Ten Favorite Night and Day (Day) Songs: The Day the World Stood Still (#7)

Tweet

Before it gets too crazy on this Monday morning I'll take another song from my countdown of favorite songs that have night or day in the title. First up, as the sun is up, is today's "day" song. #7: The Day the World Stood Still - Charley Pride Michael Rennie was ill the day the earth stood still But he told us where we stand (From "Science Fiction Double Feature," the opening song to The Rocky Horror Picture Show) No, that was The Day the Earth Stood Still. Fear not, no Klaatu barada nikto in this song. Just great country music by one of the last certifiable living legends. There's a song by the Statler Brothers called "How to Be a Country Star," in which they reference a way to "make it" to be "get a gimmick like Charley Pride got." Nah, can't say that today. In fact, on his In Person album, Pride himself made light of the fact that he sort of, ahem, stuck out in country music: "People always ask me...why I don't sound like I'm supposed to sound." Put the jokes aside. Charley Pride is in the Country Music Hall of Fame because he's a dang good singer, not because he's black. That's what has given him such a wide and devoted following for nearly 50 years (ouch!) He has done great murder ballads ("The Snakes Crawl at Night"), superb Hank Williams covers ("Kaw-liga"), and some of the greatest love songs of country music in the late 60s and early 70s ("All I Have to Offer You [Is Me]" and his pop crossover hit "Kiss an Angel Good Mornin'"). This lovely ballad follows in the storyline of those love songs. The relationship is over ("I can't get over you, I guess I never will") but the memories will last forever ("time was a precious thing the day the world stood still"). The Day the World Stood Still Written by Jerry Foster & Bill Rice Recorded by Charley Pride From The Country Way, 1967 I clung to every thrill: