now the time has come to part, the time for weeping
Vaya con Dios my darling
Vaya con Dios my love
Now the village mission bells are softly ringing
If you listen with your heart you'll hear them singing
Vaya con Dios my darling
Vaya con Dios my love
Wherever you may be, I'll be beside you
Although you're many million dreams away
Each night I'll say a prayer, a prayer to guide you
To hasten every lonely hour of every lonely day
Now the dawn is breaking through a gray tomorrow
But the memories we share are there to borrow
Vaya con Dios, my darling
Vaya con Dios my love
Vaya con Dios, my darling
Vaya con Dios my love
The opening lines of Les Paul and Mary Ford's song Vaya Con Dios paint a picture of a dimly lit hacienda, while the town around the couple is asleep. This imagery sets the mood for the heart-wrenching and bittersweet departure of lovers. The phrase "time for weeping" suggests that the couple does not want to separate, but it is necessary for one reason or another.
As the village mission bells ring softly, the lyrics fondly recall the sound that becomes like singing if one listens with their heart. With the lovers parting, they turn to God to guide and keep them safe. The phrase "Vaya Con Dios," which means "Go with God" in Spanish, is repeated throughout the song as a way of acknowledging the presence of the divine in their journey even as they are apart. The lyrics communicate that distance cannot break the bond shared by the two lovers, and they will remain together in spirit. The lyrics are touching, and the sentiment is one of longing and love, making it a well-loved and enduring classic tune.
Line by Line Meaning
Now the hacienda's dark, the town is sleeping
The night has fallen and the town is asleep, including the hacienda. It's time for the two lovers to part and move on.
Now the time has come to part, the time for weeping
It's time to say goodbye, and it's a sad moment that may bring tears to their eyes.
Vaya con Dios my darling
Go with God, my beloved.
Vaya con Dios my love
Go with God, my love.
Now the village mission bells are softly ringing
The church bells are gently ringing in the nearby village, creating a peaceful atmosphere.
If you listen with your heart you'll hear them singing
If you listen carefully to the bells, you'll hear them singing a song of love and farewell.
Wherever you may be, I'll be beside you
No matter where you go, I'll always be by your side, supporting you.
Although you're many million dreams away
Even if we're far apart from each other, like in a dream world far away.
Each night I'll say a prayer, a prayer to guide you
Every night, I'll pray for you to have guidance and protection.
To hasten every lonely hour of every lonely day
I hope my prayers will somehow make your lonely hours and days pass by quickly.
Now the dawn is breaking through a gray tomorrow
A new day, a new beginning, is approaching, even though the future looks uncertain.
But the memories we share are there to borrow
Even if we have to part, we can always look back on our shared memories to give us comfort and strength.
Vaya con Dios, my darling
Go with God, my beloved.
Vaya con Dios my love
Go with God, my love.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management
Written by: Buddy Pepper, Inez James, Larry Russell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@OLOLAK_7777
Who's listening 2024 to this beautiful Gem.
@ShelbyAnne13
My grandma just passed away last night and she used to tell everyone Vaya Con Dios before they left. I'll be singing this at her funeral. Such a perfect song.
@vanessapierce231
Perfect choice. How are you doing now. Thru turbulent times don't forget he exists.
@glendaraehilyard9524
This song was played at our wedding in 1954. Things change sometimes. But my love has never changed.
@spadoni288
@@glendaraehilyard9524 a
@jbojet100
Around 1953, the only one I have ever been in love with, played this for me on the coffee shop juke-box at the NAS Airport in Guam, (before he was shipped out). He died a few years later of Polio. But I have known real love spiritually with him ever since, because of Vaya con Dios, and LesP & MaryF. Although servicemen, we didn't "ask" and didn't "tell"! We just knew our love in our hearts, and this recording confirmed it! Thanks to all who made it possible to tell my story, finally.
@lesliecrowley9283
Wish youtube had a "Love" button. Thank you for sharing your story. 🤗
@prarieborn6458
A haunting, beautiful story. , love is the bridge between the worlds. Thank you, Via con Dios.
@kaybostwick4103
I'm 85. My father had a heart problem when they were just starting to do by passes. Dad knew his days were numbered. He would whistle this song to my mother.
@BackSeatHump
I'm 73 years old. The songs of Les Paul and Mary Ford were on the radio all during my early upbringing and listening to any of their songs today is painful. My grandparents, my parents and all of my aunts and uncles are all dead. It's only me left here alone.