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
Pay Day
Porter Wagoner Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's gonna be payday in Lowcane gonna take my money to town
I worked like a donkey climbed trees like a monkey
It's gonna be payday in Lowcane gonna chase all women around
Eat black eyed peas and fried banana smoke big cigar from Havana
I'll be king of Louisiana son of a gun
I'll find me a sweet little honey we'll make love till it ain't funny
Have big time till all of my money's gone
It's gonna be payday in Lowcane gonna take my money to town
Gonna chase all women around
[ guitar ]
Eat black eyed peas...
Gonna take my money to town gonna chase all women around
The lyrics of Porter Wagoner's song Pay Day paint a picture of a worker eagerly looking forward to payday. The song is a simple celebration of hard work, excitement, and indulgence. The lyrics convey the sense of freedom that comes with payday, the anticipation of a good time, and the eagerness to spend hard-earned money on simple pleasures such as black-eyed peas, fried bananas, and cigars from Havana.
The verses of the song depict the life of the singer leading up to payday. He describes himself as having worked tirelessly like a donkey and climbed trees like a monkey. He eagerly awaits payday, anticipating the chance to chase women and become the king of Louisiana. He plans to find a sweet little honey and indulge in love and fun until all his money is gone. The chorus repeats the phrase "tomorrow be payday" followed by a declaration of the singer's intention to take his money to town and chase women around.
Overall, the song is an ode to the simple pleasures in life and the joy of receiving hard-earned wages. The singer is excited about the opportunity to indulge in the pleasures of life, and his joy is contagious. The song is upbeat and celebratory, perfectly capturing the feeling of joy and hope that comes with payday.
Line by Line Meaning
Tomorrow be payday tomorrow be payday
I am eagerly awaiting payday, which is tomorrow.
It's gonna be payday in Lowcane gonna take my money to town
I will get my salary tomorrow and I plan on spending it in the town of Lowcane.
I worked like a donkey climbed trees like a monkey
I worked very hard, like a donkey does, and climbed trees in a very agile way, like a monkey would.
It's gonna be payday in Lowcane gonna chase all women around
On payday, I plan on pursuing women in the town of Lowcane.
Eat black eyed peas and fried banana smoke big cigar from Havana
I plan on eating black eyed peas, fried bananas, and smoking a large cigar from Havana.
I'll be king of Louisiana son of a gun
I will feel like royalty and be very proud of myself.
I'll find me a sweet little honey we'll make love till it ain't funny
I hope to find a lovely woman and engage in intimate activities with her for an enjoyable experience.
Have big time till all of my money's gone
I will have so much fun that I will spend all of my money.
Gonna chase all women around
I plan on pursuing many women on payday.
[ guitar ]
Instrumental interlude.
Gonna take my money to town gonna chase all women around
I will go out to town and pursue many women on payday.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Oscar Spears
This is my favorite song
Tanya Wolf
My Dad would sing this lol