Ringo

Lorne Greene

About Ringo

"Ringo" is a popular song written by Don Robertson and Hal Blair. It was a hit single for Canadian-born actor Lorne Greene in 1964. It reached #1 on the U. S. Billboard charts on December 5, 1964, as well as garnering the same spot on the "Easy Listening" chart, where it retained the position for six weeks. The single also peaked at #21 on the Hot Country Singles chart. In Canada, it hit #1 on the RPM top singles chart on December 7, 1964. The song's sung lyrics are limited to the title word alone, performed by an unidentified male chorus. The rest of the vocal performance consists of a spoken-word, first-person account of a Western lawman and his relationship with a notorious gunfighter, Ringo. The account in the song does not fit the known historical facts of the life of Western outlaw Johnny Ringo, but Greene was under the impression that the song was indeed about "Johnny Ringo the outlaw."The "B" side of the disc contained a vocal version of the theme song of Greene's TV show Bonanza, with lyrics that were never used on the show. 


Year:
2003
3:15
114 
#2

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He lay face down in the desert sand
Clutching his six-gun in his hand
Shot from behind, I thought he was dead
But under his heart was an ounce of lead
But a spark still burned so I used my knife
And late that night I saved the life of Ringo

(Ringo, Ringo)

I nursed him till the danger passed
The days went by, he mended fast
Then from dawn till setting sun
He practiced with that deadly gun
And hour on hour I watched in awe
No human being could match the draw of Ringo

(Ringo, Ringo)

One day we rode the mountain crest
And I went east and he went west
I took to law and wore a star
While he spread terror near and far
With lead and blood he gained such fame
All through the West they feared the name of Ringo

(Ringo, Ringo)

I knew someday I'd face the test
Which one of us would be the best
And sure enough the word came down
That he was holed up in the town
I left the posse out in the street
And I went in alone to meet Ringo

(Ringo, Ringo)

They said my speed was next to none
But my lightning draw had just begun
When I heard a blast that stung my wrist
The gun went flying from my fist
And I was looking down the bore
Of the deadly .44 of Ringo

(Ringo, Ringo)

They say that was the only time
That anyone had seen him smile
He slowly lowered his gun and then
He said to me "We're even, friend"
And so at last I understood
That there was still a spark of good in Ringo

(Ringo, Ringo)

I blocked the path of his retreat
He turned and stepped into the street
A dozen guns spit fire and lead
A moment later, he lay dead
The town began to shout and cheer
Nowhere was there shed a tear for Ringo

(Ringo, Ringo)

The story spread throughout the land
That I had beaten Ringo's hand
And it was just the years, they say
That made me put my guns away
But on his grave they can't explain
The tarnished star above the name of Ringo

(Ringo, Ringo)
(Ringo, Ringo)

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Lorne Greene

Lyon Himan Green,OC (February 12, 1915 – September 11, 1987), better known by the stage name Lorne Greene, was a Canadian actor and musician. more »

1 fan

Written by: Don Robertson, Hal Blair

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Chart Success
"Ringo" topped both the US Billboard Hot 100 and Adult Contemporary Chart in 1964.
Genre Classification
Despite Lorne Greene's acting career, the song couldn't really be categorized in the Country genre, as it relates to a Western tale.
Vocal Style
Greene tells the story more than sings it, which is uniquely different from most mainstream tunes.
Critic's Perception
Named by Billboard magazine, "Ringo" was the number one song of 1964, which was quite impressive considering it was out in a time of intense pop music competition.
International Recognition
The song also had international success, reaching the top of the charts in Canada and ranking in the top twenty in Australia.
Media Exposure
"Ringo" reached more audiences thanks to Greene's appearance in the TV series "Bonanza" as Ben Cartwright, which was popular during that time.
Song Content
Although titled "Ringo," the narrative of the song does not relate to Ringo Starr or The Beatles, who were also at the peak of their careers when the song was released.
Spoken Word Style
The song "Ringo" is a prime example of the "spoken word" music genre, as Lorne Greene primarily speaks the lyrics rather than singing them.
Vinyl Release
In 1964, "Ringo" was released on vinyl, a popular music format during the 1960s.
Awards
Although "Ringo" did not win any awards, it was recognized as one of the most successful spoken word songs of the 1960s.

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    Ringo

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1964

    Billboard #1


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