Daddy Sang Bass

Johnny Cash

About Daddy Sang Bass

"Daddy Sang Bass" is a 1968 single written by Carl Perkins, with lines from the chorus of "Will the Circle Be Unbroken?" and recorded by Johnny Cash. "Daddy Sang Bass" was Johnny Cash's sixty-first release on the country chart. The song went to No. 1 on the Billboard country chart for 6 weeks and spent a total of 19 weeks on the chart. The single reached No. 56 on the Cashbox pop singles chart in 1969. "Daddy Sang Bass" was also released on the Columbia Records Hall of Fame Series as a 45, #13-33153, b/w "Folsom Prison Blues" (live version). The record was nominated in the CMA awards category of Single of the Year by the Country Music Association (CMA) in 1969. "Daddy Sang Bass" was Cash's thirty-sixth entry on the pop charts and the last before his "A Boy Named Sue" became his first and only top ten hit there. No other act has ever started off a pop career with a longer such drought on the charts that was finally broken. The song appeared originally on the 1969 album The Holy Land, the 1971 Johnny Cash: Greatest Hits, Vol. 2 collection, the 1999 Johnny Cash greatest hits compilation 16 Biggest Hits, and the 2002 The Essential Johnny Cash collection. 


Year:
2009
74 
#2

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I remember when I was a lad
Times were hard and things were bad
But there's a silver linin' behind every cloud
Just poor people that's all we were
Tryin' to make a livin' out of black land earth
But we'd get together in a family circle singin' loud

Daddy sang bass, Mama sang tenor
Me and little brother would join right in there
Singin' seems to help a troubled soul
One of these days and it won't be long
I'll rejoin them in a song
I'm gonna join the family circle at the throne

No, the circle won't be broken
By and by, Lord, by and by
Daddy'll sing bass, Mama'll sing tenor
Me and little brother will join right in there
In the sky, Lord, in the sky

Now I remember after work
Mama would call in all of us
You could hear us singin' for a country mile
Now little brother has done gone on
But I'll rejoin him in a song
We'll be together again up yonder in a little while

Daddy sang bass, Mama sang tenor
Me and little brother would join right in there
Singin' seems to help a troubled soul
One of these days and it won't be long
I'll rejoin them in a song
I'm gonna join the family circle at the throne

No, the circle won't be broken
By and by, Lord, by and by
Daddy'll sing bass, Mama'll sing tenor
Me and little brother will join right in there
In the sky, Lord, in the sky
In the sky, Lord, in the sky

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Johnny Cash

John R. "Johnny" Cash (February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003), was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. Although he is primarily remembered as a country music icon, his songs and sound spanned many other genres including rockabilly and rock and roll—especially early in his career—as well as blues, folk, and gospel. This crossover appeal led to Cash being inducted in the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and Gospel Music Hall of Fame. more »

19 fans

Written by: CARL PERKINS

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


13 facts about this song

Song Release
"Daddy Sang Bass" was released in 1969
Major Performers
The song was performed by three renowned music artists namely Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, and The Statler Brothers.
Johnny Cash’s Input
Although the song was initially written by Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash contributed significantly to its production and in making it hit record.
Chart Ranking
"Daddy Sang Bass" was a major hit, reaching No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. It held the number one position for six weeks.
Grammy Nomination
The successful performance of the song on charts earned it a Grammy nomination in 1969.
Gospel Influence
The song has a strong gospel influence, reflecting the artists' upbringing in church where hymn singing was a regular part of worship.
Family Love Theme
The lyrics of "Daddy Sang Bass" portray a strong theme of family unity and love, revolving around shared memories of singing together.
Universal Appeal
The song is loved by both country and gospel music fans due to its catchy lyrics and melody that transcend the usual genre limits.
Crossover Success
"Daddy Sang Bass" was also a crossover success, making it to the No. 56 position on the Billboard Hot 100 pop charts.
Cover Versions
The song has been covered by several other artists including The Oak Ridge Boys and The Kentucky Headhunters.
Included in Albums
Also, "Daddy Sang Bass" is included in various albums of Johnny Cash, such as "The Holy Land", "The Johnny Cash Show", and "Johnny Cash and Friends".
Influence
This song is said to have influenced the creation of other popular hits, like "Will the Circle be Unbroken?" by The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.
Personal Relevance
Carl Perkins reportedly said that the lyrics were about his real-life family. His brother Jay had been seriously ill and the line "Daddy will be bass but he'll be back" was a hopeful line about his recovery. Unfortunately, his brother didn't recover.

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    Daddy Sang Bass

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1969

    Billboard #42


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