Originally performing gospel music at local churches, the group billed themselves as The Four Star Quartet, and later The Kingsmen. In 1963, when the song "Louie, Louie" by the garage rock band also called The Kingsmen became famous, the group elected to bill themselves as The Statler Brothers. Despite the name, only two members of the group (Don and Harold Reid) are actual brothers and none have the surname of "Statler". The band, in fact, named themselves after a brand of facial tissue they had noticed in a hotel room (they joked that they could have turned out to be the Kleenex Brothers). Don Reid sang lead. Harold Reid, Don's older brother, sang bass. Phil Balsley sang baritone and Jimmy Fortune sang tenor after replacing original tenor Lew DeWitt in the early 1980s due to the latter's ill health. DeWitt died on August 15, 1990 of heart and kidney disease, stemming from complications of Crohn's disease.
The band's style was closely linked to their gospel roots. "We took gospel harmonies," said Harold Reid, "and put them over in country music."
The group remained closely tied to their gospel roots, with a majority of their records containing at least one gospel song. They produced several albums containing only gospel music and recorded a tribute song to the Blackwood Brothers, who influenced their music. The Statler Brothers also wrote a tribute song to Johnny Cash, who discovered them. The song was called "We Got Paid by Cash", and it reminisces about their time with Cash
Since forming, the Statler Brothers have released over 40 albums. They received Grammy Awards in 1966 and 1973. Two of their best-known songs are their first big hit, Flowers on the Wall, and the socially-conscious Bed of Roses. Late in their career they had a regular variety show on the cable television channel then known as The Nashville Network. Throughout their career, much of their appeal was related to their considerable ability for comedy and parody that they frequently interspersed into their musical act; they were frequently nominated for awards for their comedy as well as their singing. They recorded two comedy albums as Lester Moran and the Cadillac Cowboys, and one-half of one side of the album Country Music Then and Now was also devoted to satirizing small-town radio stations' Saturday morning shows.
The group disbanded and retired after completing a farewell tour on October 26, 2002. Balsley and the Reid brothers continue to reside in Staunton, while Fortune has relocated to Nashville, where he is continuing his music career as a solo artist. He has released three albums as a soloist. The Statlers continue to be the most awarded act in the history of country music.
Since the Statlers' retirement in 2002, Don has pursued a second career as an author. He authored or co-authored three books: Heroes and Outlaws of the Bible, Sunday Morning Memories, and You'll Know It's Christmas When.... He and Harold co-wrote a history of the Statler Brothers titled Random Memories released in February 2008.
The Statler Brothers have been credited as the first country music act to transfer the genre's nostalgia from a rural to a suburban setting. They have also been called "America's Poets" by Kurt Vonnegut.
Burning Bridges
The Statler Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Now they're gone I'd burned them to ashes don't want nothing to remind me of you
Burning bridges behind me it's too late to turn back now
Burning bridges behind me all I want is to forget you somehow
Sold the house that we once planned together
Said goodbye to the friends that we once knew
Then I moved to the faraway city trying hard to forget about you
All I want is to forget you somehow
The Statler Brothers's "Burning Bridges" is a story of a man who is trying to move on after a failed relationship. The song opens with him finding letters that were written by his lover. These letters are a reminder of their past and the love they used to share. However, rather than hold onto them, he decides to burn them to ashes so that he can forget her and move on.
The lyrics then move forward as he describes how he has decided to sell their house and say goodbye to their mutual friends. He moves to a faraway city in hopes of starting fresh and forgetting about her. The repetition of the line "burning bridges behind me" emphasizes his determination to leave the past behind and not look back.
The song's message is a relatable one as many people try to burn bridges and start over after a failed relationship. The chorus is particularly catchy, and the harmonies of the Statler Brothers shine throughout the song. They give the song a sense of nostalgia and a touch of sadness.
Line by Line Meaning
Found some letters you wrote me this morning they told of a love we once knew
I read letters you wrote me about our past love and relationship this morning.
Now they're gone I'd burned them to ashes don't want nothing to remind me of you
I burned the letters to ashes because I don't want any reminders of you.
Burning bridges behind me it's too late to turn back now
I am cutting off all ties and opportunities to reconcile, I have gone too far to turn back now.
Burning bridges behind me all I want is to forget you somehow
I am intentionally severing all connections with you and all I desire is to forget you.
Sold the house that we once planned together
I sold the house that we had planned to live in together.
Said goodbye to the friends that we once knew
I said farewell to the friends we had in common.
Then I moved to the faraway city trying hard to forget about you
I relocated to a distant town, making a conscious effort to forget about you.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Walter Scott
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind