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.
Detour
Patti Page Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Paid no mind to what it said
Detour, oh these bitter things I find,
Should have read
That detour sign
Headed down life's crooked road, lots of things I never knowed
Because of me not knowin', I now pine
Should have read (should have read) that detour sign
Detour, there's a muddy road ahead, detour
Paid no mind to what it said
Detour, oh these bitter things I find,
Should have read
That detour sign
When I got right to the place where it said "About Face"
I thought that all my worries were behind
But the farther I go, more sorrow I know
Should have read (should have read)
That detour sign
Detour, there's a muddy road ahead, detour
Paid no mind to what it said
Detour, oh these bitter things I find,
Should have read
That detour sign
When I got stuck in the mud all my hopes dropped with a thud
I guess that my heart strings are made of twine
Have no willpower to get from the hole that I'm in yet
Should have read (should have read) that detour sign
Detour, there's a muddy road ahead, detour
Paid no mind to what it said
Detour, oh these bitter things I find,
Should have read
That detour sign
Should have read that detour sign
Should have read that detour sign (that detour sign)
The lyrics to Patti Page's song Detour are about life's detours and how failing to heed warning signs can lead to trouble. The singer acknowledges that she did not pay attention to the "detour sign" and ended up on a "muddy road" which led to "bitter things". She then laments about the things she missed out on as a result of not knowing and not paying attention to the warning signs along the way. Furthermore, she expresses regret over not heeding such signs, which resulted in years of imprisonment, as she failed to read that "detour sign".
The song narrates an individual's journey down life's "crooked road" which was full of unknown variables, consequence and events that were disguised as blessings. This individual learns an important lesson the hard way, that ignoring warning signs could lead to disastrous outcomes. The detour sign represents our inner voice, our intuition, or even external advice that we ignorantly disregard. This song emphasizes the importance of paying attention to warning signs and listening to our intuition, even when we think we know better.
Line by Line Meaning
Detour, there's a muddy road ahead, detour
The singer warns of a difficult and challenging journey ahead so a detour is necessary.
Paid no mind to what it said
The singer didn't pay heed to warnings or take the detour.
Detour, oh these bitter things I find,
The singer regrets not taking the detour and is faced with unpleasant consequences.
Should have read
The artist acknowledges their mistake in not taking the detour.
That detour sign
The sign indicating the detour serves as a symbol of the missed opportunity.
Headed down life's crooked road, lots of things I never knowed
The singer went on the path of life without knowing what lay ahead.
Because of me not knowin', I now pine
The singer feels the consequences of their actions for not being informed.
Trouble got in the trail, spent the next 5 years in jail
The artist faced difficulty and suffered imprisonment due to their mistake.
When I got right to the place where it said "About Face"
The artist arrived where they thought they could turn things around.
I thought that all my worries were behind
The artist believed they could escape their troubles at that point.
But the farther I go, more sorrow I know
The singer's situation worsened instead of improving.
When I got stuck in the mud all my hopes dropped with a thud
The artist's situation went from bad to worse.
I guess that my heart strings are made of twine
The singer feels weak and incapable of getting out of their predicament.
Have no willpower to get from the hole that I'm in yet
The singer has lost hope and feels defeated.
Should have read that detour sign
The singer repeats the message that the detour sign represents what they should have followed.
Should have read that detour sign (that detour sign)
The artist emphasizes the importance of paying attention to the warnings given to avoid negative consequences.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: PAUL WESTMORELAND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Dana Peake
My mom sang this song on the radio way back when. She'd go around the house singing it and somehow, 55 years later, I still remember it.
John Baublit
Ala .ca
Edward Krzynowek
This really takes me back. I'd forgotten about it but saw it mentioned on Wikipedia. Officially I'm a child of the 60's and rock and roll, but this is a great old song.
Lynette Clements
Love it! My Dad used to sing it to us in the Fifties.
Susan Martin
Great singer Patti
larry ludeman
Great song👍❤️
Bill Busse
Recorded for Patti's first studio album "Folk Song Favorites". Recorded in Cincinnati Ohio. The first single from the album and also the big hit topping at No. 5 in Billboard.The album was expanded to 12 cuts (original 10 inch 33, box of 78 and 45s had a maximum of 8 songs) in the mid 50s and retitled 'Romance on the Range'.
Clyde P
1951. I remember this from childhood. There also was a country version in 1946 when I was probably too small to remember.
Jane Murphey
Clyde it was sung by Hank Thompson 👍
Nammy Deplume
I first heard it driving with my grandfather in about 1951. We were driving back from Manning, Alberta to Berwyn, Alberta.