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
Only Me
The Everly Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That keeps me from the precious things I feel
Where is the heart of me
Who am I
Where are those special wings
Oh that fly me to the world that's in your eyes
I see it waiting there
Where are those open doors
That let me in and never lose the key
Oh that’s where I should be
Next to you
Where is that dream of me
That used to seem so wonderful oh and real
Oh that's what I should be
Only me
The lyrics to The Everly Brothers’ song Only Me seem to be a search for one’s true self and place in life. The opening verse asks, “Where is that part of me / That keeps me from the precious things I feel / Where is the heart of me / Who am I?” These lines suggest an inner turmoil, a struggle to find one’s own identity and understand the workings of one’s heart. Through these questions, the lyrics seek to find something that has been lost, but what that something is remains unclear.
The following verses continue the search, asking for “those special wings” that bring the singer closer to their loved one, and “those open doors” that let them in and keep them close. The chorus is perhaps the most telling, as it declares the desire to be “Only me,” a declaration of the importance of individuality and the need to be true to oneself. As the song progresses, it becomes clear that the search for identity and direction can only be achieved through self-reflection and introspection.
Overall, Only Me is a thoughtful exploration of what it means to be human, to seek love and connection, and to understand oneself in the process. The lyrics are both reflective and philosophical, and the melody is hauntingly beautiful. It’s a song that speaks to the universal desire to find oneself, and it does so with grace and sensitivity.
Line by Line Meaning
Where is that part of me
What is holding me back from experiencing the emotions I crave so deeply?
That keeps me from the precious things I feel
What is preventing me from being in touch with my true emotions?
Where is the heart of me
What is the essence of who I am as a person?
Who am I
What is my true identity and how can I fully embrace it?
Where are those special wings
What resources do I need to find to bring me closer to the person I aspire to be?
Oh that fly me to the world that's in your eyes
What is it about someone else that draws me closer and inspires me to be a better person?
I see it waiting there
What future awaits me if I can overcome my own setbacks and reach my full potential?
Where am I
What path do I need to take to find myself and unlock my full potential?
Where are those open doors
What opportunities are available to me and how can I seize them?
That let me in and never lose the key
What relationships have the power to unlock my true self and never let me lose sight of who I am?
Oh that’s where I should be
What do I need to do to find my place in the world and be surrounded by the people who matter most?
Next to you
What role do others play in helping me discover who I am and who I want to be?
Where is that dream of me
What is the vision I have for myself and how can I make it a reality?
That used to seem so wonderful oh and real
How can I reignite the passion I once had for my dreams and aspirations?
Oh that's what I should be
What actions do I need to take to align myself with my true dreams and aspirations?
Only me
What unique talents and abilities do I possess that can help me achieve what I desire?
Contributed by Cameron T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@maw3844
Just love this song. So lovely to hear Don's wonderful voice again. Thank you.
@belovia50
I could close my eyes and sail off somewhere so blissfully blessed that I would think I had gone to Heaven just listening to Don's gorgeous voice. Thanks, Mark for a fantastic post.
@sarahsaydee9743
Thanks for sharing these wonderful momories with us fans. Never met the two brothers in person but the little that i have read phil seemed like a kind, loving gentle soul. He loved his brother don, they loved each other, it shows when they sing. I missed him, we missed him, can't get enough of their music, thanks.
@sherlaynekearns9110
Melancholy, yet heartwarming. Everly Brothers: Greatest singers of all time. I love them both, and am terribly saddened by Phil's demise. Rest in peace, O beautiful Child of God.
@mariemccarty3128
Beautiful song ,sad ,but I loved hearing Don again, after so many years I found this site when thinking about these two brothers.So glad I did.
@belovia50
Sweet and sad, yet so tender and lovely. Thanks, Mary for sharing, and Mark for posting. *****.
@gillisvg7508
Don is my fav solo singer .
@chainamarie03
Phil had a fantastic voice...imo
@mauidreamer2801
THANK YOU for this wonderful post Mark! Thought I'd lost it for good. And a special thank you to my friend Mary for sharing this with me.
@annaredda5
great solo- never be another Everly Bros!!!!