Ronnie Hawkins OC (born Ronald Hawkins on 20 January 1935; died 29 May 2022… Read Full Bio ↴Ronnie Hawkins OC (born Ronald Hawkins on 20 January 1935; died 29 May 2022) was an American/Canadian rock and roll musician whose career spanned more than half a century. He recorded solo and, in early recordings, as Ronnie Hawkins & The Hawks. His career began in Arkansas, where he was born and raised. He found success in Ontario, Canada, and lived there for most of his life. He is remembered as very influential in the establishment and evolution of rock music in Canada.

A pioneering rock and roll musician (and cousin to fellow rockabilly pioneer Dale Hawkins) known as "Rompin' Ronnie" Hawkins or "The Hawk", he was a key player in the 1960s rock scene in Toronto and for the next 40 years, performed all over North America, recording more than twenty-five albums. His best-known hits are "Forty Days" and "Mary Lou" (about the song narrator's experiences with a gold-digging woman), both were major hits for him in 1959.

At the age of nine, his family moved to nearby Fayetteville. After graduating from high school, he studied physical education at the University of Arkansas where he formed his first band, The Hawks, touring with them throughout Arkansas, Oklahoma and Missouri. Hawkins also owned and operated the Rockwood Club in Fayetteville where some of Rock music's earliest pioneers came to play including Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison and Conway Twitty.

In 1958, he moved to Canada with the Hawks and made Peterborough, Ontario, his permanent home. Gradually the members of the Hawks, except for Levon Helm, were replaced with talented Canadians Robbie Robertson, Rick Danko, Richard Manuel and Garth Hudson. This was the line-up that was to later become The Band.

His 1984 LP, 'Making It Again', garnered him a Juno Award as Canada's best Country Male Vocalist. Playing with The Band, Hawkins helped tear down the Berlin Wall in 1989 and performed at President Bill Clinton's 1992 inaugural party. In addition to his music, he has also become an accomplished actor, hosting his own television show "Honky Tonk" in the early 1980s and appearing in such films as Heaven's Gate with his friend Kris Kristofferson and Hello Mary Lou: Prom Night II.

October 4, 2002 was declared "Ronnie Hawkins Day" by the city of Toronto when Hawkins was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame in recognition of his lifetime contribution to music and his generous support of the Schizophrenia Society of Ontario and other charitable organizations. Ronnie Hawkins was inducted into the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame at the Canadian Music Industry Awards on March 4, 2004. His pioneering contribution to the genre has also been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.

In 2005, he was awarded an honorary degree from Laurentian University.

Pledging My Love
Ronnie Hawkins Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Forever my darling
Our love will be true
Always and forever
I love just you

Just promise me darling
Your love in return
Make this fire in my soul be

Forever burn

My heart says you command it
Give me love and to hold
Making you happy, my desire
Keeping you is my goal

I′ll forever love you
The rest of my days
I'll never part from you
And your loving way
I′ll forever love you
The rest of my days
Never part from you
Your loving way

My heart says you command it
Keep love and to hold
Making you happy is my desire
Keeping you is my goal

I'll forever love you
The rest of my days
I'll never part from you
And your loving way

I′ll never part from you
And your loving way (I′m pledging my love for you)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Ronnie Hawkins's song "Pledging My Love" are a declaration of the singer's unwavering love and devotion to his partner. The opening lines, "Forever my darling, our love will be true," set the tone for the song as a promise of everlasting love. The singer emphasizes that his love for his partner will never wane, and he commits to "never part[ing] from you and your loving way." He promises to make his partner happy and keep them as his goal, implying that nothing is more important than their relationship and love for each other. The singer also asks for reassurance of his partner's love in return, asking them to "just promise me darling your love in return" so that "this fire in [his] soul" can "forever burn."

The lyrics of "Pledging My Love" are simple but powerful, expressing the universal desire for a deep and lasting love. The repetition of the phrase "I'll forever love you" reinforces the singer's commitment, and their request for love in return adds vulnerability and depth to the song. The lyrics communicate a sense of intimacy and longing, making the song a classic love ballad.

Line by Line Meaning

Forever my darling
Our love is eternal

Our love will be true
Our love will always be honest and faithful

Always and forever
Our love is constant and will never end

I love just you
You are the only one I love

Just promise me darling
Make a vow to me, my love

Your love in return
Love me in the same way as I love you

Make this fire in my soul be
Keep the passion burning in our relationship

Forever burn
Let the fire of our love never die

My heart says you command it
My heart tells me to love and obey you

Give me love and to hold
Give me your love and affection

Making you happy, my desire
My wish is to see you happy