Born in Jacksonville, Florida, USA, Boone is a direct descendant of the American pioneer Daniel Boone. He grew up in Nashville, Tennessee, attended David Lipscomb College and began recording in 1954 for Republic Records. His 1955 version of "Ain't That a Shame" was a huge hit, selling far better than Fats Domino's original version. This set the stage for the early part of Boone's career, which focused on covering R&B songs by black artists for a white market. Previously, rock 'n' roll had had only limited exposure outside of the African American community. Pat Boone's pale covers gave attention to the more authentic original artists, such as Little Richard and Fats Domino and to rhythm and blues in general. In addition, the songwriters and copyright holders benefited even when individual artists did not.
In fact, only six of Boone's many hit singles were R&B covers, and only four of those were rockers. All were released in the first two years of his long career. These were "Ain't That a Shame" by Fats Domino and "Tutti Frutti" and "Long Tall Sally" by Little Richard, and "At My Front Door (Crazy Little Mama)" by the El Dorados. The other two R&B covers were well-chosen blues ballads, "I Almost Lost My Mind" by Ivory Joe Hunter and "Chains of Love," a hit for Big Joe Turner and later B.B. King that had been written by Ahmet Ertegun. By 1957, Boone was concentrating on the middle-of-the-road music that dominated his career. He never recorded another R&B cover.
Known as "The Kid in White Buck Shoes", Boone sported a clean-cut image that appealed to white [teens]] and parents. His singing style, a rich baritone, followed in the tradition of his idol, Bing Crosby. Preferring to carry on in the Crosby tradition, he soon began turning more and more to ballads. Some of his biggest hits included "Love Letters in the Sand" (with the instrumental break featuring Boone's whistling), "April Love", "Friendly Persuasion (Thee I Love)", and "Don't Forbid Me".
His teen idol popularity in the late 1950s was second only to that of Elvis Presley, and, like Presley, he soon tried his hand at acting. Boone's pictures included 1960's Journey to the Center of the Earth alongside Hollywood notable James Mason.
His recording of the theme song from the 1957 film April Love topped the charts for six weeks and was nominated for an Academy Award. Pat also wrote the theme song for the movie Exodus.
A devout born-again Christian, he was raised in the conservative Church of Christ, but has been a member of a Pentecostal church for more than thirty years. Boone has refused both songs and movie roles that he felt might compromise his standards, including a role opposite the decade's reigning sex symbol, Marilyn Monroe. Among his other achievements, he hosted a TV series in the late 1950s and began writing in the early 1960s, a series of self-help books for adolescents, including Twixt Twelve and Twenty.
The British Invasion effectively ended Boone's career as a hitmaker, though he continued recording throughout the 1960s. In the 1970s, he switched to gospel and country, and he continued performing in other media as well, most importantly radio. He is currently working as the disc jockey of a popular oldies radio show and runs his own record company which provides a much-welcomed outlet for new recordings by 1950s greats who can no longer find a place with the major labels.
Boone married Shirley Lee Foley, daughter of country music great Red Foley and singer Judy Martin, in 1953 and they had four daughters: Cherry, Lindy, Debby, and Laury. In the 1960s and 1970s the Boone family toured as gospel singers and made gospel albums, such as The Pat Boone Family and The Family Who Prays.
In the early 1990s, Boone joined Amway and spoke at many motivational seminars. He was also a distributor. He never reached the coveted Amway rank of Diamond.
In 1997, Boone released In a Metal Mood: No More Mr. Nice Guy, a collection of heavy metal covers revamped to fit his style. To promote the album, he appeared at the American Music Awards in black leather, shocking audiences and losing his respectability among his largest constituency, conservative Christians. He was then fired from Gospel America, a TV show on the Trinity Broadcasting Network. About a year later, the controversy died down and many fans, including Jack Hayford, accepted his explanation of the leather outfit being a "parody of himself". He was re-hired by Trinity Broadcasting and Gospel America was brought back.
In 2003, the Gospel Music Association of Nashville, Tennessee recognized his gospel recording work by inducting him into its Gospel Music Hall of Fame.
Boone and his wife live in Los Angeles, California. They are members of The Church on the Way in Los Angeles's San Fernando Valley. His one-time neighbor was Ozzy Osbourne and his family. Boone's cover of Osborne's song "Crazy Train" became the theme song for The Osbornes. (It appears on The Osbornes Soundrack.) Osborne said that Boone "never complained once" about living next door to his less-than-traditional family.
Boone once claimed to use his own surname in lieu of curse words when upset.
In 2006, Boone penned an article for WorldNetDaily in which he argued that Democrats and others who are against the Iraq War cannot, under any circumstances, be considered patriotic. He also recently was interviewed by Neil Cavuto on Fox News, where he expressed his outrage against the opponents of George W. Bush (namely the Dixie Chicks) that their criticisms of the President showed they did not "respect their elders". Another article defended Mel Gibson after the actor was recorded making an anti-Semitic rant. Despite their differing political views, Pat Boone is friends with the Reverend Jesse Jackson.
Forgive Me
Pat Boone Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The tree gave up its fruit at once
Ah! My hand it burns
Scarred with these prints
They will live when I die, that is a fact
The blood will drain
Infection will mix with the blue corpse
But you have it here
At your back and at your face
Leaves drop or aching branches creak
You walk alone down boulevards
I take you to the sky
Take you to the sky [Repeat: x3]
Upon first glance, these lyrics may seem confusing and difficult to interpret. However, upon closer examination, it becomes clear that the singer is grappling with the weight of their sins and contemplating their own mortality. The line "you know evil, know it well" could potentially be addressed to a higher power, as if the singer is acknowledging their own wrongdoing and asking for forgiveness.
The reference to the tree giving up its fruit could be a reference to the biblical story of Adam and Eve in which they eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, subsequently causing their expulsion from the Garden of Eden. The line "my hand it burns, scarred with these prints" could represent physical or emotional pain caused by the singer's actions. The following line, "they will live when I die, that is a fact" highlights the idea that the consequences of their actions will continue even after their own life has ended.
The reference to infection mixing with a blue corpse could symbolize the gradual decay and destruction caused by the singer's choices. Despite this heavy burden, the singer seems to be addressing a second person, perhaps attempting to pull them up and take them to the sky. This repeated line could represent a desire to be redeemed or forgiven for their past transgressions.
Line by Line Meaning
You know evil, know it well
You have a thorough understanding of the nature of evil and its workings.
The tree gave up its fruit at once
The tree produced its fruit readily and willingly.
Ah! My hand it burns
My hand is afflicted with pain and discomfort.
Scarred with these prints
These marks have left a permanent impression on my flesh.
They will live when I die, that is a fact
My legacy will endure long after my physical death.
The blood will drain
The blood will flow out of the wound.
Infection will mix with the blue corpse
The combination of infection and the dead body will result in a blue tint.
But you have it here
But you possess everything you need to overcome this challenge.
You see how it is like the wind
You understand how this situation is unpredictable and ever-changing, like the wind.
At your back and at your face
It affects you from both behind and in front of you.
Leaves drop or aching branches creak
You observe the sounds and movements of nature happening around you.
You walk alone down boulevards
You navigate through the urban thoroughfares alone.
I take you to the sky
I elevate you to a higher level of consciousness and understanding.
Take you to the sky [Repeat: x3]
I will continue to guide you and help you rise above your troubles.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BERT KAEMPFERT, HERBERT REHBEIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
isasuba
Ascolto di nuovo nel mezzo della "pandemia". Sono sempre commossa da questa voce meravigliosa e dai suoi temi musicali indimenticabili e sempre presenti nel mio cuore. Un caro saluto, amico Toty, da Mendoza, Argentina. Isa
isasuba
¡Qué hermoso tema! No lo conocía. Me encantó. Gracias, Toty, por este envío tan apreciado para mí. Como de costumbre, el audio es EXTRAORDINARIO y también son muy buenas las fotos con que ilustras el video.. Saludos.
TOTY ITALY
@isasuba Muchas gracias por tu comentario.
Mike Morrissey
This is a lovely version.
Enrique R
tema clásico italiano, en una buena versión inglesa, me ha gustado, 😱, Enrique, valencia, España, 5/6/2016
TOTY ITALY
Gracias
Enrique R
me sigue gustando la melodía, 😘. 😎. 🙌. ENRÍQUE. VALENCIA. ESPAÑA, 24 # 6 # 2017.
Daniel Alejandro Alarcón Coya
Qué clase para cantar