Bernard was born in Opelousas, Louisiana. His parents were French-speaking Cajuns from working-class backgrounds, and as a child he imbibed the traditional Cajun French music performed in his grandfather's dancehall, the Courtableu Inn, located in nearby Port Barre, Louisiana. There he heard the music of noted Cajun musicians Aldus Roger, Papa Cairo, and Jimmy C. Newman, as well as zydeco pioneer Clifton Chenier, all of whom would exert a strong influence on Bernard's music.
Around age eight Bernard obtained his first guitar (an acoustic Gene Autry model) and around 1950 he began to perform with the Blue Room Gang, a Cajun-country troupe sponsored by local Red Bird brand sweet potatoes. During this period Bernard also hosted his own live music radio program on KSLO in Opelousas, singing Cajun and country tunes while strumming his guitar in emulation of his musical hero, Hank Williams, Sr.
In the mid-1950s, however, Bernard came under the influence of rock and roll and rhythm and blues music, especially the sounds of Fats Domino and Elvis Presley. Around 1957 he helped to form a rock 'n' roll band made up of fellow Opelousas teenagers. Calling themselves The Twisters, they recorded two singles for the obscure Carl label of Opelousas. The next year Bernard and his group recorded the sultry ballad "This Should Go On Forever" for recordman Floyd Soileau’s Jin label of Ville Platte, Louisiana. Leased to Argo Records of Chicago, the song became a national hit in 1959, propelling Bernard onto Dick Clark's American Bandstand, The Dick Clark Saturday Night Beechnut Show, and The Alan Freed Show, as well as onto tours with Jerry Lee Lewis, Frankie Avalon, Chuck Berry, and B.B. King, among others.
A follow-up single for Argo, "You're On My Mind," backed with "My Life Is A Mystery," failed to achieve the success of his initial national release. In late 1959 Bernard signed with producer Bill Hall of Beaumont, Texas, who switched the artist to Mercury Records, which unwisely replaced Bernard’s earthy swamp pop style with lush violin sections and female choruses. Only one minor hit, "One More Chance," emerged from these overproduced Nashville sessions.
Around 1962 Bernard left Mercury for Bill Hall's own Hall-Way label in Beaumont, Texas. Recording with local artists Johnny Winter and Edgar Winter, he released several notable tunes, including "Fais Do Do," "Who's Gonna Rock My Baby," and a rock 'n' roll version of the Cajun folksong "Allons Danser Colinda," the latter of which achieved national airplay and remains a regional favorite in south Louisiana and east Texas.
A stint in the U.S. Marine Corps boot camp interrupted Bernard's musical career, but after several months he returned to south Louisiana to form The Shondells (not to be confused with Tommy James' group) with fellow swamp pop musicians Warren Storm and Skip Stewart. (Bernard served in the Marine Corps Reserve from 1962 to 1968, reaching the rank of sergeant.) During the mid-1960s the group recorded several singles for the La Louisianne label of Lafayette, Louisiana, and they hosted a live dance program on KLFY-TV called "Saturday Hop." This program inspired their circa 1965 album, The Shondells at the Saturday Hop, issued on La Louisianne.
During this period Bernard recorded singles for Huey Meaux's Teardrop and Copyright labels, and for Soileau's familiar Jin label. Isolated singles appeared on the Scepter and Shelby Singleton's SSS International labels. These sessions included notable releases such as the Chuck Berry-type rocker "Recorded in England," the Cajun two-step inspired "Papa Thibodeaux," and the doleful ballad "Congratulations To You Darling."
Bernard performed infrequently during the 1970s, but returned to his roots by releasing several country and western albums, including Country Lovin’ and Nightlights And Love Songs. He also issued the album Boogie in Black and White with Clifton Chenier, considered a milestone by many because of its raucous blend of Cajun and black Creole elements. One music writer described it as "a wild and woolly rock 'n' roll set with spontaneity one normally only dreams about," while another claimed that "such a masterpiece, no doubt, spawned other 'experiments' like Wayne Toups' 'ZydeCajun' style or, perhaps, a Zachary Richard 'Zach Attack,' a similar fusion of Cajun, zydeco, and R&B."
Around 1980 he recorded an album of Fats Domino favorites for Jin, titled A Lot of Dominoes, but the masters disappeared until around 1991, when the tracks were finally released (albeit only on cassette). In 2003 he recorded his first new album in over two decades. Titled Louisiana Tradition, the compact disk appeared on the CSP label of Forney, Texas, and included several new songs, as well as reworkings of vintage south Louisiana tunes like fellow swamp pop musician Bobby Charles' "Later Alligator."
In June 2006 Bernard re-recorded his spoken-word single "A Tear In The Lady's Eye," which he had originally written and recorded in 1968 as a pro-military response to anti-Vietnam War protestors. (The "Lady" of the song is the Statue of Liberty.) In the revised version, however, Bernard addressed Americans who opposed the ongoing war in Iraq. At his own expense Bernard pressed a handful of CD singles containing the revision, which he distributed for airplay to select radio stations and programs, mainly in south Louisiana.
Bernard performs today only sporadically around south Louisiana, concentrating instead on his career as a disk jockey and radio advertising executive in Lafayette, Louisiana. Many of his songs have been reissued on compact disk both in the U.S. and abroad, and continue to receive much regional airplay. Significantly, younger generations of south Louisiana musicians, including C. C. Adcock and Marc Broussard, have acknowledged him as a strong musical influence.
Bernard last performed in public in 2015 at the Ponderosa Stomp music festival in New Orleans. He retired from his career as a radio advertising executive in January 2018.
This Should Go On Forever
Rod Bernard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It should never, ever end
If it's wrong to really love you
I'll forever live in sin
This should go on forever
Let me stay in your arms
Just to gaze into your eyes, dear
If it's sin to really love you
Then a sinner I will be
If it's wrong to hug and kiss you
Oh, my soul will never be free
This should go on forever
It should never, ever end
If it's wrong to really love you
I'll forever live in sin
If it's sin to really love you
Then a sinner I will be
If it's wrong to hug and kiss you
Oh, my soul will never be free
This should go on forever
It should never, ever end
If it's wrong to really love you
I'll forever live in sin
In Rod Bernard's classic song "This Should Go On Forever," the singer expresses his desire for his romantic relationship with his loved one to never end. He implores that he should stay in his loved one's presence, holding onto all the charms and the loving eye-gaze that he shares with her. The lyrics speak to the depth of the singer's love, even if society deems it wrong or sinful. The singer seems to be saying that he is willing to pay the price of sin to continue to love his partner wholeheartedly. He concludes by declaring that he is willing to take the risk of being a sinner if it means that he can continue to hold his loved one close.
The lyrics of "This Should Go On Forever" are about the determination to hold onto something special despite society's rules and expectations. The song communicates the idea that for two people to be truly in love, nothing can stand in their way, and they will do everything they can to hold onto the beauty of their relationship. The boldness and bravery in the lyrics are stirring, as the singer communicates his willingness to face the possible fallout of his choices.
Overall, "This Should Go On Forever" is an ode to the beautiful insanity of love, defiance, and the human will to boldly hold on to love that is deemed wrong by society.
Line by Line Meaning
This should go on forever
The love between us should be timeless and eternal
It should never, ever end
Our love should never be broken or come to a close
If it's wrong to really love you
If society or others deem our love inappropriate or immoral
I'll forever live in sin
I will continue to love you despite what others may say or do, even if it means going against convention
Let me stay in your arms
I want to be close to you and feel your warmth and affection
Just to gaze into your eyes, dear
Looking at you brings me joy and happiness, and I never want to look away
And to capture all your charms
I want to keep all the wonderful things about you close to my heart forever
Then a sinner I will be
I am willing to go against societal norms in order to love you and be with you
Oh, my soul will never be free
My love for you will always be a part of who I am and I will never be able to let it go
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BERNARD JOLIVETTE, J. D. MILLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Susan Grove
I hadn't heard this song for 50 years and at the first note when it came on the radio today I knew what it was. I loved it as a kid. Thanks for posting. Great memories.
Donald Morrow
I don't care what anyone else calls this masterwork. I call it one of the hardest rhythm and blues record made in the 1950's by anyone of any race. Rod's voice tells the God's honest truth while the band plays blues that doesn't give one inch. I just can't stop playing and learning from this one.
Nancy Mahoney
I agree! Very difficult song for a singer to sing! But DIDNT ROD DO A GREAT JOB??!! Love it!!😃😃
Nancy Mahoney
Great song!! I cant get enough of it!!!😃
Judy Knight
Love this song
Virginia Williams
I came here to listen to this again after several decades - and now I've just learned that Rod Bernard passed away several days ago. What drew me here I don't know, but I join you all in wishing him peace and sending my condolences to his family.
Brian Kessel
Rest In Peace Rod Bernard and may your music go on forever
Mark Lewis
I last heard this song when I was just a kid. Mom and Dad use to dance to this. Memories just came flooding back. Wow! RIP Mr. Bernard. God bless your family.
Philip Angelo
One of my favorite songs from high school. Love it just as much now.
Greg Gates
R.I.P. Rod Bernard. Thanks for the great music.