Conway Twitty was a chart-topping multi-genre artist. Among the 40 songs that topped Billboard’s Hot Country Songs, “It’s Only Make Believe” was the only one to top the Billboard Pop Charts.
Twitty had so many #1 hits that his record was unmatched for 20 years until George Strait broke it in 2006 with his song “Give It Away.”
Fun Facts:
- “It’s Only Make Believe” was released on July 14, 1958.
- The song was recorded and released by the MGM record label.
- Conway Twitty and Jack Nance wrote the lyrics for the song while doing sets.
- During his young adult years, Conway Twitty played baseball and was almost recruited by the Philadelphia Phillies.
- Conway Twitty was born Harold Lloyd Jenkins. He changed his name when he signed with Sun Records in 1957.
- Conway Twitty spanned multiple genres, including country music, rock and roll, R&B and pop.
- He was inducted into both the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.
- On June 5, 1993, Conway Twitty died after falling ill while performing at Jim Stafford Theater, Branson, Missouri. The official cause of death was declared an abdominal aortic aneurysm.
- Before his death, Conway Twitty built a marvelous estate named Twitty City. It was eventually shut down in 1994.
- Trinity Broadcasting Network eventually bought Twitty City.
Lyrics
People see us everywhere
They think you really care
But myself I can’t deceive
I know it’s only make believe
My one and only prayer
Is that some day you’ll care
My hopes and my dreams come true
My one and only you
No-one will ever know
How much I love you so
My only prayer will be
That some day you’ll care for me
But it’s only make believe
My hopes and my dreams come true
My life, I’d give for you
My heart, a wedding ring
My all, my everything
My heart I can’t control
You rule my very soul
My only prayer will be
Is some day you’ll care for me
But it’s only make believe
My one and only prayer
Is that some day you’ll care
My hopes and my dreams come true
My one and only you
No-one will ever know
How much I love you so
My prayers, my hopes and my schemes
You are my every dream
But it’s only make believe
(Make believe)
Twitty went on to become a Country Music hit-making super-star, but this was still his best-ever song IMHO.