
“The Ceremony” is a duet by country artists George Jones and Tammy Wynette. It was released by Epic Records as the married couple’s second single together in 1972 and reached No. 6 on the Billboard country survey.
Became the template for many of their early duets: romantic, occasionally overwrought Harlequin love songs that bubbled with optimism. The song mimics a wedding service, beginning with a minister’s preamble over a church organ and containing verses where George and Tammy renew their vows and profess their love for each other. It became a highlight of their live shows, although Jones biographer Bob Allen wryly noted that when they sang “The Ceremony” onstage, it was “quite unlike the quickie civil ceremony with which they’d actually sealed their nuptial bond.”
From the album Me and the First Lady
B-side “The Great Divide”
Released 1972
Genre Country
Length 2:58
Label Epic
Songwriter(s) Billy Sherrill, Carmol Taylor, Jenny Strickland
Producer(s) Billy Sherrill
George Jones and Tammy Wynette – The Ceremony lyrics
(Man speaks):
Dearly beloved, we are gathered together
In the presence of God, and these witnesses
To join this man and this woman in the bonds
Of holy matrimony
Do you Tammy, take this man, George
To be your lawfully wedded husband
To love and to cherish until death do you part?
(T.W.) sings:
I’ll take this man and by him I’ll stand
I promise that we’ll never part
To him, I’ll be true
There’ll be no one new
From now, till death do us part
(man speaks)
And do you, George, take this woman, Tammy
To be your lawfully wedded wife
To love and to cherish, until death do you part?
(G.J.)
Yes I’ll take this woman
She’ll be mine forever
And I’ll love her, with all of my heart
To have and to hold
My love won’t grow cold
I promise, till death do us part
(both sing)
We’ll take each other
From this day forward
Together, in sickness or health
United with love
We’ll face life together
If we’re poor or if we have wealth
For better or worst
You’ll always come first
And no one can keep us apart
Yes, we take each other
Forsaking all others
Together, till death do us part
(man speaks)
I now pronounce you, man and wife…
