THE TRADITION CONTINUES ...
Theirs is one of the most dis… Read Full Bio ↴THE TRADITION CONTINUES ...
Theirs is one of the most distinctive and recognizable sounds in the music industry. The four-part harmonies and upbeat songs of The Oak Ridge Boys have spawned dozens of country hits and a #1 pop smash, earned them Grammy, Dove, CMA and ACM awards and garnered a host of other industry and fan accolades. Every time they step before an audience, the Oaks bring 15 years of hits and 50 years of tradition to bear on a stage show widely acknowledged as among the most exciting anywhere. And, each remains as enthusiastic about the process as they have ever been.
"When I go on stage, I get the same feeling I had the first time I sang with The Oak Ridge Boys," says lead singer Duane Allen. "This is the only job I've ever wanted to have."
"Like everyone else in the group," adds bass singer extraordinaire Richard Sterban, "I was a fan of the Oaks before I became a member. I'm still a fan of the group today. Being in The Oak Ridge Boys is the fulfillment of a lifelong dream."
The two, along with tenor Joe Bonsall and baritone William Lee Golden, comprise one of country's truly legendary acts. Their string of hits includes the pop chart-topper "Elvira," as well as "Bobbie Sue," "Dream On," "Thank God For Kids," "American Made," "I Guess It Never Hurts To Hurt Sometimes," "Fancy Free," "Gonna Take A Lot Of River" and many others. They've scored ten gold, three platinum and one double platinum album, one double platinum single, and had more than a dozen national #1 singles.
The Oaks represent a tradition that extends back to 1943, before Hank Williams had a career. The original group, based in Knoxville, TN, began performing country and gospel music in nearby Oak Ridge where the atomic bomb was being developed. They called themselves the Oak Ridge Quartet, and they began regular Grand Ole Opry appearances in the fall of '45. In the mid-'50s, they were featured in Time magazine as one of the top drawing gospel groups in the nation.
By the late '60s, with more than 30 members having come and gone, they had a lineup that included Duane Allen, William Lee Golden, Noel Fox and Willie Wynn. Among the Oaks' many acquaintances in the gospel field were Bonsall, a streetwise Philadelphia kid who embraced gospel music wholeheartedly, and Sterban, who was singing in quartets and holding down a job as a men's clothing salesman. Both admired the distinctive, highly-popular Oaks.
"They were the most innovative quartet in gospel music," says Bonsall. "They performed gospel with a rock approach, had a full band, wore bell-bottom pants and grew their hair long ... things unheard of at the time."
The four became friends, and when the Oaks needed a bass and tenor, in '72 and '73 respectively, Sterban and Bonsall got the calls. The group remained a highly popular mainstay on the gospel circuit, and it was there they refined the strengths that would soon make them such an across-the-board attraction.
"We did a lot of package shows," said Bonsall, "and there was an incredible amount of competition. You had to blow people away to sell records and get invited back."
Their gospel sound had a distinct pop edge to it, and while it made for excitement and popularity, it also ruffled purist feathers and left promoters unsure about the Oaks' direction. Then, in 1975, the Oaks were booked to open a number of dates for Roy Clark, whose manager was floored by their abilities.
"He came backstage and told us we were three-and-a-half minutes ' meaning one hit record ' away from being a major act," says Bonsall. "He said we had one of the most dynamic stage shows he'd ever seen, but that we had to start singing country songs."
They took his advice, and the result was a breakthrough.
"Those who came to country music with or after the New Traditionalists of the mid-'80s cannot possibly imagine the impact the Oaks had in 1977 when they lit up the sky from horizon to horizon with "Y'All Come Back Saloon," said Billboard's Ed Morris, who added "... the vocal intensity the group brought to it instantly enriched and enlivened the perilously staid country format. These guys were exciting."
Within a year, Paul Simon would tap them to sing backup for his hit "Slip Slidin' Away," and they would go on to record with George Jones, Brenda Lee, Johnny Cash, Roy Rogers, Billy Ray Cyrus and others. They would appear before three presidents, produce one of the first country music videos ("Easy," in 1977, which wasn't released in the U.S. but hit #3 in Australia), take part in the first headline tour of the USSR, and become one of the most enduringly-successful touring groups anywhere.
They did it with a consistently upbeat musical approach and terrific business savvy.
"We always look for songs that have lasting value and that are uplifting," says Allen. "You don't hear us singing 'cheating' or 'drinking' songs, but 'loving' songs, because we think that will last. We also don't put music in categories, except for 'good' or 'bad.' When we get through with it, it's probably going to sound like an Oak Ridge Boys song no matter what it is."
They proved their business acumen in any number of ways, including such steps as declining the chance to sit on the couch during their many appearances on the Tonight Show.
"We said, 'If you're going to give us four minutes on the couch with Johnny, we'd rather have four minutes to give you another song that lets people know what got us here,'" says Allen. "We didn't get here talking; we got here singing," They also proved themselves to be capable and tireless advocates of charitable and civic causes, serving as spokesmen and/or board members of fundraisers for the Boy Scouts of America, the National Committee for Prevention of Child Abuse, Feed The Children, and many more.
The group's first personnel change in many years occurred in 1987 when Steve Sanders, who had been playing guitar in The Oaks Band, replaced William Lee as the baritone singer. Late in '95, Steve resigned from the Oaks and exactly one minute after midnight on New Year's Eve, Duane, Joe and Richard surprised the packed house at Holiday Star Theatre in Merrillville, IN, by welcoming William Lee on stage and back in group. The hitmakers were finally together again!
The Oaks' high-energy stage show remains the heart and soul of what they do, and they refine it several times a year, striving to keep it fresh well into the future.
"We're not willing to rest on our laurels," Golden says. "That gets boring. As a group, we do things constantly to challenge ourselves, to try to do something different or better than the last time we did it."
"I feel like I can do what I do on stage just as good now as I could 20 years ago," says Bonsall. "in fact, if anything, I'm in better shape now than I was 20 years ago. I plan to be rockin' my tail off out there as long as I'm healthy and don't look stupid doing it. The people who come out, who bring their families to see us, deserve everything I've got."
"We've experienced a lot of longevity," adds Sterban, "and I think the reason is the love we have for what we do - the desire, the longing to actually get up there and do it. We love to sing together ... to harmonize together. It's what our lives are all about."
Theirs is one of the most dis… Read Full Bio ↴THE TRADITION CONTINUES ...
Theirs is one of the most distinctive and recognizable sounds in the music industry. The four-part harmonies and upbeat songs of The Oak Ridge Boys have spawned dozens of country hits and a #1 pop smash, earned them Grammy, Dove, CMA and ACM awards and garnered a host of other industry and fan accolades. Every time they step before an audience, the Oaks bring 15 years of hits and 50 years of tradition to bear on a stage show widely acknowledged as among the most exciting anywhere. And, each remains as enthusiastic about the process as they have ever been.
"When I go on stage, I get the same feeling I had the first time I sang with The Oak Ridge Boys," says lead singer Duane Allen. "This is the only job I've ever wanted to have."
"Like everyone else in the group," adds bass singer extraordinaire Richard Sterban, "I was a fan of the Oaks before I became a member. I'm still a fan of the group today. Being in The Oak Ridge Boys is the fulfillment of a lifelong dream."
The two, along with tenor Joe Bonsall and baritone William Lee Golden, comprise one of country's truly legendary acts. Their string of hits includes the pop chart-topper "Elvira," as well as "Bobbie Sue," "Dream On," "Thank God For Kids," "American Made," "I Guess It Never Hurts To Hurt Sometimes," "Fancy Free," "Gonna Take A Lot Of River" and many others. They've scored ten gold, three platinum and one double platinum album, one double platinum single, and had more than a dozen national #1 singles.
The Oaks represent a tradition that extends back to 1943, before Hank Williams had a career. The original group, based in Knoxville, TN, began performing country and gospel music in nearby Oak Ridge where the atomic bomb was being developed. They called themselves the Oak Ridge Quartet, and they began regular Grand Ole Opry appearances in the fall of '45. In the mid-'50s, they were featured in Time magazine as one of the top drawing gospel groups in the nation.
By the late '60s, with more than 30 members having come and gone, they had a lineup that included Duane Allen, William Lee Golden, Noel Fox and Willie Wynn. Among the Oaks' many acquaintances in the gospel field were Bonsall, a streetwise Philadelphia kid who embraced gospel music wholeheartedly, and Sterban, who was singing in quartets and holding down a job as a men's clothing salesman. Both admired the distinctive, highly-popular Oaks.
"They were the most innovative quartet in gospel music," says Bonsall. "They performed gospel with a rock approach, had a full band, wore bell-bottom pants and grew their hair long ... things unheard of at the time."
The four became friends, and when the Oaks needed a bass and tenor, in '72 and '73 respectively, Sterban and Bonsall got the calls. The group remained a highly popular mainstay on the gospel circuit, and it was there they refined the strengths that would soon make them such an across-the-board attraction.
"We did a lot of package shows," said Bonsall, "and there was an incredible amount of competition. You had to blow people away to sell records and get invited back."
Their gospel sound had a distinct pop edge to it, and while it made for excitement and popularity, it also ruffled purist feathers and left promoters unsure about the Oaks' direction. Then, in 1975, the Oaks were booked to open a number of dates for Roy Clark, whose manager was floored by their abilities.
"He came backstage and told us we were three-and-a-half minutes ' meaning one hit record ' away from being a major act," says Bonsall. "He said we had one of the most dynamic stage shows he'd ever seen, but that we had to start singing country songs."
They took his advice, and the result was a breakthrough.
"Those who came to country music with or after the New Traditionalists of the mid-'80s cannot possibly imagine the impact the Oaks had in 1977 when they lit up the sky from horizon to horizon with "Y'All Come Back Saloon," said Billboard's Ed Morris, who added "... the vocal intensity the group brought to it instantly enriched and enlivened the perilously staid country format. These guys were exciting."
Within a year, Paul Simon would tap them to sing backup for his hit "Slip Slidin' Away," and they would go on to record with George Jones, Brenda Lee, Johnny Cash, Roy Rogers, Billy Ray Cyrus and others. They would appear before three presidents, produce one of the first country music videos ("Easy," in 1977, which wasn't released in the U.S. but hit #3 in Australia), take part in the first headline tour of the USSR, and become one of the most enduringly-successful touring groups anywhere.
They did it with a consistently upbeat musical approach and terrific business savvy.
"We always look for songs that have lasting value and that are uplifting," says Allen. "You don't hear us singing 'cheating' or 'drinking' songs, but 'loving' songs, because we think that will last. We also don't put music in categories, except for 'good' or 'bad.' When we get through with it, it's probably going to sound like an Oak Ridge Boys song no matter what it is."
They proved their business acumen in any number of ways, including such steps as declining the chance to sit on the couch during their many appearances on the Tonight Show.
"We said, 'If you're going to give us four minutes on the couch with Johnny, we'd rather have four minutes to give you another song that lets people know what got us here,'" says Allen. "We didn't get here talking; we got here singing," They also proved themselves to be capable and tireless advocates of charitable and civic causes, serving as spokesmen and/or board members of fundraisers for the Boy Scouts of America, the National Committee for Prevention of Child Abuse, Feed The Children, and many more.
The group's first personnel change in many years occurred in 1987 when Steve Sanders, who had been playing guitar in The Oaks Band, replaced William Lee as the baritone singer. Late in '95, Steve resigned from the Oaks and exactly one minute after midnight on New Year's Eve, Duane, Joe and Richard surprised the packed house at Holiday Star Theatre in Merrillville, IN, by welcoming William Lee on stage and back in group. The hitmakers were finally together again!
The Oaks' high-energy stage show remains the heart and soul of what they do, and they refine it several times a year, striving to keep it fresh well into the future.
"We're not willing to rest on our laurels," Golden says. "That gets boring. As a group, we do things constantly to challenge ourselves, to try to do something different or better than the last time we did it."
"I feel like I can do what I do on stage just as good now as I could 20 years ago," says Bonsall. "in fact, if anything, I'm in better shape now than I was 20 years ago. I plan to be rockin' my tail off out there as long as I'm healthy and don't look stupid doing it. The people who come out, who bring their families to see us, deserve everything I've got."
"We've experienced a lot of longevity," adds Sterban, "and I think the reason is the love we have for what we do - the desire, the longing to actually get up there and do it. We love to sing together ... to harmonize together. It's what our lives are all about."
King Jesus
The Oak Ridge Boys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
King Jesus
All the armies of the world will someday gather
and they'll pass before the great reviewing stand
And they'll beat their swords and weapons into plowshares
and the Prince of Peace shall give the last command
When King Jesus comes to live with us again
He will show His righteous love to every man
Wars and strife will all be passed
there'll be peace on earth at last
When King Jesus comes to live with us again
Unobscured the sun will drive away the shadows
At the dawning of that great eternal day
and there'll be no sounds of crying in the ghetto
for all grief and pain and death shall pass away
When King Jesus comes to live with us again
He will show His righteous love to every man
Wars and strife will all be passed
there'll be peace on earth at last
When King Jesus comes to live with us again
Repeat When King Jesus comes to live with us again
He will show His righteous love to every man
Wars and strife will all be passed
there'll be peace on earth at last
When King Jesus comes to live with us again
Repeat - fading
When King Jesus comes to live with us again
He will show His righteous love to every man
Wars and strife will all be passed
there'll be peace on earth at last
When King Jesus comes to live with us again
All the armies of the world will someday gather
and they'll pass before the great reviewing stand
And they'll beat their swords and weapons into plowshares
and the Prince of Peace shall give the last command
When King Jesus comes to live with us again
Wars and strife will all be passed
there'll be peace on earth at last
When King Jesus comes to live with us again
Unobscured the sun will drive away the shadows
At the dawning of that great eternal day
and there'll be no sounds of crying in the ghetto
for all grief and pain and death shall pass away
When King Jesus comes to live with us again
He will show His righteous love to every man
Wars and strife will all be passed
there'll be peace on earth at last
When King Jesus comes to live with us again
Repeat When King Jesus comes to live with us again
He will show His righteous love to every man
Wars and strife will all be passed
there'll be peace on earth at last
When King Jesus comes to live with us again
Repeat - fading
When King Jesus comes to live with us again
He will show His righteous love to every man
Wars and strife will all be passed
there'll be peace on earth at last
When King Jesus comes to live with us again
The Oak Ridge Boys' song "King Jesus" is a powerful tribute to the Second Coming of Christ. The song envisions a future in which all of the armies of the world unite before a great reviewing stand, laying down their weapons and transforming them into tools for peaceful agriculture. At that point, the Prince of Peace will issue his final command and usher in a new era of harmony and love.
As the song continues, it describes a world in which the sun unobscured by shadows drives away all of the darkness, and there is no more crying in the ghetto. All of the pain and difficulty that currently plague humanity - wars, strife, and death - will pass away, and there will be peace on earth at last.
The lyrics of "King Jesus" present a hopeful vision of the future that is rooted in the gospel message of love and forgiveness. The song is a reminder that even in the darkest times, we can hold on to the hope and promise of a brighter tomorrow when King Jesus returns to live among us and show us his righteous love.
Line by Line Meaning
All the armies of the world will someday gather
One day, all the armies of the world will gather together
and they'll pass before the great reviewing stand
They will march in front of a great reviewing stand
And they'll beat their swords and weapons into plowshares
They will convert their weapons into farming tools
and the Prince of Peace shall give the last command
Jesus, who is known as the Prince of Peace, will give the order to make this conversion
When King Jesus comes to live with us again
When Jesus returns to Earth once more
He will show His righteous love to every man
He will display his love for all people, and it will be fair and just
Wars and strife will all be passed
All wars and conflicts will be over
there'll be peace on earth at last
The world will finally be at peace
Unobscured the sun will drive away the shadows
The sun will shine without any hindrance and eliminate all darkness
At the dawning of that great eternal day
On the day that is eternal and great
and there'll be no sounds of crying in the ghetto
In the area that has been historically oppressed, there will be no more sounds of crying
for all grief and pain and death shall pass away
All sadness, sorrow, and death will be gone forever
Writer(s): Maurice L. Delamont
Contributed by Jeremiah J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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JDouglas
There are rumors that this was created in a recording studio. I think it's possible, but I can remember buying the album in 1974 just to listen to the live version of King Jesus. I still have the album after 50 years. Ahh, you're in store for a great singin' tonight. . . is a precious memory I have of that album.
B.B. Brackin
Mom played that forever when it was new The Oaks ,Hinson’s ,Downings She had a life changing experience with Jesus and everything changed about ‘74 .
We started going to a full Gospel church and as a kid I thought Jesus was coming back at anytime.
The services were amazing.
And our house constantly reverberated music like this from our console stereo.
PTL was new and good too
Always on. Lord give us expectation like we had back then.
I remember not even doing my homework one night because I thought Jesus was coming back..
We’ve made this world too much of our home.
We are to be pilgrims and strangers passing through.
Thanks for this.
Mark Toler
I have been searching for this version for a long time, I remember it as a kid. It's always blessed me.
Dixonville Wesleyan Church
me too
Doris Dutton
Just lovejesus
David Drake
Great Gospel song! They boys do a great job!
B.B. Brackin
Mom played that forever when it was new The Oaks ,Hinson’s ,Downings She had a life changing experience with Jesus and everything changed about ‘74 .
We started going to a full Gospel church and as a kid I thought Jesus was coming back at anytime.
The services were amazing.
And our house constantly reverberated music like this from our console stereo.
PTL was new and good too
Always on. Lord give us expectation like we had back then.
I remember not even doing my homework one night because I thought Jesus was coming back..
We’ve made this world too much of our home.
We are to be pilgrims and strangers passing through.
Thanks for this.
Captain Diligence
Amen! You are my kinda Christian!
David Shockey
This brings back a lot of memories. I played this song when I worked in gospel radio in 1977
Lynn Cawood
Me too.
Gregory Lyons
I have this album and it is one of my favorites.