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."
Little Things
The Oak Ridge Boys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's the words you whisper when we're driftin' off to sleep
A certain way you touch me, the way you say "hello"
Baby it's the little things that make me love you so.
The way you pour your coffee in the early mornin' light
The way you call my name out in the middle of the night
How you sit for hours singin' with the radio
It's not the memories or all that we've been through
It's not the distant dreams that keep me coming back to you
It's not the promises that keep me warm at night
It's just the every day, it's just the safe and sound, it's just our home sweet home.
And when we're old and gray now and the kids have gone away
We're alone together I may turn to you and say
There's something I forgot to tell you and by now I think you'll know
Baby it's the little things that make me love you so.
Woah woah, Baby it's the little things that make me love you so.
Walkin' in the park, kissin' in the dark
The little things that baby makes me feel alright now
Baby it's the little things that make me love you
Baby it's the little things that make me love you so
The Oak Ridge Boys' song "Little Things" is a heartfelt tribute to the subtle gestures and moments of love that make a relationship special. The lyrics describe various examples of these "little things," such as the way the singer's partner kisses him while they're walking down the street, or the way they call his name in the middle of the night. It's these small, intimate moments that create a sense of comfort and warmth in the relationship, as they shape the couple's daily routines and build a strong emotional foundation.
The song's message is that, despite any challenges or hardships they may face, it's these little things that keep the love between them alive. Rather than relying on grand gestures or big promises, the couple's bond is strengthened by the everyday moments of tenderness and affection that they share. The lyrics also suggest that these little things will continue to hold meaning for the couple as they age, even when their children have grown up and left the nest. The song ends with the singer imagining a future moment when he might turn to his partner and say, "There's something I forgot to tell you," before reassuring her that it's these little things that truly make him love her.
Line by Line Meaning
It's the way you kiss me when we're walkin' down the street
The sweet way you kiss me when we're out walking tells me how much you care
It's the words you whisper when we're driftin' off to sleep
The kind words you whisper when we're falling asleep are the last thoughts that comfort me
A certain way you touch me, the way you say "hello"
The special way you touch me and greet me shows me how much you love me
Baby it's the little things that make me love you so.
All those small gestures and little things in our relationship make me fall in love with you even more
The way you pour your coffee in the early mornin' light
Watching you make your coffee in the morning, bathed in light, is a small but important moment in our day
The way you call my name out in the middle of the night
When you call my name in the middle of the night, it shows how much you trust me and rely on me
How you sit for hours singin' with the radio
The way you can get lost in music and sing along for hours is one of the little things I find charming and endearing
It's not the memories or all that we've been through
Our past experiences together aren't what keep me in love with you
It's not the distant dreams that keep me coming back to you
Our shared hopes and aspirations for the future aren't what make me stay with you
It's not the promises that keep me warm at night
It's not the promises you make me that give me comfort, but your everyday love and care
It's just the every day, it's just the safe and sound, it's just our home sweet home.
It's really the little moments in our day-to-day, the sense of security we give each other, and our shared home that make our love strong
And when we're old and gray now and the kids have gone away
When we're older and our children have moved out, it will just be us
We're alone together I may turn to you and say
There may be a day when we're alone together and I realize how much you mean to me
There's something I forgot to tell you and by now I think you'll know
There may be something I forget to say, but I know you'll understand how I feel
Baby it's the little things that make me love you so.
Even when we're old and gray, it's still the little things that make me fall in love with you
Woah woah, Baby it's the little things that make me love you so.
The little things in our relationship are what make me love you more and more
Walkin' in the park, kissin' in the dark
Those simple moments, like walking in the park or kissing in the dark, are what make our love special
The little things that baby makes me feel alright now
Those small gestures from you make everything in my world feel alright
Baby it's the little things that make me love you
For me, it's really the little everyday things that make me love you more and more
Baby it's the little things that make me love you so.
It's really the little things in our relationship that make our love so strong and true
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHN BARBER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
cactuscircle
This is one group no one can cover! Every voice is unique but blends perfectly which is impossible to duplicate. 2:40
Michael Nelson
They sang harmony on Paul simon's slip slidin away
Kevin Dombrowski
One of the original boy bands, 100% more talent, 100% more substance.
Brent Woods
Love this song great group ❤
katzz6114
Love this song
Dave Wollenberg
It hit #1 on the Billboard country chart in '85.
D W
I remember
Pearliemae Stilwell
I love the words in this song and Only the Oakridge Boys could sing it this pretty!:)
Roxanne T
I always thought this was such a sweet song.
mkl62
A #1 hit for The Oak Ridge Boys on the Country & Western charts. It was the 760th #1 C&W song of the Rock Era. I have never seen them in person, but my mother did several years back at the Newberry (SC) Opera House.