About The Song
“Elizabeth” was released in November 1984 as the second single from The Statler Brothers’ album “Today.” The song was written by Jimmy Fortune and became The Statler Brothers’ 44th country hit. Jimmy Fortune was the tenor singer for The Statler Brothers for 21 years and wrote this song for the group.
“Elizabeth” became The Statler Brothers’ second number one hit on the country charts. The song reached #1 for one week in March 1985, though some sources indicate it peaked in 1984. In Billboard’s ranking of The Statler Brothers’ biggest hits, “Elizabeth” was listed as their second biggest hit, reaching No. 1 for one week in 1984. Between 1965 and 1990, the Staunton, Virginia group had sixty-six records on the Billboard Country charts, with thirty-three making the Top 10 and four reaching #1.
After the Statler Brothers’ tenor singer Lew DeWitt departed the group due to health problems stemming from Crohn’s disease, he was replaced by Virginia native Jimmy Fortune. This was the first song Fortune wrote for the group. Jimmy Fortune was born March 11, 1955, in Nelson County, Virginia, and grew up attending Nelson County High School in Lovingston, Virginia.
Fortune already had a tune in mind, and he was inspired to title the song “Elizabeth” after watching the film “Giant” starring Elizabeth Taylor before a show, and then met a young girl who introduced herself as Elizabeth in the audience during the show. Fortune began writing the song while watching Taylor’s movie “Giant” on the tour bus headed for Tulsa, Oklahoma, and as the Statlers performed there, a young woman grabbed Fortune’s hand, yelling repeatedly about being Elizabeth. Several stories surrounded the song, which is rumored to be written about Elizabeth Taylor, and The Statler Brothers’ member admits that they are actually the ones who started the story.
The Statlers earned the number-one spot on the Billboard chart four times, for “Do You Know You Are My Sunshine?” in 1978, “Elizabeth” in 1984, and in 1985, “My Only Love” and “Too Much on My Heart.” Fortune was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2008 as a member of The Statler Brothers.
Video
Lyric
Oh Elizabeth, I want to see your pretty face
I want to touch your lips, I want to feel your warm embrace
Don’t know if I could ever live my life without you
Oh Elizabeth, I’m sure missing youI remember when we shared a life together
You gave me strength and love with life that felt brand new
When you’re so far away, I’d have to say I’m feeling blue
Oh Elizabeth, I’m sure missing youOh Elizabeth, I long to see your pretty face
I long to touch your lips, I long to feel your warm embrace
Don’t know if I could ever live my life without you
Oh Elizabeth, I’m sure missing youWell it’s been said before that I’ve caused many heartaches
And I wonder if that was really true
Being all alone feels my heart would surely break
Oh Elizabeth, I hope you understandOh Elizabeth, I want to see your pretty face
I want to touch your lips, I want to feel your warm embrace
Don’t know if I could ever live my life without you
Oh Elizabeth, I’m sure missing you