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.
That Lucky Old Sun
Pat Boone Lyrics
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But that lucky old sun has nothin' to do
But roll around heaven all day
Fuss with my woman toil for my kids
Sweat 'til I'm wrinkled and gray
While that lucky old sun has nothin' to do
But roll around heaven all day
Tears all in my eyes
Send down that cloud with a silver linin'
Lift me to paradise
Show me that river
Take me across and wash all my troubles away
Like that lucky old sun, give me nothin' to do
But roll around heaven all day
Up in the mornin' out on the job,
Work like the devil for my pay
But that lucky old sun has nothin' to do
But roll around heaven all day
Fuss with my woman toil for my kids
Sweat 'til I'm wrinkled and gray
While that lucky old sun has nothin' to do
But roll around heaven all day
Good Lawd above, can't you know I'm pinin'
Tears all in my eyes
Send down that cloud with a silver linin'
Lift me to paradise
Show me that river
Take me across and wash all my troubles away
Like that lucky old sun, give me nothin' to do
But roll around heaven all day
In Pat Boone's song "That Lucky Old Sun," the singer expresses his exhaustion and weariness from working hard all day. He compares his own life to that of the sun, which has nothing to do but roll around in heaven all day. The sun makes a visible appearance throughout the song and serves as a metaphor for an easier life, a life that the singer longs for. He's seen working hard, struggling to provide for his family, and confronting daily challenges while the sun seems to have it easy. The singer asks God for a break from his daily struggles and pleads with Him to "take me across and wash all my troubles away." He wants to be like the sun, carefree and without responsibilities, rolling around in heaven all day.
The song is about the working class but accurately describes the attitudes of many people regardless of their social status. Many of us go through life feeling overworked and burdened, sometimes to the point of exhaustion. The singer's tone is soulful and mournful, and the lyrics are resonant and timeless. Boone's rendition of the song is effortless and makes the song an instant classic. The song has remained popular for generations and continues to resonate with people who relate to the singer's struggles.
Line by Line Meaning
Up in the mornin' out on the job, work like the devil for my pay
I wake up every morning and go out to work hard for my wages
But that lucky old sun has nothin' to do But roll around heaven all day
The sun does not have to work or worry about anything, it has an easy life
Fuss with my woman toil for my kids Sweat 'til I'm wrinkled and gray
I have to take care of my family and work hard until I am old and worn out
While that lucky old sun has nothin' to do But roll around heaven all day
The sun has an easy life in heaven while I have to work hard every day
Good Lawd above, can't you know I'm pinin' Tears all in my eyes
Dear Lord, don't you know how much pain and sadness I am feeling?
Send down that cloud with a silver linin' Lift me to paradise
Please give me some relief from my problems and take me to a better place
Show me that river
Let me see a peaceful river to calm my mind
Take me across and wash all my troubles away Like that lucky old sun, give me nothin' to do But roll around heaven all day
Help me escape from my troubles and live an easy life like the sun in heaven
Up in the mornin' out on the job, Work like the devil for my pay
I have to work hard every day just to make ends meet
But that lucky old sun has nothin' to do But roll around heaven all day
The sun lives an easy life without any worries while I have to work hard
Fuss with my woman toil for my kids Sweat 'til I'm wrinkled and gray
Taking care of my family is hard work and it is taking its toll on me
While that lucky old sun has nothin' to do But roll around heaven all day
The sun is carefree while I have to work and worry every day
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Beasley Smith, Haven Gillespie
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind