Davis graduated at 16 from Lubbock High School in Lubbock, Texas. He spent his childhood years with his sister Linda, living and working at the former College Courts, an efficiency apartment complex owned by his father, T. J. Davis, located at the intersection of College Avenue and 5th Street. Davis describes his father, who was divorced from Davis's mother, as "very religious, very strict, and very stubborn." Though Davis was physically small, he had a penchant for getting into fistfights. "In those days, it was all about football, rodeo, and fistfights. Oh, man, I got beat up so much while I was growing up in Lubbock," Davis said in a March 2, 2008, interview with the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal newspaper. "I was 5 feet, 9 inches, and weighed 125 pounds. I joined Golden Gloves, but didn't do good even in my (own) division." After he finished high school, Davis moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where his mother lived, to get out of Lubbock.
Once he was settled in Atlanta, he organized a rock and roll group called the Zots, and made two singles for OEK Records, managed and promoted by OEK owner Oscar Kilgo. Davis also worked for the Vee Jay record company (home to such R&B stars as Gene Chandler, Jerry Butler, and Dee Clark) as a regional manager, and later also served as a regional manager for Liberty Records.
Davis became famous as a songwriter and got his start as an employee of Nancy Sinatra's company, Boots Enterprises, Inc. Davis was with Boots for several years in the late 1960s. During his time there, he played on many of Sinatra's recordings, and she worked him into her stage shows. Boots Enterprises also acted as Davis's publishing company, publishing songs such as "In the Ghetto", "Friend, Lover, Woman, Wife", "Home", "It's Such a Lonely Time of Year", and "Memories", which were recorded by Elvis Presley, Nancy Sinatra, B. J. Thomas, and many others. Davis left Boots Enterprises in 1970 to sign with Columbia Records, taking all of his songs with him.
One of the songs he wrote in 1968, called "A Little Less Conversation", was recorded by Elvis Presley (and would become a posthumous success for Presley years later). Presley recorded "In the Ghetto" in sessions in Memphis. According to maverick record producer Jimmy Bowen, "Ghetto" was originally pitched to Sammy Davis, Jr. Mac, guitar in hand, played the song in a studio, with onlookers such as Rev. Jesse Jackson and other members of the black activist community. Mac Davis, the only white man in the room at the time, eventually told Bowen, "I don't know whether to thank ya, or to kill ya." Mac Davis eventually recorded the tune after Presley's version became a success, and was released in a Ronco In Concert compilation in 1975. It was later released on a campy Rhino Records Golden Throats compilation in 1991. The song became a success for Presley and he continued to record more of Davis's material, such as "Memories", "Don't Cry Daddy", and "Clean Up Your Own Backyard". Bobby Goldsboro also recorded some of Davis's songs, including "Watching Scotty Grow", which became a #1 Adult Contemporary success for Goldsboro in 1971. Other artists who recorded his material included Vikki Carr, O.C. Smith, and Kenny Rogers and The First Edition. "I Believe in Music", often considered to be Davis's signature song, was recorded by several artists (including Marian Love, B.J. Thomas, Louis Jordan, Perry Como, Helen Reddy, and Davis himself) before it finally became a success in 1972 for the group Gallery.
Later, he also became known as a country singer. During the 1970s, many of his songs "crossed over", successfully scoring on both the country and popular music charts, including "Baby, Don't Get Hooked on Me" (a number one Grammy-nominated success), "One Hell of a Woman" (pop no. 11), and "Stop and Smell the Roses" (a no. 9 pop hit). Also, during the 1970s, he was very active as an actor, appearing in several movies, as well as hosting a successful variety show.
Davis soon decided to pursue a career of his own in country music; he was signed to Columbia Records in 1970. After several years of enriching the repertoires of other artists, his big success came two years after signing with Columbia. He topped the Country and Pop charts with the song "Baby Don't Get Hooked on Me". It sold over one million copies and was awarded a gold disc by the Recording Industry Association of America in September 1972.
Some of Davis's lyrics invoked overtly sexual relationships. In the song "Baby Don't Get Hooked on Me", he pleads with a woman not to become too enamored with him, because he does not want to commit to a full-time relationship. Other successful songs, such as "Naughty Girl" and "Baby Spread Your Love on Me", contained similar lyrics.
In 1974, Davis was awarded the Academy of Country Music's Entertainer of the Year award. Some of Davis's other successes include the songs "Stop and Smell the Roses" (a number one Adult Contemporary success in 1974) (pop no. 9), "One Hell of a Woman" (pop no. 11), "Rock'n'Roll (I Gave You The Best Years Of My Life)" (pop no. 15), and "Burnin' Thing" (pop no. 53). At the end of the 1970s, he moved to Casablanca Records, which was best known at the time for its successes with disco star Donna Summer and rock'n'roll band Kiss. His first success for the company in 1980 was the novelty song "It's Hard To Be Humble", a light-hearted look at how popularity and good looks could go to one's head. The song became his first Country music top 10 and a rare top 30 hit in the UK. (It was translated into Dutch as "Het is moeilijk bescheiden te blijven" and became a hit for the Dutch singer Peter Blanker in 1981). Later that year, he also had another top 10 song with "Let's Keep It That Way". In November, "Rock'n'Roll (I Gave You The Best Years Of My Life)" was played by KHJ in Los Angeles as its last song before it switched from Top 40 to Country music. He achieved other successful songs, such as "Texas In My Rear View Mirror" and "Hooked on Music", which became his biggest Country music success in 1981, going to no. 2. In 1985, he recorded his last top 10 country music success with the song "I Never Made Love (Till I Made Love With You)".
On January 19, 1985, Davis performed "God Bless the USA" at the 50th Presidential Inaugural Gala, held the day before the second inauguration of Ronald Reagan.
Davis was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2000.
Poor Man's Gold
Mac Davis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Holding on to Daddy's thumb just as tightly as he can hold;
And it's hearing people say he looks alot like his daddy,
These things are a poor man's gold.
It's the twinkle in the eyes of the gray haired old man we call Grandpa,
Telling tales to the kids that get taller every time they're told;
And it's knowing that for awhile he's no longer lonely,
It's the smell of honeysuckle in the springtime,
It's the silence of a freshly fallen snow;
It's the sound of children laughing in the sunshine,
It's a crisp Autumn night with a million stars all aglow.
It's the sweet, sleepy sound of your warm and gentle breathing,
As you cling to me in the night to keep away the cold;
And it's the softness of your body there in the darkness,
These things are a poor man's gold.
Honey, these precious things are a poor man's gold.
Mac Davis's song A Poor Man's Gold is very deep and insightful. The lyrics describe the things that are most valuable and important in life, which are not material possessions. The song describes the joys of family, love, and nature, which are priceless and cannot be bought with money.
The first verse talks about the feeling of holding a newborn baby and the joy that comes with it. The love and connection between father and son are described as precious and worth more than any wealth. The second verse talks about the importance of family and the memories shared between generations. The grandfather telling stories to his grandchildren creates a beautiful and special bond that cannot be replaced. The third verse speaks of the simple joys of nature, such as the smell of honeysuckle and the sound of children laughing. Finally, the fourth verse describes the warmth and love of a relationship, in which the smallest gestures such as breathing can become the most valuable treasures.
Overall, Mac Davis's A Poor Man's Gold is an insightful and beautiful song that reminds us of the true value of life. It speaks to our hearts, telling us to cherish the moments we have with our loved ones, to appreciate the beauty of nature, and to find joy in the smallest things.
Line by Line Meaning
It's the feeling I get looking down at my brand new baby,
The overwhelming emotion that comes from gazing at my newborn child is worth more than any material wealth.
Holding on to Daddy's thumb just as tightly as he can hold;
The simple act of a father and son holding hands is more valuable than any expensive possession.
And it's hearing people say he looks alot like his daddy,
Finding joy in the comparisons people make between my child and myself because it signifies a strong bond between father and son.
These things are a poor man's gold.
These intangible moments of love and connection are a true treasure for those who lack material wealth.
It's the twinkle in the eyes of the gray haired old man we call Grandpa,
The joy of seeing the happiness in the eyes of our elderly relatives when they spend time with their grandchildren.
Telling tales to the kids that get taller every time they're told;
The entertainment and education that our elders provide to our young ones is priceless, and the stories they tell become more valuable with each retelling.
And it's knowing that for awhile he's no longer lonely,
The happiness that comes from seeing our senior family members connecting with our children, and knowing that it brings them happiness and companionship during their later years.
These things are a poor man's gold.
Once again recognizing that these moments of familial love and togetherness are more valuable than any riches.
It's the smell of honeysuckle in the springtime,
Finding beauty in the simple pleasures in life, like the fragrance of honeysuckle in the springtime, which costs nothing yet brings great delight.
It's the silence of a freshly fallen snow;
Appreciating the peacefulness that comes with a fresh snowfall, and the stillness it brings to the world.
It's the sound of children laughing in the sunshine,
The sound of children laughing and playing, which costs nothing yet brings such joy to oneself and others.
It's a crisp Autumn night with a million stars all aglow.
Observing the natural beauty of the world, like a clear autumn night with millions of stars shining down, which costs nothing yet is truly breathtaking.
It's the sweet, sleepy sound of your warm and gentle breathing,
Finding peace and contentment in the soft sounds of a loved one sleeping peacefully beside you.
As you cling to me in the night to keep away the cold;
The comfort that comes from feeling close to a loved one, and the warmth they provide on a cold night.
And it's the softness of your body there in the darkness,
Absorbing the sensations of being with a loved one, even in the dark of night, and the closeness that brings.
These things are a poor man's gold.
Reiterating that the most valuable things in life are often intangible, and particularly precious to those who have little material wealth.
Honey, these precious things are a poor man's gold.
Concluding that the priceless moments of familial love, natural beauty, and personal connection are true riches in life, particularly for those who may not have much else.
Contributed by Scarlett F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Gregg Gregory
on Me 'n Fat Boy
I worked along side Bill Pruitt aka "fat boy" as an electrician in 1990 in NYC. Nicest guy yay ever wanted to meet ! And he wasn't fat anymore!