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.
Stairway To Heaven
Pat Boone Lyrics
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And she's buying a stairway to heaven
When she gets there she knows, if the stores are all closed
With a word she can get what she came for
Ooh, ooh, and she's buying a stairway to heaven
There's a sign on the wall but she wants to be sure
'Cause you know sometimes words have two meanings
Sometimes all of our thoughts are misgiven
And she's buying a stairway to heaven
Ooh, it makes me wonder, ooh, it makes me wonder
If there's a bustle in your hedgerow, don't be alarmed now
Just a spring clean for the May Queen
Yes, there are two paths you can go by, but in the long run
There's still time to change the road you're on
Ooh, it makes me wonder
Your head is humming and it won't go, in case you don't know
The piper's calling you to join him
Dear lady, can you hear the wind blow, and did you know
Your stairway lies on the whispering wind?
And as we wind on down the road
Our shadows taller than our soul
There walks a lady we all know
Who shines white light and wants to show
How everything still turns to gold?
And if you listen very hard
The tune will come to you at last
When the being one is all and all
To be the rock and not to roll
And she's buying a stairway to heaven
The lyrics of Pat Boone's song Stairway to Heaven have been interpreted in several ways, but the most popular explanation is that it is about a woman who is looking to find her way to a better life. The opening line "There's a lady who's sure all that glitters is gold" gives the impression that she is determined to find wealth and success at any cost. She is buying a stairway to heaven, which could be a metaphor for her search for success.
As the song progresses, she realizes that things may not be as easy as she thought. The line "And she's buying a stairway to heaven" is repeated several times throughout the song, indicating her desperation to achieve her goal. However, she becomes aware that sometimes things are not what they seem, and that words can have different meanings.
The lines "If there's a bustle in your hedgerow, don't be alarmed now / Just a spring clean for the May Queen" suggest that sometimes obstacles and difficulties arise in life, but they can be overcome with effort and determination. The song ends with the idea that success and happiness may still be achievable, but one must be willing to work hard and make the necessary changes in their life.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a lady who's sure all that glitters is gold
This lady believes that everything that looks good is valuable
And she's buying a stairway to heaven
She is seeking a pathway to a higher spiritual state
When she gets there she knows, if the stores are all closed
Upon reaching her goal, she knows that material possessions won't be of use
With a word she can get what she came for
Her strong belief empowers her to manifest her desires
There's a sign on the wall but she wants to be sure
She is cautious and wants clarity before proceeding
'Cause you know sometimes words have two meanings
She is aware that things aren't always what they seem
In a tree by the brook, there's a songbird who sings
Nature reveals its wisdom to those who pay attention
Sometimes all of our thoughts are misgiven
Our thoughts can deceive us and lead us astray
If there's a bustle in your hedgerow, don't be alarmed now
Don't fret over minor disturbances or distractions
Just a spring clean for the May Queen
Letting go of the old to welcome in the new
Yes, there are two paths you can go by, but in the long run
There are choices to be made, and consequences to consider
There's still time to change the road you're on
You can always make a new choice, change direction, or reinvent yourself
Your head is humming and it won't go, in case you don't know
Your thoughts are stuck in your head and you can't shake them off
The piper's calling you to join him
Your intuition is calling you to trust your inner guidance
Dear lady, can you hear the wind blow, and did you know
Are you attuned to the subtle cues of the universe, and do you recognize their meaning?
Your stairway lies on the whispering wind?
The path to your spiritual growth is revealed in quiet moments of reflection
And as we wind on down the road
As we journey through life
Our shadows taller than our soul
Our negative thoughts and fears can loom larger than our true identity
There walks a lady we all know
The lady who seeks spiritual enlightenment and growth
Who shines white light and wants to show
She radiates positivity and wants to help others see the light within themselves
How everything still turns to gold?
She sees the potential for beauty and value in every experience
And if you listen very hard
If you pay close attention
The tune will come to you at last
The truth will reveal itself to you in due time
When the being one is all and all
When you realize that everything is interconnected and part of one grand design
To be the rock and not to roll
To be steadfast and grounded, instead of swept away by turbulent emotions
And she's buying a stairway to heaven
She is investing in her spiritual growth, seeking a path to heaven
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jimmy Page, Robert Plant
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind