About the Song

Conway Twitty’s “It’s Only Make Believe” is a classic country ballad that has stood the test of time. Released in 1958, the song quickly became a number-one hit on both the U.S. and British charts, solidifying Twitty’s status as a rising star.

The song’s poignant lyrics explore the heart-wrenching experience of unrequited love. Twitty’s soulful vocals convey the deep longing and vulnerability of the narrator, a man who yearns for the affection of a woman who seems indifferent to his feelings. The chorus, “It’s only make believe, I’m fooling myself,” captures the bittersweet realization that his dreams of a romantic future with her may never come true.

Despite the melancholy theme, “It’s Only Make Believe” is a beautifully crafted song that showcases Twitty’s vocal talent and songwriting ability. The melody is both haunting and memorable, and the arrangement is simple yet effective, allowing Twitty’s voice to take center stage.

Over the years, “It’s Only Make Believe” has been covered by numerous artists, including Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and The Everly Brothers. The song’s enduring popularity is a testament to its timeless appeal and its ability to connect with listeners on a deep emotional level.  

Whether you’re a longtime fan of Conway Twitty or simply appreciate great country music, “It’s Only Make Believe” is a song that deserves a place in your collection.

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Lyrics: It’s Only Make Believe

People see us everywhere
They think you really care
But myself, I can’t deceive
I know it’s only make believeMy one and only prayer
Is that someday you’ll care
My hopes, my dreams come true
My one and only youNo one will ever know
How much I love you so
My only prayer will be
Someday you’ll care for me
But it’s only make believeMy hopes, my dreams come true
My life I’d give for you
My heart, a wedding ring
My all, my everythingMy heart I can’t control
You rule my very soul
My only prayer will be
Someday 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, my dreams come true
My one and only you

No one will ever know
How much I love you so
My prayers, my hopes, my schemes
You are my every dream
But it’s only make believe (make believe)

 

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MINNIE PEARL WALKED ONSTAGE AT THE GRAND OLE OPRY FOR 50 YEARS WITH A $1.98 PRICE TAG ON HER HAT — AND THEN ONE NIGHT, SHE JUST COULDN’T ANYMORE. Here’s something most people don’t think about with Minnie Pearl. That price tag hanging off her straw hat? It wasn’t random. Sarah Cannon — that was her real name — created it as a joke about a country girl too proud of her new hat to take the tag off. And audiences loved it so much that it became the most recognizable prop in country music history. For over fifty years, that tag meant Minnie was here, and everything was going to be fun. So imagine what it felt like when she couldn’t put the hat on anymore. In June 1991, Sarah had a massive stroke. She was 79. And just like that, the woman who hadn’t missed an Opry show in decades was gone from the stage. But here’s what gets me. She didn’t die in 1991. She lived another five years after that stroke, mostly out of the public eye, unable to perform, unable to be “Minnie” the way she’d always been. Her husband Henry Cannon took care of her at their Nashville home. Friends visited, but they said it was hard. The woman who made millions of people laugh couldn’t get through a full conversation some days. Roy Acuff, her old friend from the Opry, kept her dressing room exactly the way she left it. Nobody used it. The hat sat there. She passed on March 4, 1996. And what most people remember is the comedy. The “HOW-DEEE” catchphrase. The big goofy grin. What they don’t remember is that Sarah Cannon was also a serious fundraiser for cancer research. Centennial Medical Center in Nashville named their cancer center after her — not after Minnie, after Sarah. She raised millions and rarely talked about it publicly. There’s a story about the very last time Sarah tried to put on the hat at home, months after the stroke, and what her husband said to her in that moment — it’s the kind of detail that makes you see fifty years of comedy completely differently. Roy Acuff kept Minnie Pearl’s dressing room untouched for years after she left — was that loyalty to a friend, or was he holding a door open for someone he knew was never coming back?