His first band, The Blue Ridge Boys, performed on radio station KWPM from a butcher shop in his native West Plains, Missouri where Wagoner cut meat. Wagoner's big break came in 1951, when he was hired as a performer by station KWTO in Springfield, Missouri. This led to a contract with RCA Records. With lagging sales, Wagoner and his trio played schoolhouses for the gate proceeds.
In 1953, his song entitled "Trademark" became a hit for Carl Smith, followed by a few hits of his own on RCA. He was a featured performer on ABC's Ozark Jubilee and moved to Nashville and joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1957.
Wagoner was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2002. His 81 charted records include "Satisfied Mind" (#1, 1955), “Misery Loves Company” (#1, 1962), “I've Enjoyed As Much of This As I Can Stand” (#7, 1962–1963), “Sorrow on the Rocks” (#5, 1964), “Green, Green Grass of Home” (#4, 1965), “Skid Row Joe” (#3, 1965–1966), “The Cold Hard Facts of Life” (#2, 1967), and “The Carroll County Accident” (#2, 1968–1969). Among his hit duets with Dolly Parton were a cover of Tom Paxton's "The Last Thing on My Mind" (1967), "We'll Get Ahead Someday" (1968), "Just Someone I Used To Know" (1969), "Better Move it on Home" (1971), "Please Don't Stop Loving Me" (#1, 1974) and "Making Plans" (#2, 1980). He also won three Grammy Awards for gospel recordings.
The Porter Wagoner Show ran on syndicated television from 1960 to 1981. There were 686 thirty minute episodes filmed, the first 104 being shot in black and white, the remainder in color. At its peak, it was featured in over 100 markets, with an average viewership of over three million. Reruns of the program currently air on the rural cable network RFD-TV.
Wagoner brought James Brown to the Grand Ole Opry, produced a rhythm & blues album for Joe Simon, and appeared in the Clint Eastwood film Honkytonk Man. [1] During the mid 1980s, Wagoner formed an all girl group called The Right Combination which was named after one of Porter and Dolly Parton's hit records. He also hosted "Opry Backstage" during the 1990s on The Nashville Network where he interviewed guests. Though Parton's departure caused some animosity on both sides, the two reconciled in the late 1980s and have appeared together a number of times in the years since; Parton inducted Wagoner into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2002.
Wagoner made a guest appearance on the HBO comedy series Da Ali G Show, being interviewed by the fictional character Borat, in its second season.
On July 14, 2006, Wagoner was hospitalized and underwent surgery for an abdominal aneurysm.
Wagoner was honored on May 19, 2007 at the Grand Ole Opry for both his fifty years of membership and his 80th birthday. This was telecast on GAC's Grand Ole Opry Live that day with artists such as Stuart, Parton, and Patty Loveless. Grand Ole Opry Live host Nan Kelley was part of the birthday celebration as well.
On June 05, 2007, Wagoner released his final album called Wagonmaster. The album was produced by Marty Stuart for the Anti-label. This album received the best reviews ever in Porter's career and briefly charted on the country charts.
Wagoner also toured during the summer of 2007 to promote the album. One of these was opening for the rock group The White Stripes at a sold-out concert at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Wagoner's publicist Darlene Bieber announced on October 19, 2007 that the singer had been hospitalized and was in very serious condition. WSMV-TV reported that Wagoner was admitted earlier that week for observation from an illness. Bieber gave no further information but said that the country star was asking for prayers from his family and fans.
On October 21, 2007, his publicist confirmed that Wagoner had been diagnosed with lung cancer.
On October 26, 2007, Porter was released into hospice care. He died two days later in Nashville, Tennessee. Wagoner's funeral was held on November 1, 2007 at the Grand Ole Opry House followed by interrment at the Woodlawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Nashville.
Up until his illness and death, he appeared regularly on the Grand Ole Opry and toured actively.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Burning Bridges
Porter Wagoner Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They told of the love we once knew
Now they're gone I burned them to ashes
Don't want nothing to remind me of you
Burning bridges behind me
It's too late to turn back now
Burning bridges behind me
Sold the house we once planned together
Said goodbye to the folks we once knew
Then I moved to a far away city
Tried so hard to forget about you
Burning bridges behind me
It's too late to turn back now
Burning bridges behind me
All I want is to forget you somehow
The lyrics of Porter Wagoner's song Burning Bridges describe a narrator who is attempting to move on from a past relationship by consciously destroying their connection to it. The song opens with the singer finding letters from their past lover that remind them of their former love. In an act of desperation, the singer burns the letters "to ashes," vowing to have "nothing to remind me of you." The chorus emphasizes the singer's resolve to move forward, not back: "Burning bridges behind me / It's too late to turn back now / Burning bridges behind me / All I want is to forget you somehow."
The second verse gives further insight into the singer's efforts to distance themselves from their past life with their former partner. They sold the house they had planned together, said goodbye to friends and family, and moved far away in an attempt to leave behind the memories of their failed relationship. The repeated chorus underscores the painful struggle the singer is facing as they strive to let go of their past and focus on moving forward.
Line by Line Meaning
Found some letters you wrote me this morning
I recently discovered letters that you wrote me in the past
They told of the love we once knew
These letters reminded me of our past love and experiences together
Now they're gone I burned them to ashes
I destroyed these letters as I don't want to hold onto them and be reminded of our past
Don't want nothing to remind me of you
I am trying to move on from our past and don't want any reminders of our relationship
Burning bridges behind me
I am cutting ties and severing my connections with my past, especially with my past relationship with you
It's too late to turn back now
I have made a decision to move forward and there is no looking back
All I want is to forget you somehow
All I desire is to forget about you and our past relationship
Sold the house we once planned together
I sold the house that we had intended to live in together
Said goodbye to the folks we once knew
I have also said farewell to the people we both used to know
Then I moved to a far away city
I relocated to a distant city to start afresh and leave behind my past and memories of you
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Walter Scott
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
musicmandon1
I heard this on a Glen Campbell album my mom had, and wondered who had made a hit with it. I guess I know now. A natural for Porter Wagoner.
Rhoda wurgler
I didn't know Porter had recorded this song. great. Miss you Porter