“Time Changes Everything” is a Western swing standard with words and music penned by Tommy Duncan. Tommy Duncan is the long-time vocalist with Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys.
Written as a ballad, the lyrics tell of a failed romance and of the healed hurt. The verse of the track ends with, “Time changes everything”.
Watch the video below from the film, Blazing the Western Trail. The movie features Charles Starrett as the Durango Kid, with music by Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys.
Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys’ & Others in “Time Changes Everything”
On April 16, 1940, the Texas Playboys recorded “Time Changes Everything” during a recording session in Saginaw, Texas. OKeh label was the first to release the track. Since several have re-issued the song. It became one of the top singles of the said year. Artists ranging from Roy to Woody Herman and His Orchestra soon brought out competing records. The Roy Rogers’ version reached number four on Billboard’s Hillbilly…Hits chart in October 1941.
In Hollywood, California, the Playboys recorded another version of it on July 1, 1960. Again, many labels released the said version. Sometime in 1968, J. Preston using his vocals another version was recorded in Nashville.
From then on, numerous artists have covered it. To name is tribute albums by George Jones—George Jones Sings Bob Wills). Another is Ray Price’s Ray Price Sings San Antonio Rose. Last is Merle Haggard in A Tribute to the Best Damn Fiddle Player in the World (or, My Salute to Bob Wills).
Merle Haggard Takes on “Time Changes Everything”
All through his career, Ol’ Merle has recorded tributes for Bob Wills. In 1973, he appeared on For the Last Time Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys. Several years after (1994), Haggard collaborated with Asleep at the Wheel and many other artists influenced by the music of Bob Wills. This album carries the title: Tribute to the Music of Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys. A Tribute was re-released on CD on the Koch label in 1995.
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bob wills, The Texas Playboys, time changes everything