- published: 31 Jul 2016
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Francis Craig (September 10, 1900 – November 19, 1966) was an American songwriter and leader of a Nashville dance band. His works included "Dynamite" and "Near You". He was also a disc jockey at radio station WSM (AM) in Nashville, Tennessee.
Craig was born in Dickson, Tennessee, United States, and educated at Vanderbilt University, Nashville. "Dynamite!" now the official fight song of Vanderbilt University, was written by Craig in 1922, when Craig was an undergraduate student. It is played mainly at football games, basketball games, and at other Commodore sports events.
His own recording of "Near You" was released by Bullet Records as catalog number 1001. It first reached the Billboard Best Seller chart on August 30, 1947, and lasted 21 weeks on the chart, peaking at #1. It held the number one spot for 12 straight weeks. It eventually sold over two and a half million copies, and was awarded a gold disc by the RIAA. Various recordings by other persons have followed.
Other works included "Beg Your Pardon" with Beasley Smith.
(I want to be near you)
I want to hear what you have to say
(As long as I'm near you)
Nothing will seem to pass away
Long as I'm near you
Longing to hear you
Long as I'm near you
I want to believe you
When you say the things you do
And so I believe you
You make it all appear so true
Glad that I found you
It's good to be around you
Good to be near you
When it comes to making time
Little girl, you sure made mine
It's been my day
To make my way to stay
(I want to be near you)
You're my all
You're my everything
(As long as I'm near you)
There's a song in my heart to sing
A song of your laughter
Is all that I'm after
I want to be near you
Love is such a happy song
And when love comes along
It's good to be alive
It's good that you arrived on time
(I want to be near you)
(I want to be near you)
(I want to be near you)
(As long as I'm near you)
(As long as I'm near you)
(As long as I'm near you)
(I want to believe you)
(I want to believe you)
(I want to believe you)
(And so I believe you)
(And so I believe you)
(And so I believe you)
(I want to be near you)
(I want to be near you)
(I want to be near you)
(As long as I'm near you)
(As long as I'm near you)
(As long as I'm near you)
(I want to believe you)
(I want to believe you)
(I want to believe you)
(And so I believe you)
(And so I believe you)