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
Hand In Hand With Jesus
Skeeter Davis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Christ did every burden roll
Now I walk redeemed and whole
Hand in hand with Jesus.
Hand in hand we walk each day
Hand in hand along the way
Walking thus I cannot stray
--- Instrumental ---
When the stars are backward mode
And his home I shall behold
I will walk those streets of gold
Hand in hand with Jesus.
Hand in hand we walk each day
Hand in hand along the way
Walking thus I cannot stray
Hand in hand with Jesus.
Hand in hand with Jesus...
The lyrics to Skeeter Davis's song Hand In Hand With Jesus express a deep devotion to Jesus and a sense of security and comfort that comes from walking with him. The opening lines speak of the singer's past struggles with sin and how Christ has lifted a burden from her soul. The use of the phrase "sin sick" emphasizes the weight and disease-like nature of sin. The second line declares that as a result of this, the singer now walks "redeemed and whole," suggesting a sense of completeness and wholeness that comes with salvation.
The refrain, "Hand in hand we walk each day / Hand in hand along the way / Walking thus I cannot stray / Hand in hand with Jesus," reinforces the idea of walking with Jesus as a daily practice that keeps the singer on the right path. The repetition of "hand in hand" creates a sense of intimacy and closeness between the singer and Jesus. The idea that walking with Jesus prevents the singer from straying suggests a desire to stay true to her faith and avoid temptation.
The final verse looks forward to the afterlife, where the singer believes she will "walk those streets of gold / Hand in hand with Jesus." This imagery suggests that the ultimate reward for a life of faith is eternal life in paradise. Overall, the lyrics to Hand In Hand With Jesus convey a sense of hope, comfort, and security that comes from a deep, personal relationship with Jesus.
Line by Line Meaning
Once from my poor sin sick soul
At one point, when my soul was overwhelmed with sin and sickness, Christ took all of my burdens away.
Christ did every burden roll
Jesus helped me get rid of every single burden and problem that I had been carrying, freeing me from my troubles.
Now I walk redeemed and whole
As a result of Christ's actions, I now live with a sense of redemption and wholeness.
Hand in hand with Jesus.
I have accepted Jesus as my savior, and I am now living my life beside him, hand in hand.
Hand in hand we walk each day
Jesus is always by my side, and we walk through life together every day.
Hand in hand along the way
Jesus is my constant companion and guide as we journey through life together.
Walking thus I cannot stray
With Jesus as my partner, I feel confident and reassured, and I know that I cannot go astray.
When the stars are backward mode
At a future point in time, when the universe appears in reverse, I will have found my way home to be with Jesus.
And his home I shall behold
I will finally have the chance to see Jesus' home and experience his full glory.
I will walk those streets of gold
In Jesus' home, I will be able to walk on golden streets, symbolic of the everlasting happiness and joy he brings to my life.
Hand in hand with Jesus.
Even in heaven, I will continue to walk alongside my savior, hand in hand.
Contributed by Kaylee C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Christo Yakobus
Once from my poor sin sick soul
Christ did every burden roll
Now I walk redeemed and whole
Hand in hand with Jesus.
Hand in hand we walk each day
Hand in hand along the way
Walking thus I cannot stray
Hand in hand with Jesus.
(...)
When the stars are backward mode
And his home I shall behold
I will walk those streets of gold
Hand in hand with Jesus.
Hand in hand we walk each day
Hand in hand along the way
Walking thus I cannot stray
Hand in hand with Jesus,
Hand in hand with Jesus...
James Ivy
G Em G
Once from my poor sin sick soul
A7 D7
Christ did every burden roll
G Em G
Now I walk redeemed and whole
D7 G
Hand in hand with Je-sus
Em G
Hand in hand we walk each day
A7 D7
Hand in hand along the way
G Em G
Walking thus I cannot stray
D7 G
Hand in hand with Je-sus
Em G
When the stars are backward mode
A7 D7
And His home I shall behold
G Em G
I will walk those streets of gold
D7 G
Hand in hand with Je-sus
Repeat #2
D7 G
Hand in hand with Je-sus
Berris-Dale Joseph
Brought blessed tears to my eyes each time I listened and transport my soul to that blessed shore where in God's kingdom I too shall walk those streets of gold, hand in hand with Jesus. And to think that my father who now sleeps in the earth, isolated in death shall rise again in that blessed, golden resurrection day. What beautiful hope this singer brings to my soul today. Blinding tears falling from my eyes. I can only hope that my wife who left me for another, 9 years ago, will walk those streets of gold, and also all the people I know in the Caribbean, Africa, America, China, Russia, Ukrain, India, Vietnam, Philippine, Greece, Cyprus. and all other places in this world who love God and His only begotten Son Jesus Christ. May we be saved by His loving grace.
Agnes Patty
Bro. Beris Dale you are so kind and humble...You are a real God's Son
Agnes Patty
You are blessed Bro
Jodi ann Brown
Blessed Love to You and All
Emosi Ugavule
Thank you Lord for your Grace
Jacinta Mashua
These songs build my faith, I started hearing them in the 80s after my high school and I have now rediscovered them and they bless me just like they used to. I see myself in my spiritual eyes walking hand in hand with Jesus. Thanks skeeter
John Tantanella
Praise God for His Son Jesus! I love you Lord.
Agnes Patty
Thank you Lord for sending Skeeter to remind peole all the time about your love and mercy
Pajiliai Dobui
Hasn't lost it touch all this years, still as beautiful as ever. Praise be to God. Thank you Skeeter
Moureen Mccook
Whenever am feeling down these are some of the song's that help uplift my spirit..