It’s nearly fifty years ago when Don Williams released “Some Broken Hearts Never Mend” as the first single from the album Visions. The song quickly became No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs in the United States. It held that position for a single week and spent a total of twelve weeks within the Top 40.
You’ll Shed A Tear Despite The Song’s Breezy Tune
Written by Wayland Holyfield, “Some Broken Hearts Never Mend” is apparently a song about lost love. It’s an unrequited love, the one you’ll never get over. “Some broken hearts never mend. Some memories never end. Some tears will never dry. My love for you will never die,” the song goes.
Despite its breezy tune, light-as-a-feather production, and Williams’ toasty-warm vocals, “Some Broken Hearts Never Mend” let Williams croon with a bit of tear in his voice.
“I remember it well. The thing about it is that you got to remember that the tempo is not a waltz. It has a little tempo to it. So, even though the title is ‘Some Hearts Never Mend,’ there is still some validity in the hope that love is not bad,” Holyfield recalled. “This one didn’t work, but it’s (love’s) a good thing.”
Also, of the songwriters, Williams’ scored hits with most often, two were there early and would sometimes write songs together: Bob McDill and Wayland Holyfield. However, this was Holyfield’s first solo write to reach the top for Williams.
Actor Telly Savalas also had a sizable hit with it in Switzerland, where it topped for two weeks, as well as in Austria and the Netherlands.
For You
“The funny thing is Telly Savalas (star of TV’s ‘Kojak’) was popular over there, and he recorded ‘Some Broken Hearts Never Mend.’ (His version) became very popular in Germany, and it still lives on to this day. From a remuneration point of view, it’s my biggest copyright,” Holyfield said.
Others who’ve recorded the song include the Bellamy Brothers and the Cox Family.
Indeed, this song became a big hit. It marked Williams’ sixth No. 1 on the country chart. During Williams’ career spanning an impressive fifty-two years, the “Gentle Giant” of country music notched seventeen No. 1 hits and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2010. Don Williams’ hits have also been covered by a slew of top artists over the years, such as Johnny Cash, Eric Clapton, Charley Pride, Kenny Rogers, Josh Turner, Alison Krauss, Alan Jackson, and Waylon Jennings, just to name a few.
In March 2016, Williams announced that he will retire from touring for good. “It’s time to hang my hat up and enjoy some quiet time at home. I’m so thankful for my fans, my friends and my family for their everlasting love and support,” Williams said in a statement.
However, we lost the hit-maker in 2017 due to emphysema. Let’s celebrate Williams’ legacy by listening to one of his songs, “Some Broken Hearts Never Mend.”
