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
What Ain't to Be Just Might Happen
Porter Wagoner Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Gonna look on the lonely days a little bit brighter
My heart's been throwed around it ain't done enough laughin'
What is to be will be what ain't to be just might happen
It don't do no good to worry none
Just turns your hair gray while you're still young
Love can make you sing start your hands a clappin'
What is to be will be what ain't to be just might happen
You can't never tell when love might find you
Could be miles away or right beside you
Some makes you hurt real bad some makes you happy
What is to be will be what ain't to be just might happen
It don't do no good...
( ac.guitar )
I had a love one time sent me out on a ledge
Fourteen stories high standin' on the edge
I don't want that kind no more to start my world a crackin'
What is to be will be what ain't to be just might happen
It don't do no good...
What is to be will be what ain't to be just might happen
In the song What Ain't to Be Just Might Happen, Porter Wagoner encourages living life a little bit lighter by looking at the lonely days brighter. He talks about how his heart has been thrown around and he hasn't laughed enough, but he has learned not to worry too much about what's to come. He sings about how love can come unexpectedly, making you either hurt or happy, and that we never know when it might find us. Wagoner reflects on a past love that almost drove him to the edge and how he doesn't want that kind of love anymore, preferring to let things happen as they will.
The lyrics encourage the listener to live in the present and to not worry about what the future may hold. Porter Wagoner urges the audience to look at the brighter side of things and to accept the twists and turns that life presents. The song suggests that sometimes what we think should happen does not, but what we least expect just might.
Line by Line Meaning
I've learned to live my life just a little bit lighter
I've started living my life with a bit more ease and not taking everything so seriously
Gonna look on the lonely days a little bit brighter
I'm going to try to see the positive in tough times and not let them get me down
My heart's been throwed around it ain't done enough laughin'
My heart has been through a lot of pain and sorrow, but I haven't had enough moments of joy and laughter
What is to be will be what ain't to be just might happen
I understand that some things are out of my control, but unexpected things might happen in my favor
It don't do no good to worry none
Worrying doesn't change anything for the better
Just turns your hair gray while you're still young
Worrying can cause unnecessary stress and can age you prematurely
Love can make you sing start your hands a clappin'
Love has the power to bring joy and happiness to your life
You can't never tell when love might find you
Love can come to you at any moment, unexpectedly and without warning
Could be miles away or right beside you
Love can be around you, even if you don't realize it, and it might not be geographically tied to you
Some makes you hurt real bad some makes you happy
Love has the power to bring pain and joy, and it's impossible to predict how it will turn out
I had a love one time sent me out on a ledge
I had a love once that pushed me to the brink, to a dangerous place
Fourteen stories high standin' on the edge
I was in a very precarious and dangerous situation because of that love
I don't want that kind no more to start my world a crackin'
I don't want a love that will bring chaos and destruction to my life again
What is to be will be what ain't to be just might happen
I'm accepting that fate might play a part in things, but I'm also open to good things happening unexpectedly
Contributed by Savannah B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Dirty Laundry
I know it sounds silly but this song has been stuck in my head most of my life. My dad had the album. It just reminds me to prepare for the worst and pray to merciful God for the best.
Eva Lehde
We had the record when I was little. I have used that line a lot in life, “What is to be will be, what ain’t to be just might happen.”
Pecos45
What a great song. Man, they don't write 'em like this anymore.
BoBinkle WvK
such an amazing "feel good" song! ! !
TheSkyeRyder
Sent to me this morning by a very good friend, and if ever someone needed to listen to this song...it would be today and it would be me. A big long distance hug coming your way Bob. Thank you!
Clifford Lenard
Great song loved Porters Music
Sean Ingram
THIS is Country Music right here :)
Rick Keogh
Great --- steel work is impeccable!
Iraida Ginebra-Groero
why can't I share this on FB/
Judy Ashby
True