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
Son Of A Preacher Man
Skeeter Davis Lyrics
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When they gathered round and started talkin' that's when Billy would take me walkin'
Out through the backyard we'd go walkin'
And then he'd look into my eyes and Lord know to my surprise
The only one who could ever reach me was the son of a preacher man
The only boy who could ever teach me was the son of a preacher man
Yes he was he was oh yes he was
When he started sweet talkin' to me he'd come and tell me everything is alright
He'd kiss and tell me everything's alright and can we get away again tonight
The only one who...
The song "Son of a Preacher Man" by Skeeter Davis talks about a love story between the singer and a boy named Billy, who happens to be the son of a preacher. The song starts by introducing Billy Ray, who accompanies his father on his visits. During those visits, Billy takes the singer out for a walk in their backyard, and that's when they become close. It is notable that the singer is surprised that she feels emotionally connected to someone who is a part of a strict religious family.
Further, the song talks about how Billy Ray was the only one who could ever reach and teach the singer. The phrase "reaching" here might refer to the fact that he was the only one who could deeply and emotionally connect with her. He could make her understand things that no one else could. Moreover, the lyrics also reflect the struggles of being good and trying to resist the temptation of love. Throughout the song, Billy Ray is portrayed as someone who comforts and reassures her that everything is alright, making him a soothing presence in her life.
Overall, "Son of a Preacher Man" portrays a beautiful but forbidden love story between two people who came from different worlds but found emotional solace in each other's company.
Line by Line Meaning
Billy Ray was a preacher's son and when his daddy would visit he'd come along
The singer's love interest Billy Ray is the son of a preacher and always tags along when his father visits.
When they gathered round and started talkin' that's when Billy would take me walkin'
Billy would take the singer for a walk when the adults were all busy in conversation.
Out through the backyard we'd go walkin'
The singer and Billy walked through the backyard during their time alone.
And then he'd look into my eyes and Lord know to my surprise
Billy would gaze into the artist's eyes and this caught her off guard.
The only one who could ever reach me was the son of a preacher man
Billy, being the son of a preacher, was the only one who could truly connect with the artist.
The only boy who could ever teach me was the son of a preacher man
The singer feels that she can only learn from Billy, who is well-versed in religious teachings due to his father's profession.
Yes he was he was oh yes he was
The singer affirms that Billy was indeed a good teacher and companion.
Bein' good isn't always easy no matter how hard I try
The artist acknowledges that despite her efforts to be good, it is always a challenge.
When he started sweet talkin' to me he'd come and tell me everything is alright
Billy would reassure the artist and make her feel at ease when he would speak kindly to her.
He'd kiss and tell me everything's alright and can we get away again tonight
Billy would comfort the artist with his affection and ask if they could spend more time together.
The only one who...
The chorus repeats, emphasizing Billy's unique importance to the singer.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Hurley, Ronnie Wilkins
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind