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.
Hello Mary Lou
The Statler Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And oh, I wanted you forevermore
I'm not one that gets around, swear my feet's stuck to the ground
And though I never did meet you before
Hello Mary Lou, goodbye heart
Sweet Mary Lou, I'm so in love with you
I knew Mary Lou, we'd never part
I saw your lips, I heard your voice, believe me I just had no choice
Wild horses couldn't make me stay away
I thought about a moonlit night, arms around you good an' tight
And that's all I had to see for me to say
Hello Mary Lou, goodbye heart
Sweet Mary Lou, I'm so in love with you
I knew Mary Lou, we'd never part
So hello Mary Lou, goodbye heart
Hello Mary Lou, goodbye heart
Sweet Mary Lou, I'm so in love with you
I knew Mary Lou, we'd never part
So hello Mary Lou, goodbye heart
So hello Mary Lou, goodbye heart
The Statler Brothers's song Hello Mary Lou is a classic love song that perfectly captures the feeling of love at first sight. The song speaks about a summer day when the singer meets Mary Lou for the first time, and he is struck by her beauty and charm. He is so captivated by her that he knew he would love her forevermore from the moment he saw her. The singer admits that he's not one to get around much, and he is a little surprised by the intensity of his feelings for Mary Lou.
The song's chorus perfectly encapsulates the singer's emotions and his determination to be with Mary Lou forever. The phrase "Hello Mary Lou, goodbye heart" is the epitome of a love-struck man who is willing to risk everything for the woman he loves. The verses talk about the singer's thoughts and feelings about Mary Lou and how he could not stay away from her even if he wanted to. The song speaks to the power of love, and how it can sometimes take us by surprise but ultimately leads us to happiness and fulfillment.
Overall, Hello Mary Lou is a beautiful love song that has stood the test of time. It is a testament to the enduring power of love and just how powerful it can be when it strikes you unexpectedly.
Line by Line Meaning
Passed me by one summer day, flashed those big brown eyes my way
One day I saw Mary Lou and she caught my attention with her big brown eyes
And oh, I wanted you forevermore
I had an instant and strong desire to be with Mary Lou for the rest of my life
I'm not one that gets around, swear my feet's stuck to the ground
I don't tend to pursue many romantic interests and I feel rooted to one place in my life
And though I never did meet you before
Despite never having met Mary Lou before, I was immediately drawn to her
Hello Mary Lou, goodbye heart
I greet Mary Lou with excitement and simultaneously feel my heart slipping away
Sweet Mary Lou, I'm so in love with you
I have fallen deeply in love with Mary Lou and it feels so sweet
I knew Mary Lou, we'd never part
I had a feeling deep within me that Mary Lou and I would never separate
So hello Mary Lou, goodbye heart
I repeat my greeting to Mary Lou and acknowledge that my heart is leaving me as I fall deeper in love with her
I saw your lips, I heard your voice, believe me I just had no choice
As Mary Lou spoke, I was captivated by her words and her lips, and I knew I couldn't resist her
Wild horses couldn't make me stay away
I am so drawn to Mary Lou that even if there were obstacles, like wild horses, I wouldn't be able to stay away from her
I thought about a moonlit night, arms around you good an' tight
I dreamt of holding Mary Lou in my arms on a romantic moonlit night, tightly embracing her with love
And that's all I had to see for me to say
Just the thought of Mary Lou in my arms was enough for me to know that I was ready to be with her
So hello Mary Lou, goodbye heart
Again, I greet Mary Lou with anticipation and acknowledge that my heart is departing from me as I fall more deeply in love with her
Sweet Mary Lou, I'm so in love with you
I reaffirm my love for Mary Lou, feeling so sweet and passionate about her
I knew Mary Lou, we'd never part
Once again, I express my conviction that Mary Lou and I will never separate
So hello Mary Lou, goodbye heart
One final time, I greet Mary Lou and acknowledge that my heart is slipping away from me as I am consumed by my love for her
Lyrics © editionPlus Verlags GmbH, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Cayet Mangiaracina, Gene Pitney
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind