Self-taught on the guitar, Otis Whitman worked at a shipyard in Tampa while developing a musical career, eventually performing with a band known as the "Variety Rhythm Boys". Whitman's first big break came when agent Colonel Tom Parker heard him singing on the radio and offered to represent him. Signed with RCA Records, he was billed as the cowboy singer, "Slim Whitman" and released his first 45rpm single in 1948. He toured and sang at a variety of venues including on the popular radio show, the Louisiana Hayride.
He only became a full time musician in the early 1950s after he recorded a version of the Bob Nolan hit Love Song of the Waterfall that made it into the country music Top 10 chart. His next single, Indian Love Call, was even more successful, going to the No.2 position (and actually saving the world in the 1996 movie Mars Attacks! where it proves fatal to the invading Martians). A yodeler, Whitman avoided the "down on yer luck-buried in booze" songs, preferring instead to sing laid-back romantic melodies about simple life and love.
In 1955, in the United Kingdom, he had a No.1 hit on the pop music charts with Rose Marie. With eleven weeks at the top of the charts, the song set a record that lasted for thirty-six years. Soon after recording this big hit Whitman was invited to join the Grand Ole Opry and in 1957, along with other musical stars, he appeared in the film musical, Jamboree. Despite this type of exposure, he never achieved the level of stardom in the United States that he did in Britain where he had a number of hits during the 1950s and 60s. Throughout the early 1970s, he continued to record and was a guest on Wolfman Jack's musical television show, The Midnight Special. At the time, Whitman's recording efforts were yielding only minor hits and in 1974 he stopped making new records.
Keep It a Secret
Slim Whitman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Keep it a secret whatever you do
Why should you tell me and break my poor heart
Then foolish pride would just drive us apart
If you see my darling in some rendezvous
Painting the town with a boy she once knew
Pay no attention and just let it be
If you see my darling in some rendezvous
Painting the town with a boy she once knew
Pay no attention and just let it be
But keep it a secret from me
The lyrics of Slim Whitman's song 'Keep It a Secret' conveys the message of a heartbreak, and a plea for secrecy. The singer implores the listener not to tell him if they happen to see his ex-lover with someone new, as this might shatter his heart and further sever the relationship. He expresses his hope that their 'foolish pride' would not drive them apart, and that they could still be friends, despite the breakup.
The repetition of the line 'Keep it a secret from me' underscores the importance of the message, as the singer repeatedly emphasizes his need to remain ignorant of his ex-lover's new romantic pursuits. The tone of the song is one of melancholy, as the singer reflects on what could have been, and the pain of losing someone he deeply cared about.
Overall, Slim Whitman's 'Keep It a Secret' is a poignant reminder of the heartbreak that comes with the end of a relationship, and the need for privacy and respect in moving on.
Line by Line Meaning
If you see my darling with somebody new
If you happen to come across my lover with another person
Keep it a secret whatever you do
Keep the discovery of this encounter to yourself, and don't spread the word
Why should you tell me and break my poor heart
There's no reason to tell me and cause me emotional distress
Then foolish pride would just drive us apart
Because my pride would drive us away from each other
If you see my darling in some rendezvous
If you happen to witness my love interest engaging in some romantic or social activity with someone else
Painting the town with a boy she once knew
Going out and having a good time with an old acquaintance
Pay no attention and just let it be
Don't draw attention to it and just let things run their course
But keep it a secret from me
But don't tell me about it, especially if it will cause me heartache or trouble
Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jessie Mae Robinson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Clayton Brown
Loved the backing of Hoot & curley and their steel guitars. Missing in so much country in the last 50 yrs