Song Lyric Sunday – Skeeter Davis

Welcome back to Song Lyric Sunday faithfully hosted by Jim Adams over at “A Unique Title for Me”. I will admit I was a bit worried when the prompt was introduced with football terminology, but after shaking off my sleep coma, I am pretty quick on my feet so I am finally with the program.

The prompt this week (Bottom/End/Middle/Side/Top) left me with only one song in mind and I see other people went with that song as well. While making my coffee, the song I would choose to write about came to me. I am heading back to my roots again with a beautiful country crossover selection.

”The End of the World” was written by Arthur Kent and Sylvia Dee. Sylvia’s lyrics were written when she was only 14 years old, drawing on the pain she felt after the loss of her father. Skeeter Davis recorded the song in the RCA studios in 1962 with Chet Atkins producing and Floyd Cramer as accompanying pianist (both respected music legends). When the song was released in December of 1962, it became a major crossover success.

“During March 1963, this song — performed by country singer Skeeter Davis — hit No. 2 on both the Billboard country and pop charts. The Davis song also hit No. 4 on the Billboard R&B chart and went to No. 1 for four weeks on the Billboard adult contemporary chart. “The End of the World” — about a lost love or personal bereavement — also rose into the Top 20 on the U.K. music charts.” (Source, https://www.pophistorydig.com/topics/end-of-the-world-skeeter-davis/)

Flashback. Mid 1960s in a little community nestled in the mountains of southwest Virginia. Two young 9 year old girls practicing a pantomime routine for the upcoming school talent show in front the dresser mirror in the bedroom. Yes, friends, that was me and my friend Susie. We were trying our best to imitate the sadness that the song seems to evoke. We even toyed with the notion of wrapping an onion in a handkerchief to make us cry. (We changed our mind and moved on to a comedy routine. Smart idea on our part although that routine did not fare well in the talent show either.)

Skeeter Davis was an early successful female country solo vocalist and is a sentimental favorite artist of mine. (She was one of my sister’s favorite singers and when I hear her voice, it brings back such wonderful memories of my sister who passed away in 2010.) Dolly Parton and Tammy Wynette regarded Skeeter Davis as an inspiration.

(Editing because I totally forgot to include the lyrics!)

Lyrics from Genius Lyrics.

[Verse 1]
Why does the sun go on shining?
Why does the sea rush to shore?
Don’t they know it’s the end of the world?
‘Cause you don’t love me any more

[Verse 2]
Why do the birds go on singing?
Why do the stars glow above?
Don’t they know it’s the end of the world?
It ended when I lost your love

[Verse 3]
I wake up in the morning and I wonder
Why everything’s the same as it was
I can’t understand, no, I can’t understand
How life goes on the way it does

[Verse 4]
Why does my heart go on beating?
Why do these eyes of mine cry?
Don’t they know it’s the end of the world?
It ended when you said goodbye

[Verse 5]
Why does my heart go on beating?
Why do these eyes of mine cry?
Don’t they know it’s the end of the world?
It ended when you said goodbye

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[BONUS: When researching, we often discover other things worth sharing. This blog (TRAVALANCHE) had a great write up from 2010 on Skeeter Davis and “The End of the World”. There are some other great posts on this blog this community might enjoy as well. You might enjoy checking it out.]

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If you enjoy reading about music and possibly getting some exposure to some new tunes, pop over to A Unique Title For Me and read some of the posts on today’s prompt. We meet every Sunday if you want to join in.

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