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.
If You
Ray Price Lyrics
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Of course, I'll be fine
You had to change your plans,
Oh well, I'll just change mine
But if it turns out bad
And if your nights get long
And if she makes you sad
No need, to be strong
[Chorus]
And if you ever change your mind
And find you miss those feelings that you left behind
We can give it one more try
Some magic place in time
If you ever change your mind
I guess I'd better go
You know I hate goodbyes
Let's not drag this out babe
I'll see ya 'round sometime
(Repeat Chorus)
(Bridge)
Go, don't look back
Let the heartache pass
[Chorus]
The lyrics to Ray Price's song "If You" convey a sense of understanding and acceptance towards a loved one's decision to end a relationship. The singer of the song puts on a brave face and assures the other person that they will be fine, even though their plans have to change as a result. However, the singer leaves the door open for reconciliation by telling the other person that they don't have to be strong if things don't work out with the new partner. The chorus expresses the hope that they may get back together in the future, even if they have to wait for a "magic place in time." The tone of the song is not bitter or resentful but rather wistful, suggesting that the singer still holds a flame for their lost love.
The song was written by Steve Davis and sung by Ray Price. It was released in 1980 and became one of Price's biggest hits, reaching number one on the Billboard country chart. Although the lyrics are tinged with sadness, the melody is upbeat and catchy, making it a favorite among country music fans.
Ray Price was one of the pioneers of the "Nashville Sound," a style of country music that emphasized polished production, lush arrangements, and smoother vocals. He had a career spanning seven decades and was known for hits like "Crazy Arms," "Heartaches by the Number," and "For the Good Times." Price passed away in 2013 at the age of 87, but his music continues to influence new generations of musicians.
Line by Line Meaning
Sure I understand
I comprehend what's happening between us
Of course, I'll be fine
I'll manage without you, no worries
You had to change your plans,
You had to make changes in your life
Oh well, I'll just change mine
I'll adapt myself to the situation
But if it turns out bad
If things go wrong
And if your nights get long
If you feel lonely in the nights
And if she makes you sad
If the new person in your life hurts you emotionally
No need, to be strong
You don't have to be strong all the time, it's okay to feel vulnerable
And if you ever change your mind
If you regret leaving me behind
And find you miss those feelings that you left behind
If you realize you still have feelings for me
We can give it one more try
We can attempt to rekindle our relationship
Some magic place in time
We can create a special moment for us
I guess I'd better go
I have to leave now
You know I hate goodbyes
I detest farewells
Let's not drag this out babe
Let's not make this longer than it needs to be
I'll see ya 'round sometime
I'll run into you sometime
Go, don't look back
Move forward, don't linger in the past
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JAMES D. WEATHERLY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind