Doonican started performing in his home town and featured in the first ever television broadcast from Waterford. He then joined a band which toured Ireland playing the drums. In 1951 he moved to England to join another group, The Four Ramblers who toured and performed on BBC Radio shows broadcast from factories.
He eventually went solo and had a radio show as well as performing concerts and cabaret. In 1963 he was booked to appear on Sunday Night at the London Palladium. As a result of this performance, he was offered his own show on BBC television, lasting for over twenty years and moving to Saturday as its popularity grew. It featured his relaxed crooner style performance sitting in a rocking chair, as well as a number of comic Irish songs, notably "Paddy McGinty's Goat", "Delaney's Donkey", and "Rafferty's Motor Car", on which he accompanied himself on acoustic guitar. He often wore a cardigan which became a trade mark, and was sometimes compared to American singer Perry Como though Doonican has claimed his main influence was Bing Crosby. As a variety show, there were a number of other acts featured and performers such as Dave Allen had early exposure on the show.
The Palladium performance also kick-started his recording career. Between 1964 and 1973 he was rarely out of the UK Singles Chart, his greatest successes including the singles "Walk Tall", "The Special Years", "What Would I Be", "If The Whole World Stopped Loving", and "Morning"; and the albums 13 Lucky Shades of Val Doonican, and Val Doonican Rocks, But Gently. He also sang the theme song to the film, Ring of Bright Water.
He stopped performing in 2009 and spent a lot of his free time in Spain (where he had a second home).
Doonican's daughter wrote two books entitled Wired to the Moon and Fear of Custard under the name Sarah Kavanagh. Both stories are related to the performance entertainment world.
A Thing Called Love
Val Doonican Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I saw that giant of a man brought down to his knees by love.
He was the kind of man to gamble on luck,
Look you in the eye and never back up,
But I saw him crying like a little whipped pup, because of love.
Can't see it with your eyes, hold it in your hands,
Strong enough to rule the heart of any man, this thing called love.
It can lift you up, it can put you down,
Take your world and turn it around,
Ever since time nothing's ever been found, stronger than love.
Some men are like me, they worry and doubt,
Trouble their minds day in and day out,
Too busy with livin' to worry about, a thing called love.
But then I see a mother's tenderness,
As she holds her young close to her breast,
Then I think by God this world was blessed, with a thing called love.
Can't see it with your eyes, hold it in your hands,
Like the wind it covers our land,
Strong enough to rule the heart of any man, this thing called love.
It can lift you up, it can put you down,
Take your world and turn it around,
Ever since time nothing's ever been found, stronger than love.
Val Doonican's "A Thing Called Love" is a poignant and introspective song that explores the power and nuances of love. The opening lines introduce a formidable man: "Six foot six, stood on the ground, weighed two hundred and thirty-five pounds." But even someone like him can be brought to his knees by love. The song goes on to portray love as an intangible force that cannot be seen but can profoundly affect our lives. It is described as something that can cover the land like wind, lift you up or put you down, and even rule the heart of any man. In contrast to the powerful aspects of love, the song also acknowledges that some people are too busy with the demands of life to even think about love.
The third verse provides a different angle on love, portraying it as a mother's tenderness as she holds her child close to her breast. This image serves as a reminder that love is not just romantic, but it also manifests itself in familial or parental relationships. The song concludes with a reiteration of the refrain, affirming the enduring strength of love, which has been felt throughout time and never been surpassed.
Line by Line Meaning
Six foot six, stood on the ground, weighed two hundred and thirty-five pounds,
He was a towering figure with an imposing physical presence.
But I saw that giant of a man brought down to his knees by love.
Despite his stature and strength, love can humble even the mightiest of men.
He was the kind of man to gamble on luck,
He was a risk-taker who lived life with daring and audacity.
Look you in the eye and never back up,
He was fearless and unyielding in the face of challenges.
But I saw him crying like a little whipped pup, because of love.
Love has the power to reduce even the bravest of men to tears.
Can't see it with your eyes, hold it in your hands,
Love is intangible and cannot be grasped physically.
Like the wind it covers our land,
Love is ubiquitous and all-encompassing.
Strong enough to rule the heart of any man, this thing called love.
Love is a force so powerful that it can control the emotions and decisions of anyone.
It can lift you up, it can put you down,
Love has the potential to bring great joy or deep sorrow.
Take your world and turn it around,
Love has the ability to transform one's life completely.
Ever since time nothing's ever been found, stronger than love.
Throughout history, nothing has proven to be as influential and impactful as love.
Some men are like me, they worry and doubt,
There are those who let their anxieties and uncertainties consume them.
Trouble their minds day in and day out,
Their concerns are a constant source of stress and anxiety.
Too busy with livin' to worry about, a thing called love.
They are preoccupied with the demands of everyday life and fail to appreciate the importance of love.
But then I see a mother's tenderness,
The gentle affection of a mother towards her child is a powerful example of love.
As she holds her young close to her breast,
The act of holding and comforting one's child is an expression of love.
Then I think by God this world was blessed, with a thing called love.
Love is a divine gift that enriches and blesses our world.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Jerry Reed Hubbard
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind