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.
I'll Be Home for Christmas
Pat Boone Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You can plan on me
Please have snow and mistletoe
And presents on the tree
Christmas Eve will find me
Where the lovelight gleams
I'll be home for Christmas
I'll be home for Christmas
You can plan on me
Please have snow and mistletoe
And presents on the tree
Christmas Eve will find me
Where the lovelight gleams
I'll be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams
The lyrics of Pat Boone's famous Christmas song I'll Be Home For Christmas depict the longing and yearning of a soldier who is away from home, dreaming of being back home for Christmas. The song speaks to the deep emotions of soldiers who are away from their families during the holidays, and the hope that they hold onto for a return home. The lyrics hint at the classic, traditional Christmas expectations: snow, mistletoe, and presents under the tree. However, the true meaning of the song lies in the sentiment of being reunited with loved ones for the holiday season.
The first stanza highlights the singer's commitment to making it home for Christmas, and the certainty that their loved ones can rely on their presence. The following stanza compares the cheerful, warm atmosphere of Christmas Eve with the shining of the "lovelight" at home, emphasizing the emotional connection between the singer and their family. The final line of the song, "if only in my dreams", poignantly conveys the heartbreak of soldiers who may not be able to physically be with their family for Christmas.
Overall, I'll Be Home For Christmas serves as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by soldiers and their families during the holiday season. It reminds us to be grateful for the time we spend with our loved ones during the holidays and to always remember those who may not be able to be with their families for the Christmas season.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll be home for Christmas
I promise to return to my home for Christmas time
You can plan on me
You can count on me being home for Christmas
Please have snow and mistletoe
I would like for you to decorate our home with festive snow and mistletoe
And presents on the tree
I hope there will be gifts wrapped and placed under the Christmas tree
Christmas Eve will find me
I will be present in my home on Christmas Eve
Where the lovelight gleams
In a place filled with love and warmth
If only in my dreams
I may not physically be home for Christmas, but I will be there in spirit
I'll be home for Christmas
I assure you, I will be present for Christmas
You can plan on me
I am reliable and you can depend on me to be home for Christmas
Please have snow and mistletoe
I envision a festive and cozy setting for our Christmas celebration
And presents on the tree
Gifts are an important aspect of Christmas and I hope there will be presents under our tree
Christmas Eve will find me
On Christmas Eve, I will be with my loved ones at home
Where the lovelight gleams
In a place filled with happiness and warmth
If only in my dreams
Even if I cannot make it home for Christmas, I will be dreaming of being there with my family
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc., CARLIN AMERICA INC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Buck Ram, Kim Gannon, Walter Kent
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
steve rector
I have always loved this I wish they would play more of Pat's Christmas songs at Christmas time