In the early 1960s, Don Williams and Lofton Kline performed together in the Corpus Christi area as a duo called The Strangers Two. At the same time, Susan Taylor was a student at W.B. Ray High School who had performed with a group of musicians known as the Corpus Christi Folk Music Society. Taylor began a musical association with another student, Michael Merchant. In the fall of 1964, Merchant headed off to college, leaving Taylor behind to start her senior year of high school. Taylor met Williams and Kline when the latter were performing at a hootenanny at Del Mar College. Learning that they had compatible musical tastes and harmonized well, they decided to form a trio. Inspired by an oil field term denoting a dry well (Taylor's then-boyfriend was a geologist), they called themselves the "Pozo-Seco Singers."
During Christmas break in 1964, Merchant returned home and introduced the newly formed trio to a song he had recently written, called "Time." The group soon cut the track on a local record label, Edmark Records. Featuring wistful vocals by Taylor, the record soon become a regional hit in the San Antonio market, and then across Texas. Columbia Records signed the three and released the song nationally, peaking at #47 on the Hot 100 charts in April 1966. More impressively, "Time" peaked at #3 on Billboard's Easy Listening chart. A second single, "I'll Be Gone," (also penned by Merchant with lead vocals by Taylor) stalled at #92 on the Hot 100 and #34 on the Easy Listening chart two months later. Both tracks were included on the group's debut album, Time, which was released in the summer of 1966 and peaked at #127 on the Billboard 200.
The well-received Time album and singles paved the way for even more commercial success for the group. In August 1966, the Pozo-Seco Singers debuted their new single, the Chip Taylor ballad "I Can Make It With You." Although Jackie DeShannon released a competing version of this song at the same time, the Pozo-Seco Singers' version, with Williams on lead vocals, quickly became the more popular offering, peaking at #32 in October 1966, becoming the group's first Top 40 hit. (DeShannon's version stalled at #68.) In December, Columbia launched their new single, "Look What You've Done," along with their second album, I Can Make It With You. "Look What You've Done," with Williams and Taylor sharing lead vocals, reached #32 - just as its predecessor single had done - on the Hot 100 in February 1967. On the strength of two Top 40 hits, I Can Make It With You reached as high as #81 on the Billboard 200 in the spring of 1967.
Kline left the group after I Can Make It With You was recorded, due to both friction with the group's producer, Bob Johnston, and being tired of constant touring. Kline was replaced by veteran folk singer Ron Shaw, who toured with the group and recorded with them on several singles following I Can Make It With You. One of the songs Shaw introduced to the group was "I Believed It All," which instantly became popular in concert. The trio wanted to record it as a single. Johnston vetoed the group and had it released as the B-side of a song Johnston had written and had them cut, called "Excuse Me, Dear Martha." "Excuse Me, Dear Martha" stalled at #102 on the singles charts in March 1967. A number of disc jockeys began flipping the single to play the group's preferred track, "I Believed It All." Lacking any promotion, "I Believed It All" peaked at #96 in May 1967. Despite the hurdles it faced, it became a surprise hit on the Billboard Easy Listening chart, reaching as high as #8 in the spring of 1967. The group recorded several additional singles in 1967, including "Morning Dew" (b/w "It's Alright") and "Louisiana Man" (b/w "Tomorrow Proper"). "Louisiana Man" somehow managed to briefly nuzzle its way into the Hot 100 charts at #97 in September 1967.
In 1968, the group released its third album, Shades Of Time, under the name "Pozo Seco." Having tired of creative differences with Johnston, the group recorded the album under producer Elliot Mazer. By this time, Pozo Seco had been reduced to a duo consisting of Taylor and Williams, backed by a Canadian band called The Paupers. Columbia made few efforts to promote either the album or its lead-off single, "The Renegade," and neither charted. The duo returned to the studio to make additional recordings under producer Billy Sherrill, and although several singles resulted from those sessions in 1969, none made a commercial impact.
Taylor and Williams left Columbia in the fall of 1969, having grown impatient with that label's failure to properly promote their material. The duo signed with a smaller label, Certron Records, and released their fourth album, Spend Some Time With Me, in early 1970. Though a characteristically strong offering, the album failed to chart. Taylor later remembered that the album was also the victim of poor timing, as the Kent State shootings in May 1970 took the air out of the folk movement. With the duo reduced to playing in increasingly small venues, they decided to part ways. Even though the group was defunct, Pozo Seco managed a final hit it November 1970, when its medley of The Beatles' "Strawberry Fields" and "Something" briefly appeared on the Bubbling Under chart.
Taylor recorded a solo album in 1972 and focused on songwriting for JMI Music. A successful songwriter, later going by the name "Taylor Pie," her songs were recorded by artists such as Tanya Tucker, The Lewis Family, John Conlee, The Forester Sisters, Mickey Gilley, and Bette Midler. Shaw, with brother Rick, helped form the popular commercial folk group, The Hillside Singers, famous for their song, "I'd Like To Teach the World To Sing." Don Williams subsequently went on to a highly successful solo career in country music. Notably, some of his first country singles on the JMI label were produced with Taylor's help.
Johnny
Pozo-Seco Singers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Daddy's comin' through the meadow
What's that he's holdin in his hand?
Johnny it looks like a present
For you, daddy's bringing home
A present for his little man
Johnny, Johnny run and meet him
Show him your happy that he's home
Give him your little baby kisses
So that he may know that this is
His darlin' son, his very own
Johhny peep into the sack
Get ready for your thrill
What has daddy brought you back?
It's a little bird, layin' still
Johnny hush your cryin'
Little birds can't fly from dyin'
Loveliness is powerless to say
You will learn as you grow older
Days grow shorter, nights get colder
The web of time entangles and enslaves
Jonnny listen carefully
Our debts must all be paid
Beauty would not beauty be
If it did not fade
Johnny don't be a mornin'
Let the bluebird be your wornin'
Enjoy the word, enjoy it while you may
Each moment that your heart is beating
Time is passing, time is fleetindg
Live your life, live it, every day
So live your life Jonny live it
Every day
The song "Johnny" by Pozo-Seco Singers is a touching narrative about the bond between a father and his son, and how the latter learns to appreciate every moment of his life. The lyrics encourage Johnny to run to the window to greet his father, who is shown to be holding a present for him. The song conveys how Johnny is overwhelmed with excitement and love for his father, and he is urged to give him baby kisses to show how happy he is that he's home. Johnny is seen as a young, innocent child who receives his father's present with great anticipation, but when he sees what is inside, it is a little bird, laying still. Johnny cries and is comforted by the father's words that "loveliness is powerless to say" as he explains that things grow old and beauty fades away. However, in the end, the song takes a positive turn where Johnny is urged to enjoy his life completely and live each day to the fullest.
The song is a poignant reminder of the fragility of life and how important it is to cherish every moment. The lyrics hit hard and engage you emotionally, painting a vivid picture of a son's love for his father, and the father's attempts to teach his son about the harsh realities of life. The song conveys an inspiring message about living life in the moment, and the importance of not taking anything for granted.
Line by Line Meaning
Johnny run to the window
Johnny, hurry up and run to the window
Daddy's comin' through the meadow
Johnny's father is walking through the meadow and coming home
What's that he's holdin in his hand?
Johnny wonders what his father is holding in his hand
Johnny it looks like a present
Johnny thinks that it looks like a present
For you, daddy's bringing home
It is a gift for Johnny that his father is bringing home
Johnny, Johnny run and meet him
Johnny, run to your father to greet him
Run laughing to you father greet him
Run happily towards your father with a smile to greet him
Show him your happy that he's home
Show your father that you are happy he is home
Give him your little baby kisses
Give him sweet little kisses to show affection
So that he may know that this is
This is his darling son
His darlin' son, his very own
Johnny is his precious son
Johhny peep into the sack
Johnny peeked inside the sack
Get ready for your thrill
Get ready to be excited
What has daddy brought you back?
Wonder what father has brought him back?
It's a little bird, layin' still
It is a bird that is not moving
Johnny hush your cryin'
Johnny, stop crying
Little birds can't fly from dyin'
Little birds can't fly if they are dead
Loveliness is powerless to say
Beauty cannot explain what it is
You will learn as you grow older
As you age, you will realize
Days grow shorter, nights get colder
Days become shorter as nights become colder
The web of time entangles and enslaves
Time can trap and control us
Jonnny listen carefully
Johnny, listen closely
Our debts must all be paid
We must pay back what we owe, one way or another
Beauty would not beauty be
Something that is beautiful would not remain beautiful forever
If it did not fade
If it did not lose its charm over time
Johnny don't be a mornin'
Johnny, don't be sad
Let the bluebird be your wornin'
Be warned by the bluebird
Enjoy the word, enjoy it while you may
Enjoy the world while you can
Each moment that your heart is beating
Every moment your heart is pumping
Time is passing, time is fleetindg
Time is fleeting and will pass by quickly
Live your life, live it, every day
Live your life every day as if it's your last
So live your life Jonny live it
So, live your life, Johnny, live it!
Every day
Every single day, make it count.
Contributed by Arianna S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.