About the song
If you are a fan of classic country pop music, you might be familiar with the song “The End of the World” by Skeeter Davis. This song is a melancholic ballad about the aftermath of a romantic breakup, written by composer Arthur Kent and lyricist Sylvia Dee. In this blog post, I will provide some detailed information about this song, its history, and its impact.
Skeeter Davis was born Mary Frances Penick in 1931 in Kentucky. She started her musical career as part of the Davis Sisters, a duo with her friend Betty Jack Davis (no relation). They had a hit in 1953 with “I Forgot More Than You’ll Ever Know”, but their career was cut short by a car accident that killed Betty Jack. Skeeter Davis continued as a solo artist, signing with RCA Victor and working with producer Chet Atkins.
She recorded “The End of the World” on June 8, 1962, at the RCA Studios in Nashville, featuring Floyd Cramer on piano. The song was released in December 1962 and became a huge hit in early 1963. It reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100, behind “Our Day Will Come” by Ruby & the Romantics. It also reached number two on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart, number one on the Billboard Easy Listening chart, and number four on the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart. It is the first and only song to crack the top ten on all four Billboard charts.
The song sold over one million copies and was awarded a gold disc. It became Skeeter Davis’s signature song and one of the most successful songs of her career. She later said that she drew inspiration from her own experience of losing her husband, who died of cancer in 1960. The song also resonated with many listeners who were facing personal or global crises, such as the Cuban Missile Crisis and the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
The song has been covered by many artists over the years, including Brenda Lee, Carpenters, Loretta Lynn, Anne Murray, Amy Winehouse, and Lana Del Rey. It has also been featured in several films, TV shows, and video games, such as Girl, Interrupted, Mad Men, The Simpsons, Fallout 4, and Bioshock Infinite.
“The End of the World” is a timeless song that expresses the universal feeling of heartbreak and loneliness. It showcases Skeeter Davis’s extraordinary country/pop vocals and her ability to make the listener feel her emotions. It is a song that will never go out of style.
Oldies Music