In 1956, Jimmie Rodgers won 1st place on Arhur Godfrey's Talent Scouts television show singing "Fox and the Goose." On the basis of that performance he was offered a recording contract by the new Roulette label. His first recording was "Honeycombe" which became a #1 hit on September 30th. Later that year, "Kisses Sweeter Than Wine" reached #3 on the Billboard chart. The song was originally recorded by The Weavers in 1951; the origins of the song dating back to versions by an Irish singer, Sam Kennedy, and blues singer, Lead Belly. Rodgers would have two other top ten singles, "Oh, Oh, I'm Falling In Love Again," and "Secretly." In 1967 Rodgers suffered a mysterious beating by an off duty Los Angeles police officer. The District Attorney's office subscribed the injuries to a "fall." A subsequent law suit was settled out of court. Rodgers went through several brain surgeries and had a steel plate put in his head. Today he suffers from "spastic dysphonia" which inhibits his ability to sing.
Well, when I was a young man never been kissed
I got to thinkin' it over how much I had missed
So I got me a girl and I kissed her and then, and then
Oh, lordy, well I kissed 'er again

Because she had kisses sweeter than wine
She had, mmm, mmm, kisses sweeter than wine
(Sweeter than wine)

Well I asked her to marry and to be my sweet wife
I told her we'd be so happy for the rest of our life
I begged and I pleaded like a natural man
And then, whoops oh lordy, well she gave me her hand

Because she had kisses sweeter than wine
She had, mmm, mmm, kisses sweeter than wine
(Sweeter than wine)

Well we worked very hard both me and my wife
Workin' hand-in-hand to have a good life
We had corn in the field and wheat in the bin
And then, whoops oh lord, I was the father of twins

Because she had kisses sweeter than wine
She had, mmm, mmm, kisses sweeter than wine
(Sweeter than wine)

Well our children they numbered just about four
And they all had a sweetheart a'knockin' on the door
They all got married and they wouldn't hesitate
I was, whoops oh lord, the grandfather of eight

Because she had kisses sweeter than wine
She had, mmm, mmm, kisses sweeter than wine
(Sweeter than wine)

Well now that I'm old and I'm a'ready to go
I get to thinkin' what happened a long time ago
Had a lot of kids, a lot of trouble and pain
But then, whoops oh lordy, well I'd do it all again

Because she had kisses sweeter than wine
She had, mmm…kisses…sweeter…than…wine