About the song
“City Lights” by Ray Price: A Countrypolitan Classic
Ray Price was one of the most iconic and influential singers in country music history. His smooth, rich voice and his impeccable phrasing made him one of the most popular country singers of the 1950s and 1960s. “City Lights” is one of Price’s signature songs, and it is a classic example of the countrypolitan sound that he helped to pioneer.
“City Lights” was released in 1958, and it quickly became a major hit. The song reached number one on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart, and it crossed over to the pop charts as well. The song’s success helped to make Price a household name, and it established him as one of the leading country singers of his era.
The song is a beautiful ballad about the allure of the big city. The narrator is a young man who has come to the city from the country, and he is dazzled by the bright lights and the excitement of the city. However, he also realizes that the city can be a lonely place, and he begins to miss his home and his family.
The song’s lyrics are simple but effective, and they capture the mixed emotions that many people feel when they first come to a big city. The song’s melody is also beautiful, and it perfectly complements the lyrics. Price’s vocals are smooth and expressive, and he delivers the song with a sincerity that makes it truly moving.
“City Lights” is a timeless classic that continues to resonate with listeners today. It is a song about the hopes and dreams of young people, and it is a reminder that the city can be both a place of excitement and a place of loneliness. The song is a beautiful and moving ballad, and it is a testament to Ray Price’s talent as a singer and a songwriter.
Here are some of the key elements of the song:
- The song is written in the first person from the perspective of a young man who has come to the city from the country.
- The song describes the narrator’s mixed emotions about the city. He is dazzled by its excitement, but he also misses his home and his family.
- The song is a beautiful ballad with a simple but effective melody.
- Price’s vocals are smooth and expressive, and he delivers the song with a sincerity that makes it truly moving.
“City Lights” is a significant song in the history of country music. It is a classic example of the countrypolitan sound, and it helped to make Ray Price a household name. The song is a timeless classic that continues to resonate with listeners today.
Video
Lyrics
A bright array of city lights as far as I can see
The great white way shines through the night for lonely guys like me
The cabaretes and honky tonks their flashing signs invite
A broken heart to lose itself in the glow of city lights
Lights that say forget her name in a glass of cherry wine
Lights that offer other girls for empty hearts like mine
They paint a pretty picture of a world that’s gay and bright
But it’s just a mask for loneliness behind those city lights
The world was dark and God made stars to brighten up the night
The God who put the stars above I don’t believe made those lights
Oh it’s just a place for men to cry when things don’t turn out right
Just a place to run away and hide behind those city lights
Lights that say forget her love in a different athmosphere
Lights that lure are nothing but a masquarade for tears
They paint a pretty picture but my arms can’t hold them tight
And I just can’t say I love you to a street of city lights