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.
O Come All Ye Faithful
Ed Ames Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem
Come and behold Him, born the King of Angels
O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord
Sing all that hear in heaven God's holy word
Give to our Father glory in the Highest
O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord
All hail Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning
O Jesus, for evermore be Thy name adored
Word of the Father now in flesh appearing
O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord
"O Come All Ye Faithful" is a Christmas carol that speaks to the idea of invitation and adoration. The song is traditionally sung during Christmas Eve or on Christmas Day, and it is an invitation to all believers to come and witness the birth of Jesus Christ, the King of Angels. The song speaks to the idea of those who are faithful, joyous, and triumphant being called to come to Bethlehem to witness the birth of Christ. It also speaks to the idea of those watching from afar, such as choirs of angels or those in heaven, being invited to sing praises to God and to give glory to the Father in the Highest.
The first verse is a call to action, imploring believers to come and witness the birth of Christ. The second and third verses are focused on the joyous celebration surrounding the arrival of Christ, with choruses of angels singing praises to God and giving glory to the Father. The final verse speaks to the idea of eternal adoration, with Jesus being adored forevermore as the Word of the Father in human form.
Line by Line Meaning
O come all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant
Come, all of you who believe, filled with joy and victory
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem
Come, come to Bethlehem
Come and behold Him, born the King of Angels
See and behold the King of Angels who was born
O come, let us adore Him
Come, let us worship Him
O Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation
Sing with joy, choirs of angels
Sing all that hear in heaven God's holy word
Sing all those who hear God's holy word in heaven
Give to our Father glory in the Highest
Give glory to our Father in the highest place
All hail Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning
Greetings to you, Lord, born on this happy morning
O Jesus, for evermore be Thy name adored
Adore forevermore the name of Jesus
Word of the Father now in flesh appearing
The Word of the Father now appearing in the flesh
O come, let us adore Him
Come, let us worship Him
O come, let us adore Him
Come, let us worship Him
O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord
Come, let us worship Christ the Lord
Contributed by Mia M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.