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
I Walk the Line
Skeeter Davis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I keep my eyes wide open all the time
I keep the ends out for the tie that binds
Because you're mine I walk the line.
I find it very very easy to be true
I find myself alone when day is through
Yes I'll admit that I'm a fool for you
Mhm, as sure as night is dark and day is light
I keep you on my mind both day and night
And happiness I've known proves that it's right
Because you're mine I walk the line.
You've got a way to keep me by your side
You give me cause for love that I can't hide
For you I know I'd even try to turn the tide
Because you're mine I walk the line.
Mhm, I keep a close watch on this heart of mine
I keep my eyes wide open all the time
I keep the ends out for the tie that binds
Because you're mine I walk the line.
Because you're mine I walk the line...
The lyrics of Skeeter Davis's song "I Walk The Line" are about keeping a close watch on one's heart, being faithful to someone because of one's love for them, and committing to be with that person through thick and thin. The song begins with a declaration of loyalty to the person the singer loves. The singer has to be vigilant and watchful to keep their heart in check, and they always keep their eyes open in case there's a threat to their relationship. They are committed to keeping the bond between them strong and the tie that binds them together. They do all this because they are in love with the person, and they walk the line of commitment and loyalty.
The second verse of the song reveals that the singer finds it easy to be true to the person they love. They are willing to be alone if they have to, as long as they are faithful to their partner. They admit that they are a fool for their loved one, implying that their love for the person makes them do things that may appear foolish to others. The third verse states that the love between them is as sure as night and day. The singer thinks about their partner all the time, day and night. The happiness they have experienced in their relationship proves that their love is right for them. The chorus repeats, with the singer affirming their commitment to their partner.
Overall, the song is a declaration of love and commitment. It portrays a sense of loyalty and faithfulness, where the singer is willing to do anything for the person they love. It is a beautiful expression of love, and the simple melody is a great complement to the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Mhm, I keep a close watch on this heart of mine
I am cautious with my emotions and ensure my feelings for you are genuine
I keep my eyes wide open all the time
I pay attention to everything around me to avoid jeopardizing our relationship
I keep the ends out for the tie that binds
I am willing to do what it takes to maintain our connection
Because you're mine I walk the line.
My love for you motivates me to stay committed and faithful
I find it very very easy to be true
I have no temptations to stray from our relationship because of my love for you
I find myself alone when day is through
I am content to be alone with my thoughts of you
Yes I'll admit that I'm a fool for you
I am not ashamed to declare my love for you, even though it may make me appear silly
As sure as night is dark and day is light
My commitment to you is unwavering and never-changing
I keep you on my mind both day and night
You are constantly on my mind and in my thoughts
And happiness I've known proves that it's right
Being with you has brought me a great deal of joy, validating my decision to stay devoted to you
You've got a way to keep me by your side
The way you treat me ensures that I will never want to leave your side
You give me cause for love that I can't hide
Your actions and behaviors elicit strong feelings of love in me that I cannot conceal
For you I know I'd even try to turn the tide
I would do anything for you, including attempting to change unfavorable circumstances, because of my love for you
Because you're mine I walk the line.
My commitment to you is unyielding and unbreakable because of my love for you
Contributed by Lincoln V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
CountrynIrish
Great Song ! Love it ! It's different, but Skeeter sings a very nice version ! Excellent Video ! The photos are great ! Thank you so much for sharing ! 5*****+
Terry Kelt
Only Skeeter Davis could pull
this off and the musical composition is just perfect for her
謝如哲
great song .. !