Price, Ray - City Lights 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 cabarets 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 atmosphere
Lights that lure are nothing but a masquerade 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





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Price, Ray City Lights Comments
  1. G.... H....

    Is that Dickey Overby?

  2. S.... ....

    To me, he is like the male counterpart to Patsy Cline, from their early days (Loved and Lost Again/City Lights) up to her death too few years later (Sweet Dreams/Night Life)

  3. G.... H....

    I saw an interview about Bill Anderson writing this. This is a masterpiece by he and Ray Price.

  4. E.... E....

    That's my Uncle Jack at 1:18. And btw, the last name is spelled Evins. Thanks for sharing!

  5. J.... K....

    My dad's song .

  6. J.... M....

    Yep, there really was a time when there was such a thing as "Country Music"...

  7. K.... F....

    probably the best voice ever....

  8. B.... N....

    And I STILL LOVE RAY PRICE. A Country Great!!!

  9. B.... N....

    I have loved Ray Price since I was 10 yrs. old 63 yrs.. ago. Had a stereo that only played LP’s and this as on one of his albums I listened to every day. My Mother also loved him and she finally got to meet him and have her picture taken with him. She was downright giddy. YMy Brother was a great vocalist, and in later years sang a lot of Ray Price Songs. He also got To meet Ray. HE was so nice and so friendly,just like an ordinary great guy. I still love his music.

  10. G.... D....

    What memories,, just wonderfull!

  11. h.... ....

    They don't make music like this anymore.

  12. M.... P....

    Ray Price was probably the most versatile country singer ever! He was very respected by his peers and the music industry. With all his success he remained a very humble and modest man.

  13. J.... H....

    Ray Price had an amazing voice.

  14. t.... ....

    always liked roger miller. sammy Pruitt? i think Hank fired him a few times

  15. B.... G....

    Roger Miller...!!!

  16. t.... ....

    REAL COUNTRY MUSIC!

  17. C.... T....

    Ray was the best!!! Gosh I miss him and his wonderful classic country music. Thank God Whispering Bill Anderson came along at the same time as Ray. Ray knew just how to interpret Bill’s compositions. Talk about a “win-win” relationship!!!! 😃👍❤️

  18. m.... ....

    In my 1950s time in Nashville, I was able to walk into the Ryman and watched many of these guys and gals perform on the stage. This could have been one performance of Ray I actually saw. Roy Acuff was another that we saw plenty of. He was one heck of a nice guy and when we saw him at his place in Clarksville he was just of the "guys"..

  19. W.... L....

    Written by Bill Anderson. Bill Phillips did a great job in this song as well

  20. I.... M....

    Love them all but have to say the two best at this great song is Jerry Lee Lewis and Mickey Gulley.

  21. S.... ....

    So great

  22. S.... ....

    So great

  23. R.... G....

    Willie called him the world's greatest saloon singer, who am I to argue with Willie.

  24. t.... f....

    I was brought up on country music and I'm sure happy I was.I got to see Ray Price he was great.I have always loved his voice.I hate to see the old greats leave us know one will never take there place

  25. D.... H....

    He took over from Hank...THANK GOD.

  26. M.... M....

    Reminds me of my grandpa nate 👌👌🍻

  27. I.... ....

    Awesome. This song/vid has made its way into my regular YouTube selection over the last few months, and I never get tired of it. I listen to a wide variety of music, including some stuff that would probably make some of the other listeners here cringe, but I love this! Lonesome and sad, yet full of heart and spirit.

  28. J.... E....

    I sang this song with my brother in law while we travelled from Quebec , Canada to Ontario, Canada. My brother in law Stan was driving and my sister Ruth (his wife) was sleep-ing. Stan commited suicide that night.

  29. K.... C....

    My mom absolutely loved every Ray Price song.

  30. H.... L....

    Thanks for this awesome!

  31. R.... H....

    You know, I thank God above that Dad and Mom instilled in me a love and respect for country music. Lord I wish they were here so I could just talk with them. But Dad and Mom were both born again Christians who both loved their Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ as I am and do. So...it won't be long.....but back to the music...I do apologize for rambling. Have you noticed something? How Ray and his band members are dressed? Respectfully...nothing trashy, no one is drunk or staggering around on the stage. It was just a whole different world then. You young people take notice of this. This is how it used to be. Once again....young people....if you ate lucky enough to still have your parents with you...tell them you love them....it could be the last words you ever say to them this side of Heaven. Respect yourselves young people....once again I apologize for going so far off course on my comments....but love life....take each day like it was your last day on this earth. Take care and God Bless!

  32. b.... ....

    Roger Miller on fiddle!!!

    b.... ....

    Roger did play fiddle for Ray sometimes, but not here. At 1:18 you can see Roger (second to left) playing rhythm guitar. Shorty Lavender plays fiddle in this video. The other band members are listed in the video description.

    b.... ....

    You're correct. I watched a little closer.

  33. M.... P....

    Who was the steel man? He looks familiar.

    M.... P....

    Jack "Curly" Evans - Steel Guitar (see description for all band members)

  34. l.... p....

    Best voice in country music. Great loss. RIP

  35. A.... K....

    Rays good singer

  36. J.... E....

    My brother-in-law James Stanley “Stan” Renwick loved this song . He committed suicide in 1964 at age 27.I was 18 years old and he and I had a close relationship. Part of me died with him, my most favored brother-in-law.

  37. o.... ....

    Putting a big capitol W in country and western!

    o.... ....

    Western music is Marty Robbins, Chris LeDoux, Sons of the pioneers, Etc. This is Country music.

    o.... ....

    @Jim Adams The fiddles make it western just dig Bob Wills to be sure.

  38. C.... B....

    Ray Price was not just a singer he was a great singer. Bill Anderson may have wrote this song but Ray did a great job on covering it

    C.... B....

    When Ray Price sang a song, it was sung...

    C.... B....

    @Robert Powers yes it was never heard him sing a song that wasn't sung . You know what I mean . He always sang it like it owned

  39. P.... M....

    Excellent track great film many thanks.

  40. A.... K....

    Beautiful song

  41. A.... ....

    Ray is the voice. He is the Roy Orbison of C & W

  42. S.... A....

    I have the album on vinyl and have almost worn it out!!

  43. I.... B....

    I came here after listening to Sarah Jory's version (what a great pedal steel player). Nice to hear the original.

  44. C.... K....

    We miss our Cherokee cowboy.

  45. D.... C....

    Thank you Bill Anderson!

  46. L.... A....

    Night life, Burning Memories , Heartaches by the number favorites

  47. L.... A....

    Glass of Cherry wine. City Lights em em/// Stars to brighten up the night,,,’m .. Different atmosphere

  48. M.... P....

    Bill Anderson wrote this song, I think.

    M.... P....

    Mary Plaidy you are correct! It was Bill’s first big break.

    M.... P....

    @GatorRock I remember hearing Ray Price sing that song back around 1959. I was a little kid but I remember hearing it played on WSM on and off all day. It was a monster hit.

  49. C.... ....

    Wow...what a voice

  50. L.... B....

    This is good old country music

  51. K.... W....

    Simply outstanding; almost unheard of today.

  52. C.... H....

    Love his singing!!

  53. G.... H....

    His best? Anybody's best. The steel player looks familiar.

  54. R.... D....

    I love it... takes me back to my younger days. His voice... wow

  55. T.... c....

    love Ray Price 2018!! this is county

  56. T.... H....

    A country legend just like Hank Williams. His music will live on for ages.

  57. L.... T....

    Ray Price is/was one of the All time country singers.

  58. R.... L....

    Look at the 50 son of bitches that do not like Ray. Why in hell do you son of bitches come to you tube if you do not like the music?

  59. T.... B....

    I wonder why Roger Miller did not sing the high harmony like on the record?

    T.... B....

    Take a listen to the original recording again. There's no male high harmony. There are indeed back-up singers (possibly the Anita Kerr singers) including a woman singing soprano. Roger Miller plays guitar on the record.

  60. L.... S....

    My favorite country song from back in my childhood.

  61. C.... H....

    Love his singing!!!

  62. G.... M....

    Ray the great!

  63. a.... s....

    if you like this checkout farron young's songs-

    a.... s....

    Loved Farron Young too.

  64. h.... ....

    Word around the campfire is that Charlie Parker once jammed with the Cherokee Cowboys. THAT would have been worth hearing.

    h.... ....

    hookalakah my lord, I never knew I wanted to hear something as much as that

  65. J.... D....

    The instruments and voice makes Ray 100% country. Great songs he made. From Jerry Bast

  66. B.... N....

    Another round of "red draws" for everyone.

  67. n.... f....

    What a voice .......................never again will you here this God given talent

  68. J.... C....

    This idiot stole this song from my grandmother! What a jerk!

  69. J.... A....

    Didn’t Sammy Pruitt play with Hank?

    J.... A....

    Correct. Sammy Pruett was a member of the Drifting Cowboys.

  70. F.... R....

    One of my fave Ray Price songd

  71. T.... T....

    Great voice

  72. M.... C....

    He is my cousin 👬

  73. w.... k....

    I remember dancing to city lights in Germany in 1956. Oh what memorys in brings to mind

    w.... k....

    Your right Buz it was late 58. But I'm in my eighty's now and memory is not that sharp. ha ha Thanks for the correction.

  74. H.... H....

    This is real Country Music and one of the great performers.

  75. J.... A....

    The great Ray Price. The Cherokee cowboy look at that Nudie suit. True Country and Western and it's finest.

    J.... A....

    Jackie Allen Webb perce

  76. J.... B....

    okay I am nineteen and I love this music I am definitely gonna open a classy club and have songs like this playing also there WILL be smoking cuz fucking tired of non smoking places

  77. t.... s....

    I always scratch my head when I see a number of thumbs down votes on these country treasures. I say if you don't like this then you're not a C&W fan period, and should probably save that thumbs down for the garbage you are more accustomed to.

    t.... s....

    Why do they even have that thumbs down, anyway? Don't like it? Move on. Life is too short for negativity.

    t.... s....

    Jerry Lee

    t.... s....

    Freedom of speech you goddamed anti-american socialist bastard. Go listen to Pete Seeger if you hate America so much.

    t.... s....

    I agree 100 percent!!!!

    t.... s....

    Stinking commies!

  78. G.... W....

    TRUE COUNTRY

  79. P.... M....

    sublime

  80. L.... G....

    Heard Ray Price and Hank Williams were best friends. Anyone note how much they resemble?

    L.... G....

    Lynn Graham They lived together near the end of Hank's life. Hank was so depressed that all he ate were eggs and ketchup and after his passing, The Driftin' Cowboys backed Ray Price.

    L.... G....

    Thanks for that info Zachary. I guess the last days of Hanks life were  really miserable.

    L.... G....

    Lynn this is the story I heard back in the 50s . Hank was on the opry he brought Ray to the opry told them if they didn't put Ray on he wouldn't do his show. They put Ray on he got 5 standing ovation what a great singer he was .

  81. i.... ....

    Boy that was a really sweet pedal steel break there

  82. f.... f....

    FRANK SINATRA COULDN'T CARRY RAY PRICES GUITAR PICKS AND STRAP LET ALONE HIS "JOCK STRAP".

    f.... f....

    i couldnt imagen my life without ray.

    f.... f....

    flint ferguson.....don't get crazy dude. apples and oranges. Both tops ....ok

  83. J.... W....

    Nearly the same tune as Charlie's Shoes by Billy Walker.

    J.... W....

    +James W..... On the verses I agree, but they're  totally different on the bridge-chorus part. City Lights written by Bill Anderson was released in1958, While Charlie's Shoes, written by Roy Baham was released in 1962

  84. M.... 2....

    Published on Jul 23, 2013
    Shorty Lavender - Fiddle; Roger Miller - Rhythm Guitar; Jack "Curly" Evans - Steel Guitar; Joe Zinkan - Bass; Sammy Pruitt - Electric guitar; Buddy Harman - Snare

    M.... 2....

    Jack "curly" Evins on steel

  85. j.... ....

    Happy 90th Birthday Ray, I know you and all your friends are "Whooping it up" in Hillbilly Heaven today.

    j.... ....

    fantastic

  86. j.... ....

    Roger Miller is so young there. And, Ray looked fantastic.

  87. T.... S....

    My number one Pandora station, Ray Price.

  88. J.... C....

    What a wonderful talented man we have lost.

  89. G.... M....

    Ray Price and Hank Williams are a lot alike.

    G.... M....

    +Gerald McGarrigle They were pals.

    G.... M....

    +Gerald McGarrigle That's because before Hank died he would let Ray front the band at times, then he actually let him take over the band; about a month before he passed away. So Ray literally acquired or inherited the Hank Williams sound from the source!

  90. D.... ....

    My favorite Bill Anderson song!

    D.... ....

    +DIRKWORKS2 And it sold better than "peel me a naner, toss me a peanut", LOL.

    D.... ....

    fish doctor ģ

  91. M.... ....

    I remember his songs when I was young. I loved all his songs and his voice

  92. j.... w....

    Quite possibly the greatest country song ever written sang by quite possibly the greatest country singer who ever sung, Hank Sr. not withstanding! Thanks a mil for posting GatorRock788.

  93. w.... ....

    Ray Price, The best voice ever in any kind of music,Loved Ray's singing in all the different styles over the years,altho the early sounds are my favorite,There were many great voices back in the day,Marty,Jim,Ferlin, Faron,ect None as good as Ray

    w.... ....

    Agree 100% back when this was known as hillbilly music. My God how great it was.

    w.... ....

    I totally agree! He was the best ever!!!!!

    w.... ....

    ray was a little bit of everywhere, and floted twards Tallent, every time !

  94. P.... M....

    I will never forget listening to Ray Price sing this song and driving my 1955 Chevy.  What a wonderful time in my life, so carefree.  Thanks for posting.

    P.... M....

    Whaw .. I had a 59 Ford Galaxy with a 390cc engine &  a 64 Pontiac Parissien in late 60's. They were good cars, wish I still had them. The cars of today are made of potato peels. These days I travel in luxury with a driver at all hours; all I need to do is walk to the "bus" station around the corner.  [26.6.17]

  95. D.... C....

    Truly 'country'! It doesn't get any better!!!

  96. m.... ....

    man the sound on this vid is amazing. clear as a bell. yes, the song pretty well sums Ray price even back then. You just knew he;d be around for the next 50 years. R.I.P. mosrite60

  97. U.... ....

    Did a little research and verified that it is the one and only Buddy Harman on the snare.

    U.... ....

    perfect. gracias.

  98. U.... ....

    Other musicians are:
    Joe Zinkan - bass fiddle
    Sammy Pruitt - electric guitar
    And sitting behind Mr. Pruitt is possibly Buddy Harman on the snare drum. 

  99. S.... ....

    Ray Price inproved with age..he got smoother and less abrasive...I mean BEFORE he began to think he was somebody like Frank Sinatra.  I call it his "interim" period.

    S.... ....

    Hey Speedy slow down Ray Price changed his style 3-5 times but to say that he thought he was somebody like frank Sinatra is a down right INSULT. Ray had his own style and was one of the best C & W singers along with a lot of them HW etc and many many more great singers the list is to long to write them all down but we know them all and won't forget 'um. God Bless them all as they are still in our Hearts and on our mind along with a lot of prayers and Thanks God we could Hear and dance to their Music.. God Bless them All....

    S.... ....

    @GatorRock788 ...Never !!

    S.... ....

    +SpeedyNeutrino172 Frank only wished he had Ray's voice.

    S.... ....

    +GatorRock788   Ok ok.....maybe "harsh" isn't the right word.    I'll accede to your statement..........I'll just say his voice became more "polished".  lol    Hope that pleases you.

    S.... ....

    +fish doctor And his hair.