Honey by Bobby Goldsboro
Summary
“Honey” by Bobby Goldsboro stands as one of the most commercially successful and emotionally polarizing songs of the 1960s. Released in March 1968, this sentimental ballad about a young widower remembering his deceased wife became the best-selling single of that year in America, topping three Billboard charts simultaneously. Written by Bobby Russell, the song’s unabashedly emotional narrative divided critics and listeners—adored by millions who found it genuinely moving, yet derided by others as excessively mawkish. Regardless of critical opinion, “Honey” remains a defining artifact of late-1960s easy listening pop and established Bobby Goldsboro as a household name.
Core Facts
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Song Title | Honey |
| Artist | Bobby Goldsboro |
| Songwriter | Bobby Russell |
| Release Date | March 1968 |
| Record Label | United Artists Records |
| Album | Honey (1968) |
| Genre | Pop, Easy Listening, Country |
| Peak Chart Position (Hot 100) | #1 (5 weeks) |
| Peak Position (Adult Contemporary) | #1 |
| Peak Position (Country) | #1 |
| Year-End Chart (1968) | #1 (Best-selling single of 1968) |
| Certification | RIAA Gold |
| Worldwide Sales | Over 5 million copies |
| Running Time | Approximately 3:30 |
Timeline
- 1967: Songwriter Bobby Russell composes “Honey,” reportedly inspired by personal reflections on love and loss. Russell was married to singer Vicki Lawrence at the time.
- Late 1967: Bobby Russell records a demo of the song. The track is pitched to several artists, with Bobby Goldsboro ultimately selected to record it.
- January–February 1968: Bobby Goldsboro records “Honey” in Nashville with producer Bob Montgomery. The production features lush string arrangements characteristic of the era’s easy listening style.
- March 1968: “Honey” is released as a single on United Artists Records.
- April 13, 1968: “Honey” reaches #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, beginning a five-week run at the top position.
- April–May 1968: The song simultaneously tops the Billboard Adult Contemporary and Country charts, achieving a rare triple-crown achievement.
- 1968: “Honey” becomes the best-selling single of the entire year in the United States, surpassing major hits by The Beatles, Otis Redding, and Simon & Garfunkel.
- 1968: The success of the single prompts United Artists to release an album also titled “Honey,” which becomes Bobby Goldsboro’s most successful LP.
- 1968: The song receives Gold certification from the RIAA.
- 1968–1969: “Honey” achieves international success, charting highly in the UK (#2), Canada (#1), Australia, and across Europe.
- 1973: Bobby Goldsboro begins hosting “The Bobby Goldsboro Show,” a syndicated musical variety series that runs until 1975, largely built on his “Honey” fame.
- Various Years: Despite commercial success, “Honey” appears on multiple critics’ lists of “worst songs,” including rankings by Dave Barry and various music publications.
Historical Context
The success of “Honey” in 1968 occurred during one of the most turbulent years in American history. While the country grappled with the Vietnam War, the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy, and widespread social upheaval, millions of radio listeners turned to Bobby Goldsboro’s sentimental ballad as a form of emotional refuge.
The late 1960s represented a transitional period in popular music. While psychedelic rock, Motown soul, and the British Invasion dominated the conversation among critics and young audiences, there remained an enormous market for traditional pop ballads among adult listeners. “Honey” existed in this space—appealing to the “silent majority” of record buyers who preferred melodic, emotionally direct songs over experimental rock.
Bobby Goldsboro himself had emerged from the rock and roll touring circuit, having served as a guitarist in Roy Orbison’s band from 1962 to 1964. His transition to soft pop balladry reflected broader industry recognition that adult contemporary audiences represented a lucrative and underserved market. United Artists Records positioned Goldsboro as a crossover artist capable of appealing to pop, country, and easy listening demographics simultaneously.
Songwriter Bobby Russell was experiencing his commercial peak during this period. In addition to “Honey,” Russell wrote “Little Green Apples” (a major hit for O.C. Smith and Roger Miller in 1968) and would later compose “The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia” (a #1 hit for his then-wife Vicki Lawrence in 1973). Russell’s songwriting style emphasized narrative storytelling and emotional directness, qualities that resonated strongly with mainstream audiences.
Musical Significance & Innovation
Musically, “Honey” exemplifies the Nashville Sound production style that dominated country-pop crossover recordings of the era. Producer Bob Montgomery employed lush string arrangements, gentle acoustic guitar figures, and restrained percussion to create a warm sonic bed for Goldsboro’s tender vocal delivery.
Bobby Goldsboro’s vocal performance on “Honey” demonstrates considerable technical skill beneath its apparent simplicity. His ability to convey emotional vulnerability without descending into melodrama (though critics would dispute this point) requires precise control of dynamics, phrasing, and vocal color. The slight catch in his voice during key emotional moments became his signature stylistic element.
The song’s structure follows a straightforward verse-chorus pattern, with the narrative unfolding chronologically through the narrator’s memories of his deceased wife. This storytelling approach was common in country music but relatively unusual for mainstream pop hits of the period. The emotional climax arrives through accumulated detail rather than musical bombast—the growing tree, the wrecked car, the empty house—creating impact through specificity rather than abstraction.
The production’s use of orchestral sweetening represented the commercial mainstream’s response to rock’s increasing sonic experimentation. While The Beatles were creating “Revolution 9” and Jimi Hendrix was reinventing electric guitar, producers like Bob Montgomery demonstrated that traditional orchestral pop production retained massive commercial appeal.
Cultural Impact & Legacy
“Honey” occupies a unique position in popular music history as a song simultaneously beloved and reviled. Its commercial dominance in 1968 was absolute—no other single came close to matching its sales that year. Yet critics almost immediately began categorizing it as emblematic of saccharine excess in popular music.
Humor columnist Dave Barry famously included “Honey” in his discussions of terrible songs, and it has appeared on numerous “worst songs ever” lists compiled by music publications. This critical disdain, however, has done nothing to diminish the song’s cultural persistence. Multiple generations remember “Honey” as a genuine emotional experience, and the song continues to generate strong reactions—whether tears or eye-rolls—decades after its release.
The song established Bobby Goldsboro as a significant figure in easy listening pop, leading to a successful television career with “The Bobby Goldsboro Show” (1973–1975). He continued recording and performing for decades, though no subsequent single matched “Honey’s” commercial impact.
The song has been covered by numerous artists across genres, though none achieved comparable success. Its narrative structure and emotional directness influenced subsequent tearjerker ballads, establishing templates that songwriters would follow for decades.
“Honey” also represents an important case study in the disconnect between critical opinion and popular taste. Music scholars have examined why songs dismissed by critics can nonetheless resonate profoundly with mass audiences, and “Honey” frequently serves as a primary example in these discussions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who wrote the song “Honey”?
The song “Honey” was written by Bobby Russell, an American singer-songwriter who also wrote other notable hits including “Little Green Apples” and “The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia.” Russell was known for his narrative songwriting style and emotional directness.
When did “Honey” reach number one on the charts?
“Honey” reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on April 13, 1968, where it remained for five weeks. It also topped the Adult Contemporary and Country charts simultaneously, achieving a rare triple-crown success.
What is the song “Honey” about?
The song is a sentimental ballad narrated by a widower reminiscing about his deceased young wife, whom he affectionately called “Honey.” He recalls her youthful innocence, their life together, and small memories like a tree she planted that has now grown tall. The narrative builds emotional impact through accumulated specific details rather than abstract statements of grief.
How successful was “Honey” commercially?
“Honey” was the best-selling single of 1968 in the United States, selling over five million copies worldwide. It was certified Gold by the RIAA and became Bobby Goldsboro’s signature song. The single topped three Billboard charts simultaneously and achieved international success in the UK, Canada, Australia, and throughout Europe.
Was “Honey” controversial or divisive among critics?
Yes, while enormously popular with audiences, “Honey” was polarizing among critics. Some found it touching and emotional, while others criticized it as overly sentimental or maudlin. It has appeared on multiple “worst songs ever” lists despite its commercial success, making it a fascinating case study in the gap between critical and popular reception.
Who was Bobby Goldsboro before recording “Honey”?
Before achieving solo success, Bobby Goldsboro served as a guitarist in Roy Orbison’s touring band from 1962 to 1964. He had several minor solo hits before “Honey,” but this recording transformed him from a working musician into a major star, eventually leading to his own television variety show.
What was Bobby Russell’s connection to other famous songs?
Bobby Russell was one of the most successful songwriters of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Besides “Honey,” he wrote “Little Green Apples” (a hit for both O.C. Smith and Roger Miller in 1968) and “The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia” (a #1 hit for his then-wife Vicki Lawrence in 1973). His songwriting was characterized by vivid storytelling and emotional accessibility.
Sources & Verification
- Billboard Magazine Archives: Chart performance data for “Honey” including Hot 100 positions, weeks at #1, and year-end chart placement for 1968.
- RIAA Certification Database: Gold certification records for “Honey” single.
- Whitburn, Joel. “The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits” (9th Edition, 2010): Comprehensive chart history and commercial performance data for Bobby Goldsboro’s recordings.
- AllMusic (allmusic.com): Artist biography, discography, and critical assessment of Bobby Goldsboro’s career and the song “Honey.”
- Songwriter Universe Magazine: Profile of Bobby Russell discussing his songwriting career and the composition of “Honey.”
- Encyclopedia of Popular Music (Colin Larkin, ed.): Historical context and critical evaluation of Bobby Goldsboro and late-1960s easy listening pop.
- Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame: Bobby Russell biographical information and songwriting credits.
- Official Charts Company (UK): International chart performance data for “Honey” in the United Kingdom.
- Library of Congress Copyright Records: Songwriting credit verification for Bobby Russell as sole composer and lyricist.
- United Artists Records Discography Archives: Original release information, catalog numbers, and production credits.