Son Of A Preacher Man
Original Sound Track Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Billy Ray was a preacher's son
And when his daddy would visit he'd come along
When they gathered around and started talkin'
That's when Billy would take me walkin'
Out through the back yard we'd go walkin'
Then he'd look into my eyes
Lord knows, to my surprise

The only one who could ever reach me
Was the son of a preacher man
The only boy who could ever teach me
Was the son of a preacher man
Yes he was, he was, ooh, yes he was

Bein' good isn't always easy
No matter how hard I try
When he started sweet-talkin' to me
He'd come'n tell me "Everything is all right"
He'd kiss and tell me "Everything is all right"
Can I get away again tonight?

The only one who could ever reach me
Was the son of a preacher man
The only boy who could ever teach me
Was the son of a preacher man
Yes he was, he was, ooh, yes he was (yes he was)

How well I remember
The look that was in his eyes
Stealin' kisses from me on the sly
Takin' time to make time
Tellin' me that he's all mine
Learnin' from each other's knowin'
Lookin' to see how much we've grown and

The only one who could ever reach me
Was the son of a preacher man
The only boy who could ever teach me
Was the son of a preacher man
Yes he was, he was, oh yes he was

(The only one who could ever reach me)
He was the sweet-talkin' son of a preacher man
(The only boy who could ever teach me)
Was the son of a preacher man

(The only one who could ever reach me)
Was the sweet-talkin' son of a preacher man

Overall Meaning

The song "Son of a Preacher Man," sung by Dusty Springfield and featured in the Original Soundtrack, shapes a story of a woman recalling a relationship she had with a young man who was the son of a preacher. The song opens with the lyrics, "Billy Ray was a preacher's son/ And when his daddy would visit he'd come along/ When they gathered around and started talkin'/ That's when Billy would take me walkin'." These lyrics elucidate that the woman met the young man when he would accompany his father on visits, and they would sneak off into the back yard. Despite the woman's best efforts to be good, she maintains a relationship with the son of the preacher man, even though it could be seen as taboo.

The chorus of the song reiterates that the son of the preacher man is the only one who can reach and teach the singer. The verse, "How well I remember/ The look that was in his eyes/ Stealin' kisses from me on the sly/ Takin' time to make time/ Tellin' me that he's all mine/ Learnin' from each other's knowin'," strengthens the argument that the relationship is one of learning and growing.

The theme of the song is ultimately one of taboo love and rebellion against established norms. The singer admits that being good is not always easy, and being involved with the son of the preacher man is something she struggled with. However, the relationship brought her a sense of understanding and growth, and it's something she cannot forget.

Line by Line Meaning

Billy Ray was a preacher's son
Billy Ray's father was a preacher

And when his daddy would visit he'd come along
Billy Ray would accompany his father when he visited

When they gathered around and started talkin'
When people came together and started conversing

That's when Billy would take me walkin'
Billy would take me for a walk

Out through the back yard we'd go walkin'
We'd walk out to the backyard

Then he'd look into my eyes
Billy would stare into my eyes

Lord knows, to my surprise
To my surprise

The only one who could ever reach me
There was only one person who could truly connect with me

Was the son of a preacher man
It was Billy, the son of a preacher man

The only boy who could ever teach me
There was only one boy who could teach me

Yes he was, he was, ooh, yes he was
Undoubtedly, it was Billy