There are at least three artists named Tommy Scott:

1. Tommy Scott -… Read Full Bio ↴There are at least three artists named Tommy Scott:

1. Tommy Scott - Singer, Songwriter, Record Producer was born in Glasgow, and worked initially in the Clydeside Shipyards.

His musical career began with appearances in theatre, radio and TV with many of Scotland's legendary entertainers, including Andy Stewart*, Chic Murray, and Lex McLean. He travelled the length and breadth of the country with "The White Heather Club", Jimmy Shand, Willie Starr and Jack Radcliffe, and also performed the cabaret circuits in England, Germany, France and Holland.
In demand as a producer and one of Britain's most consistent hit makers, charting no fewer than 34 times. Now with sales soaring over the million mark this truly does make Tommy Scott a Star.

2. Ramblin' Tommy Scott (June 24, 1917 – September 30, 2013),[1] aka "Doc" Tommy Scott, was an American country and rockabilly musician.
"Ramblin'" Thomas Scott was born outside of Toccoa, Georgia, United States, and began playing the guitar at age ten. After high school he joined Doc Chamberlain's medicine show, and got his first job in radio on WTFL in Athens, Georgia in 1933. He also sold Vim Herb on the radio. After Chamberlain retired and gave Scott the patent medicines, he landed a regular job fronting the Uncle Pete and Minervy show on Raleigh, North Carolina's WPTF, and soon after this he was offered a job with Charlie Monroe becoming the first Kentucky Partner as a feature act - Rambling Scotty. He performed on the WWVA Jamboree in Wheeling, West Virginia with Monroe and was also a frequent soloist there, and did skits involving ventriloquism and blackface. Monroe and Scott started the Man-O-Ree medicine company selling Scott's patent laxative over the radio. The group moved to WHAS in Louisville, Kentucky, where he did the early morning show. His medicine and musical partnership came to an end with Monroe and he soon launched a tent show with Curly Seckler.
He married his wife Frankie in 1940; the couple had a daughter, Sandra; both women became part of his stage show, his films and TV shows. In the 1940s he did radio transcriptions which were broadcast nationwide. By 1942 he had his own stage show traveling coast to coast, 'Ramblin' Tommy Scott's Hollywood Hillbilly Jamboree'. He began the Herb-O-Lac Medicine Company and later Katona Medicine Company selling laxatives and liniments. He soon joined the Grand Ole Opry and later went to Hollywood to begin a career in film and TV.
Beginning with Carolina Cotton in 1949, Scott's road show, which operated six days per week from January through early December, featured Scott with some guest stars from film and TV. Amongst those appearing were "Fuzzy" Al St. John, David "Stringbean" Akeman, Tim McCoy, Clyde Moody, Johnny Mack Brown, Sunset Carson, and Randall Franks. The show traveled consistently until the mid-1990s.
Bluegrass Music Hall of Famer Curly Seckler recorded with Scott numerous times throughout his career. Earliest recordings date to the 1940s with the most recent in the 1980s. Scott recorded consistently from the 1930s-2000s and released a number of solo sides in the 1950s and 1960s which branched into rockabilly. According to the introduction of his autobiography, Snake Oil, Superstars and Me, published in 2007, Scott was then 90 years old. His wife died in 2004.
Scott died in September 2013.

3. The lead singer of the band Space. In the mid 2010s, Scott began making sporadic gig appearances in his own name, and featured on a couple of guest appearances. To date, he has not released any solo material.

Distant Drums
Tommy Scott Lyrics

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I hear the sound of distant drums,
Far away, far away.
And if they call for me to come,
Then I must go, and you must stay.
So, Mary, marry me, let's not wait.
Let's share all the time we can before it's too late.
Love me now, for now is all the time there may be.
If you love me, Mary, Mary, marry me.

I hear the sound of bugles blowing,
Far away, far away.
And if they call, then I must go
Across the sea, so wild and gray.
So, Mary, marry me, let's not wait,
Or the distant drums might change our wedding day.

Love me now, for now is all the time there may be.
If you love me, Mary, Mary, marry me.

Overall Meaning

In "Distant Drums," Tommy Scott paints a poignant picture of love threatened by the uncertainties of war and separation. The repeated refrain of hearing the "sound of distant drums" serves as a metaphor for impending conflict. These drums symbolize not just the literal call to arms but also the emotional upheaval that comes with the knowledge that the singer may be called away at any moment. The phrase "far away" emphasizes the distance, both physical and emotional, that could soon separate the singer from his beloved, Mary. In this light, the singer's longing is amplified by a sense of urgency — he recognizes that time is fleeting, and actions must be taken before circumstance dictates otherwise. The line "if they call for me to come, then I must go, and you must stay" captures the painful reality of sacrifice that those facing the prospect of battle experience.

Scott uses the lyrics to propose an immediate union, urging Mary to "marry me, let's not wait." This plea highlights the tension between the uncertainty of the future and the desire to seize the present. The singer wants to forge a connection based on love and commitment, recognizing that the inevitability of war looms over them. This immediacy underscores a deeper truth about love: it is often the case that one must act decisively to protect their affection and bond before fate intervenes. The urgency embedded in the word "now" indicates a longing for stability amid chaos, suggesting that love can offer solace against the backdrop of a turbulent world that threatens to pull them apart.

The refrain also reveals a sense of resignation, as the singer acknowledges the reality of the situation. The repetition of phrases such as "love me now" reinforces the precariousness faced by couples during wartime. This reflects broader themes of mortality and the ephemeral nature of life and relationships. The notion that "now is all the time there may be" speaks to a universal truth about seizing fleeting moments, as the specter of war can render the future uncertain. The urgency in the singer's voice becomes a call to live authentically in the moment, to prioritize love before it may be too late, and this generates an emotional urgency that resonates deeply with listeners.

In the second verse, the imagery shifts slightly with the addition of "bugles blowing," adding a layer of military symbolism. This serves to emphasize not just the threat of battle, but also the communal nature of war, where many may be called upon to serve. The phrase "across the sea, so wild and gray" evokes visions of untamed landscapes, potentially suggesting the vast and uncontrolled nature of conflict that awaits beyond the familiar. Thus, the singer's plea to Mary gains additional weight as he acknowledges the possibility that their wedding day could slip away if he is drafted or sent off to fight. The song encapsulates the heart-wrenching reality faced by countless lovers during times of war — that their plans may be dashed by circumstances beyond their control, and so he implores her again to embrace the present moment, remind her of their love, and affirm their commitment before the unpredictabilities of life take over.

Distant DrumsTommy Scott Lyrics

Distant Drums
Tommy Scott Lyrics