Foley was born in Blue Lick, Kentucky. He began playing the guitar and the harmonica as a young boy and at age seventeen he won first prize in a statewide talent show. Ultimately he signed with Decca Records in 1941. His hit songs include Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy, Old Shep, Sugarfoot Rag, and Tennessee Saturday Night. Peace in the Valley, backed up by The Sunshine Boys, in 1951 became the first gospel record to sell a million copies, and One By One, a duet with Kitty Wells, became a chart topper in 1954.
For more than two decades, Foley was a major star of country music, selling in excess of twenty-five million records. During 1962-63, Foley was a regular cast member along with Fess Parker in the television series, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.
Red Foley was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1967. For his contribution to the music industry, Red Foley also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6225 Hollywood Blvd.
He died unexpectedly in 1968 in Fort Wayne, Indiana at the age of fifty-eight from a heart attack. He is interred in the Woodlawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Nashville, Tennessee.
His daughter from his second marriage to Judy Martin (nee: Eva Alaine Overstake) is Shirley Lee Foley who is married to singer Pat Boone. His granddaughter is singer Debby Boone.
midnight
Red Foley Lyrics
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Midnight, tomorrow is on it's way, empty and blue
I'm so lonely, so lonely at midnight for you
Midnight, oh what a lonely time to weep, I ought to know
Midnight, I should have been fast asleep hours ago
Still I'm crying, I'm crying 'cause I miss you so
Wonderin', wonderin' why you don't care, wishing you'd call
Tears keep flowing like drops from a waterfall
Midnight, I've spent another lonely day, thinkin' of you
Midnight, tomorrow is on it's way, empty and blue
I'm so lonely, so lonely at midnight for you
In "Midnight," Red Foley sings about the emptiness and longing he feels in the middle of the night as he thinks about a lost love. The song paints a clear picture of the loneliness that can often accompany us in our most solitary moments. The repetition of the word "midnight" serves to emphasize the timelessness and nearly existential nature of these feelings, as if Foley is trapped in a cycle of despair with no escape in sight.
Throughout the song, Foley touches on themes of regret, isolation, and heartbreak, all of which are hallmarks of classic country music. His vocals lend a great deal of authenticity to the lyrics, making it clear that this is a personal and deeply felt experience. In a sense, "Midnight" is a great example of the timeless nature of country music, which always seems to capture the universal feelings we all share in our most vulnerable moments.
Line by Line Meaning
Midnight, I've spent another lonely day, thinkin' of you
I have spent my entire day all alone and missing you, with the night approaching.
Midnight, tomorrow is on it's way, empty and blue
It's midnight and another day is about to start, but without you it will be an empty and sad one.
I'm so lonely, so lonely at midnight for you
I am terribly lonely, especially at midnight when everything is quiet and still, and I wish you were here with me.
Midnight, oh what a lonely time to weep, I ought to know
Midnight is such a sad and lonesome time to cry, and I know it all too well.
Midnight, I should have been fast asleep hours ago
It's already midnight, and by now I should have been asleep hours ago, but I can't stop thinking of you.
Still I'm crying, I'm crying 'cause I miss you so
I can't help but cry because of how much I miss you right now.
Midnight, I lie in bed awake and stare at nothing at all
I am laying in bed, wide awake, staring at nothing in particular and feeling alone and sad.
Wonderin', wonderin' why you don't care, wishing you'd call
I am wondering why you don't seem to care about me and hoping that you will call me soon.
Tears keep flowing like drops from a waterfall
My tears won't stop and they are flowing like a waterfall because I am so sad without you.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: B.B. KING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind