Born in Kirksville, Missouri and nicknamed "Rusty" for his red hair, he began performing on his uncle's radio show in Tulsa, Oklahoma in the mid 1930s. Draper moved on to work at radio stations in Des Moines, Iowa—sometimes filling in for sports announcer Ronald Reagan—and in Illinois before settling in California. There he began to sing in local clubs, becoming resident singer at the Rumpus Room in San Francisco. By the early 1950s he had begun appearing on national TV shows including The Ed Sullivan Show (CBS) and Ozark Jubilee (ABC).
In 1952, Draper signed to Mercury Records and issued his debut single, "How Could You (Blue Eyes)". The following year, after a national club tour, his cover version of Jim Lowe's "Gambler's Guitar” made #6 on both the country and pop charts, and sold a million copies, and was awarded a gold disc.[1] After a series of less successful follow-ups, he made the national charts again in 1955 with "Seventeen" (#18), "The Shifting, Whispering Sands" (#3) and "Are You Satisfied?" (#11), becoming one of the biggest pop and country crossover stars of the period.
In 1956, he returned to the top 20 with "In The Middle Of The House" (#20), followed up by his version of Chas McDevitt’s UK skiffle hit "Freight Train" (#3) Draper also reached the UK Singles Chart with a rendition of "Muleskinner Blues."
In 1962, he left Mercury to sign with Monument Records, with diminishing chart success as his style became more old-fashioned. However, he continued to have minor hits in the country charts through the 1960s. He remained a steady concert draw in years to follow, and also appeared in stage musicals and on television. Draper died in Bellevue, Washington at the age of 80.
Skylark
Rusty Draper Lyrics
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Have you anything to say to me?
Won't you tell me where my love can be?
Is there a meadow in the mist
Where someone's waiting to be kissed?
Skylark
Have you seen a valley green with spring?
Over the shadows and the rain
To a blossom covered lane
And in your lonely flight
Haven't you heard the music in the night?
Wonderful music, faint as a will o' the wisp
Crazy as a loon, sad as a gypsy serenading the moon
Oh skylark
I don't know if you can find these things
But my heart is riding on your wings
So if you see them anywhere
Won't you lead me there?
Oh skylark
I don't know if you can find these things
But my heart is riding on your wings
So if you see them anywhere
Won't you lead me there?
The lyrics of the song "Skylark" by Rusty Draper convey a sense of longing and searching for love and happiness. The singer is addressing a skylark, a bird known for its beautiful song and its association with grace and freedom. The singer pleads with the skylark, asking if it has any knowledge or message about where their love can be found.
The first paragraph begins with the singer asking the skylark to reveal where their love might be. They wonder if there is a hidden meadow in the mist, a romantic setting where someone is waiting to be kissed. This imagery suggests a desire for a place of beauty and romance, where the singer's yearning for love can come to fruition.
In the second paragraph, the singer asks the skylark if it has seen a valley that is vibrant and lush with the arrival of spring. They seek a destination where their heart can embark on a journey, free from the darkness of shadows and rain. The mention of a blossom-covered lane evokes an idyllic and picturesque setting, symbolizing the hope for love and happiness.
The third paragraph addresses the skylark as it flies alone. The singer suggests that during its journey, it might have heard a captivating music in the night. This music is described as wonderful yet elusive, like a will o' the wisp—a flickering light that leads people astray. The imagery of a loon, an eccentric bird, and a melancholic gypsy serenading the moon, further emphasizes the mysterious and emotive nature of the music the skylark may have heard.
In the final paragraph, the singer reiterates their uncertainty if the skylark can find the things they seek. However, their heart depends on the skylark's wings to lead them to these elusive places of love and happiness. The repetition of the plea, "So if you see them anywhere, won't you lead me there?" underscores the singer's profound longing and reliance on the skylark to guide them to their desires.
Overall, Rusty Draper's "Skylark" captures the timeless yearning for love and fulfillment. The lyrics encapsulate the singer's hope that the spirit of the skylark, with its association with freedom and beauty, can help them find the love and happiness they seek.
Line by Line Meaning
Skylark
Oh, beautiful bird in the sky
Have you anything to say to me?
Do you have any messages or guidance for me?
Won't you tell me where my love can be?
Could you please reveal the whereabouts of my beloved?
Is there a meadow in the mist
Does a hidden meadow exist in the fog
Where someone's waiting to be kissed?
Where someone is eagerly anticipating a romantic embrace?
Have you seen a valley green with spring?
Have you witnessed a lush green valley during the springtime?
Where my heart can go a journeying
Where my heart can wander and explore
Over the shadows and the rain
Beyond the darkness and the downpour
To a blossom-covered lane
To a pathway adorned with blooming flowers
And in your lonely flight
During your flight through solitude
Haven't you heard the music in the night?
Have you not listened to the harmonious melodies of the night?
Wonderful music, faint as a will o' the wisp
Enchanting music, delicate like a ghostly light
Crazy as a loon, sad as a gypsy serenading the moon
Unpredictable like a mad person, melancholic like a wandering musician singing to the moon
Oh skylark
Oh majestic bird in the sky
I don't know if you can find these things
I'm uncertain if you have knowledge of these things
But my heart is riding on your wings
But my emotions depend on your guidance
So if you see them anywhere
Therefore, if you happen to come across them
Won't you lead me there?
Could you kindly show me the way?
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing, Reservoir Media Management, Inc., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HOAGY CARMICHAEL, JOHNNY MERCER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind