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.
The Locket
Pat Boone Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Do you see this little locket
That I'm holding in my hand?
For many years it′s been my only treasure
But I'm gonna have to sell it if I can
Say I know it isn't worth a lot of money
But it′s the memory of the one I loved
And used to call my own
But she left me and now I′m all alone
And I only want I want a dollar for the locket
Can you see my baby's picture?
Well, she made that smile for me
And right inside it says: "I′ll always love you"
You know this little locket means
All the world to me
Say I wonder if you'll do me one kind favour
If you take this little locket
Will you never let it go
And if you ever run into my body
Would you tell her that I′ll always love her so.
The lyrics of Pat Boone's song "The Locket" tell a poignant story of lost love and a sentimental keepsake. The singer, holding a locket in his hand, tells the listener that it has been his only treasure for many years since his lover left him. He wants to sell it but acknowledges that it isn't worth a lot of money. For him, it's not about the price; it's about the memory of the one he loved and planned to share a life of love with. Through the locket, he carries the fond memories of his past and hopes that whoever buys it will cherish it as much as he did. He even requests the listener to not let it go and ask his lost love to know that he still loves her.
The lyrics of "The Locket" are relatively simple, but they convey a deep sense of loss and longing. The use of the locket as a symbol of the singer's love and his willingness to part with it for a dollar convey a sense of his emotional desperation. The picture of his lover inside the locket and the inscription on it - "I'll always love you" - are potent reminders of his romance and the unrequited love he still harbors. The plea to the listener to hold onto the locket and pass on a message to his lover if they encounter her adds a wistful tone to the song.
Interesting facts about Pat Boone's "The Locket":
- The song was written by Marty Robbins, a popular country singer of the 1950s
- "The Locket" was released in 1957 and reached No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart
- It is considered one of Pat Boone's most iconic songs
- The song was also used as the title track for the 1946 film "The Locket,"
- The film stars Robert Mitchum and Larraine Day as star-crossed lovers, and the locket plays a central role in the plot
- Pat Boone's smooth, polished rendition of the song helped make it a hit across various music genres, including pop, country, and easy-listening
- Despite its success, "The Locket" was one of Pat Boone's earliest recordings, and he went on to have a career spanning over five decades
- The locket is a recurrent motif in many other songs, including Neil Young's "Lotta Love" and Taylor Swift's "Tim McGraw."
- Several artists have covered "The Locket," including Don Everly and John Mellencamp
- The song continues to be a sentimental favorite and is often included in compilations of romantic ballads from the 1950s.
Chords (if known): Unfortunately, the chords for the song are not available as the original recording used orchestration instead of guitar chords.
Line by Line Meaning
Say Mister, won′t you listen to my story?
The singer asks the listener politely for his attention.
Do you see this little locket that I'm holding in my hand?
The singer draws the listener's attention to the small piece of jewelry in his possession.
For many years it′s been my only treasure
The singer has held onto this locket as a precious memento for a long time.
But I'm gonna have to sell it if I can
The artist needs money and is considering selling the locket to get it.
Say I know it isn't worth a lot of money
The artist acknowledges that the locket may not have a high monetary value.
But it′s the memory of the one I loved
The locket holds sentimental value for the singer because it reminds him of someone special.
And used to call my own
The singer used to be in a relationship with the person the locket represents.
We planned to share a life of love together
The artist and the person represented by the locket had plans for a future together filled with love.
But she left me and now I’m all alone
The artist's relationship with the person represented by the locket ended, leaving him feeling lonely.
And I only want I want a dollar for the locket
The artist is willing to part with the locket for a small sum of money.
Can you see my baby's picture?
The singer is asking the listener if they can see the photo inside the locket.
Well, she made that smile for me
The person represented by the locket is smiling in the photo because of the artist.
And right inside it says: “I’ll always love you”
The message inside the locket indicates that the person represented by the locket still loves the singer.
You know this little locket mean all the world to me
The locket is incredibly important to the singer because of its sentimental value.
Say I wonder if you'll do me one kind favour
The singer is making a request of the listener in a polite way.
If you take this little locket
The artist is asking the listener to take the locket from him.
Will you never let it go
The artist is asking the listener to promise to keep the locket forever.
And if you ever run into my body
The singer is requesting that if the listener encounters the person represented by the locket, they share a message with her.
Would you tell her that I’ll always love her so.
The singer is asking the listener to tell the person represented by the locket that he still loves her deeply.
Writer(s): Baker Knight
Contributed by Callie A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
tarquin45
Better than the top side of the disc in my opinion, but what a great two sided record it was though. Pat had a great voice and made many great recordings.
emerita cervantes
It's a beautiful song but quite a sad one, too!
juan olmos
Este disco, lo escuchaba de niño, me hace recordar mi niñez, aunque no entendia la letra.
Entiya Silk
It brings back lovely memories <3
Liz Doyle
GREAT SONG 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
A LITTLE GEM ⚘⚘⚘⚘⚘
tom focar
This song was written just for me, and my ex-wife.
Ashley Bond
I still have this single handed down from my father!
kassandra mesi
me too...
Jörg
Das HÄTTE die A-Seite sein müssen.
Nicht "Speedy Gonzales"
David Chernofsky
this song written by Baker Knight