The group was founded as The Roosters by Chattanooga, Tennessee natives Sam Gooden, Richard Brooks, and Arthur Brooks, who moved to Chicago, Illinois and added Jerry Butler and Curtis Mayfield to their lineup to become Jerry Butler & the Impressions. By 1962, Butler and the Brookses had departed, and after switching to ABC-Paramount Records, Mayfield, Gooden, and new Impression Fred Cash collectively became a top-selling soul act. Mayfield left the group for a solo career in 1970; Leroy Hutson, Ralph Johnson, Reggie Torian, and Nate Evans were among the replacements who joined Gooden and Cash before the group's demise in 1983.
Inductees into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, The Impressions are best known for their 1960s string of hits, many of which were heavily influenced by gospel music and served as inspirational anthems for the Civil Rights Movement.
Personnel:
Jerry Butler (1958 - 1960)
Curtis Mayfield (1958 - 1970)
Sam Gooden (1958 - 1983)
Arthur Brooks (1958 - 1962)
Richard Brooks (1958 - 1962)
Fred Cash (1960 - 1983)
Leroy Hutson (1970 - 1973)
Ralph Johnson (1973 - 1976)
Nate Evans (1976 - 1979)
Reggie Torian (1973 - 1983)
Discography
Albums
1963: The Impressions
1964: Keep on Pushing
1964: The Never Ending Impressions
1965: One by One
1965: People Get Ready
1966: Ridin' High
1967: The Fabulous Impressions
1968: We're a Winner
1968: This Is My Country
1969: The Young Mods' Forgotten Story
1969: The Versatile Impressions
1969: Amen
1970: Check out Your Mind!
1972: Times Have Changed
1973: Preacher Man
1974: Finally Got Myself Together
1974: Three the Hard Way
1975: First Impressions
1975: Sooner or Later
1976: It's About Time
1976: Originals
1976: Loving Power
1979: Come to My Party
1981: Fan the Fire
The Young Mods' Forgotten Story
The Impressions Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I won't make it too long
About the young mods' forgotten story,
Some say by hand of fate
But the young make no mistakes
They know why the shots rang out
While all's confused
Where whereabout
And why and when
And who to do
Shall I tell it like it is
Ain't none of your business
Yes it is
So let me use the so called right of my opinion,
Our people fightin' day and night
For country pride they have died
So the world might see we humanely
Human we
Preciously
Are blind and cannot see
So let me sing a song
I won't make it too long
About the young mods' forgotten story,
If we don't come up to date
I'm afraid we'll be too late
And bombs will fall out
While all confused
With whereabouts
And why and when
And who to do
And you know who
Sing a song
About the young mods
Ain't none of yer's business
Yes it is
Why and when, who to do
To you know who
The Impressions' song "The Young Mods' Forgotten Story" is about the struggles of young people in society and how their voices are often ignored. The song talks about the shots that rang out and the confusion surrounding where it came from, when it happened, and who was responsible. Despite this confusion, the young, who are often thought to make mistakes, know the reason for this violence. The lyrics suggest that people are blind to the plight of the young and their struggles for a better society. The song encourages people in the community to come together and work for a better tomorrow, or else they may be too late to prevent more violence and destruction.
Line by Line Meaning
Let me sing a song
Allow me to express my thoughts through a musical performance
I won't make it too long
I will try to be concise in my message
About the young mods' forgotten story,
I will highlight the experiences of youthful and fashionable individuals whose contributions to society are frequently overlooked
Some say by hand of fate
Many people believe that these less appreciated individuals were destined for their plight
But the young make no mistakes
Despite their forced misfortune, these young people received blame for things they did not cause or control
They know why the shots rang out
These young individuals understood the reasons why violence occurred
While all's confused
During the chaotic aftermath of events, the situation was not clear to all involved
Where whereabout
The exact location of things was uncertain
And why and when
The reasons and timeline of events were difficult to determine
And who to do
The individuals responsible for the violence were unknown and difficult to identify
Shall I tell it like it is
May I honestly and candidly express my viewpoint?
Ain't none of your business
It really isn't your concern
Yes it is
My story actually does concern you
So let me use the so called right of my opinion,
I am entitled to share my personal beliefs and thoughts
Our people fightin' day and night
Individuals were enduring ongoing struggle and strife
For country pride they have died
Many people gave their lives for the sake of their country's honor
So the world might see we humanely
The goal was to show that human beings deserve dignity and respect
Human we
All of us are human beings
Preciously
We should value one another as precious and valuable individuals
Are blind and cannot see
We human beings are often unaware of the full scope of our problems
If we don't come up to date
If we do not properly address our issues in a timely manner
I'm afraid we'll be too late
Consequences may result that we will not be able to handle
And bombs will fall out
Literal or symbolic explosives may ensue
And you know who
You are well aware of the potential culprits and victims involved
Sing a song
Let's sing a musical composition
About the young mods
Let's focus on the stories of youthful individuals with style
Why and when, who to do
The questions of why violence occurred, when it happened, and who was responsible
To you know who
The individuals with the knowledge of the full extent of the situation
Contributed by Alyssa L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Keith Fuqua
on People Get Ready
Amen brothers. Get ready people