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.
Try To Remember
Ed Ames Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When life was slow and oh, so mellow
Try to remember the kind of September
When grass was green and grain was yellow
Try to remember the kind of September
When you were a tender and callow fellow
Try to remember and if you remember then follow
That no one wept except the willow
Try to remember when life was so tender
And dreams were kept beside your pillow
Try to remember when life was so tender
And love was an ember about to billow
Try to remember and if you remember then follow follow follow
Deep in December it's nice to remember
Although you know snow will follow
Deep in December it's nice to remember
Without a hurt the heart is hollow
Deep in December it's nice to remember
The fire of September that made us mellow
Deep in December it's nice to remember and follow
The lyrics to Ed Ames’s song “Try To Remember” are a beautiful reflection of the fleeting nature of life and love. The song is nostalgic, urging listeners to recall a time when life was simple and carefree, and love was just beginning to blossom. The first verse speaks of a time when September was a magical month, full of slow and mellow days. The grass was green, and the grain was yellow, painting a picture of ripe abundance. The second verse tells us to remember a time when life was tender, and the only thing that wept was the willow. Dreams were kept close and love was a tiny ember, burning bright with possibilities.
The song speaks directly to the heart, urging us to cling to memories of happiness, no matter how brief they may have been. The third verse encourages listeners to not let go of these memories even as the seasons change and life moves on. Despite the snow and the cold, it’s important to hold on to the fire of September that made us mellow. By evoking a sense of nostalgia and longing, Ames’s lyrics remind us to appreciate the beauty of life and love, even as they slip through our fingers.
Line by Line Meaning
Try to remember the kind of September
Recall the sweet memories of the month of September
When life was slow and oh, so mellow
When everything seemed to be at ease and relaxed
When grass was green and grain was yellow
The time when nature was at its best and beautiful
When you were a tender and callow fellow
When you were young and inexperienced
Try to remember and if you remember then follow
Revisit the memories and follow the emotions they bring
Try to remember when life was so tender
Recall the time when life was delicate
That no one wept except the willow
The time when sadness was rare and uncommon
And dreams were kept beside your pillow
When dreams seemed to be in close reach
And love was an ember about to billow
When love was in its infancy and had the potential to grow deeper
Deep in December it's nice to remember
In the cold winter of December, it's sentimental to reminisce
Although you know snow will follow
Although you know there will be tough times ahead
Without a hurt the heart is hollow
Without experiencing pain, the heart feels empty
The fire of September that made us mellow
The passion and warmth of the past, keeping us relaxed
Deep in December it's nice to remember and follow
In the cold of December, it's comforting to recall the memories and emotions, and follow them.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Actual Music, S.L., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HARVEY SCHMIDT, TOM JONES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind