Patti Page (born Clara Ann Fowler on November 8, 1927 in Claremore, Oklahom… Read Full Bio ↴Patti Page (born Clara Ann Fowler on November 8, 1927 in Claremore, Oklahoma (some sources give Muskogee, Oklahoma), died January 1, 2013 Encinitas, California) is one of the best-known female singers in traditional pop music. She is the best-selling female artist of the 1950s and was among the first to cross over from country music to pop. Her recording career spans the years 1947 to 1981. Page continued to perform live up until her death at 85. She was billed as "The Singing Rage, Miss Patti Page".

In 1974 and 1975, she recorded for Avco Records, and, in 1981, recorded for Plantation Records, her most recent record label. Page's most recent single to appear on any Billboard chart was the 1982 #80 country single, "My Man Friday". (She last appeared on the pop chart in 1968, with her version of O.C. Smith's hit, "Little Green Apples", and on the Adult Contemporary chart with "Give Him Love" in 1971.)

Page made the country chart in up to 1983, with her biggest hit during that time being "Hello, We're Lonely," a 1973 #14 duet with Tom T. Hall.

In the 1990s, Page started her own label, C.A.F. Records. In 1998, she won a Grammy as "Best Traditional Pop Singer". Page continued to record into the new millenium with the CDs BRAND NEW TENNESSEE WALTZ, SWEET SOUNDS OF CHRISTMAS (2002), CHILD OF MINE (2003) and her last 2009 release BEST OF COUNTRY. Many of her songs have a strong beat to them that prelude rock 'n' roll. These titles include "Mister and Mississippi", "Detour" and "Cross Over the Bridge". In 1956, she married choreographer Charles O'Curran. They adopted two children, a daughter, Kathleen, and a son, Daniel O'Curran.

Cross Over The Bridge
Patti Page Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Brother, cross over the bridge

If you have built a boat to take you to the greener side
And if that boat is built of ev'ry lie you ever lied
You'll never reach the Promised Land of love, I guarantee
Cause lies cannot hold water and you'll sink into the sea

Cross over the bridge, cross over the bridge
Change your reckless way o'livin', cross over the bridge
Leave you fickle past behind you and true romance will find you
Brother, cross over the bridge

I know it isn't easy to resist temptation's call
But think of how your broken heart will hurt you when you fall
Cause some day you will find that you are hopelessly in love
And she'll belong to someone else as sure as stars above

Cross over the bridge, cross over the bridge
Change your reckless way o'livin', cross over the bridge
Leave you fickle past behind you and true romance will find you
Brother, cross over the bridge

Cross over the bridge

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Patti Page's song "Cross Over the Bridge" speaks about the consequences of reckless living and the importance of making a change. The opening lines "If you're a guy that's had a gal in each and every port, and you've forgot the rules of love that life has always taught" gives the listener the impression that the song is directed towards a man who has lived a carefree life and has had many romantic partners. The chorus encourages him to change his reckless ways and to leave his fickle past behind, while reminding him that true love can only be found when he crosses over the bridge to the other side.

The second verse speaks of building a boat to take you to the greener side, but if that boat is made up of every lie you've ever told, you will never reach the promised land of love. The verse ends with the ominous statement that lies cannot hold water and you'll sink into the sea. The last verse urges the listener to resist temptation and consider the consequences of a broken heart. The lyrics conclude with the final repetition of "Cross over the bridge," signifying that change is necessary to find true love.

Overall, the lyrics hold a message of redemption and hope for those who have lived recklessly but want to make a change. The song encourages them to leave their past behind and embrace a new path to find true love.

Line by Line Meaning

If you're a guy that's had a gal in each and every port
If you're a man who has had relationships with different women in different places

And you've forgot the rules of love that life has always taught
And you have forgotten the lessons of love that life taught you

And if you broke as many hearts as ripples in a stream
And if you have hurt as many hearts as the number of ripples in a stream

Well, brother, here's the only way that you can be redeemed
Then the only way for you to find salvation is by following what I'm about to tell you

[Chorus]
Repeat of the chorus

If you have built a boat to take you to the greener side
If you have concocted schemes to win someone's affection

And if that boat is built of ev'ry lie you ever lied
And if lies form the basis of those schemes

You'll never reach the Promised Land of love, I guarantee
Then you will never succeed in finding true love, I can promise you that

Cause lies cannot hold water and you'll sink into the sea
Because lies can't be sustained and eventually you'll ruin yourself

[Chorus]
Repeat of the chorus

I know it isn't easy to resist temptation's call
I understand that it's difficult to resist temptation

But think of how your broken heart will hurt you when you fall
But think about how much pain you'll feel when those temptations lead you to a broken heart

Cause some day you will find that you are hopelessly in love
Because someday you'll find yourself deeply in love

And she'll belong to someone else as sure as stars above
But the person you'll be in love with will belong to someone else

[Chorus]
Repeat of the chorus

Cross over the bridge
Take a step towards change and redemption

Cross over the bridge
Repeat of the above meaning

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Bennie Benjamin, George David Weiss

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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01Mockin' Bird Hill2:37

02How Much Is That Doggie In The Window2:25

03Cross Over The Bridge2:42

PT3M42S

Patti Page

04Detour2:48

05Mister And Mississippi3:07

06Old Cape Cod2:24

07I Went To Your Wedding3:17

08Tennessee Waltz2:58

09With My Eyes Wide Open I'm Dreaming3:08

10Changing Partners2:55

11Allegheny Moon2:52

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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@Goibniu001

2y↑2

If you're a guy who's had a gal in each and every port
And you've forgot the rules of love that life has always taught
And if you broke as many hearts as ripples in a stream
Well, brother, here's the only way that you can be redeemed

Cross over the bridge, cross over the bridge
Change your reckless way o'livin', cross over the bridge
Leave you fickle past behind you and true romance will find you
Brother, cross over the bridge

If you have built a boat to take you to the greener side
And if that boat is built of ev'ry lie you ever lied
You'll never reach the Promised Land of love, I guarantee
Cause lies cannot hold water and you'll sink into the sea

Cross over the bridge, cross over the bridge
Change your reckless way o'livin', cross over the bridge
Leave you fickle past behind you and true romance will find you
Brother, cross over the bridge

I know it isn't easy to resist temptation's call
But think of how your broken heart will hurt you when you fall
Cause some day you will find that you are hopelessly in love
And she'll belong to someone else as sure as stars above

Cross over the bridge, cross over the bridge
Change your reckless way o'livin', cross over the bridge
Leave you fickle past behind you and true romance will find you
Brother, cross over the bridge

Cross over the bridge

All comments from YouTube:

@margaretkowalkowski5653

35w↑1

Just heard this beautiful song on Sirius XM radio absolutely 💯💯💯💯 beautiful!! Thanks for sharing this timeless classic!!❤❤❤❤

@lucien353

2y↑6

My dad was an old school military veteran and never listened to much music but I’ve always been a music lover. One day last year he and I were listening to music at my house and having some drinks. I asked him if he had any requests. He said no. I said are you sure? He then said well there is one, and it was this one. I had never heard it before. He was so stoked to hear it again. He died a few months later and now I play this song every now and then to remind me of him and that night. 🙏

@cjwehner

4y↑18

I loved to sing this song when I was 3 or 4. My favorite misheard lyric: "leave your pickle pants behind you".

@coor0kun

4y↑3

Best thing I’ve read all day 🤣

@johnlangford3905

3y↑3

Hilarious

@jaymaloney8321

3y↑4

I was about the same age then, and I, too, believed the lyrics were the same. You may recall that this was also on the early TV variety show "Your Hit Parade". Week after week. It's how I learned the song.

@stephendavidbailey2743

3y↑3

Me too!

@brubun

2y↑3

@@jaymaloney8321 I love your funny post

@sheilakasper7997

5y↑15

I love her songs and her wonderful way.She was a good friend and she will live forever in the hearts of those that loved her.

@emmanuelmcneil9153

5y↑4

Yes this my favorite song from Patti Page a very beautiful woman. Thank you Patti Page for your music. RIP Ms.Patti

@carlhoffman1744

5y↑13

Like others below, I sang along with this song as a very young boy. To my 3 year-old ears, she said "pickle pack," not "fickle past," which my parents thought was hilarious

@chantal80322

5y↑3

I was 3 also and sang those lyrics as "pickle patch." My parents were similarly amused.

@bisonette5

2y↑1

I thought it was PICKLE too! lol

@bettieupton2168

My high school music teacher scheduled me to sing for different events. She was my accompanist.
This is one of the songs I sang for our unwed County School Superintendent’s birthday party at The Optimist Club.
He loved it!!
This was in 1955!

@almanook3005

4y↑5

In her heyday, she sold more records than her contemporaries. Her "Tennessee Waltz", was for decades, the bestselling record after Bing Crosby's "White Christmas". And, ironically, she had been assigned a song to record for the Christmas holidays by Mercury Records. It was titled, "Boogie Woogie Santa Claus"; not a bad recording that had Mercury execs feeling they had a hit. So they needed a "B" side, and a search was conducted. Patti remembered a huge country hit of a few years before. It was called "Tennessee Waltz". The rest is history!

@bpabustan

3y↑1

Ms. Clara Ann Fowler... you will never be forgotten

@kendallbechtel759

5y↑4

Wow, what a Beautiful Voice, Lady and Message!

@bisonette5

5y↑4

My very favorite song when I was a very young boy. I sang along each time I heard it on the record player (it was a 78 rpm).

@richardevans9003

Apparently my mother couldn't escape this song during a summer holiday trip to a resort in Florida in 1954. Drove her crazy! 😄

@davidpike6777

4y↑4

Love this song. Have it on a 78rpm Record, and 45rpm Record.
The sound quality on the Vinyl 45rpm Record, is like the sound
coming out of a jukebox. Rich base tones, and voice enhanced by Treble.

@savedatlast3867

5y↑7

TALENTED AND VERY PRETTY Thanks from,Keith

@cristofarosaraceno1313

4y↑2

My favorite patti page song.

@davidberry129

When I was little our preacher, Mac Layton, was married to Clara’s sister Peggy. She had a rich, gorgeous singing voice too!

@deefaye7336

5y↑1

I sang this as well as a little girl, but according to my brother replaced fickle past with "pickled past". Loved this lovely ladies music, still do.

@claudiov5554

nice

@flamencoprof

I have a YT playlist of seminal sounds from my musical life. This is the very first entry, as the earliest memory I have of hearing a song on the radio. Maybe age 4 or 5. I don't know how long a 1954 USA release would have taken to get on the radio here in NZ.

@stephenharper11

3y↑1

I use this song as one to sing with my young autistic friend when a life change comes up. Like elementary to middle school. Pretty scary! Then, middle to high school. Wow! And now. In 2022, grad hIgh school as AN ADULT! Changes are just like crossing over a bridge,,a bridge, see.

@suereams1904

49w

I was a little girl listening to this song and Dad explained the new technique of overdubbing. So I thought this was the first overdubbed song ever.
On no, first there was Les Paul and Mary Ford.

@danielcruz8347

Cross over the Confounded Bridge!!

@Goibniu001

2y↑2

@CPorter

5y↑1

I usually find my way here myself, But i came here by VictrolaJazz. He says at 0:37 it sounds like Page says "Change Your record squiggly wiggly!"

@loisraymcinnis6006

Sweet truth hey.

@loisraymcinnis6006

10:37 PM THUR 11-AUG-2022.

@loisraymcinnis6006

14-Oct-2022.

@ChrisJones-ij3xp

2y↑1

Love this! Did strippers use this back in the day? Sounds like music to peel to.

@johnathanalexander7366

🧐

@piehound

4y↑3

I can honestly say she's not singing about me. A lifelong bachelor. Stopped dating about 30 (or more) years ago. And BTW i'm not gay. I have no desire for men.