They began writing and recording their own music in 1956, and their first hit song came in 1957, with "Bye Bye Love", written by Felice and Boudleaux Bryant. The song hit No. 1 in the spring of 1957, and additional hits would follow through 1958, many of them written by the Bryants, including "Wake Up Little Susie", "All I Have to Do Is Dream", and "Problems". In 1960, they signed with the major label Warner Bros. Records and recorded "Cathy's Clown", written by the brothers themselves, which was their biggest selling single. The brothers enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve in 1961, and their output dropped off, though additional hit singles continued through 1962, with "That's Old Fashioned (That's the Way Love Should Be)" being their last top-10 hit.
Long-simmering disputes with Wesley Rose, the CEO of Acuff-Rose Music, which managed the group, a growing drug usage in the 1960s, as well as changing tastes in popular music, led to the group's decline in popularity in its native U.S., though the brothers continued to release hit singles in the U.K. and Canada, and had many highly successful tours throughout the 1960s. In the early 1970s, the brothers began releasing solo recordings, and in 1973 they officially broke up. Starting in 1983, the brothers got back together, and would continue to perform periodically until Phil's death in 2014. Don died seven years later.
The group was highly influential on the music of the generation that followed it. Many of the top acts of the 1960s were heavily influenced by the close-harmony singing and acoustic guitar playing of the Everly Brothers, including the Beatles, the Beach Boys, the Bee Gees, and Simon & Garfunkel. In 2015, Rolling Stone ranked the Everly Brothers No. 1 on its list of the 20 Greatest Duos of All Time. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as part of the inaugural class of 1986, and into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001. Don was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in 2019, earning the organization's first Iconic Riff Award for his distinctive rhythm guitar intro to the Everlys' massive 1957 hit "Wake Up Little Susie".
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Everly_Brothers
Away In a Manger
The Everly Brothers Lyrics
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The little Lord Jesus laid down his Sweet head.
The stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay,
The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.
The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,
But little Lord Jesus no crying he makes.
I love thee, Lord Jesus! Look down from the sky,
Be near me, Lord Jesus; I ask thee to stay
Close by me forever, and love me, I pray.
Bless all the dear children in thy tender care,
And fit us for heaven, to live with thee there.
The Everly Brothers's song Away in a Manger takes us on a lyrical journey to a quiet and peaceful manger, where the little Lord Jesus lays his sweet head as the stars in the bright sky look down upon him. The song paints a serene picture of the birth of Jesus, depicting what appears to be a still night where even the cattle are lowing and a baby's cries are nowhere to be heard. As the song progresses, the lyrics expose themes of love, devotion, and the need for guidance and protection from the Lord. It is a prayer-like lullaby that makes us feel warm and comforted, and teaches us to embrace the divine, cultivate our faith, and strive to become better people.
The lyrics convey a message of love and devotion that should be extended to all, including the dear children who need to be taught to love and be kind to others. Towards the end of the song, the lyrics are a prayer, a plea, for blessings and guidance, asking the Lord to stay close and to watch over us. It is a reminder to put our faith in something greater than ourselves and to pursue a life that is inspired by the divine.
Line by Line Meaning
Away in a manger, no crib for his bed,
Despite his importance, the little Lord Jesus did not have a comfortable crib to rest in.
The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.
The little Lord Jesus, despite not having a comfortable crib, rested his head peacefully.
The stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay,
The bright sky shone on the little Lord Jesus, watching over him wherever he rested.
The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.
Despite not having a comfortable crib, the little Lord Jesus fell asleep soundly on a bed of hay.
The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,
The sound of cattle in the manger caused the baby to stir from his sleep.
But little Lord Jesus no crying he makes.
Despite being awoken, the little Lord Jesus did not cry, displaying a peaceful nature.
I love thee, Lord Jesus! Look down from the sky,
The singer expresses their love for the Lord Jesus and asks him to watch over them from heaven.
And stay by my side until morning is nigh.
The artist requests that the Lord Jesus remains with them until the morning arrives.
Be near me, Lord Jesus; I ask thee to stay
The artist again expresses their desire for the Lord Jesus to remain close to them.
Close by me forever, and love me, I pray.
The artist requests not just closeness, but love from the Lord Jesus as well.
Bless all the dear children in thy tender care,
The singer asks that the Lord Jesus blesses all children who are under his loving watch.
And fit us for heaven, to live with thee there.
The artist requests that the Lord Jesus prepares them for heaven so that they may live with him eternally.
Writer(s): Kirkpatrick, Ledger
Contributed by Hailey F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.