Wayne's severe asthma forced the family to move to Phoenix, Arizona, in 1952. In the spring of 1958, toward the end of Wayne's junior year in high school, a Las Vegas booking agent saw a local TV show on which the two Newton brothers were performing and took them back with him for an audition. Originally signed for two weeks, the two brothers eventually performed for five years, doing six shows a day.
Newton achieved nationwide recognition on September 29, 1962, when he and his brother performed on The Jackie Gleason Show. He would perform on Gleason's show 12 times over the following two years.
Many other entertainment icons such as Lucille Ball, Bobby Darin, Danny Thomas, George Burns, and Jack Benny lent Newton their support. In particular, Benny hired Newton as an opening act for his show.
After his job with Benny ended, Newton was offered a job to open for another comic at the Flamingo Hotel, but Newton asked for, and was given, a headline act.
In 1999, Newton signed a 10-year deal with the Stardust, calling for him to perform there 40 weeks out of the year for six shows a week in a showroom named after him. In 2005, in preparation for the eventual demolition of the casino, the deal was, from all reports, amicably terminated; Newton began a 30-show stint that summer at the Hilton. His last show at the Stardust was on April 20, 2005. During a break in his on stage performance, he announced to the crowd that night he wanted to spend more time with his wife and new daughter as the main reasonings for cancelling the contract. Newton said the Boyd family made him a very nice offer to stay on past the demolition of the hotel and casino and to play in other Boyd venues, but Newton declined citing "another deal in the works for Vegas", but he did not mention the Hilton specifically. News crews were expecting this performance to end on time, to make their 10 pm and 11 pm shows, but the show finally ended around 11:30 pm, thus eliminating the possibility. Mr. Las Vegas went on at 7:30 that night, and sang nearly his entire repertoire and songs of other Vegas mainstays as well.
In 2001, Newton succeeded Bob Hope as “Chairman of the USO Celebrity Circle.” In January 2005, Newton started a reality television show on E! called The Entertainer. The winner got a spot in his act, plus a headlining act of their own for a year. And recently during player introductions at the 2007 NBA All-Star Weekend in Las Vegas, Newton sang Elvis Presley's "Viva Las Vegas."
In 2008, Newton received a Woodrow Wilson Award for Public Service. The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, a national memorial to President Wilson, commemorates "the ideals and concerns of Woodrow Wilson." The award honors leaders who have given back to their communities.rs, earning him the nickname Mr. Las Vegas.
Wives and Lovers
Wayne Newton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Comb your hair, fix your makeup
Soon he will open the door
Don't think because
There's a ring on your finger
You needn't try any more
For wives should always be lovers, too
He comes home to you i'm warning you
Day after day there are girls at the office
And men will always be men
Don't send him off
With your hair still in curlers
You may not see him again
For wives should always be lovers, too
Run to his arms the moment
He comes home to you he's almost here
Hеy, little girl
Better wеar something pretty
Something you'd wear to go to the city
Dim all the lights
Pour the wine, start the music
Time to get ready for love
Pour the wine, start the music
Time to get ready for love
I'm talking 'bout love for love
For love
The song Wives and Lovers by Wayne Newton is a classic 60s tune that offers advice on how a woman should behave in order to maintain her husband’s interest and love. The opening lines urge a woman to comb her hair and fix her makeup, in anticipation of her husband’s return home. The lyrics imply that the woman in question should not be complacent in her relationship just because she has a ring on her finger. She should not assume that her husband will always love her no matter what, and that she should put in effort to keep the romance alive.
Newton warns women to be aware of the fact that there are other women out there who could tempt their husbands, and that men will always be men. The song suggests that a woman should not send her husband off to work with her hair still in curlers. She should make herself presentable to show that she is worth coming home to every night. The chorus of the song reinforces this idea that wives should always be lovers too, and that they should run into their husband’s arms the moment they come home.
Overall, the song reflects the gender norms of the 1960s, where women were expected to be the homemakers and maintain their husbands' affection through their appearance and subservience. However, it can also be interpreted as a cautionary tale, reminding people that relationships require effort from both partners in order to thrive.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey, little girl
Addressing an adult woman, telling her to act feminine and youthful
Comb your hair, fix your makeup
Get yourself presentable for your male partner
Soon he will open the door
Your male partner is coming and you should be ready for him
Don't think because
You shouldn't assume that just because
There's a ring on your finger
You're married
You needn't try any more
You don't have to put in any more effort to be an attractive and loving partner
For wives should always be lovers, too
Wives should make an effort to be as romantic and attractive as when they were first dating
Run to his arms the moment
Greet your partner with enthusiasm
He comes home to you i'm warning you
This is a warning that if you don't keep up the effort, your partner may stray
Day after day there are girls at the office
There are always other women around your partner
And men will always be men
Men will have desires, regardless of their marital status
Don't send him off
Don't let him leave
With your hair still in curlers
If you're still in the process of getting ready, you should hurry up and finish
You may not see him again
This is another warning that if you don't make the effort, you may lose your partner
Hey, little girl
Addressing an adult woman again
Better wear something pretty
Wear something attractive for your partner
Something you'd wear to go to the city
Wear something that is impressive and worn for special occasions
Dim all the lights
Create a romantic atmosphere
Pour the wine, start the music
Prepare for romance
Time to get ready for love
It's time to be romantic
I'm talking 'bout love for love
The entire song is about keeping the love alive in a marriage
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BURT BACHARACH, HAL DAVID
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind