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.
Peace In The Valley
Pat Boone Lyrics
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Till the Lord shall come and call, call me away, oh yes
Well, the morning's so bright and the lamp is alight
And the night, night is as black as the sea, oh yes
There will be peace in the valley for me someday
There will be peace in the valley for me, oh Lord I pray
There'll be no sadness, no sorrow, no trouble I see
Well, the bear will be gentle and the wolf shall be tamed
And the lion shall lie down by the lamb, oh yes
All the beasts from the wild shall be led by a child
And I'll be changed, changed from this creature that I am, oh yes
There will be peace in the valley for me someday
There will be peace in the valley for me, oh Lord I pray
There'll be no sadness, no sorrow, no trouble I see
There will be peace in the valley for me
Yes, there will be peace, peace in the valley for me
The lyrics to Pat Boone's song "That's for Me" convey a sense of weariness and longing for peace. The singer acknowledges their tiredness and the challenges they face in life, but ultimately looks forward to a future time when they will be called away by the Lord and find peace. The contrast between the bright morning and the dark night symbolizes the dichotomy between hope and despair.
The lyrics also express a belief in a future where there will be peace for the singer. References to biblical imagery suggest a vision of harmony and unity among all creatures. The bear, wolf, lion, and other wild beasts are envisioned as being gentle and tamed. This symbolizes a transformation in nature itself, where even the fiercest creatures will coexist peacefully. The finale of the song reveals the singer's desire to be changed from their current state and find peace in the valley someday.
Overall, "That's for Me" paints a picture of a weary individual longing for peace, both in their personal life and in the world around them. It speaks to a belief in a future where all troubles will be gone, and a harmonious existence will be achieved.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I'm tired and so weary but I must go along
Although I am tired and weary, I must continue on with my journey
Till the Lord shall come and call, call me away, oh yes
Until the Lord's arrival and my heavenly calling
Well, the morning's so bright and the lamp is alight
The morning is filled with brightness and the lamp is radiant
And the night, night is as black as the sea, oh yes
In contrast, the night is as dark as the sea
There will be peace in the valley for me someday
One day, I will find peace in the valley
There will be peace in the valley for me, oh Lord I pray
I fervently pray for peace in the valley
There'll be no sadness, no sorrow, no trouble I see
I won't experience any sadness, sorrow, or trouble
There will be peace in the valley for me
Peace will prevail in the valley for me
Well, the bear will be gentle and the wolf shall be tamed
The bear will display gentleness and the wolf will be subdued
And the lion shall lie down by the lamb, oh yes
Moreover, the lion will peacefully rest beside the lamb
All the beasts from the wild shall be led by a child
A child will guide all the wild beasts
And I'll be changed, changed from this creature that I am, oh yes
Furthermore, I will be transformed into a different being than what I currently am
Yes, there will be peace, peace in the valley for me
Indeed, there will be peace, peace in the valley for me
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Tratore, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Bluewater Music Corp., Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Thomas A. Dorsey
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind