Mary Frances Penick was born on December 30, 1931 in the small Appalachian town of Dry Ridge, Kentucky. As a child, her grandfather nicknamed her "Skeeter" because she was always active and buzzing around like a mosquito. She got her start in music as part of the duo, The Davis Sisters, along with childhood friend, Betty Jack Davis. Thus, Skeeter Davis was born to the rest of the world.
The Davis Sisters sang in the local Lexington, Kentucky area and appeared on local radio WLAX in 1949. From there, they earned radio and television appearances in Detroit, Cincinnati and Wheeling, WV, where they were part of the WWVA Wheeling Jamboree.
In 1952, Skeeter and Betty Jack recorded for Fortune, but won a recording contract with RCA the following year and achieved their first chart success. "I Forgot More Than You'll Ever Know" went to number one on the U.S. country chart and number eighteen on the U.S. pop chart.
Sadly, on August 23, 1953, Skeeter and Betty Jack were involved in a serious car accident in which Betty Jack died and Skeeter was critically injured. It took Skeeter more than a year to recover both physically and mentally. With great difficulty and a lot of persuasion, Skeeter returned to singing with Betty Jack's sister, Georgia Davis, to briefly resume the Davis Sisters' act. But, within a year, the duo broke up and Skeeter pursued a solo career.
She continued to record on the RCA label where she worked with Eddy Arnold and Elvis Presley. In 1955, she toured for RCA on the Caravan of the Stars. Davis teamed up with producer, Chet Atkins and scored her first solo country chart hit in 1958 with "Lost To A Geisha Girl." This was during a time when the female acts were surging forward with "response" songs to some of the biggest hits by male artists. As Kitty Wells had answered Hank Thompson's "Honky Tonk Angels," with "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels" in 1952, Skeeter Davis put out this answer to Hank Locklin's "Geisha Girl."
A few years later, Davis recorded another answer to a Hank Locklin song and gained another huge hit. Locklin sang "Please Help Me I'm Falling" and Davis' response was, "I Can't Help You, I'm Falling Too."
In 1959, Davis achieved one of her greatest ambitions when she moved to Nashville and became a regular member of the Grand Ole Opry. In 1960, she married WSM personality, Ralph Emery, but the tumultuous marriage ended in 1964.
During the 1960's, Davis was one of RCA's most successful country artists. She harvested 26 U.S. country hits, 12 of which crossed over to the U.S. pop charts. Among these was what was to become her trademark song, the million-selling record "The End Of The World" which peaked at number two in both the U.S. country and pop charts in 1963. She also earned her only UK chart presence with "The End Of The World" which topped out at number eighteen in only thirteen weeks on the chart.
Davis has also acheived songwriting success. Her co-written song "Set Him Free" became her first country Top 10 hit in 1959. She also co-wrote "My Last Date" with Boudleaux Bryant and Floyd Cramer. Cramer, famed pianist and member of the original A-team, recorded it as an instrumental solo and had a million-selling record on it in 1960.
During the 60's and 70's, Davis toured extensively in the U.S., Canada, Europe and Far East. Her solo career started to wane in the 70's, but she still had several more hits such as "Bus Fare To Kentucky," "I'm A Lover, Not A Fighter," and "One Tin Soldier." Her duets with Bobby Bare, George Hamilton IV, and The Bee Gees gave her a few more hits, but by the mid-70's, Davis was reaching the end of her illustrious career. She ended her twenty-two year relationship with RCA in 1974 and charted her last hit for Mercury in 1976 with "I Love Us."
In 1967, Davis recorded a tribute album to Buddy Holly, which featured Waylon Jennings on the guitar. Later in 1972, she also did a tribute album to her friend, Dolly Parton. In 1985, she re-recorded an old Davis Sisters' hit, "May You Never Be Alone," with the group NRBQ. She married Joey Spampanito of NRBQ, but this marriage ultimately ended in divorce as well.
In 1973, Davis was dropped from the Grand Ole Opry's roster due to her strong criticisms of the Nashville Police Department during one of her performances. Her membership was later reinstated.
Davis has also taken to writing about her real life experiences. Her autobiography, "Bus Fare To Kentucky," was published in 1993. Davis pulls no punches in this brutally honest account of her life. She tells how she endured a family history of alcoholism, incest and murder. She also tells her side of the story regarding her four year marriage to Ralph Emery, following the heavy criticism which she received in Emery's autobiography. In 1997, she co-wrote a children's Christmas book, entitled "The Christmas Note," based on her own childhood.
Skeeter Davis passed away September 19th 2004 after a long battle with cancer.
Written by Sherry Anderson. June 2001
* Article appears courtesy of www.countrypolitan.com
Blue Kentucky Girl
Skeeter Davis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A country boy set out to see the world
Remember when those neon lights shine down
That big old moon shines on your Kentucky girl.
I swear I love you by the moon above you
How bright is it shinin' in your world
Some morning when you wake up all alone
--- Instrumental ---
Don't wait to bring great riches home to me
I need no diamond rings or fancy pearls
Just bring yourself, you're all I'll ever need
That's good enough for this blue Kentucky girl.
I swear I love you by the moon above you
How bright is it shinin' in your world
Some mornin' when you wake up all alone
Just come on home to your blue Kentucky girl.
Just come on home to your blue Kentucky girl...
The lyrics to Skeeter Davis's song Blue Kentucky Girl speak about a woman who has been left behind by her man who went on a journey to explore the bright lights of the city leaving her behind in Kentucky. She reminisces about the times they shared under the neon lights and reassures him that the moon that shone bright on their love is still shining even though they are apart. The song conveys the message that material possessions are not as important as love, and she only desires her man to return home to her as he is all she needs.
The lyrics also portray the depth of love that the woman has for her man. She swears her love by the moon that shines above them, indicating that their connection is strong and everlasting. The use of the phrase "your Kentucky girl" shows that she is still devoted to him even though he left her behind, and she's waiting for him to come back home to her.
The song is a beautiful rendition that beautifully articulates how staying true to one's roots and to the people in one's life is more important than searching for greener pastures elsewhere. It's a touching ballad about love, loyalty, and the feeling of belonging.
Line by Line Meaning
You left me for the bright lights of the town
You abandoned me to pursue the excitement of city living
A country boy set out to see the world
Your desire to explore and expand your horizons led you away from me
Remember when those neon lights shine down
Recall the glitz and glamour of city life
That big old moon shines on your Kentucky girl
Though you're far away, we both see the same moon and sky
I swear I love you by the moon above you
I pledge my love for you with the moon as witness
How bright is it shinin' in your world
I wonder how the excitement of the city is treating you
Some morning when you wake up all alone
One day you'll wake up alone without the allure of the city to distract you
Just come on home to your blue Kentucky girl
When you realize the city can't replace the love you left behind, return to me
Don't wait to bring great riches home to me
Don't feel like you need to offer expensive gifts to win me back
I need no diamond rings or fancy pearls
Material possessions can't replace the love and connection we share
Just bring yourself, you're all I'll ever need
Your presence and love are the only things that matter
That's good enough for this blue Kentucky girl
Your love and companionship are all I desire, as a simple Kentucky girl
Just come on home to your blue Kentucky girl.
Return to me, and we can rebuild our love and life together
Contributed by Alexandra M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
phillip cooper
Lovely song, lovely voice, I'm surprised by the views of such a wonderful song/singer...Thanks for sharing.
Skeeter Davis
A voice so tuned and full of feelings... And this song, one of her best! One of my favourites of all albums.
stewart gamlin
Great voice, what a lovely song.
Skeeter Davis
I think the same! And like i said.. A song so full of feeling!
Cooper Gaming
Never boring to hear Skeeter Davis song. Her voice is clear and good. No one like her voice. Skeeter Davis always not forgotten. Thanks.
phillip cooper
The best country singer in my opinion.
Skeeter Davis
"No one like her voice" Her voice is perfect... tuned and with a lot of feeling