Subject: Pop Lyric?:Don't They Know It's the End From: Peter T. Date: 23 Mar 01 - 08:38 AM A version of "You Send Me" nicely done by Rick Fielding and Clela Errington (smoooooth) on his radio show reminded me for some reason of this pop song about which I can only remember fragmentary lyrics and the fact that it was pretty whiney. Can anyone help -- lyrics, singer? "Why does my heart go on beating?.... Why do the birds (something) the sky? Don't they know it's the end of the world, it ended when you said goodbye.... I something and I something and I wonder blahblahblahblah But I can't understand, no I can't understand Why life goes one the way it does And so on. Help me before I whine again. yours, Peter T. |
Subject: RE: Pop Lyric?:Don't They Know It's the End From: catspaw49 Date: 23 Mar 01 - 08:53 AM Actually it was the end of the world for those who don't eat.............The Carpenter's .....whine away here. Spaw |
Subject: RE: Pop Lyric?:Don't They Know It's the End From: LR Mole Date: 23 Mar 01 - 08:56 AM Title is indeed "The End of the World", but I can't grab the singer's name. It came out around 1960-61, I'd say."Blahblah" line is "Why everything's the same as it was" |
Subject: RE: Pop Lyric?:Don't They Know It's the End From: Snuffy Date: 23 Mar 01 - 09:03 AM Was it Skeeter Davis? I think Cilla Black covered it in the UK |
Subject: RE: Pop Lyric?:Don't They Know It's the End From: catspaw49 Date: 23 Mar 01 - 09:20 AM Hey Snuffy........Yeah, Skeeter Davis had a major hit with it before the Carpenter's but I don't know who got the most airplay......probably Davis. I remember the Karen Carpenter version getting a lot of playtime though too and it was a perfect Karen Carpenter song........sweet, sappy, whiney, dreamy........Anyway, I have no idea who did the UK cover. Spaw |
Subject: Lyr Add: END OF THE WORLD (Dee, Kent) From: Peter T. Date: 23 Mar 01 - 09:40 AM Thanks CP - knew I could count on you. It is much drippier and way whinier than I remember. Thanks Snuffy -- Skeeter Davis! Of course. I wonder what Cilla's version sounded like. Must hunt it down. For clickless wonders:
The End Of The World
Sylvia Dee / Arthur Kent
Why does the sun go on shining?
Why do the birds go on singing?
I wake up in the morning and I wonder why ev'rything's the same as it was.
Why does my heart go on beating? |
Subject: RE: Pop Lyric?:Don't They Know It's the End From: katlaughing Date: 23 Mar 01 - 09:54 AM I LOVED Skeeter Davis' version and I still LOVE to wail this song out, sappy or not...it went straight to my heart at teh time...messy divorce, etc.! |
Subject: RE: Pop Lyric?:Don't They Know It's the End From: LR Mole Date: 23 Mar 01 - 11:56 AM Arthur Kent, the SCUD stud? Probably not... |
Subject: RE: Pop Lyric?:Don't They Know It's the End From: Rick Fielding Date: 23 Mar 01 - 07:13 PM Ahhh, Skeeter Davis. One of the absolutely greatest pop vocal performances I've ever heard. What a gem that song is. If you can find the original record...listen to it. Skeeter had a very small voice and a certain "quality" that I've never heard since. Kind of like that "little break" that Patsy had. (She of course, had a HUGE voice, and great skills) Poor Skeeter, that song was IT for her. She had some minor Country hits, but never approached anything like "The End of the World" again. She was married to DJ Ralph Emery, and in the seventies became an object of ridicule among her Grand Ol Opry co-horts by OPENLY and ON STAGE questioning the United States' role in the war. I think she was dumped. She's back on the Opry (always singing "The End of the World") but her voice is gone, and her pitch is so shaky, that the y've mixed the back up singers so high you can barely hear her. Thanks for reminding me of this wonderful song Peter. Clela's great isn't she? Rick |
Subject: RE: Pop Lyric?:Don't They Know It's the End From: Peter T. Date: 24 Mar 01 - 09:59 AM I am particularly taken with her harmonica playing. I don't know why -- she makes it sound like a class instrument. I was amused by the gun belt she carries around.
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Subject: RE: Pop Lyric?:Don't They Know It's the End From: GUEST,Gern, sadly cookie-less these days Date: 24 Mar 01 - 11:38 AM Actually Skeeter Davis sang more than mere "minor" country hits! Her real name was Mary Frances Pennick, and she sang with fellow Kentuckian Betty Jack Davis as the Davis Sisters. Crisp Everly-like harmonies with that oddly plaintive voice. They hit big in 1953 with "I Forgot More than You'll Ever Know." A car crash killed Betty Jack and hurt Skeeter bad enough to suspend her career; but in the late 50s she was back with the manic masterpiece "the End of the World." This was followed up with "Set Him Free," and then some "minor" country hits, like "I'm a Lover, Not a Fighter." |
Subject: RE: Pop Lyric?:Don't They Know It's the End From: Rick Fielding Date: 24 Mar 01 - 11:54 AM I stand corrected Gern. By the way Peter was referring to Clela Errington's "Harmonica gun belt", not Skeeter's. Gern, do you have any other info on her situation with the Opry when she spoke out against the war? My memory is shaky, but I seem to remember a number of the other artists getting on her case real bad. Don't remember if any of them openly supported her. Rick |
Subject: RE: Pop Lyric?:Don't They Know It's the End From: catspaw49 Date: 24 Mar 01 - 12:20 PM I'm interested to Gern...........Get on back here! There have been a few mentions of that situation lately on TNN "retrospective" things, but never anything of substance. I remember from back then that Jean Sheperd was a supporter of sorts although I think she tried to walk a line to keep things "agreeable" between people who were all friends of hers. Jan Howard (I think she was still married to Harlan at that point?) had one of her sons recently killed in Vietnam and was not pleased with Davis' stance. Spaw |
Subject: RE: Pop Lyric?:Don't They Know It's the End From: Mrs.Duck Date: 24 Mar 01 - 01:04 PM I particularly like the Little Duckling version as performed at the school talent show! |
Subject: RE: Pop Lyric?:Don't They Know It's the End From: John Hardly Date: 24 Mar 01 - 01:20 PM Another interested bystander Gern. These songs are almost a genre to themselves. Everytime I play (fingerstyle) "Save Your Heart For Me" I get those "Oh yeah..what's that from.." comments. Great music wasted? on teen angst lyric. They make superlative guitar music. IMHO |
Subject: RE: Pop Lyric?:Don't They Know It's the End From: Jande Date: 24 Mar 01 - 02:04 PM Woh! Nostalgia trip for me! My very first public perfomance as a singer, in a booze joint where they put tickets on the table for "guests" to go up and sing two songs each with the band. I was a runaway sixteen-year-old and in a lot of trouble. You could tell the band hated having to play to a bunch of afternoon drunks, but they were very kind to me and helped me to find the key to sing in (I didn't even know what a "key" was!). I sang that song first, it got real quiet in there suddenly and I noticed quite a few tears from the people at the tables. Then I sang House of the Rising Sun. It was quite an experience for me. The most positive thing that had happened to me in 16 years. That song has multiple meanings for me. I love it. (Actually, I wrote the story up as a "fictional biography" piece, as part of my knuckletown Tales book of short stories, not yet published. If anyone wants to proof-read it...) It was really nice to get some history of the song from this thread. thanks. ~ Jande |
Subject: RE: Pop Lyric?:Don't They Know It's the End From: Peter T. Date: 24 Mar 01 - 02:31 PM According to this bio off a web site, it was her remarks about the Nashville Police Dept. that got her turfed.... Skeeter was raised on a farm and as a child knew that she wanted to be a country singer. She acquired the nickname of Skeeter (a local term for a mosquito) from her grandfather because he considered that she was always as active and buzzing around just like the insect. In her mid-teens, she formed a duo with school friend Betty Jack Davis (b. 3 March 1932, Corbin Kentucky, USA, d. August 1953) and together they began to sing in the Lexington area. In 1949, they appeared on local radio WLAX and later were featured on radio and television in Detroit, Cincinnati and eventually on the WWVA WHEELING JAMBOREE in West Virginia. They first recorded for Fortune in 1952 but the following year they successfully auditioned for RCA and their recording of I Forgot More Than You'll Ever Know quickly became a number 1 US country and number 18 US pop hit. On August 23, 1953, the singers' car was involved in a collision with another vehicle, resulting in the death of Betty Jack and leaving Skeeter critically injured. It was over a year before Skeeter recovered physically and mentally from the crash and it was only with great difficulty that she was persuaded to resume her career. Eventually she briefly teamed up with Betty Jack's sister, Georgia Davis and returned to singing. In 1955, she went solo and for a time worked with RCA's touring Caravan Of Stars as well as with Eddy Arnold and Elvis Presley. Her recording career, under the guidance of Chet Atkins, progressed and she gained her first solo US country chart hit in 1958 with Lost To A Geisha Girl, the female answer to the Hank Locklin hit, Geisha Girl. The following year, her co-written song Set Him Free became her first country Top 10 hit. She fulfilled one of her greatest ambitions in 1959, when she moved to Nashville and became a regular member of the GRAND OLE OPRY. During the '60s, she became one of RCA's most successful country artists, registering 26 US country hits, 12 of them achieving crossover US pop chart success. The most popular included another 'answer' song in I Can't Help You, I'm Falling Too, (the reply to Hank Locklin's Please Help Me I'm Falling) and My Last Date. She co-wrote the latter with Boudleaux Bryant and pianist Floyd Cramer, whose instrumental version had been a million-seller in 1960. In 1963, she achieved a million-selling record herself with The End Of The World, which peaked at number 2 in both the US country and pop charts. It also gave her her only UK pop chart entry, reaching number 18 in a 13 week chart life in 1963. (The song also became a UK pop hit for Sonia in 1990). Davis also had successful recordings with Bobby Bare (A Dear John Letter) and Don Bowman (a novelty number, For Loving You). Davis toured extensively in the '60s and '70s, not only throughout the USA and Canada but also to Europe and the Far East, where she is very popular. She played all the major US television network shows, including regular appearances with Duke Ellington and also appeared on a The Rolling Stones tour. Her recording career slowed down in the '70s but her hits included I'm A Lover (Not A Fighter), Bus Fare To Kentucky and One Tin Soldier. She also made the charts with Bobby Bare on Your Husband, My Wife and with George Hamilton, IV on Let's Get Together (a US pop hit for the Youngbloods in 1969). In 1973, she had a minor hit with the Bee Gees' Don't Forget To Remember and a Top 20 country and minor pop hit with I Can't Believe That It's All Over. It was to prove a slightly prophetic title, since only two more chart hits followed, the last being I Love Us on Mercury in 1976—she having left RCA two years earlier. She has recorded several tribute albums, including one to Buddy Holly, which featured Waylon Jennings on guitar and also one to her friend Dolly Parton. She also re-recorded May You Never Be Alone, a Davis' Sisters success, with NRBQ in 1985. From 1960-64, she was married to well-known WSM radio and television personality Ralph Emery, but she subsequently received heavy criticism in Emery's autobiography. She later married Joey Spampanito of NRBQ. She became something of a rebel after the break-up of her second marriage. She settled in a colonial-style mansion set in several hundred acres in Brentwood, Tennessee, and surrounded herself with dogs, Siamese cats, a dove in a gilded cage and even an ocelot named Fred. Her extreme religious beliefs saw her refusing to appear in places that sold intoxicating drinks. She even stopped growing tobacco on her farm, giving the reason for both actions: 'As a Christian, I think it's harmful to my body'. In 1973, her strong criticisms of the Nashville Police Department during her act at the OPRY caused her to be dropped from the roster. She was later reinstated and still usually sings religious or gospel songs on her regular appearances. |
Subject: RE: Pop Lyric?:Don't They Know It's the End From: catspaw49 Date: 24 Mar 01 - 02:36 PM Interresting Peter. It may have been that, but I distinctly recall the Vietnam thing too and that story makes me wonder. No mention at all............I may be getting older, but I know that was an issue. Spaw |
Subject: RE: Pop Lyric?:Don't They Know It's the End From: Rick Fielding Date: 24 Mar 01 - 02:56 PM Thanks for the research Peter and Gurn. Spaw, I suspect she got in trouble more than once....sounds like one INTERESTING woman. Reminds me a little bit of when Sinead O'Connor 'dissed the Pope on Saturday Nite Live. These women had guts (whether you agree with their stance or not) unlike me when I poured crazy glue into the juke box at the Royal York Hotel...a REAL protester would have explained the next night from the stage exactly WHY the customers couldn't get Grand Funk Railroad outta the machine! Rick |
Subject: RE: Pop Lyric?:Don't They Know It's the End From: Joe Offer Date: 24 Mar 01 - 03:06 PM Well, the Skeeter Davis recording of this song is great, but the one that keeps playing in my head is the one by Herman's Hermits. I think they did a lot of good stuff. -Joe Offer- |
Subject: RE: Pop Lyric?:Don't They Know It's the End From: catspaw49 Date: 24 Mar 01 - 03:33 PM I think I'm gonna' hurl............ Spaw |
Subject: RE: Pop Lyric?:Don't They Know It's the End From: Peter T. Date: 25 Mar 01 - 08:59 AM Another site says that she complained about the way the Nashvilee Police Department treated some hippies. Maybe anti-war protestors? yours, Peter T. |
Subject: RE: Pop Lyric?:Don't They Know It's the End From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler Date: 26 Mar 01 - 02:57 AM Seems like I'm in good company, I often sing this in the car or shower, complete with spoken lines! RtS (sad old git) |
Subject: RE: Pop Lyric?:Don't They Know It's the End From: mkebenn Date: 26 Mar 01 - 08:20 AM BACK OFF Spaw, I loved Peter Noone's version, too. Mike |
Subject: RE: Pop Lyric?:Don't They Know It's the End From: Whistle Stop Date: 26 Mar 01 - 08:29 AM I've been playing an instrumental (fingerstyle guitar) arrangement of this song for years, and it always gets the same reaction -- "I'm sure I know that song, what is it?". It's a classic, and although it's been years since I heard it, I agree with Rick that Ms. Davis had a great voice for it -- a little chirpy, but with a nice break in it a la Brenda Lee. As for Peter Noone, I consider him to be the Pat Boone of the British Invasion (crap, in other words), but to each his own. |
Subject: RE: Pop Lyric?:Don't They Know It's the End From: catspaw49 Date: 26 Mar 01 - 08:30 AM I'll give you dibs on the big chunks then Mike. Actually, a few years ago, he was touring somehow....small clubs etc. We went to a joint to see him (Karen's idea) and the sod never showed up!!! Spaw |
Subject: RE: Pop Lyric?:Don't They Know It's the End From: GUEST,Gern, O Cookie Where Art Thou? Date: 26 Mar 01 - 10:13 AM All I have on Skeeter's brush with the law comes from Charles K. Wolfe's KENTUCKY COUNTRY: "In 1973 she was suspended by the Grand Ole Opry when she criticized the Nashville police department for 'harassing' some young 'street Christians' who were soliciting in a Nashville shopping center." She was later reinstated. Perhaps those 'street Christians' were war protesters. Christians, as I recall, used to do that sort of thing. |
Subject: RE: Pop Lyric?:Don't They Know It's the End From: Rick Fielding Date: 26 Mar 01 - 12:22 PM Spaw, I didn't know you were into "hurling". Damn that's one fine Irish sport. Or is it Scottish? Or Welsh? Boy, great research folks. "Protesting young Christians being hassled" doesn't sound like something that would get you kicked off the Opry. Somehow I got the idea that she was being punished for being "Un-Amuuurican". Still sounds to me like it was a "Vietnam thang". Anybody remember what Ralph Emery said about it...if anything? Regarding Herman's hermits: At least give Peter Noone credit for guts. He's still out there being cute and 60...more than any of us can do. "Mrs. Brownnnn you've goat a luvely daughtaaaa....." Rick |
Subject: RE: Pop Lyric?:Don't They Know It's the End From: Peter T. Date: 26 Mar 01 - 01:52 PM There is an autobiography (Bus Fare To Kentucky) which probably tells it all....yours, Peter T. |
Subject: RE: Pop Lyric?:Don't They Know It's the End From: Rick Fielding Date: 27 Mar 01 - 12:16 AM I wonder if I can find that in the library. Can't afford to buy it. Rick |
Subject: RE: Pop Lyric?:Don't They Know It's the End From: mkebenn Date: 27 Mar 01 - 07:21 AM I'm 'eneree th' eighth I yam |
Subject: Chord Req: The End of The World From: GUEST Date: 21 Mar 04 - 12:05 PM Can anyone help me find these? The early 60's version is what I want. |
Subject: RE: Chord Req: The End of The World From: GUEST,try this Date: 21 Mar 04 - 12:20 PM |
Subject: RE: Chord Req: The End of The World From: GUEST,oops Date: 21 Mar 04 - 12:22 PM http://music.kulichki.net/txt/d/davis_skeeter/end |
Subject: RE: Chord Req: The End of The World From: GUEST,third time's a charm Date: 21 Mar 04 - 12:36 PM À Á Â Ã Ä Å Æ Ç È Ê Ë Ì Í Î Ï Ð Ñ Ò Ó Ô Õ Ö × Ø Ù Ý Þ ß |
Subject: RE: Chord Req: The End of The World From: GUEST,very funny, you guys! Date: 21 Mar 04 - 12:38 PM http://music.kulichki.net/txt/d/davis_skeeter/end_of_the_world.shtml |
Subject: RE: Chord Req: The End of The World From: GUEST Date: 22 Mar 04 - 09:05 AM Earlier discussiond found here - Old Mudcat Thread. I seem to remember we found a MIDI version to accompany Little Duckling. Try google or similar with "End of the world" and "MIDI" in your search. You'll get REM as well, but sort through the dross and you'll get there in the end. Quack! GtD. |
Subject: RE: Chord Req: The End of The World From: GUEST Date: 22 Mar 04 - 09:15 AM Or try here CLICK! Quack! GtD. |
Subject: RE: Chord Req: The End of The World From: Geoff the Duck Date: 22 Mar 04 - 09:24 AM Whoops - I seem tohave cancelled my cookie for the last 2 posts. Another useful site is COWPIE - for Country songs. Quack! The Real Geoff the Duck. |
Subject: RE: Pop Lyric?:Don't They Know It's the End From: harpgirl Date: 26 Mar 04 - 08:17 PM I got a strong feeling on Sunday morning to begin learning this song. See who all's on this thread! It sounds great on the autoharp and I have a sweet little C harp for it! |
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