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.
Softly and Tenderly
Pat Boone Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
See on the portal he's waiting and watching watching for you and for me
Come home come home ye who are weary come home
Earnestly tenderly Jesus is calling calling oh sinner come home
Oh what a wonderful love he has promised promised for you and for me
Though we have sinn'd he has mercy and pardon pardon for you and for me
Come home come home...
The song "Softly and Tenderly" by Pat Boone is a soulful call to come to Jesus, who is lovingly waiting and watching for us to answer his call. Throughout the song, the singer encourages the "weary" and the "sinner" to come home to Jesus, who promises a wonderful love and mercy for all who believe in him, despite their past sins.
In the first verse, the singer uses gentle and soothing expressions such as "softly" and "tenderly" to describe how Jesus is calling for us. He then directs our attention to the portal where Jesus waits, watching eagerly for anyone who is willing to answer his call. In the second verse, the singer deepens the invitation by promising a wonderful love that Jesus has already promised. The singer acknowledges that we all have sinned but reassures us that Jesus offers mercy and pardon to anyone who comes to him with a repentant heart.
The song doesn't just call for people to come home to Jesus; it also portrays him as a compassionate and loving savior for everyone, no matter their past. The beauty of the lyrics lies in its powerful message of hope and redemption that transcends time and is still as relevant today as it was when it was written over 130 years ago.
Line by Line Meaning
Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling calling for you and for me
Jesus is inviting us with gentleness and kindness to come to Him.
See on the portal he's waiting and watching watching for you and for me
Jesus is observing the entrance of Heaven, eagerly wanting to welcome us in.
Come home come home ye who are weary come home
Jesus is beckoning us to return to Him, especially those who are worn out and tired from life's burdens.
Earnestly tenderly Jesus is calling calling oh sinner come home
Jesus is reaching out to sinners, urging them to repent and be reconciled to God.
Oh what a wonderful love he has promised promised for you and for me
Jesus promises us an amazing love, boundless in its measure and available to all who receive it.
Though we have sinn'd he has mercy and pardon pardon for you and for me
Despite our sinfulness, Jesus offers us mercy and grace, granting us forgiveness and a fresh start.
Come home come home...
The refrain repeats the call of Jesus for all to come to Him, reminding us that it is never too late to turn to Him and find salvation.
Contributed by Kaelyn A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.