Devoted to You, an Everly Brothers hit in 1958, was covered by the Beach Boys, by Linda Ronstadt, and by James Taylor and Carly Simon. And by me.
I sang my vows to Garth on our wedding day. More to the point, I warbled…because I’m no singer. And that was the point.
We were both a little shell shocked from all that life had thrown at us and were understandably wary of another marriage. I just wanted to reassure him in the most sincere way possible that he had nothing to worry about, and standing there open, vulnerable, and filled with love, warbling my promise just felt like the way to do it.
I’ll never hurt you,
I’ll never lie,
I’ll never be untrue,
I’ll never give you reason to cry . . .
I don’t remember looking at anyone but Garth while I sang, but I was told there wasn’t a dry eye in the house, including his, and my own. Somehow I made it through the entire song.
In a sense the Everly Brothers have book-ended my life in terms of meaningful songs…before I even knew what true love was (as I wrote about in my other story on this prompt), and when I finally knew for sure.
I walked to my wedding from my apartment with my granddaughters in tow. It was a beautiful, sunny day, and people smiled and waved from their cars as they watched us march by! I love L.A.!
Barbara BucklesArtist, writer, storyteller, spy. Okay, not a spy…I was just going for the rhythm.
I call myself “an inveterate dabbler.” (And my husband calls me “an invertebrate babbler.”) I just love to create one way or another. My latest passion is telling true stories live, on stage. Because it scares the hell out of me.
As a memoirist, I focus on the undercurrents. Drawing from memory, diaries, notes, letters and photographs, I never ever lie, but I do claim creative license when fleshing out actual events in order to enhance the literary quality, i.e., what I might have been wearing, what might have been on the table, what season it might have been. By virtue of its genre, memoir also adds a patina of introspection and insight that most probably did not exist in real time.
You sound lovely, Barb. I was moved also and by the looks of it, (I’m assuming one of your granddaughters was the officiant), so was your granddaughter. Her expression says it all.
Well, that’s the Everly Brothers singing…I didn’t dare put up the video of me singing since a few of you are “real” singers! And that’s my daughter officiating…and yes, she was also moved to tears!
Barb, I love this story so much! Of all the songs that have been posted on today’s prompt, this is the one that is stuck in my head, and I’m delighted to have it there! I love that you sang it to Garth as your marriage vows! And I love the photo of you and your little granddaughters walking to your wedding – you are all so beautiful from the back, wish we could see you from the front too.
It’s been stuck in my head since I wrote it and I keep breaking into song…Garth loves that because it reminds him of our special day. I had actually written a somewhat longer story about the wedding with more photos but revised it to focus on the song.
Aww, this was sweet, and once I heard the audio clip I remembered the song. Of course this song will continue to move you forever. And it was lovely to see you, your daughter, and granddaughters in wedding-day garb.
Thank you, Mare!
What a lovely story, Barb, and your own singing of it at your wedding obviously clinches “Devoted” as the song that most moved you. And how beautiful that it remains a continuous reminder to both you and your husband.
I must admit that I am far more familiar with Linda Ronstadt’s version of this song than the Everly Brothers’ recording, though I knew the former was a cover of the latter. But I was certainly familiar with their version of “Dream,” featured in your other story on this prompt. Though, as you can imagine, with a girlfriend named Susan, my favorite Everly Brothers’ song was “Wake Up Little Susie.” We used to joke about it, but also made sure not to “oversleep” (to put it euphemistically, as I’m sure was intended to get it by the censors) when we were out on dates.
Thanks, John. And re “Wake Up Little Susie,” right,”the movie wasn’t so hot, it didn’t have much of a plot…we fell asleep,” uh-huh, right.
What a beautiful story, Barb. I love the picture of you walking to your wedding with your granddaughters. Someday, I hope you share the longer piece as well. It’s never too late to find happiness and love.
Thanks, Laurie…I just might have to do a longer piece one of these days…it was an unusual wedding, in a very good way!
XO
Very sweet to sing your vows!
Thanks, Dave!
Of all the elements of all the weddings I have heard of or attended, your idea to sing your vows is the most romantic. I’ll never hurt you, I’ll never lie, I’ll never be untrue — vows indeed! How sensitive of you to hear them in the lyrics. Thank you for a tender Valentine’s story.
Aw, thanks, Susan…I’m so glad the idea, and the story, resonated for you! Happy Valentine’s Day!