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.
Moon River
Pat Boone Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Moody river more deadly than the vainest knife
Moody river your muddy water took my baby's life
Last Saturday evening, I came to the old oak tree
It stands beside the river, where you were to meet me
On the ground your love I found, with a note addressed to me
It read, "Dear love, I've done you wrong, now I must set you free
No longer can I live with this hurt and this sin
Moody river more deadly than the vainest knife
Moody river your muddy water took my baby's life
I looked into the muddy water and what could I see
I saw a lonely, lonely face just lookin' back at me
Tears in his eyes and a prayer on his lips
And the glove of his lost love at his finger tips
Moody river more deadly than the vainest knife
Moody river your muddy water took my baby's life
The song "Moody River" by Pat Boone is a narrative ballad about a tragic incident that happened at a river that is personified as moody. The river is described as more deadly than the vainest knife, and has taken the life of the singer's lover. The story starts with the singer finding a note from his love, who has admitted to wrongdoing and explains that she has to set him free. The singer then looks into the river and sees a face looking back at him. The mournful image is of someone who has lost his love and is left with just a glove at his finger tips. The lyrics express the grief of the loss of a lover to something that can't be fought or reasoned with, but can only be accepted.
The lyrics of "Moody River" can be viewed metaphorically. The river could represent a sense of loss and hardship, with the muddy water representing life's struggles. The river's moody personality can also represent the unpredictability of life. The message seems to be one of acceptance of the pains and hardships of life. The fact that the river is personified suggests that it has a life of its own beyond its destructive power, which could suggest that life also has inherent value.
Line by Line Meaning
Moody river, moody river
The river is moody and unpredictable, like a person who can be dangerous and deadly.
Moody river more deadly than the vainest knife
The river is more dangerous than anything else, the worst type of weapon possible.
Moody river your muddy water took my baby's life
The river's dirty water caused the tragic death of the singer's loved one.
Last Saturday evening, I came to the old oak tree
The singer arrived at a specific location, where they were supposed to meet their loved one.
It stands beside the river, where you were to meet me
The meeting place was next to the river, which is now associated with the tragedy.
On the ground your love I found, with a note addressed to me
The singer found evidence of their loved one's despair and heartbreak, along with a note explaining the situation.
It read, "Dear love, I've done you wrong, now I must set you free
The note expresses regret and the need to end the relationship because of guilt.
No longer can I live with this hurt and this sin
The writer of the note is too consumed by their mistakes and feels they cannot carry on living like this.
I just couldn't tell you that guy was just a friend"
The writer of the note is confessing to an infidelity, which caused guilt and stress.
I looked into the muddy water and what could I see
The singer gazes into the murky water of the river, maybe hoping for answers and clarity.
I saw a lonely, lonely face just lookin' back at me
The reflection of the singer in the water is a metaphor for their sadness and loneliness.
Tears in his eyes and a prayer on his lips
Imagery shows the singer as emotional and spiritual, in a moment of mourning.
And the glove of his lost love at his finger tips
The physical object of the glove symbolizes the tragedy and the loss of the singer's loved one.
Writer(s): Henry Mancini, Johnny Mercer
Contributed by Nathan L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Juan José Fernández
Fantástica interpretación
toby blake
Pat Boone was a great vocalist.
Bram Luska
Best version is pat boone....make me back throw to my childhood....
1st i hear this song on cassette play on my father tape.....
Neil Thomas
Its when l was optimistic without all the grown up hangups.
Roberto Dallossi
Gosto do Pat, mas a gravação de Andy Williams para esta canção é imbatível.
Didiet Setia BP
Lagu manis yang sangat merdu
Eston Alford
Pat Boone was first offered Moon River. He turned it down. Then it was offered to Andy Williams.