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
Sorrow on the Rocks
Porter Wagoner Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bartender, sorrow on the rocks will do
I'm tryin' to drown my troubles
So make it a double, mhm mhm mhm
The seat of my pants is slick from my barstool
And my hand's in the shape of a glass
My eyes look like a roadmap of georgia
One broken heart can do strange things
To a fellow who can't take pain
But in this hundred proof condition
I'm in no position to take her back again
So pour me sorrow on the rocks
Bartender, sorrow on the rocks will do
I'm tryin' to drown my troubles
So make it a double, mhm mhm mhm
Looks like the hair on my head ain't never met a comb
And my face is a bearded mess
My hand shakes slightly and I have to walk lightly
Or I'll weave from right to left
The music on the jukebox don't mean a thing
'Cause I'm too far gone for a song
I sure feel bad 'cause my baby ain't here and
I'm sorry that I done her wrong
So pour me sorrow on the rocks
Bartender, sorrow on the rocks will do
I'm tryin' to drown my troubles
So make it a double, mhm mhm mhm
So pour me sorrow on the rocks
Bartender, sorrow on the rocks will do
I'm tryin' to drown my troubles
So make it a double, mhm mhm mhm
In Porter Wagoner's "Sorrow on the Rocks," the singer is a man who has suffered a broken heart and is seeking reprieve in alcohol. The lyrics describe his physical appearance, which has deteriorated due to his inability to cope with the pain of his lost love. He asks the bartender for "sorrow on the rocks," a drink that will help him drown his troubles. He mentions how he is in no position to take his ex-girlfriend back, and the realization of this only causes him further heartache. The man is in such a state that even the music on the jukebox can't alleviate his pain.
The song portrays a man who is suffering deeply and has resorted to alcohol to cope with his problems. The description of his physical appearance emphasizes how his inner turmoil has manifested externally, which only serves to add to his misery. The lyrics highlight the powerlessness of the man, who knows that he cannot take back his actions, but is unable to move on.
Line by Line Meaning
Just pour me sorrow on the rocks
I want you to serve me alcohol that I can drown my sorrows in
Bartender, sorrow on the rocks will do
I specifically want a drink with ice and alcohol that will make me forget my troubles
I'm tryin' to drown my troubles
I want to forget my problems by getting drunk
So make it a double, mhm mhm mhm
Please pour me twice the amount of alcohol to make me forget my pain
The seat of my pants is slick from my barstool
I have been sitting and drinking for a while now; my clothes are damp and uncomfortable
And my hand's in the shape of a glass
I have been holding a glass for so long that my hand has molded into the shape of the cup
My eyes look like a roadmap of georgia
My eyes have veins and red patches that make them look like a road map of the state of Georgia
And it's a shame I've lost my class
I am ashamed that I have lost my dignity and composure due to my drinking
One broken heart can do strange things
A broken heart can affect a person's behavior in unexpected ways
To a fellow who can't take pain
Someone who cannot handle emotional pain may resort to drinking to deal with it
But in this hundred proof condition
Being heavily drunk on strong alcohol makes it impossible for me to think clearly
I'm in no position to take her back again
I cannot consider reconciling with my partner while under the influence of alcohol
Looks like the hair on my head ain't never met a comb
My hair is messy and unkempt from neglecting my appearance
And my face is a bearded mess
My facial hair is untidy and untrimmed from not taking care of myself
My hand shakes slightly and I have to walk lightly
I am experiencing physical symptoms of being drunk and unsteady on my feet
Or I'll weave from right to left
I might stumble and walk unsteadily from side to side due to my drunken state
The music on the jukebox don't mean a thing
The songs playing on the Jukebox are not having any effect on me because I am too drunk to care
'Cause I'm too far gone for a song
I am too intoxicated to appreciate or enjoy the music being played
I sure feel bad 'cause my baby ain't here
I am mourning the absence of my partner whom I miss
And I'm sorry that I done her wrong
I am remorseful for having hurt my partner and caused our relationship to suffer
So pour me sorrow on the rocks
I am asking for another alcoholic drink to numb my emotions
Bartender, sorrow on the rocks will do
I am reminding the bartender of what type of drink I want, as I may not have been clear the first time
I'm tryin' to drown my troubles
I am attempting to forget about my problems and pain through excessive drinking
So make it a double, mhm mhm mhm
Please give me an extra-strong drink to make me forget even more
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Tony Moon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Scott Shea
"My eyes look-a-like a road map of Georgia." One of the greatest lines ever.
earl slot
been there done that
Lancaster Ritzy Escargot Diner
One of Porter's first 2-sided hits - BOTH great music!
Kyrikio
Please never delete this master piece❤
Arthur Rader
anime pfp on a Porter Wagoner song. I like it
earl slot
porter a legend he will never be replaced
Dale Riggs
Pure Country.
Jeff
Im 54 ....i remember Dad playing Porter.❤
Sandra Durham
Haha, he sure is in a mess, maybe his heart will heal after a few days of drowning his sorrows. Good one, thanks Bill.
James Cole
They just play this song on fm 96.3 it's a oldies