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.
Weary Blues
Ray Price Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lord, I've been waitin' too long
These blues have got me cryin'
Oh, sweet ma-a-ma, please come home.
The snow falls 'round my window
But it can't chill my heart
God knows it died the day you left
Weary blues from waitin'
Lord, I've been waitin' too long
These blues have got me cryin'
Oh, sweet ma-a-ma, please come home.
Through tears I watch young lovers
As they go strollin' by
Oh, all the things that might have been
God forgive me if I cry.
Weary blues from waitin'
Lord, I've been waitin' too long
These blues have got me cryin'
Oh, sweet ma-a-ma, please come home
The song "Weary Blues in Waitin'" by Ray Price & the Cherokee Cowboys portrays a man who has been waiting for his lover for a long time. The lyrics are filled with sorrow and desperation as the man expresses his longing for his sweetheart to come home. The opening line of the song, "Weary blues from waitin'" suggests that the singer has been waiting for a long time, and the blues have taken a toll on him. He is crying out to his lover to come home, as he is unable to bear the pain of separation any longer.
The snowfall around his window in winter is used as a metaphor, symbolizing his cold and lonely heart. He states that his heart died the day his lover left, and his dream world has fallen apart. Despite watching young lovers stroll by, he cannot help but be consumed by his grief and the thoughts of what could have been between him and his lover. He ends the song with the same plea that he begins it with, begging his lover to come home and end his pain.
Overall, "Weary Blues in Waitin'" is a poignant song about the pain of love and loss. The bluesy melody and heartbreaking lyrics combine to create a song that is both beautiful and sad.
Line by Line Meaning
Weary blues from waitin'
Feeling sad and dejected from waiting for someone or something for a long time.
Lord, I've been waitin' too long
Expressing the emotional pain caused by a prolonged wait.
These blues have got me cryin'
Feeling overwhelmed with negative emotions, such as sadness or despair.
Oh, sweet ma-a-ma, please come home.
An expression of longing for a loved one who has been away for too long.
The snow falls 'round my window
Describing the physical weather conditions that reflect the emotional state of the artist.
But it can't chill my heart
Indicating that the external conditions do not affect the singer's inner feelings.
God knows it died the day you left
A reference to the deep emotional impact of losing a loved one.
My dream world fell a part.
Describing the emotional state of the artist after losing a loved one – feeling lost and hopeless.
Through tears I watch young lovers
Experiencing the pain of watching others being happy when the artist's own happiness has been taken away.
As they go strollin' by
Describing the carefree lifestyle of the young lovers in contrast with the artist's own sadness and despair.
Oh, all the things that might have been
Reflecting on the lost opportunities and memories that the singer could have had with their loved one.
God forgive me if I cry.
Requesting forgiveness for expressing one's emotions and pain.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Hank Williams, Sr.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Richard B. Johnson
OH MY G-- What a great treasure of great music from on of the greatest ever to record a country song. Thank You for sharing such great treasures.
Tired Sleepy
These recordings from Ray during the 50's Are his best, imho. Pure gold. Thank you for sharing them.
webbjr37
Probably the best voice ever recorded,From beginning until the end, With sever styles along the way,Ray was the master
Kenny Dobbins
I love Ray too, but in my opinion Johnny Cash is the best.
Pamela Rasmussen
Thank you so much! It's wonderful to hear this.....
Wayne Sanchez
This was written, in 1952, by Hank and Ray, as they drove, to Indiana, to perform together. Ray gave the song to Ray, promising it'd bring Ray to the Opry. It didnt. Hank cut a demo of the song. MGM released the demo, as a single, six months after Hank's death. It became another Top Ten country hit for Hank.
webbjr37
Good cover of Hank Sr.Song, Both versions are great
jawja100
Hank Williams wrote this song. He let his friend Ray record it. Ray subbed for shows that Hank couldn't make. Very good friends and roomies when this was written. You can hear the sadness that was Hank.
webbjr37
Not sure who wrote the song,Just remember hearing Hank SR sing it before hearing Ray In reply 2 Patti86314
Patti86314
I thought Ray & Hank wrote this song together.