About The Song
“I’ll Be There” is a spirited country track by Johnny Bush, released in 1972 as a single on Million Records Inc., with “I Can Feel You In His Arms” as the B-side. Written by Ray Price and Rusty Gabbard, it’s a cover of Price’s 1954 hit, which reached No. 2 on the Billboard Most Played C&W in Juke Boxes chart. Bush’s version climbed to No. 17 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart, a solid entry in his early 1970s run. The 2:17 song exudes honky-tonk bravado, with Bush pledging unwavering devotion: “There ain’t no chain strong enough to hold me / There ain’t no breeze big enough to slow me.” His robust, operatic voice, nicknamed the “Country Caruso,” delivers the lyrics with a Texas swagger, as noted by Amazon reviewers who call it “pure Bush.” Lyrics.com highlights its infectious energy, perfect for the dancehalls where Bush thrived.
Recorded in 1972, likely at a Nashville studio, the track was produced by Pete Drake and Tommy Hill, per Discogs. The uncredited band, possibly including Nashville stalwarts like Charlie McCoy, features twangy guitar and fiddle, keeping the arrangement tight and lively. Bush, born John Bush Shinn III on February 17, 1935, in Houston, Texas, had a knack for reworking classics, and his take on “I’ll Be There” adds a raw edge to Price’s smoother original. SecondHandSongs lists covers by Elvis Presley, Connie Smith, and Gail Davies, but Bush’s stands out for its grit. He told Texas Monthly in 2017, “I didn’t try to sound like Ray. I just sang it my way, from the heart.” The song’s G-C-D chord progression and “I’ll be there if you ever want me by your side” hook, per Genius, made it a jukebox favorite.
Bush, a Texas country legend, started as a drummer for Ray Price’s Cherokee Cowboys and Willie Nelson’s Record Men in the 1960s before going solo with Nelson’s backing. His 1967 debut album, The Sound of a Heartache, and hits like “You Gave Me a Mountain” set the stage for “I’ll Be There.” By 1972, he was signed to RCA, though vocal struggles from spasmodic dysphonia, diagnosed in 1978, soon challenged his career. Wikipedia notes his resilience, regaining 70% of his voice by 1985 with coach Gary Catona. The song was a live staple, performed on No. 1 West in 1987 with Brian Sklar’s Prairie Fire Band, per YouTube, and later on Larry’s Country Diner in 2020. Apple Music calls Bush a “mentor to Texas musicians,” evident in his 2017 album The Absolute Johnny Bush, which includes “I’ll Be There.”
No major film or TV placements are documented, but the song lives on Spotify and in Texas honky-tonks, with fans on Last.fm praising its “classic country vibe.” No controversies surround it—just Bush’s unyielding spirit, despite vocal setbacks. Reflecting on his career, he told Austin Chronicle in 2002, “I kept singing because Texas needed me.” Bush, who died October 16, 2020, left a legacy of heart and hustle, with “I’ll Be There” as a testament to his promise to show up, no matter the odds.
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Lyric
There ain’t no chain strong enough to hold me
There ain’t no breeze big enough to slow me
I never have seen a river that’s too wide
There ain’t no jail tight enough to lock me
There ain’t no man big enough to stop me
I’ll be there if you ever want me by your sideLove me if you’re ever gonna love me
I never have seen a road too rough to ride
There ain’t no jail tight enough to lock me
There ain’t no man big enough to stop me
I’ll be there if you ever want me by your sideThere ain’t no ropes tight enough to bind me
Look for me, honey, and you’ll find me
Anytime you’re ready with your charms
I’ll be there ready and a-waitin’
There won’t be any hesitatin’
I’ll be there if you ever want me by your side