Raised in Bernie, Missouri where he attended Bernie High School, Felts was discovered during a talent show at the school. He had been encouraged to participate in the show by some of his classmates, and it just so happened that a talent agent was attending the performance at the time.
Felts recorded his first single "Kiss-a Me Baby" at the age of 16, and his career skyrocketed with the help of Roy Orbison and Johnny Cash. He went on to release such songs as "Lonely Teardrops" and "Pink And Black Days", but it wasn't until the 1970s when he began enjoying success on a national level as a country singer.
His first major hit came in 1973, with a cover of Dobie Gray's "Drift Away". Felts' version — No. 8 on the Billboard magazine Hot Country Singles chart in September 1973 — was mid-tempo country compared to Gray's blues version. The follow-up single, "All in the Name of Love," just missed hitting the top 10 in December 1973.
Felts continued to enjoy modest success during the next year and a half, when he signed with ABC-Dot Records in 1975. That year, he enjoyed his biggest hit: "Reconsider Me," which showcased his falsetto and high tenor. The song reached No. 2 that August, and was 1975's second-biggest country hit of the year[1].
Felts, who became known to fans as "Narvel the Marvel," continued to enjoy success throughout the 1970s. Included in his streak of hits was a remake of "Lonely Teardrops," which became his last top 10 hit in the summer of 1976; and a cover of Willie Nelson's "Funny How Time Slips Away."
Narvel Felts pioneering contribution to the genre has been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.
Lonely Teardrops
Narvel Felts Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My pillow's never dry of lonely teardrops,
Come home, come home
Just say you will
Say you will
My heart is crying, crying lonely teardrops.
My pillow's never dry of lonely teardrops.
Just say you will, say you will.
Say you will
Just give me another chance for our romance.
C'mon and tell me that one day you'll return.
'Cause every day that you've been gone away,
You know my heart does nothing but burn, crying
Lonely teardrops.
My pillow's never dry of lonely teardrops.
Come home, come home.
Just say you will, say you will
Say you will.
Say it right now, baby
Come on, come on,
Say it, darlin,
Say it right now, baby
Interpretation:
The lyrics of Narvel Felts's song 'Lonely Teardrops' portray the feelings of heartbreak and longing for a lost love. The opening lines, "My heart is crying, crying lonely teardrops, my pillow's never dry of lonely teardrops" sets a melancholic tone for the song, indicating that the singer has been shedding tears of loneliness since their lover left.
The singer then pleads with their lover to return home and give their relationship another chance. They desperately want to hear their lover say "you will" come back to them. The repeated lines "Say you will, say you will, say you will" express the singer's desperation for their lover's return.
In the final lines, the singer urges their lover to say "it right now, baby" and "come on, come on" back to them. The emotion in the singer's voice and the repetition of the plea for their lover's return emphasizes the depth of the singer's longing for their lost love.
Overall, 'Lonely Teardrops' is a heartfelt expression of heartbreak and longing for a lost love, emphasizing the power of love and the pain of its absence.
Line by Line Meaning
My heart is crying, crying lonely teardrops.
I am feeling deeply sad and heartbroken, shedding tears of sorrow.
My pillow's never dry of lonely teardrops,
I cry myself to sleep every night, my pillow soaked with tears of loneliness.
Come home, come home
I am begging you to return to me, to come back home where you belong.
Just say you will
Tell me that you will come back to me and give our love another chance.
Say you will
Promise me that you will come back to me and never leave me again.
Just give me another chance for our romance.
Please give me the opportunity to show you that our love is worth fighting for.
C'mon and tell me that one day you'll return.
Please let me know that you have not forgotten me and that you will come back to me someday.
'Cause every day that you've been gone away,
Since you left, every day feels unbearable and my heart aches with longing.
You know my heart does nothing but burn, crying
I am consumed by sadness and I can't help but cry.
Say it right now, baby
Please don't wait any longer, say that you will come back to me now.
Come on, come on,
Don't hesitate, please come back to me as soon as possible.
Say it, darlin,
Please tell me that you will come back to me, my dear.
Say it right now, baby
I need to hear it from you, please say that you will come back to me now.
Contributed by Ella D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
John Emerick
Shoo bee doo bop, bop, bow.)
(Shoo bee doo bop, bop, bow.)
(Shoo bee doo bop, bop, bow.)
My heart is crying, crying
Lonely teardrops, my pillow's never dry of lonely teardrops
Come home, come home
Just say you will, say you will
(say you will) say you will, (say you will.)
Hey, hey. (say you will.)
My heart is crying, crying
Lonely teardrops my pillow's never dry of lonely teardrops
Come home, come home
Just say you will, say you will
(say you will) say you will, (say you will.)
Hey, hey. (say you will.)
Just give me another chance for our romance
Come on and tell me that one day you'll return
'Cause, every day that you've been gone away
You know my heart does nothing but burn, crying
Lonely teardrops my pillow's never dry of lonely teardrops
Come home, come home
Just say you will, say you will
(say you will) say you will, (say you will.)
Hey, hey. (say you will.)
Say it right now, baby
(Say you will.) Come on, come on
Say it right now, baby
(Say you will.) Come on, come on
Say it right now, baby
Waverider
Just discovered Narvel on Country Road tonight singing Somebody hold me, what a talent. Taken me 61 years to discover him
Kristi Mitchell
Same! I work in his hometown! He deserves much more credit and his music needs to get out there 👏 love, love, love it!
Diane Hayse
BEAUTIFUL. Love this song and Narvel does it fantastically
Diane Hayse
Wow...I just loves this man's voice!!!
Robbie T
I will never not miss Narvell Felts music! I have rarely believed too many singer’s lyrics. I was not always sold on it. But this is REAL!
Betty Bryson
Memories are filled with gratitude for this man
shuffle877
Good country version of Jackie Wilson's big hit. Narvel sure does this song justice. Thanks Jack!!!
J.W. Gauntt
shuffle877 you're welcome shuff, hope it's the original version, finding Narvel's music is tricky, at least for me it is
Micky May
Adore the lyrics of this tune by the fabulous singing voice of Narvel Felts. Sure happy that you posted this! Thanks!
J.W. Gauntt
you're very welcome