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.
Paradise City
Pat Boone Lyrics
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Where the grass is green and the girls are pretty
Take me home
Take me down to the paradise city
Where the grass is green and the girls are pretty
Oh, won't you please take me home
Just an urchin livin' under the street
I'm your charity case, so buy me somethin' to eat
I'll pay you at another time, take it to the end of the line
Ragz to richez or so they say
You gotta keep pushin' for the fortune and fame
It's all a gamble when it's just a game
You try it like a capital crime, everybody's doing their time
Take me down to the paradise city
Where the grass is green and the girls are pretty
Take me home
Take me down to the paradise city
Where the grass is green and the girls are pretty
Oh, won't you please take me home
Strapped in the chair of the city's gas chamber
Why I'm here I can't quite remember
The surgeon general says "It's hazardous to breathe"
You have another cigarette but I can't see
Tell me who you're gonna believe
Take me down to the paradise city
Where the grass is green and the girls are pretty
Take me home
Take me down to the paradise city
Where the grass is green and the girls are pretty
Won't you please take me home
So far away, so far away
So far away, so far away
Hey, captain America's been torn apart
Now he's a court jester with a broken heart
He said, "Turn me around and take me back to the start
I must be losin' my mind, are you blind?"
I've seen it all a million times
Take me down to the paradise city
Where the grass is green and the girls are pretty
Take me home
Take me down to the paradise city
Where the grass is green and the girls are pretty
Oh, won't you please take me home
Take me home
Won't you please take me home
Take me home
The song "Paradise City" by Pat Boone is a cover of the original song by Guns N' Roses. The song is essentially about the yearning for something better, and a longing to escape the harsh realities of life. The singer in the song expresses this desire to be taken to the paradise city, where everything is perfect - the grass is green, and the girls are pretty. The singer is an "urchin living under the street," who acknowledges that life is tough, and that he is a charity case that needs help.
The song reflects the themes of the American Dream - the idea that anyone can start from nothing and make it big. The lyrics describe the idea of going from rags to riches and the pursuit of fortune and fame. However, the song also hints at the reality that achieving success may not be easy and that it's all a gamble when it's just a game.
Later in the song, the singer seems to be in a dark place, strapped in the chair of the city's gas chamber. The surgeon general warns that it's hazardous to breathe, but the singer is still smoking. The singer questions who to believe - the surgeon general or the cigarette companies. This section could be seen as a commentary on the dangers of smoking and the tobacco industry.
Overall, the song is a plea to be taken away from an unpleasant reality to a place where everything is perfect.
Line by Line Meaning
Take me down to the paradise city
I want to go to a place full of happiness and excitement
Where the grass is green and the girls are pretty
A perfect world with everything beautiful and ideal
Take me home
Take me to my safe haven where I belong
Just an urchin livin' under the street
I am poor and hopeless, living a life of struggle
I'm a hard case that's tough to beat
I am a resilient person who can overcome challenges
I'm your charity case, so buy me somethin' to eat
I am in need of help and a basic necessity such as food would be appreciated
I'll pay you at another time, take it to the end of the line
I will repay the debt at a later time, do not worry about it now
Ragz to richez or so they say
I have heard of people who came from nothing and became successful
You gotta keep pushin' for the fortune and fame
To be successful, one must never give up and strive for greatness
It's all a gamble when it's just a game
Life is unpredictable and every step is a risk
You try it like a capital crime, everybody's doing their time
Achieving success requires hard work, dedication and sometimes being punished for mistakes
Strapped in the chair of the city's gas chamber
I am trapped and helpless in a lethal situation
Why I'm here I can't quite remember
I do not recall how I ended up in this situation
The surgeon general says "It's hazardous to breathe"
Even something as simple as breathing can be dangerous
You have another cigarette but I can't see
Despite being aware of the dangers, people still indulge in harmful activities
Tell me who you're gonna believe
It is up to the individual to decide what to believe
Hey, captain America's been torn apart
Even a symbol of strength and hope can be broken
Now he's a court jester with a broken heart
Someone who was once admired is now ridiculed and heartbroken
He said, "Turn me around and take me back to the start
I want to go back to where it all began, before things went wrong
I must be losin' my mind, are you blind?"
I cannot believe what is happening, can you not see it too?
I've seen it all a million times
I have experienced similar situations many times before
So far away, so far away
The place where I want to be is very far away
Take me home
Take me to a place where I feel comfortable and safe
Won't you please take me home
Please take me to where I belong
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Capitol CMG Publishing, Integrity Music
Written by: Hudson Slash, Izzy Stradlin, Duff McKagan, Steven Adler, W. Axl Rose
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind