Bringing us back to the USA in the 60’s…in a complete change of musical style, let us recall Bobby Goldsboro.
The man’s earliest hit was a 1964 tune “See the Funny Little Clown.” Through the '60s into the '70s, he released dozens of singles, with his only #1 being 1968’s Honey.
The biggest hit of his career, “Honey”, was a tearjerker about the death of a man’s wife. The song, written by Bobby Russell, was recorded in one take. It became the largest-selling record in the world for 1968 and topped the Hot 100 for five weeks!
This stroll down memory lane was prompted when I unearthed an old CD of 22 of his songs. As the CD played, I found I knew the words to nearly every song! But the kicker?
When “Honey” was a hit in '68, I was a 12 year old boy. This story of a man losing his young wife made me cry for his loss.
Now, it is 56 years later. My wife of 48 years has cancer (in remission, thank God) and I fear the day the words of this song hit home:
“One day while I was not at home
While she was there and all alone
The angels came
Now all I have is memories of honey
And I wake up nights and call her name
Now my life’s an empty stage
Where honey lived and honey played
And love grew up…”
Thanks for reading this expression of love. I heard this tune today and cried like that 12 year old boy. Jim
Honey