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.
There's a Gold Mine in the Sky
Pat Boone Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We will find it, you and I some sweet day
There'll be clover just for you down the line
Where the skies are always blue, pal of mine
Take your time, ole mule
I know you're growing lame
But you'll pasture in the stars,
When we strike that claim
The world roll by
When we find that long lost gold mine
In the sky, far away, far away we will find that
Long lost gold mine some sweet day
And we'll say hello to friends who said goodbye
When we find that long lost gold mine
In the sky, far away, far away
The lyrics to Pat Boone's song, "There's a Gold Mine in the Sky", are infused with optimism and hope for the future. The singer believes that there is a treasure waiting for them in a far-off land beyond the clouds, and they are determined to find it with their pal. The song discusses the hardships they may face on their journey, such as a tired mule, but the prospect of the gold mine keeps them pushing forward. Once they arrive in this place, they will have their own clover field, and the skies will always be blue. They imagine themselves sitting there and watching the world go by while surrounded by their loved ones who have long-since passed away.
The lyrics have a sense of nostalgia and romanticism about them, as the singer looks back on the past and hopes for a better future. The idea of a "gold mine in the sky" is a metaphor for a better life or an escape from the struggles of the present. The song encourages the listener to keep striving and to never give up hope, just like the singer and their pal in the story. Despite any setbacks they might face, they believe that a better future is waiting for them.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a gold mine in the sky far away
There is something valuable that is out of reach or difficult to obtain.
We will find it, you and I some sweet day
We will eventually attain and enjoy the valuable thing we seek, but we must be patient.
There'll be clover just for you down the line
There will be good things that come from achieving our goals.
Where the skies are always blue, pal of mine
We will reach a place of happiness and contentment when we achieve our goal.
Take your time, ole mule
We need to be patient and not rush the process of achieving our goal.
I know you're growing lame
I know that it is taking a toll on you to keep going, but we must keep pressing on.
But you'll pasture in the stars,
Our hard work will pay off in a big way.
When we strike that claim
When we finally achieve our goal.
And we'll set up there and watch
We will take time to enjoy our success once we achieve our goal.
The world roll by
We will be able to relax and observe life once we have achieved our goal.
When we find that long lost gold mine
When we finally reach that difficult-to-achieve goal.
In the sky, far away, far away we will find that
Reinforcing the idea that the valuable thing we seek is difficult to obtain.
Long lost gold mine some sweet day
Stressing that we must be patient in order to achieve our goal.
And we'll say hello to friends who said goodbye
Once we achieve our goal, we will be able to reconnect with those we may have lost touch with along the way.
When we find that long lost gold mine
Once again emphasizing that the goal we seek is difficult to achieve.
In the sky, far away, far away
Further emphasizing the idea that the goal is out of reach, but achievable with effort and patience.
Contributed by Stella C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@user-fj8uh1jr2b
There's a gold mine in the sky far away
We will find it, you and I some sweet day
There'll be clover just for you down the line
Where the skies are always blue, pal of mine
Take your time, ole mule
I know you're growing lame
But you'll pasture in the stars
When we strike that claim
And we'll set up there and watch
The world roll by
When we find that long lost gold mine
In the sky, far away, far away we will find that
Long lost gold mine some sweet day
And we'll say hello to friends who said goodbye
When we find that long lost gold mine
In the sky, far away, far away
@elinormcclimon3232
I remember that song since I was a youngster. As a great-grandfather, it remains a favorite.
@dalredmond5879
My dad sang this to me decades ago and now I am sitting here with my 15.5 year old standard schnauzer and reflecting. Ah, the beauty and sadness of life.
@basilpeewit3350
Nice, bub, your last sentence! Take care.
@clarkewi
Beautiful song. Came out when I was a young boy of 6. Thanks Pat!
@Reidsmith1000
It blows me away as to how perfect a singer Pat is and with such great expression.
@mr.warmth1511
so is debbie boone
@jimpaul6525
pat boone your diction is impeccable - i could listen to you all day long
@MDrfc1872
RIP to my nana who died yesterday and this was her and my papas song, he sang it to her as she died with all her family around her
@amadobustamante5237
What a touching moment, but very sad , too !! Sorry for your loss .
@NHBonnie10
I'm so very sad to read this. May God bless.