Ames was born in Malden, Massachusetts to Russian Jewish immigrant parents. He was one of nine children, five boys and four girls. Ames grew up in a poor household, but was educated in Classical and Opera music, as well as in Literature, such as Shakespeare. Ames was very athletic as a child and teenager, but he always knew that music would one day become his future destiny, as well as for his brothers; Gene, Mac, Vic and Joe. Together, while still in high school, the brothers formed a quartet and often won competitions around the Boston area in Massachusetts. Three of the brothers later formed the Amory Brothers quartet and went to New York, where they were hired by bandleader Art Mooney. Abe Burrows, a playwright entertainer at the time who helped the brothers along the way, had suggested the brothers change their names to the Ames Brothers.
They were first signed on with Decca Records in 1948. However, because of the Musician Union's ban, their records from Decca were never released. Instead, they signed on with another label, Coral Records, a subsidiary of Decca. They had their first major hit in the 1950s with the double-sided "Ragg Mopp" and "Sentimental Me". Following this, the Brothers continued to have success throughout the 50s with many hits like "It Only Hurts For a Little While", "Man With The Banjo" and "The Naughty Lady of Shady Lane". The brothers also made appearances regularly on variety shows, and even for a short period of time had their very own 15 minute variety show in 1955.
In 1960, The Ames Brothers disbanded, and Ed Ames, pursuing a career in acting, studied at the Herbert Berghoff School. His first starring role was in an Off-Broadway production of Arthur Miller's The Crucible, going on to starring performances in The Fantasticks and Carnival!, which was on Broadway. He was also in the national touring company of Carnival.
Although Ames was Jewish, his dark complexion led to his being cast regularly as an American Indian. His greatest success as a stage actor came when he played Chief Bromden in the Broadway production of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, opposite Kirk Douglas. Talent scouts at 20th Century Fox saw Ed in the production and invited him to play the Native American Mingo on the television show Daniel Boone.
While playing Mingo on television, Ames developed some skill in throwing a tomahawk. This led to one of the most memorable moments of his career, when he appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson on April 29, 1965. During the course of the show, Ames and Johnny Carson were discussing Ames' tomahawk throwing abilities. When Ames claimed that he could hit a target from across the room, Carson asked Ames if he could demonstrate this skill. Ames agreed, and a wood panel with a chalk outline of a cowboy was brought on to the stage. Ames proceeded to throw the tomahawk, which hit the "cowboy" in the tip of the crotch. This led to a very long burst of laughter from the audience and Carson's famous ad-libs; "I didn't even know you were Jewish!" and "Welcome to Frontier Bris."
During the 1960s, Ed returned to singing, this time however as a solo artist. He released his first single, "Try to Remember", in 1965. The song barely made the charts. However, a bigger success came in 1967 with "My Cup Runneth Over". The song was both a Pop hit and an Adult Contemporary hit. He had less success on the Pop charts soon after, and only had Adult Contemporary hits. The hits were "When the Snow Is On the Roses", "Time Time" and "Timeless Love". He did make the Pop Top Twenty one last time in his singing career with the song "Who Will Answer" in 1968.
Ames's distinctive baritone is a regular radio presence during Christmas season, too, thanks to his version of "Do You Hear What I Hear?" Written originally in response to the Cuban missile crisis, the song received its best-selling treatment from Bing Crosby in 1962, but Ames's version--recorded a few years later, during the peak of his solo recording career, is in frequent holiday rotation.
Away in the Manger
Ed Ames Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head
The stars in the bright sky looked down where He lay
The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay
The cattle are lowing, the poor Baby wakes
But little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes
I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky
Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever and love me, I pray
Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care
And take us to heaven to live with Thee there
The lyrics to "Away in the Manger" recount the story of the birth of Jesus Christ, the son of God, who was born in a lowly manger in Bethlehem. The song begins by describing the modest circumstances of Jesus' birth, with "no crib for His bed" and "the little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head." Despite his humble beginnings, the stars shine brightly, gazing down "where He lay" in the hay.
As the night wears on, the cattle begin to low and stir, waking the poor Baby Jesus. Yet even as he wakes, Jesus remains peaceful and serene - "no crying He makes." The singer of the song, an anonymous voice, expresses their love for Jesus and asks Him to "look down from the sky/And stay by my side 'til morning is nigh."
Line by Line Meaning
Away in a manger, no crib for His bed
Jesus was born in a humble manger, without a proper bed or crib
The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head
Baby Jesus slept peacefully, despite the humble surroundings
The stars in the bright sky looked down where He lay
The beauty of the starry sky was a witness to the miraculous birth
The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay
Jesus slept on a bed of hay, which is fitting for a King who chose to be born among the poor
The cattle are lowing, the poor Baby wakes
The sound of the cattle woke up the Baby Jesus, who was born into poverty
But little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes
Despite being awakened, Jesus was content and did not cry
I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky
The singer expresses their love and admiration for Jesus, and asks for His attention
And stay by my side 'til morning is nigh
The singer asks for Jesus to be with them, to bring them comfort and security through the night
Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay
The singer asks for constant presence and companionship of Jesus
Close by me forever and love me, I pray
The singer asks for an eternal bond of love with Jesus, that will never fade away
Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care
The singer asks for the protection and blessing of all children under the loving care of Jesus
And take us to heaven to live with Thee there
The singer expresses their hope and desire to be reunited with Jesus in heaven, where they can live together forever
Contributed by Harper J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.