Ben H. English ~ Alphine Texas ⚜️⚜️

“I miss you darlin’, more and more every day
As heaven would miss the stars the above
With every heartbeat, I still think of you
And remember our faded love…”
–Bob Wills

Not too long ago, I posted my first song selection for a playlist as part of a cyberspace book tour put on by Lone Star Literary Life. That book was my first historical novel, ‘Destiny’s Way’ and the first musical choice to accompany it was the old Mexican ballad and revolutionary tune, ‘La Golindrina.’

Yet if La Golindrina has a counterpart on our side of the river, it would have to be ‘Faded Love.’ Written and performed by the legendary Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys in 1950, the song used the melody of a mournful American slave ballad entitled ‘My Darling Nellie Gray.’ My Darling Nellie Gray dates back to 1856 and has fallen out of favor these days due to the controversial subject matter.

That is a shame, as history is still history and a beautiful tune is still a beautiful tune.

Faded Love went on the be a Bob Wills classic, one of many that remains a favorite in the hearts and minds of his fellow Texans long after his passing. Decades ago, Waylon Jennings wrote a song honoring Wills with the lines:

“But when you cross that ol’ Red River hoss,
That just don’t mean a thing
‘Cuz once you’re down in Texas,
Bob Wills is still the King,”

Jennings, a native Texan himself, was only putting to words the common sentiment that so many others felt.

After the release of Faded Love numerous country, pop, jazz, blues and folk interpretations have been performed and continue to be released even now. Nevertheless, I would be remiss by not mentioning the one by Patsy Cline.

It is said that when she first read through the lyrics, she turned to her producer and exclaimed, “My God, what are you trying to do to me? These lyrics are heartbreaking!” Those sighs and emotional pauses in her recording are real, the song had that sort of effect on her.

That would be the last recording session that Patsy Cline would have. On March 5, 1963, only a few weeks later and at the very pinnacle of her career, she would die in a plane crash outside of Camden, Tennessee.

Her version of Faded Love was released as part of a memorial album in 1967, it has gone on to become the most popular version ever.

This one’s for you, ma’am…

Ben H. English
Alpine, Texas

The Bob Wills version:

The Patsy Cline version: