He was performing very much in the rock n roll piano style of his cousin Jerry Lee Lewis (and another cousin, the Reverend Jimmy Swaggart). He formed his own label, Astro in 1964 and cut an album named after a Lewis success "Down the Line". Re-issued on Paula, the album was a regional hit. The big time, however, continued to elude him although he had a minor hit with "Now I Can Live Again" from the album. At an Astro session he laid down a version of George Morgan's old hit "Room Full of Roses" which attracted airplay locally and was picked up for national release by Hugh Heffner's Playboy label. It hit No. 1 in the Country charts. After 12 further hits with the label, Playboy was taken over by Epic and Gilley moved there for his most consistent run of album and singles success.
He was now performing straight-up piano-led Country material. Gradually, he moved towards a more pop-orientated sound in the 1980s, which brought him further success on not just the Country charts, but also the Pop charts. Before that, however, he had a string of Country hits throughout the 70s, often revivals like "I Overlooked An Orchid" (Carl Smith - No. 1, 1974), "City Lights" (Bill Anderson - No. 1 1975), "Window Up Above" (George Jones - No. 1 1975), "Bring It On Home" (Sam Cooke - No. 1 1976). His mix of rockabilly, honky tonk and uptown Country provided more hits with "Chains of Love" (No. 9, 1977) "Honky Tonk Memories" (No. 4, 1977) and "Here Comes The Hurt Again" (No. 9,1978).
In all, Gilley had 33 Top 10 singles, 17 of which reached No. 1, on the US Country chart between 1974 and 1986. Amongst the biggest hits were "Don't the Girls All Get Prettier at Closing Time,"(No. 1) "Overnight Sensation" (No. 7, both 1976), remakes of the Ben E King hit "Stand By Me" and Buddy Holly's "True Love Ways" (both No. 1s in 1980).
In 1971 he lent his name to the opening the famous country nightclub Gilley's in Pasadena, Texas. His career received a big boost when both the club and his music featured prominently in the 1980 film "Urban Cowboy". The soundtrack included the Buddy Holly cover which went to No. 1. The club closed in 1989 and the building was heavily damaged by arson later that year. A new Gilley's club opened in 2003 in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. And Gilley's Theatre and Diner in Branson saw the singer take up a successful residency in that Missouri city.
His most recent successful recording activity was in 1988 when he released "Chasin' Rainbows" on Airborne which produced his last Top 40 single to date when "She Reminded Me Of You" reached No 23 in the Country charts.
In July 2009, Gilly suffered a back injury in a fall and was airlifted to Houston for medical treatment but subsequently returned to Branson and performing in his theatre there. He has a Facebook information page on which he sends regular video messages to members. A recent joint biography about the three cousins, Jerry Lee Lewis, Jimmy Swaggert and Mickey, called "Unconquered" by J D Davis is a must for any fan of their music, rock n roll, Country and gospel music.
Just Out Of Reach
Mickey Gilley Lyrics
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Dreams that just won't let me be
Blues that keep on bothering me
Chains that just won't set me free
Too far away from you and all your charms
Just out of reach of my two empty arms
Memories time cannot erase
Then I awake and find you gone
I'm so blue and all alone
So far away from lips, so sweet and warm
Just out of reach of my two empty arms
Oh honey, you know what lonesome feeling that I have all the time
It's just knowing that I know you'll never be mine
And the dreams that always keeps on hurting me in my sleep
I know they're only vows that you and I could never keep
Too far away from lips, so sweet and warm
Just out of reach of my two empty arms
Just out of reach of my two empty arms
The lyrics of Mickey Gilley's song "Just out of Reach" speak of a love that is unattainable, and the pain and sadness that comes with it. The singer laments over the love that runs away from them, the dreams that haunt them, the blues that keep bothering them, and the chains that won't set them free. The love that the singer desires is just out of reach, and they are too far away from the person they love and all their charms. They are left with two empty arms, unable to embrace the one they long for.
In their dreams, the singer sees the face of their love, memories that they cannot erase. But upon waking up, they realize that their love is gone, leaving them feeling blue and alone. The singer's love is too far away from their lips, so sweet and warm, and they are left with their two empty arms.
The lyrics convey a deep sense of longing and heartache, as the singer yearns for a love that they cannot have.
Line by Line Meaning
Love that runs away from me
My love always seems to slip away from me
Dreams that just won't let me be
I keep dreaming of you, but it's hurting me because I can't have you
Blues that keep on bothering me
I'm constantly feeling sad and down because of this situation
Chains that just won't set me free
I feel trapped and unable to move on
Too far away from you and all your charms
You're too far away and I miss everything about you
Just out of reach of my two empty arms
I can't hold you close, and it's heartbreaking
Each night in dreams, I see your face
I can only see you in my dreams
Memories time cannot erase
I can't forget you, no matter how much time passes
Then I awake and find you gone
When I wake up, the reality hits me that you're not actually there
I'm so blue and all alone
I feel so sad and lonely without you
Oh honey, you know what lonesome feeling that I have all the time
You know how much I'm hurting because of this
It's just knowing that I know you'll never be mine
I'm aware that we'll never be able to be together
And the dreams that always keeps on hurting me in my sleep
My dreams of you continually cause me pain
I know they're only vows that you and I could never keep
I understand that the promises we made were impossible to keep
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Virgil Stewart
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind