After an unsuccessful first single, the group were signed to Laurie Records. Their breakthrough came when "I Wonder Why" made # 22 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and the group appeared for the first time on the Dick Clark TV show. They followed it with the ballads "No One Knows" (#19) and "Don't Pity Me" (#40).
This success won Dion and the Belmonts their first major tour in late 1958, with The Coasters, Buddy Holly and Bobby Darin, and this was followed up by the "Winter Dance Party" tour with Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper. On 2 February 1959, after playing at Clear Lake, Iowa, Dion decided that he could not afford the $36 cost of a flight to the next venue. The plane crashed, and Holly and the other stars were killed. However, the tour continued, with Jimmy Clanton and Bobby Vee being added to the bill.
In March 1959, Dion and the Belmonts’ next single, "A Teenager in Love", was released, making #5 in the Billboard Hot 100 and #28 in the UK Singles Chart, and this was followed by an album, Presenting Dion and the Belmonts. Their biggest hit, "Where or When", was released in November 1959, and reached #3 on the U.S. chart.
However, in early 1960, Dion checked in to hospital for heroin addiction, a problem he had had since his mid-teens. Further single releases for the group that year were less successful, there were musical and financial disputes between Dion and members of the Belmonts, and in October 1960 Dion decided to quit for a solo career. The Belmonts also continued to release records, but with less success.
Dion and the Belmonts reunited in 1966 for the unsuccessful album Together Again on ABC Records, and again in 1972 for a one-off show at Madison Square Garden, recorded and released as a live album.
Fly Me to the Moon
Dion & The Belmonts Lyrics
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And let me play among the stars.
Let me see what spring is like on Jupiter and Mars.
In other words, hold my hand!
In other words, darling, kiss me.
Fill my heart with song,
And let me sing forever more.
In other words, please be true!
In other words, I love you!
The lyrics of "Fly Me to the Moon" are an invitation to escape reality and experience the magic of the universe. The song requests to be flown to the moon, where the singer can feel free to play among the stars and explore the extraordinary phenomenon in our universe. He yearns to see what spring is like on Jupiter and Mars, lands that are still beyond human reach, thereby projecting his deep yearning for the unknown.
As the song progresses, the verse takes on a romantic edge, as the singer draws near to his love interest. He yearns for a connection, as revealed in his plea to hold hands and caress. He then expresses his vulnerability through the words, "In other words, darling, kiss me." This phrase showcases his uncertainty and anticipation, revealing the intensity of emotions that come with love.
The second stanza continues the romantic touch with a plea to his love to fill his heart with song, whereby singing affirms his emotions. He assures his lover that he is all she longs for and worships, which is evident in his plea, "In other words, please be true!" The final line is the declaration of love and gratitude for his lover, as he says, "In other words, I love you!" The song is a plea to escape to another universe to find freedom from the constraints of mundane life in the romantic sense.
Line by Line Meaning
Fly me to the moon,
Take me on an adventure to space far away from the world below
And let me play among the stars.
Allow me to dance and frolic in the galaxy with the celestial bodies
Let me see what spring is like on Jupiter and Mars.
Grant me the privilege to witness the changing of seasons on the red planet and the largest planet in our solar system
In other words, hold my hand!
I desire your physical presence and touch as we embark on this journey together
In other words, darling, kiss me.
I long for your affection and passion as we embark on this adventure to the unknown
Fill my heart with song,
Elevate my spirits and emotions with the power of music
And let me sing forever more.
Allow me to express myself through song for eternity
You are all I long for, all I worship and adore.
You are the sole object of my desires, admiration and devotion
In other words, please be true!
I implore you to stay loyal and honest to our love
In other words, I love you!
My ultimate expression of affection and devotion to you
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Bart Howard
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind