Mary Frances "Skeeter" Davis (December 30, 1931 – September 19, 2004) was a… Read Full Bio ↴Mary Frances "Skeeter" Davis (December 30, 1931 – September 19, 2004) was a country music singer and a member of the Grand Ole Opry radio show for more than 40 years. She was best known for her hit song "The End of the World" (1963), one of the most popular American records of the 1960's. One of the first women to achieve major stardom in the country music field as a solo vocalist, she was an acknowledged influence on Tammy Wynette and Dolly Parton.
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
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
Your Husband My Wife
Skeeter Davis Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Your Husband My Wife' by these artists:
Bobby Bare [ Skeeter ] He knows I'm true but what he don't…
Bobby Bare & Skeeter Davis He knows I'm true But what he don't know is I'm…
Bobby Bare - Skeeter Davis He knows I'm true But what he don't know is I'm…
Bobby Bare with Skeeter Davis; Skeeter Davis & Bobby Bare He knows I'm true But what he don't know is I'm…
Brooklyn Bridge She knows I'm true But what she don't know Is I'm true…
Johnny Maestro the Brooklyn Bridge She knows I'm true But what she don't know Is I'm true…
Johnny Maestro & Brooklyn Bridge She knows I'm true But what she don't know Is I'm true…
Johnny Maestro & The Brooklyn Bridge She knows I'm true But what she don't know Is I'm true…
Skeeter Davis & Bobby Bare He knows I'm true But what he don't know is I'm…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Skeeter Davis:
A Dear John Letter Dear John oh how I hate to write dear John…
A place in the country My heart's in the country and I'm going back My name…
A Summer Place There's a summer place where it may rain or storm…
Ain Captured effortlessly That's the way it was Happened so na…
Ain't Nobody Captured effortlessly That's the way it was Happened so natu…
Al di là La la la la la la la la la [ strings…
All Of Me All of me why not take all of me can't…
Always on My Mind I can't eat and I can't sleep all I do…
Am I That Easy to Forget You say you've found somebody new But that won't stop my…
Angel Of The Morning There'll be no strings to bind your hands Not if my…
Another I know there'll never ever be another you Just when I…
Ask Me Ask me to make a mountain small ask me to…
Baby Sweet Baby Without you my life is so empty I'm sad and…
Blue Kentucky Girl You left me for the bright lights of the town A…
Blueberry Hill I found my thrill on Blueberry Hill on Blueberry Hill…
Born to Love You Born to love you born to love you born to…
Both Sides Now Bows and flows of angel hair and ice cream castles…
Bridge Over Troubled Water When you're weary feeling small when tears are in your…
Broomstick Cowboy You're no longer my broomstick cowboy riding the make believ…
Bus Fare To Kentucky I know I'm just a country girl I hadn't seen…
But You Know I Love You I've forgotten more Than you'll ever know about him You thi…
Cloudy (Arthur Brooks - Kenny Karen) The sky isn't blue since you'…
Country Girl I was born a country girl I will die a…
Cry Me A River Now you say you're lonely you cried the long night…
Crying Time It's cryin' time again, your gonna leave me I can see…
Daddy Sang Bass As when I was a little girl times were hard…
Dear Heart Dear heart wish you were here to warm this night My…
Devil's Doll I knew him when he held his head up high And…
Didn Didn't I try hard enough to understand your way Didn't I…
Dixie Cup Of Sand I'm taking home a Dixie cup of sand A couple of…
Do You Know My Jesus? Have you a heart that's weary Tending a load of care Are…
Don Today I sat alone at my window and I watched…
Don't Let it Happen to Us Sweethearts all over town are letting each other down Don't …
Don't Let Me Cross Over I'm tempted my darling to steal you away Don't let me…
Don't Let Me Stand In Your Way I love you now and I always will But I won't…
Don't worry 'bout me Don't worry 'bout me it's all over now Though I may…
Easy to Love I recall what I said to myself the very first…
End Of The World Why does the sun go on shining? Why does the sea…
Face of a Clown It's hard for me to smile I feel like crying…
Fly Me To The Moon Fly me to the moon and let me play among…
Foggy Mountain Top If I was on some foggy mountain top I'd sail away…
Forgot More Than You Ever Know I've forgotten more Than you'll ever know about him You thi…
Fuel To The Flame You kindle the fire of love inside me Each time…
Give Me Death I'm standing in the courtroom The trial is for my…
Goin I'm a goin' down the road feelin' bad goin' down…
Gonna Find Me a Bluebird Gonna find me a bluebird Let him sing me a song Cause…
Gonna Get Along Without Ya Now Uh huh, hmm hmm Gonna get along without you now Uh huh,…
Gonna Get Along Without You Now Uh huh, hmm hmm Gonna get along without you now Uh huh,…
Hand In Hand With Jesus Once from my poor sin sick soul Christ did every burden…
Have You Seen This Man See that man there on the corner He can call his…
He When he walked away I thought my eyes would deceive…
He Called Me Baby He called me baby baby all night long Used to hold…
He Say's The same Things To Me Shall I tell you what he said to you When he…
He Says The Same Things T Me Shall I tell you what he said to you When he…
He'll Have To Go Put your sweet lips a little closer to the phone Let's…
He'll Have to Stay (Joe Allison - Audrey Allison - Charles Grean) I am glad…
Heart to Heart Dear heart wish you were here to warm this night My…
Heartbeat Heartbeat, why do you miss when my baby kisses me Heartbeat,…
Heaven Help Me Heaven Help Me (Cindy Walker) Heaven help me for my heart h…
Hold Me Tight I don't want to hear it no more fussin' and…
Homebreaker Homebreaker that's what you're calling me But he stopped lov…
Hopelessly Devoted to You Guess mine is not the first heart broken My eyes are…
How Much Can A Lonely Heart Stand Just how much Can a lonely heart stand You left me one…
I You say that you're falling But what can I do? You want…
I Ain't Never I'll never love another now that you've gone away And left…
I Can I can't stay mad at you You can make me cry You…
I Can Stand It (If I'm Still In Love With You)…
I Can't Believe It's All Over (Ben Peters) I can′t believe that it's all over baby Not af…
I Can't Believe That It's All Over I can't believe that it's all over baby Not after all…
I Can't Help It You say that you're falling But what can I do? You want…
I Can't See Me Without You I can't see why you said goodbye And bring in my…
I Can't Stay Mad at You I can't stay mad at you You can make me cry You…
I Don't Care Today I sat alone at my window and I watched…
I Forgot More I've forgotten more Than you'll ever know about him You thi…
I Honestly Love You (If I'm Still In Love With You)…
I Love You You say that you're falling But what can I do? You want…
I Really Don How many arms have held you And hated to let you…
I Really Want You To Know (Don Robertson - Howard Barnes - Skeeter Davis) How many ar…
I Say a Little Prayer The moment I wake up before I put on my…
I Walk The Line Mhm, I keep a close watch on this heart of…
I Wanna Be Loved By You I wanna be loved by you just you and nobody…
I Want To See You Too (Don Gibson - Skeeter Davis) If you would see me just…
I Want You You say that you're falling But what can I do? You want…
I Will Da da da da da da' I love ya, I love…
I'm Falling Too You say that you're falling But what can I do? You want…
I'm Saving My Love I'm saving my love for someone who loves me For someone…
if i ever get to heaven (If I ever get to heaven I won't see you) You…
In the summertime In the summertime when all the trees and leaves are…
IT (It's a crazy world) Now I'm alone starting to cry because…
It Only Hurts For A Little While It only hurts for a little while that's what they…
It Was Only a Heart It was only a heart but it was my heart And…
It's So Easy People tell me love's for fools So here I go breaking…
It's the End of the World Why does the sun go on shining? Why does the sea…
Joshua Well the good ways down the railroad track there was…
Just One Time If I could see you just one time Oh, how it'd…
Keep Baltimore Beautiful How could you leave me all alone to weep my…
Keep Your Hands off My Baby We've been friends for oh, so long I let you…
Ladder Of Success Nothing can stop him now no one can top him…
Last Date It's over our love affair Too late now I find I…
Let Me Get Close To You I know I never felt this way before I can't…
Little Arrows There's a boy a little boy shooting arrows in the…
Little Music Box Take back the gifts you gave to me all the…
Longing to Hold You Again All alone here am I so lonely I could cry 'Cause…
Lost to a Geisha Girl There's a rattle in the paper from the tremble of…
Love Love Love Laura and Tommy were lovers He wanted to give her everything…
Love Me Tender When he walked away I thought my eyes would deceive…
Maybe Baby Maybe baby, I'll have you Maybe baby, you'll be true Maybe b…
Mine Is a Lonely Life Two rooms so dark and bare a bed and one…
Moonlight Promises Moonlight promises, moonlight promises Mixed with kisses and…
My Coloring Book For those who fancy coloring book lots of people do Here's…
My Elusive Dreams I followed you to Texas I followed you to Utah. We…
My Happiness Evening shadows make me blue when each weary day is…
My Heart Skips A Beat Now my heart skips a beat when we walk down…
My Last Date One hour and I'll be meeting you I know you're gonna…
My Sweet Loving Man You don't have to be as strong as a mountain And…
No Ain't done one single thing this morning except for crying…
No never Gin and tonic lies Giant red warning signs Wanna put you i…
Nobody's Child AS I was slowly passing an orphan's home one day. And…
Now I Lay Me Down to Weep Now I lay me down to weep count my tears…
Oh Oh happy day (oh happy day) Oh happy day (oh happy…
Oh Boy! Oh my love, oh my kissin' You don't know what you've…
Oh Happy Day Oh happy day (oh happy day) Oh happy day (oh happy…
Oh! Boy Oh my love, oh my kissin' You don't know what you've…
One Love Laura and Tommy were lovers He wanted to give her everything…
One Tin Soldier Listen children to a story that was written long ago Bout…
Optimistic How long is the river? How deep is the sea? How long…
Piece of My Heart My heart's in the country and I'm going back My name…
Please Don't Talk To The Lifeguard Please don't talk to the lifeguard please don't talk to…
Please Help Me I'm Falling Please help me, I'm falling In love with you Close the door…
Raining In My Heart The sun is out the sky is blue there's not…
Remember Seems like the other day my baby went away he…
Right or wrong (Wanda Jackson) Right or wrong I'll be with you I'll do wha…
Rockabye Boogie Rock a bye boogie it′s late to sleek rock your…
Santa Claus Is Coming to Town I just came back from a lovely trip along the…
Secret Love Once I had a secret love that lived within the…
Set Him Free Set him free, set him free For I love him, you…
Silver Threads & Golden Needles I don't want your lonely mansion With a tear in every…
Single Girl {You say that you're falling But what can I do You want…
Smile Smile though your heart is aching smile even though it's…
Sombody Else on Your Mind When you take me in your arms and tell me…
Somebody Loves You (Charles Tobias - Peter DeRose) Somebody loves you I want y…
Someday My Prince Will Come Somewhere waiting for me There is someone I'm longing to see…
Something Precious (Lorene Mann) I had something precious something very har…
Son of a Preacher Man Billy Ray was a preacher's son and when his daddy…
Stay I can't stay mad at you You can make me cry You…
Still At my door the leaves are falling a cold wild…
Summer Sunshine Love to feel the summer sunshine Love to hear the summer…
summertime (Summertime summertime summertime summertime) Summertime and…
Sun Glasses I got my swimcap and comb and my paperback book…
Take It Easy People tell me love's for fools So here I go breaking…
Tell Laura I Love Her Laura and Tommy were lovers He wanted to give her everything…
Tell Tommy I Miss Him (Ben Raleigh - Jeff Barry) Tommy my sweetheart is gone now H…
That You say you've found somebody new But that won't stop my…
That'll Be The Day Well that'll be the day when you say goodbye Yes that'll…
The End of The Why does the sun go on shining? Why does the sea…
The Face Of A Clown It's hard for me to smile I feel like crying…
The Good the Bad and the Ugly We get up before sunup to get the work done…
The Hand You're Holding Now I can't forget the first time that I kissed you It's…
The Letter Dear John oh how I hate to write dear John…
The Little Music Box Take back the gifts you gave to me all the…
The One You Slip Around With I'd rather be the one you slip around with Than be…
There You and I must make a pact We must bring salvation…
They Don They just don't make love like they used to they…
Think It Over Think it over what you just said think it over…
Together Again Together again our tears have stopped falling The long lonel…
Too Young They try to tell us we're too young too young…
True Love Just you know why Why you and I will by and…
and many more tracks by Skeeter Davis.
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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Brenda Fretwell
Love this duet wow true words and beautifully written!
onlyme114 D.
This song has been going through my mind all day. I haven't heard it in years. Had to look it up. Love it !
threemississippi
This song was way ahead of it's time - it's a wonderful duet by two of C&W greatest traditional singers!
Muzikgirl67
JUST AS GOOD AS GOLD!!...Thank you soooo much for posting and sharing this "rarely heard anymore", and "VERY-hard-to-find" lil' country gem that peaked at #22 back in March 1970...I thoroughly enjoyed it!...(and the sound quality is first-rate too!!)...take care! :)
onlyme114 D.
For some reason this song has been going through my mind since I woke up this morning. I can't even remember the last time I heard it but I still remember every word of it. I saw Skeeter at the Opry not to many years before she died. Her voice was almost gone but when she finished her song she got a standing ovation. She had a lot of health problems over the years but she was a fighter. Sadly cancer finally took her. I live down the road from Nashville and it was a sad day. We love country music and country singers but she was special. I remember when The end of the world came out EVERYBODY loved that song country fans rock fans pop...everybody. It's my favorite song of hers. 💖💖💖
Tenny Wenas
I like a romantic country song!!! I love it..
Velma Chambers
I grew up with skeeters David music so beautiful.
Dropaite Mahabirsingh
My kind of song
Cindy Fletcher
So sweet...love it! <3 Skeeter Davis <3 {{{RIP}}}
Mary Sabattis
Love this song