Roy Claxton Acuff (September 15, 1903 – November 23, 1992) was an American … Read Full Bio ↴Roy Claxton Acuff (September 15, 1903 – November 23, 1992) was an American country musician known around the world as the "King of Country Music".

Roy Acuff was born in Maynardville, Tennessee, to Ida Carr and Simon E. Neil Acuff (a Baptist preacher, judge and tenant farmer), the third of their five children. Originally, Acuff didn't plan to be a singer. Acuff sang in the church choir as a schoolboy, but he was more interested in sports, particularly baseball. Not only was he attracted to the sport, he had a wild streak — after his family moved to Knoxville, he was frequently arrested for fighting. Acuff continued to concentrate on playing ball, eventually becoming strong enough to earn a tryout for the major leagues. However, that tryout never took place. Before he had a chance to play, he was struck by a severe sunstroke while he was on a fishing trip; after the sunstroke, Acuff suffered a nervous breakdown. While he was recovering, he decided that a career in baseball was no longer possible, so he decided to become an entertainer. He began to learn the fiddle and became an apprentice of Doc Hauer, a local medicine show man.

While traveling with the medicine show, Acuff learned how to be a performer -- he learned how to sing, how to imitate, how to entertain, how to put on a show. Soon, Acuff joined the Tennessee Crackerjacks, who had a regular slot on Knoxville radio station WROL. Although he was performing frequently, he wasn't making any significant headway, failing to become a star in Tennessee. One song changed that situation -- "The Great Speckled Bird," an old gospel tune that had become popular with the Church of God sect. After another radio entertainer wrote the words out to the song, Acuff began performing it in his shows. Quickly, he became popular throughout the eastern part of Tennessee and was asked to record the song by ARC, a record label with national distribution. Acuff headed north to Chicago for a recording session, which resulted in 20 different songs. In addition to "The Great Speckled Bird," he recorded "Steamboat Whistle Blues" and "The Wabash Cannonball," another Tennessee standard that featured the singer imitating the sound of a train whistle; he also made a handful of risqué numbers during these sessions, which were released under the name the Bang Boys.

Music career
He then turned his attention to his father's fiddle and began playing in a traveling medicine show, often performing in blackface. He toured the Southern United States and eventually formed a band called "The Crazy Tennesseans".

In 1936, he recorded his two most enduring songs, the traditional The Great Speckled Bird and The Wabash Cannonball. He debuted at the Grand Ole Opry two years later. He was booked as a fiddler, and he should have played the Turkey Buzzard for a square dancing segment, but he decided to try and sing The Great Speckled Bird. His decision was not well received, however. Acuff became a regular on the Opry, forming a backing band called the Smoky Mountain Boys, led by friend and Dobro player Bashful Brother Oswald. By 1940 he was the star of the show.

The Great Roy Acuff LP (1964)Acuff's recording of The House of the Rising Sun on November 3, 1938 is the first known commercial recording of the song. He released several singles in the 1940s such as The Wreck on the Highway, Beneath That Lonely Mound of Clay and The Precious Jewel. During the 1940s he also appeared in eight movies.

In 1942, a man of many talents, he formed a music publishing venture with Chicago songwriter Fred Rose. Acuff-Rose Music became a country music phenomenon, owning huge numbers of copyrights including those by Marty Robbins, Felice and Boudleaux Bryant and all of the songs of Hank Williams.

As his record sales declined in the late 1940s and 1950s, Acuff spent most of his time on the road, becoming one of the hottest tickets in country music. In 1962 he was the first living musician elected to The Country Music Hall of Fame. By the 1970s Acuff performed almost exclusively with the Grand Ole Opry, at Opryland USA, greatly legitimizing it as the top institution in country music. He made one rare appearance at Carlton Haney's Camp Spring Bluegrass Festival in 1971.

For his contribution to the recording industry, he has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame located on 1541 Vine St. He received the Kennedy Center Honors in 1991.

Political career
Acuff had a brief affair with politics, losing campaigns for the governor of Tennessee as a Republican in 1944 and 1948. In 1970, he campaigned for his friend Tex Ritter in his bid for the GOP nomination for a U.S. Senate seat from Tennessee.
Trivia
A popular legend is that Japanese troops during World War II would enter battle yelling, "To hell with Roosevelt! To hell with Babe Ruth! To hell with Roy Acuff!"
Acuff was initiated as an Entered Apprentice at the East Nashville Freemasonry Lodge in 1943, and raised to Master Mason in 1944. He was made a 33rd Degree Mason on 21 October 1985.
Acuff is thought to be one inspiration for Henry Gibson's character Haven Hamilton in Robert Altman's film Nashville. The fictionalized character was reportedly a composite of several well-known musicians, including Acuff and Hank Snow.
Acuff on recording: "A little secret of my policy in the studio ... whenever you once decide that you are going to record a number, put everything you've got into it. Don't say, 'Oh, we'll take it over and do it again' because every time you go through it you lose just a little something ... [l]et's do it the first time and to hell with the rest of them" - on the classic album Will the Circle Be Unbroken.
U.S. Olympian high jumper Amy Acuff is his distant cousin. Some sources erroneously list her as his daughter.

Why Don't You Love Me
Roy Acuff Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Why don't you love me like you used to do
How come you treat me like a worn out shoe
My hair's still curly and my eyes are still blue
Why don't you love me like you used to do

Ain't had no lovin' like a huggin' and a kissin' in a long long while
We don't get nearer further or closer than a country mile
Why don't you spark like you used to do

And say sweet nothings like you used to coo
I'm the same old trouble that you've always been through
Why don't you love me like you used to do

Well why don't you be just like you used to be
How come you find so many faults with me
Somebody's changed so let me give you a clue
Why don't you love me like you used to do

Ain't had no lovin' like a huggin' and a kissin' in a long long while
We don't get nearer further or closer than a country mile
Why don't you say things you used to say
What makes you treat me like a piece of clay

My hair's still curly and my eyes are still blue
Why don't you love me like you used to do

Overall Meaning

In Roy Acuff's song "Why Don't You Love Me," the singer expresses his frustration and confusion as to why his partner no longer seems to love him as they did before. He reminisces about the past when they used to be close, hugging and kissing, and saying sweet nothings. He wonders why his partner finds so many faults with him now and treats him like a worn-out shoe or a piece of clay.

The lyrics capture the pain and disappointment of feeling unloved and unrecognized by someone who was once so close. The repetition of the phrase "why don't you love me like you used to do" highlights the singer's longing to return to the past when love was simple and easy.

Overall, "Why Don't You Love Me" is a poignant country ballad that explores the ups and downs of relationships and the challenges of maintaining love over time.

Line by Line Meaning

Why don't you love me like you used to do
Why have your feelings for me changed and why don't you continue to love me like you did before?

How come you treat me like a worn out shoe
Why do you treat me with such disregard and neglect, as if I am an object of no value?

My hair's still curly and my eyes are still blue
Despite the passing of time, my physical appearance has remained the same.

Ain't had no lovin' like a huggin' and a kissin' in a long long while
I haven't experienced any affectionate physical contact like hugging and kissing in a significant amount of time.

We don't get nearer further or closer than a country mile
Our physical distance and emotional closeness have both become stagnant and we haven't been able to bridge the gap.

Why don't you spark like you used to do
Why don't you show the same enthusiasm and passion for our relationship as you used to?

And say sweet nothings like you used to coo
Why don't you speak affectionately to me like you used to when we were deeply in love?

I'm the same old trouble that you've always been through
I am aware that my behavior has caused problems in the past, but it hurts me to know that it still affects how you feel about me.

Well why don't you be just like you used to be
I am asking you to revert to the same kind-hearted and loving person you were when we first fell in love.

How come you find so many faults with me
Why do you constantly criticize and find fault in everything I say or do?

Somebody's changed so let me give you a clue
I am aware that one of us has changed, and I am hoping to give you insight so that we can work through any issues and get back to where we used to be.

Why don't you say things you used to say
Why don't you speak words of love and admiration like you did before?

What makes you treat me like a piece of clay
What caused you to start treating me like an object that can be molded and shaped to your liking?

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: HANK WILLIAMS, SR.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

Donna Brown Bowles

This song is sooo creepy!

"Don't make me go to bed and I'll be good?"

Then in the middle of the night the kid is in pain and crying!?

Next, the mother is holding him as he dies!?

Really!?

Are you kidding me!?

Did they beat him so he would go to bed!?

What the hell!?

Is it just me or, is this the creepiest freaking country song you've ever heard!?

Did I miss something!?

Correct me if I'm wrong.

How could anyone think this was a good song!?

Freaking so effing creepy on SO MANY LEVELS!

Donna Brown Bowles

All comments from YouTube:

Joy Lokey

3y↑2

My mom used to sing this to us! I just played it for her, we both had tears!

Melia Denmark

8y↑11

My Papa used to sing this to me all the time when I was younger. He's in heaven now. I listen to it every night to make me to to bed

Pam Fisher

Melia Denmark might Apple used to sing this to me when I was a kid he's gone to heaven now too Pam

Donna Brown Bowles

Russell Shepherd

2y↑2

Great song by the King of true country music 🎶 Roy Claxton Acuff and all of the Smokey Mountain Boys

Donna Brown Bowles

Russell Shepherd

The song is about illness and the premature death of children and adults less than 100 years ago. The song is also about connecting being in bed with dying. It is a very sad song written about very sad times in history 😢

Lynette Komidar

9y↑5

Always made me cry as a kid .. 1954

Pickinbuddy

6y↑1

Me too...

Roger VanVoorhees

Still does. . Very Touching.

Gmoney Rogers

43w

George jones did great on this song too

Nancy Ralls

10y↑5

The saddest song I've ever heard!

dwtpa90

10y↑3

Yes, it is a sad song. In fact, back in the 1930s and 1940s, a number of songs were recorded that were what you might call "tear-jerkers". But I always liked this song, and I think Roy did a good job with it. Thanks for your comment, Nancy Ralls -

Chester Ash

I remover this way back in the early 60's

ScottyG.

3y↑1

It was sad, but not as sad as "Dad gave my dog away" for me.

Donna Brown Bowles

encrypter46

Some people have no appreciation for a sad song. I, personally, love them. When watching movies, if a comedy makes you laugh, it's done its job. If a revenge flick makes you angry, it's done its job to guarantee the climax. For a romantic movie as well. Do you get any enjoyment from a horror movie? How many DO enjoy being frightened? A sad movie fails if it doesn't move you. I prefer the sad because there's nothing more touching and, to me, THAT is the most soulful. A sad song is the most soulful. Look at C.W. McCall's "Roses For Mama" or Hank Snow's "The Drunkard's Son". The mournful song has the strongest message of all. As long as it's not a personal tragedy, I believe there's nothing more memorable and human.

glencoe6305

5y↑2

That Video isn't to this song.

dwtpa90

5y↑4

Yes, glencoe6305 , you are correct, as is described in the Description of the song. I included the action from another video so that people would have something to look at while they listen to the song. It would have been nice if an authentic video of the song had been located, but I wasn't able to find one. I'm sorry if this video disappointed you.