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
Skid Row Joe
Porter Wagoner Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Last night that's who I found in the dirty part of town
Lost forgotten with no place to go
Tormented with a bitter taste outcast by the human race
A mask of torture was the face of Skid Row Joe
He walked up to where I stood on the street
Said, "Pardon me Mister now don't get me wrong, I don't want your money
But you see this is my home and you see the other bar down the street
Well, that's my home too
I noticed you starin' at me a while ago, you recognized me didn't you?"
I said, "Yeah Joe, I know who you are
You was one time a real famous singing star one of my favorites"
He said, "Well I guess you heard they took my babies away from me"
I said, "Yeah Joe, I, I read about it in the papers"
Then he turned his head away and I saw the tears fall in the place
And he turned to me and he said, "You know Mister
This is the only place in the world that I'm not ashamed to show my face
But I'm gonna quit, yes sir, I'm gonna quit
And I'm gonna shave and comb my hair, and get me a clean white shirt
Then I'm gonna walk up to her door
When she answers I'm gonna stand up real proud and tall
Then I'm gonna get on my knees
And I'll say, 'sweetheart, if you'll take me back
I'll spend the rest of my life makin' up to you for what I've done
I'm so ashamed of myself and this I want you to know'
Then I'm gonna take my two little babies and I'm gonna hold 'em so close to me
I ain't gonna never let 'em go"
I guess I should've told him then that she'd already remarried again
But after hearin' what he'd said to me
Why there wasn't no way I could add to his misery
So I said good luck, my best to you, Skid Row Joe
The song "Skid Row Joe" by Porter Wagoner tells the story of a once-famous singer who has fallen on hard times and become a homeless man living in the "dirty part of town." The character of Skid Row Joe is tormented by his situation and "outcast by the human race." The singer encounters Skid Row Joe on the street and recognizes him as a former singing star. Skid Row Joe reveals that his children have been taken away from him, and he plans to clean himself up and try to win back his lover and children. The singer doesn't have the heart to tell Skid Row Joe the truth that his lover has already remarried, so he wishes him good luck and leaves him to his dreams.
The song speaks to the human condition of hardship, loss, and regret. Skid Row Joe is a character who has fallen from a great height and is grappling with the aftermath of his actions. He is trying to reconcile with his past and make amends for his mistakes. However, the world has moved on without him, and his efforts may prove to be in vain. The singer's decision not to tell Skid Row Joe the truth about his lover's remarriage is a display of empathy for his situation. He chooses not to add to Skid Row Joe's misery and instead wishes him luck, hoping that he will find some peace and happiness in his dreams.
Line by Line Meaning
Skid Row Joe
Introducing the subject of the song
Last night that's who I found in the dirty part of town
The singer describes where he found Skid Row Joe
Lost forgotten with no place to go
Skid Row Joe is homeless and alone
Tormented with a bitter taste outcast by the human race
He is suffering and rejected by society
A mask of torture was the face of Skid Row Joe
He wears his pain on his face for all to see
He walked up to where I stood on the street
Skid Row Joe approaches the singer on the street
Said, "Pardon me Mister now don't get me wrong, I don't want your money
Joe clarifies that he is not asking for money
Though Heaven knows I could use it
Joe admits that he is in need
But you see this is my home and you see the other bar down the street
Joe identifies the area as his home
Well, that's my home too
He reveals that he frequents another nearby establishment
I noticed you starin' at me a while ago, you recognized me didn't you?"
Joe realizes the singer recognized him
I said, "Yeah Joe, I know who you are
The artist confirms that he knows Joe's background
You was one time a real famous singing star one of my favorites
The singer remembers admiring Joe's music in the past
He said, "Well I guess you heard they took my babies away from me"
Joe brings up the traumatic event of losing his children
I said, "Yeah Joe, I, I read about it in the papers"
The singer confirms that he knows the details of Joe's tragedy
Then he turned his head away and I saw the tears fall in the place
The artist observes Joe's emotional response
And he turned to me and he said, "You know Mister
Joe opens up to the artist
This is the only place in the world that I'm not ashamed to show my face
Joe feels comfortable in this rough environment
But I'm gonna quit, yes sir, I'm gonna quit
Joe expresses his desire to change his life
And I'm gonna shave and comb my hair, and get me a clean white shirt
He plans to clean up his appearance
Then I'm gonna walk up to her door
Joe reveals his ultimate goal
When she answers I'm gonna stand up real proud and tall
Joe wants to appear confident
Then I'm gonna get on my knees
He plans to express his remorse and vulnerability
And I'll say, 'sweetheart, if you'll take me back
Joe rehearses what he will say to his ex-partner
I'll spend the rest of my life makin' up to you for what I've done
He promises to make amends for his mistakes
I'm so ashamed of myself and this I want you to know'
Joe acknowledges his guilt and wishes to be forgiven
Then I'm gonna take my two little babies and I'm gonna hold 'em so close to me
He dreams of reuniting with his children
I ain't gonna never let 'em go"
Joe is determined to keep his family close
I guess I should've told him then that she'd already remarried again
The artist realizes an obstacle in Joe's plan
But after hearin' what he'd said to me
The singer empathizes with Joe's pain
Why there wasn't no way I could add to his misery
The singer decides not to add to Joe's burdens
So I said good luck, my best to you, Skid Row Joe
The artist wishes Joe well
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Freddie Hart
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Queen C
No one can make a story into a song like Porter
Orbie Olsson
One of the best country singers. He left us much too soon. Such a sad song but I love it.
paulh9018
ONLY Porter could make a record like this sound 100% sincere and heartfelt and not trite and corny. That was his unique gift. Hank Williams came close and Hank Snow occasionally, did but no one had the masterly touch with a recitation that old Pro had. He is of course greatly missed by us all, but fortunately I have every one of his LPs I know of, (about 100 I guess) so I can get high on real country music any time I want to!
SHIRLEY McKENNA
True hun
Roy Skillen
THIS IS REAL COUNTRY MUSIC NOT THE CRAP THEY PLAY TODAY GOD BLESS PORTER I BET THE GOOD LORD WILL BE AT HIS GRAND OLD OPERY WITH ALL THE GREATS THIS MUSIC WILL NEVER BE LOST
Sonny Dave
No music like the traditional old country.Good to have youtube to keep it "alive".
SkidRowJim
Written by Freddie (easy loving) Hart. Released at the end of 1965. Charted # 3. Lost forgotten with no place to go. Tormented with a bitter taste. Outcast by the human race. A mask of torture was the face of .... I think we all can relate to that. "Good Luck And My Very Best To You" .....SkidRowJim
Eugene Horner
Porter Wagoner and Hank Williams Sr. were two of the best doing risatations
Theresa C
Wow that was a tear jerker if I ever heard one. Love porter he was good.
Edgar C. Price
Now here is a man that God has bless the gift of singing and the most important thing is he could do a fine job on recitations. Potter Waganer was famous just that. Amen