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.
Many Years Ago
Ray Price Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Then a dark cloud came from out of nowhere and the sun went down no more to shine
Many tears ago I learned too well love what it means to bear a heavy load
I found out just what has meant by sorrow many tears ago along life's road
Many tears ago I built a castle built it very strong and very tall
Though I thought it had a firm foundation many tears ago I saw it fall
Many times I've wished that I would die love better to be dead than feel so low
Many tears ago you called me darling in my dreams I hear you say it now
I can almost feel your arms around me arms that never meant to keep the vow
Many tears ago 'twas in the springtime when you said goodbye and went away
Oh how well this aching heart remembers many many tears ago today
The lyrics of "Many Tears Ago" by Ray Price and The Cherokee Cowboys depicts the pain of lost love and the inability to move on from the memories. The song begins with happy memories of love and the sunshine that came with it. However, the lyrics quickly turn dark as a dark cloud appears, and the sunshine disappears. The singer learned the hard way the weight of carrying a heavy emotional load, and the meaning of sorrow down life's road.
The singer then reflects on building a castle, seemingly a representation of a secure foundation, but all that effort goes to waste as it comes crashing down. The once thought indestructible foundation was no longer stable enough to uphold something beautiful.
The singer's desire for death is also expressed as the pain of lost love seems unbearable, and the memories just never fade away. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a once beautiful love now turned into a nightmare that haunts the singer. The memories of calling each other "darling" and the promise to keep each other forever are still heard in the singer's dreams. But the vow was never kept, and the memories of leaving still linger.
* Ray Price's version of "Many Tears Ago" was released in 1961.
* The song was written by Webb Pierce, who initially recorded it, and Mel Tillis.
* In 1965, the song reached number six on the Billboard Hot Country Chart.
* LeAnn Rimes recorded a cover version of "Many Tears Ago" for her 1996 album, "Blue."
* The song was also covered by artists such as Jim Reeves, Anne Murray, and The Statler Brothers.
* The lyrics of the song were inspired by Webb Pierce's love life.
* Ray Price recorded the song with his band, The Cherokee Cowboys.
* Many Tears Ago was Ray Price's twelfth Top Ten hit.
* Ray Price's version was considered the best amongst other covers and is a classic country song.
* In 2021, the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
Chords:
The chords for "Many Tears Ago" by Ray Price and The Cherokee Cowboys are A, D, and E.
Line by Line Meaning
Many tears ago you said you love me oh how happy was this heart of mine
Long ago, you expressed your love for me, which made my heart exult with joy.
Then a dark cloud came from out of nowhere and the sun went down no more to shine
Suddenly, a gloom appeared, blocking the light of happiness, casting a shadow that never lifted.
Many tears ago I learned too well love what it means to bear a heavy load
In the past, I came to fully comprehend the burden of love's sorrow.
I found out just what has meant by sorrow many tears ago along life's road
I discovered sorrow's true meaning on life's difficult journey, long ago.
Many tears ago I built a castle built it very strong and very tall
In bygone days, I constructed a castle, believing it to be impervious and towering.
Though I thought it had a firm foundation many tears ago I saw it fall
Despite perceiving it to have a sturdy cornerstone, the stronghold eventually crumbled.
Many times I've wished that I would die love better to be dead than feel so low
Frequently, I longed for death since it seemed preferable to living in misery.
All I ever lived or ever hoped for left me many many tears ago
Everything that mattered, my dreams and aspirations, vanished from my life long ago, causing me great sadness.
Many tears ago you called me darling in my dreams I hear you say it now
In distant years, you used to call me dear, and now in dreams, I still hear those words.
I can almost feel your arms around me arms that never meant to keep the vow
I almost sense the embrace of the arms that could not keep the promise they made.
Many tears ago 'twas in the springtime when you said goodbye and went away
Years ago, it was during the springtime when you bid farewell and departed.
Oh how well this aching heart remembers many many tears ago today
Even now, my pained heart vividly recollects that distant time, filled with many tears.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: SCOTT WINFIELD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind