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 Walk Alone
Pat Boone Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't mind being lonely when my hear tells me you are lonely too.
I'll walk alone, they'll ask me why and Ill tell them I'd rather.
There are dreams I must gather, dreams we fashioned the night you held me tight.
I'll always be near you wherever you are each night in every prayer.
If you call, I'll hear you, no matter how far.
Just close your eyes and I'll be there.
Please walk alone and send your love and your kisses to guide me
The lyrics of Pat Boone's song "I'll Walk Alone" convey the emotion of loneliness that emanates in someone's life when they are separated from their lover. Boone sings about a lover who still feels connected to their significant other despite being apart. The singer is willing to walk alone and accepts the loneliness because they believe their partner is also feeling lonely. The lyrics suggest that there is an unbreakable bond between the couple and distance is not a hindrance for true love.
The song also talks about gathering dreams that were fashioned while they were together. The memory of their togetherness is still vivid in their mind, and they cherish it daily. The singer finds solace in knowing that wherever their lover is, they will always be near them in every prayer. The singer assures their partner that if they ever need him, he/she should call out to them, and they would hear them, assuring them that distance is no match for the strength of their love.
Throughout the song, there is hope of a reunion, where they will walk side by side. Until that day, the lover will walk alone, knowing that they are guided by the love and kisses sent by their significant other, and together they will be again. The lyrics emphasize a longing for a love that is stronger than distance and time.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll walk alone because to tell you the truth I'll be lonely,
I will walk alone because truthfully, I will feel lonely without you.
I don't mind being lonely when my heart tells me you are lonely too.
Although I may feel lonely, I may take comfort knowing that you may also feel the same way.
I'll walk alone, they'll ask me why and Ill tell them I'd rather.
I will choose to walk alone and if asked, I will say that it is by choice.
There are dreams I must gather, dreams we fashioned the night you held me tight.
There are dreams that I need to chase, the same dreams we made the night you held me close.
I'll always be near you wherever you are each night in every prayer.
I will always be close to you every night, in spirit and through prayer.
If you call, I'll hear you, no matter how far.
If you call out to me, I will hear you, regardless of how distant you may be.
Just close your eyes and I'll be there.
Just by closing your eyes, I will be there to comfort you.
Please walk alone and send your love and your kisses to guide me
Please walk alone, while you send your love and kisses to lead me.
Till you're walking beside me, I'll walk alone.
Until we're reunited and can walk together, I will continue to walk alone.
Contributed by Abigail V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jymster46
Wonderful, Heather! I love the song and Mr. Boone's voice is perfect for it. Love all the pictures, especially the ones with Ms. Jones and Annette. Thank you for posting it! Thumbs Up, for sure!
Jim
TheSorrowfulFlower
Jymster46 I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Jim! I love this song, too, and agree that his voice is perfect for it. Thought you might like those pictures especially! I love the ones with Annette, too, and the one with Ricky Nelson. Thanks so much for watching, for your wonderful comments, and for the thumbs up, you made my day :))
Daniel Alejandro Alarcón Coya
Qué magia tiene esta canción
野澤絹子
東京の、永田町の、ヒルトンホテルで、パットムーンさん、家族👪さんに、食事を、届けた、旦那さん、野澤と、いえば、覚えてるかな？遊びに…なんかいも、歌いに、きたのは、ニールセダカさん、だそうです。