Marion Bandy was born and grew up in Meridian, Mississippi, hometown of the country singer Jimmie Rodgers. He later stated: "My grandfather worked on the railroads with Jimmie Rodgers. He was the boss of the railway yard in Meridian and Jimmie Rodgers worked for him. He said that he played his guitar all the time between work."
He was nicknamed Moe by his father when he was a child. The Bandy family moved to San Antonio, Texas when Moe was six. His mother played piano and sang. Bandy was taught to play the guitar by his father who had a country band called the Mission City Playboys, but made little use of the ability until he was in his teens. His father's wish that Moe also play the fiddle never materialized.
He made some appearances with the Mission City Playboys but generally during his high school years he showed little interest in music and a great deal of interest in rodeos. He tried bronco-busting and bull riding and by the time he was 16, both he and his brother Mike were competing in rodeos all over Texas.
In 1962, tired of the bruises and fractured bones, he began to pursue a career in country music. He assembled a band that he called Moe And The Mavericks and found work playing small beer joints, honky-tonks, and clubs over a wide area around San Antonio. When he was young he tried to sound like Hank Williams and George Jones - "I even had my hair cut short like his."
Although work was plentiful, the pay was poor and during the day he worked for his father as a sheet metal worker, a job that lasted for 12 years, during which time he made a few recordings for various small labels. In 1964, he had his first single, "Lonely Girl", on the San Antonio based Satin label, but it made little impression. He did manage to get his band a residency on a local television program called Country Corner and in this capacity, he provided backing for several touring stars.
In 1973, he went solo when record producer Ray Baker, who had listened to his demos, suggested that he come to Nashville, Tennessee. Moe Bandy obtained a loan and recorded a song called "I Just Started Hatin' Cheatin' Songs Today". Initially released on Footprint Records with a limited pressing of 500 copies, it soon came to the attention of the Atlanta-based GRC label. In March 1974, it entered the US country chart, eventually peaking at number 17. Other minor hits followed, including "It Was Always So Easy To Find An Unhappy Woman (Till I Started Looking For Mine)" and "Don't Anyone Make Love At Home Anymore".
In 1975, a song written by his friend Lefty Frizzell and Whitey Shaffer gave him a number 7 country hit, firmly establishing his reputation. "Bandy The Rodeo Clown" was to become not only one of his own favorites but also one of his most popular recordings. (Shaffer was greatly amused by the way Bandy pronounced woman as "woh-min", and began to send him songs with the "woh-min" in them.)
Bandy sang in a simple style that extracted the utmost from his songs of lost love, sadness, and life. Although by no means a Hank Williams sound-alike, his method of putting across his honky-tonk songs showed the distinct influence of Williams. He met with immediate success at Columbia Records with Paul Craft's "Hank Williams, You Wrote My Life" and quickly added further hits, including "Here I Am Drunk Again".
From 1977 through 1979, he was a country chart regular with singles such as "I'm Sorry For You, My Friend" (the song Williams had written for their mutual friend Lefty Frizzell), "Cowboys Ain't Supposed To Cry", "That's What Makes The Jukebox Play", and a duet with Janie Fricke, "It's A Cheating Situation".
In 1979, he achieved his first solo number 1 with "I Cheated Me Right Out of You".
That same year, in 1979, Bandy joined forces with Joe Stampley and recorded a tongue in cheek novelty single: "Just Good Ol' Boys". The song went on to top the country chart and it led to a continuation of their partnership. The duo, commonly known as "Moe and Joe", had more novelty hits between 1979 and 1985, including "Holding The Bag", "Tell Ole I Ain't Here", and "Hey Joe (Hey Moe)". In 1984, they ran into copyright problems with their parody of the then-current Boy George/Culture Club phenomenon: "Where's The Dress" used the guitar-riff introduction from Culture Club's hit "Karma Chameleon".
During the 1980s, Bandy maintained a steady line of solo successes, including "Yesterday Once More", "Rodeo Romeo", "She's Not Really Cheatin' (She's Just Gettin' Even)", and "Till I'm Too Old To Die Young".
Bandy also registered duet successes with Judy Bailey ("Following The Feeling") and Becky Hobbs ("Let's Get Over Them Together"). Over the years, he maintained a touring schedule estimated at 250 to 300 days a year and appeared on numerous network television shows. In later years, he cut back considerably on his schedule. He was never a regular Grand Ole Opry member, but has made guest appearances from time to time.
Bandy summed up his music when he said, "I really think my songs are about life. There's cheating, drinking and divorcing going on everywhere and that's what hardcore country music is all about." He added: "If I'd done all the things I sing about, I'd be dead."
Critics reviewing some of his later recordings wrote that it was strange that at a time when more artists were actually recording his type of music, some of his recordings were spoiled by string and/or choir arrangements, and advised that an immediate return to his roots was necessary. Bandy opened his popular Americana Theatre in Branson, Missouri in 1991 and performs frequently there.
Moe, along with his brother, Mike Bandy, a six time NFR bull riding qualifier, were inducted into the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame in 2007.
Yesterday Once More
Moe Bandy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And there's a lot of Lefty's now with different names
But it'll never be the way it was before
Take me back to yesterday once more
How I miss ole Tex, those days were good
And nobody else could sing like Jim Reeves could
Red Foley's Gospel songs touched my heart
When they sang, 'Your Cheatin' Heart'
It always made me ache
And there'll be peace in the valley someday
I knew 'Rye Whiskey', 'Four Walls' too near me
Take me back to yesterday once more
Johnny Horton sang a country song so fine
And there'll never be another Patsy Cline
And how I miss Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys
Take me back to yesterday once more
When they sang 'Your Cheatin' Heart'
It always made me ache
And there'll be 'Peace in the valley someday'
'North to Alaska' and 'San Antonio Rose'
Take me back to yesterday once more
Take me back to yesterday once more
In Moe Bandy's song "Yesterday Once More," the singer expresses their love for the classic country singers of the past. The lyrics mention a number of iconic musicians, each recognized by their individual style and contributions to country music history. The singer expresses their desire to return to a time when these country legends were still alive and performing, creating an atmosphere of nostalgia and yearning for the past.
The song's lyrics are rich with emotion and sentimentality. Bandy's use of repetition in the chorus - "Take me back to yesterday once more" - emphasizes the singer's desire to revisit the past and recapture the magic of those classic country music performances.
Ultimately, "Yesterday Once More" is a tribute to the great country singers who paved the way for modern-day artists. It speaks to the universal desire to return to a simpler time, when music had the power to bring people together and evoke powerful emotions.
Line by Line Meaning
Lord, I love to hear Hank Williams sing
I have a deep love for the music of Hank Williams and the way he sang.
And there's a lot of Lefty's now with different names
There are many singers today who try to emulate Lefty Frizzell, but they are not the same as the original Lefty.
But it'll never be the way it was before
However hard people may try, the music of the past can never be replicated exactly the same way it was before.
Take me back to yesterday once more
I wish to relive the past and experience the music and memories once again.
How I miss ole Tex, those days were good
I dearly miss the singer named Tex and the good old days when his music was popular.
And nobody else could sing like Jim Reeves could
Jim Reeves had a unique singing style that cannot be replicated by anyone else.
Red Foley's Gospel songs touched my heart
The Gospel songs of Red Foley had a profound effect on my emotions and touched my heart.
When they sang, 'Your Cheatin' Heart'
I have a strong emotional response to the song 'Your Cheatin' Heart' when it is performed.
It always made me ache
The song 'Your Cheatin' Heart' always makes me feel emotionally pained and sad.
And there'll be peace in the valley someday
The song 'Peace in the Valley' gives me hope that there will be a better future.
I knew 'Rye Whiskey', 'Four Walls' too near me
The songs 'Rye Whiskey' and 'Four Walls' were very familiar to me and had personal meaning.
Johnny Horton sang a country song so fine
Johnny Horton's music was amazing and he had a unique ability to perform songs in the country genre.
And there'll never be another Patsy Cline
No one can ever replicate the talent and success of Patsy Cline as a country singer.
And how I miss Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys
I dearly miss the music of Bob Wills and his band, the Texas Playboys.
North to Alaska' and 'San Antonio Rose'
I have a strong emotional connection to the songs 'North to Alaska' and 'San Antonio Rose'.
Take me back to yesterday once more
I desperately wish to relive the past and experience the music and memories once again.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JIM MUNDY, PEGGY WHITE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
metalhead665
Lord, I love to hear Hank Williams sing
And there's a lot of Lefty's now with different names
But it'll never be the way it was before
Take me back to yesterday once more
How I miss ole Tex, those days were good
And nobody else could sing like Jim Reeves could
Red Foley's Gospel songs touched my heart
Take me back to yesterday once more
when they sang 'your cheating heart' and 'always late
And there'll be peace in the valley someday
I knew 'Rye Whiskey', 'Four Walls' too near me
Take me back to yesterday once more
Johnny Horton sang a country song so fine
And there'll never be another Patsy Cline
And how I miss Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys
Take me back to yesterday once more
when they sang 'your cheating heart' and 'always late
And there'll be 'Peace in the valley someday'
'North to Alaska' and 'San Antonio Rose'
Take me back to yesterday once more
Take me back to yesterday once more
Greg Cavin
This is Golden Age Country Music...I love it!
metalhead665
Lord, I love to hear Hank Williams sing
And there's a lot of Lefty's now with different names
But it'll never be the way it was before
Take me back to yesterday once more
How I miss ole Tex, those days were good
And nobody else could sing like Jim Reeves could
Red Foley's Gospel songs touched my heart
Take me back to yesterday once more
when they sang 'your cheating heart' and 'always late
And there'll be peace in the valley someday
I knew 'Rye Whiskey', 'Four Walls' too near me
Take me back to yesterday once more
Johnny Horton sang a country song so fine
And there'll never be another Patsy Cline
And how I miss Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys
Take me back to yesterday once more
when they sang 'your cheating heart' and 'always late
And there'll be 'Peace in the valley someday'
'North to Alaska' and 'San Antonio Rose'
Take me back to yesterday once more
Take me back to yesterday once more
Ryan Corcoran
Wrong lyrics. It's "when they sang 'your cheating heart' and 'always late'". Always Late is a song by Lefty Frizzel
MUFFA 912
Moe , thanks for keeping the great ones fresh in our memories ,. 🏆
Conway Tubb
I'm big Moe bandy fan love real country !!!
Dean Eiden
Great song,..and a great picture of Moe.
Sonny Dave
Real classic country, and good steel.
Cowboy never Dy Cowboy never Cry
Real country music won't make radio today. They wouldn't know what belongs in the hall of fame.
ruth atwell
Should Be In The C M H O F Moe Bandy!!!!!!
Fred Pickett
Amen Moe/ Some of The best Music is Old time country. Thanks for posting this.