Saturday, May 26, 2012

Tennessee Waltz

When we are getting older, we tend to think about some of our good old days. To me, one of them is Tennessee Waltz and Patti Page. Perhaps it is too old for our generation since my father-in-law also remembers this song very well. Strictly speaking we belongs to the decade of 1955-1965, a period that influenced us most. I remember the first time I heard 'Tennessee Waltz' was around the first year of my Junior High. Later I also heard 'Changing Partners'. Since I didn't know the title & lyrics of the songs, I had no idea what the content & meaning of the songs let alone Patti Page. Surprisingly, I always got confused about these two songs & mixed them up. When time went by, I entered the college & attended some dancing parties & found that these two songs always popped up. They are in waltz style and so I often waltzed around some girls with these two songs. This was our good old time & I always remember those moments up to these days. While I was in Oklahoma & people there told me they got a world famous singer Patti Page. I started to take note & found the good old Tennessee Waltz & Changing Partners. I am sure most of you are familiar with these two songs & so let's enjoy them again (重溫舊夢) and get familiar with the lyrics. It occurred to me that 'Tennessee Waltz' is a very sad song & 'Changing Partners' is much warmer to the heart. I will not mix them up any more.

(Tennessee Waltz)

You can see the lyrics of Tennessee Waltz by clicking 'Show more' button. By the way, 'I introduced him to my loved one' in the text should be 'I introduced her to my loved one'.

(Changing Partners)

Lyrics:
We were waltzin' together to a dreamy melody
When they called out "change partners"
And you waltzed away from me
Now my arms feel so empty as I gaze around the floor
And I'll keep on changing partners
Till I hold you once more
Though we danced for one moment and too soon we had to part
In that wonderful moment something happened to my heart
So I'll keep changing partners till you're in my arms and then
Oh, my darlin' I will never change partners again

[Instrumental Interlude]

Though we danced for one moment and too soon we had to part
In that wonderful moment something happened to my heart
So I'll keep changing partners till you're in my arms and then
Oh, my darlin' I will never change partners again

Patti Page was the best-selling female singer of the 1950s and has sold over 100 million records. Her 'Tennessee Waltz' recorded in 1950, was one of the biggest-selling singles of the twentieth century, and is also one of several official state songs of Tennessee. Page had anoter big hit 'Doggie in the Window'.


Patti Page is still around at age 84, living near San Diego in Southern California.

3 comments:

Mark Lin said...

Patti Page also starred in the movie 'Elmer Gantry' as Sister Rachel & sang some religious hymns such as 'Shall we Gather at the River' & 'Stand Up for Jesus'. If you go to church often, you will not miss them:

'Shall We Gather At The River' (chorus)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-pf-Jx19Lc

'Stand Up For Jesus' (chorus)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r11Gmdq__-8

Elmer Gantry is a movie worth to see. It is based on the novel 'Elmer Gantry' by Sinclair Lewis. The story portrays the bright & dark sides of the human being & religion. I saw the movie when I was a Freshman in NTU. Burt Lancaster & Shirley Jones both won the Oscars with this movie in 1960.

Mark Lin said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Mark Lin said...

Patti Page was one of the top-selling female pop-music singers in the history of recorded music, died on the first day of the year in Encinitas, California. She was 85. She'd been dealing with health issues for about two years and had been in a nursing facility for the a last year and a half. She was scheduled to receive a Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award on Feb. 9 in Los Angeles.

With her passing away, I feel I lose something that belongs to our college life. Now there is no more Tennessee Waltz & no more girls I used to dance around with. However, with iTouch in my pocket I know I can strike out the tune anytime I want. With this I will always remember Patti Page & how she influenced me when I was young.