Price, born in Perryville, Texas, served with the U.S. Marines from 1944–1946, and began singing for KRBC in Abilene, Texas during 1948. He joined the Big D Jamboree in Dallas in 1949. He relocated to Nashville in the early 1950s, rooming for a brief time with Hank Williams. When Williams died, Price managed his band, the Drifting Cowboys, and had minor success. He was the first artist to have a success with the song "Release Me" (1954), a top five popular music hit for Engelbert Humperdinck in 1967.
In 1953, Price formed his band, the Cherokee Cowboys. Among its members during the late 1950s and early 1960s were; Roger Miller, Willie Nelson, Darrell McCall, Van Howard, Johnny Paycheck and Johnny Bush, Buddy Emmons, Pete Wade, Jan Kurtis, Shorty Lavender and Buddy Spicher. Miller wrote one of Ray Price's classics in 1958, "Invitation to the Blues", and sang harmony on the recording. Additionally, Nelson composed the Ray Price song "Night Life".
Price became one of the stalwarts of 1950s honky tonk music, with hit songs such as "Talk To Your Heart" (1952) and "Release Me". He later developed the famous "Ray Price Shuffle," a 4/4 arrangement of honky tonk music with a walking bassline, which can be heard on "Crazy Arms" (1956) and many of his other recordings from the late 1950s.
During the 1960s, Ray experimented increasingly with the so-called Nashville sound, singing slow ballads and utilizing lush arrangements of strings and backing singers. Examples include his 1967 rendition of "Danny Boy", and "For the Good Times" in 1970 which was Price's first country music chart No. 1 hit since "The Same Old Me" in 1959. Written by Kris Kristofferson, the song also scored No. 11 on the popular music chart and featured a mellower Price backed by sophisticated musical sounds, quite in contrast to the honky tonk sounds Price had pioneered two decades before. Price had three more No. 1 country music successes during the 1970s: "I Won't Mention It Again", "She's Got To Be A Saint", and "You're the Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me." His final top ten hit was "Diamonds In The Stars" in early 1982. Price continued to have songs on the country music chart through 1989. Later, he sang gospel music and recorded such songs as "Amazing Grace", "What A Friend We Have In Jesus", "Farther Along" and "Rock of Ages."
In 2006, Price was living near Mount Pleasant, Texas and still performing in concerts throughout the country. In 2009, Price made two performances for the Fox News show Huckabee. The first was with the Cherokee Cowboys and host Mike Huckabee, and he performed "Crazy Arms" and "Heartaches By The Number". Weeks later he performed with the Cherokee Cowboys and Willie Nelson (again with Huckabee playing bass guitar). This time they performed duets of "Faded Love" and "Crazy."
Price worked on his latest album, Last of the Breed, with fellow country music singers Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard. This album was released on March 20, 2007 by the company Lost Highway Records. The two-disc set features 20 country classics as well as a pair of new compositions. The trio toured the U.S. from March 9 until March 25 starting in Arizona and finishing in Illinois. This was Price's third album with Nelson and first album with Haggard. After the tour, Haggard remarked, "I told Willie when it was over, 'That old man gave us a goddamn singing lesson.' He really did. He just sang so good. He sat there with the mic against his chest. And me and Willie are all over the microphone trying to find it, and he found it."
On November 6, 2012, Ray Price confirmed that he was fighting pancreatic cancer. Price told the San Antonio Express-News that he had been receiving chemotherapy for the past six months. An alternative to the chemo would have been surgery that involved removing the pancreas along with portions of the stomach and liver, which would have meant a long recovery and stay in a nursing home. Said Price, "That's not very much an option for me. God knows I want to live as long as I can but I don't want to live like that." The 87-year-old Country Music Hall of Famer also told the newspaper, "The doctor said that every man will get cancer if he lives to be old enough. I don't know why I got it – I ain't old!" Price retained a positive outlook and hoped to play as many as a hundred concert dates in 2013.
As of early February 2013, the cancer appeared to be in remission. Sometime in May 2013, Price was hospitalized with severe dehydration. On December 2, 2013, Price entered a Tyler, Texas, hospital in the final stages of pancreatic cancer, according to his son, then left on December 12 for home hospice care. Price died at his home in Mt. Pleasant, Texas, on December 16, 2013.
I Love You Because
Ray Price Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're always there to lend a halping hand dear
I love you most of all because you're you
No matter what the world may say about me
I know your love will always see me through
I love you for the way you never doubt me but most of all I love you cause you're you
I love you because my heart is lighter every time I'm walking by your side
No matter what may be the style or seasons I know your heart will always be true
I love you for a hundred thousand reasons
But most of all I love you because you're you
The song "I Love You Because" by Ray Price is a heartfelt declaration of love towards his partner. The lyrics are a testament to the fact that their love is unwavering and enduring. From the start, the singer expresses his appreciation for his partner's understanding nature. He notes how she is always there to lend her assistance, which makes him feel supported and loved. The singer is in awe of his partner's love and devotion, which helps him navigate through tough times.
The chorus of the song conveys the depth of the singer's love for his partner. He cites various reasons why he loves her, from her unending love to her undoubting trust in him. The singer acknowledges that the world may judge him, but her love always sees him through. He then concludes that he loves her because of who she is- unique and special in her own way.
Overall, the song is a beautiful tribute to love, illustrating how it can heal and inspire us to be better human beings. The lyrics convey a sense of comfort, hope, and joy that comes from having a partner who loves and supports us unconditionally.
Line by Line Meaning
I love you because you understand dear every single thing I try to do
I love you because you comprehend and sympathize with every endeavor of mine, my dear
You're always there to lend a halping hand dear
You're constantly present to offer me assistance, my dear
I love you most of all because you're you
Above all else, I love you simply because of who you are
No matter what the world may say about me
Irrespective of what society utters about me
I know your love will always see me through
I am confident that your love will always provide me with the necessary support
I love you for the way you never doubt me but most of all I love you cause you're you
I love you for the trust you have in me, but above all else, I love you for simply being the person you are
I love you because my heart is lighter every time I'm walking by your side
My heart feels light and buoyant anytime I am walking beside you
I love you because my future's brighter the door to happiness you've opened wide
My future seems brighter and full of promise because you have opened the door to happiness for me
No matter what may be the style or seasons I know your heart will always be true
Regardless of the season or circumstance, I am confident that your heart will remain loyal and genuine
I love you for a hundred thousand reasons
I love you for numerous reasons, more than I can even count
But most of all I love you because you're you
Although there are numerous reasons why I love you, the main reason is simply because you are you
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Leon Payne
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind