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.
Who Will Answer?
Ed Ames Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
From the canyons of the mind
We wander on and stumble blindly
Through the often tangled maze
Of starless nights and sunless days
While asking for some kind of clue
Or road to lead us to the truth
Side by side two people stand
Together vowing, hand in hand
That love's imbedded in their hearts
But soon an empty feeling starts
To overwhelm their hollow lives
And when they seek the how's and why's
Who will answer?
On a strange and distant hill
A young man's lying very still
His arms will never hold his child
Because a bullet running wild
Has struck him down and now we cry
"Dear God, oh, why, oh, why?"
But who will answer?
High upon a lonely ledge
A figure teeters near the edge
And jeering crowds collect below
To egg him on with, "Go, man, go!"
But who will ask what led him
To his private day of doom
And who will answer?
If the soul is darkened
By a fear it cannot name
If the mind is baffled
When the rules don't fit the game
Who will answer? Who will answer? Who will answer?
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah
In the rooms of dark and shades
The scent of sandalwood pervades
The colored thoughts in muddled heads
Relining in the rumpled beds
Of unmade dreams that can't come true
When we ask what we should do
Who, who will answer?
'Neath the spreading mushroom tree
The world revolves in apathy
As overhead, a row of specks
Roars on, drowned out by discotheques
And if a secret button's pressed
Because one man has been outguessed
Who will answer?
Is our hope in walnut shells
Worn 'round the neck with temple bells
Or deep within some cloistered walls
Where hooded figures pray in halls?
Or crumbled books on dusty shelves
Or in our stars, or in ourselves
Who will answer?
If the soul is darkened
By a fear it cannot name
If the mind is baffled
When the rules don't fit the game
Who will answer? Who will answer? Who will answer?
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah
The song "Who Will Answer?" by Ed Ames is a contemplative piece that delves into the often daunting questions of life. The lyrics describe how people aimlessly wander through life in search of answers, hoping to find a road that leads to the truth. The first verse describes how life can be both confusing and overwhelming, with starless nights and sunless days. The singer is searching for a clue, some sort of guidance to help them find their way. But the question remains: who will answer?
The following verses ask similar questions but focus on different scenarios. The second verse talks about two people who love each other, but that love can't always fill a void in their lives. When they start asking for answers, who will answer them? The third verse talks about a young man who was killed in war. The singer wonders why his life was taken and who will answer for it. The fourth verse describes a man standing on a ledge, with a crowd of people below urging him to jump. Who will ask him why he is considering taking his own life?
The chorus repeats the question that the song is asking, "Who will answer?" The final verses describe various possibilities of where answers may be found: a temple, a monastery, dusty books, or within ourselves. But the question still remains, who will answer?
Overall, the song is a powerful and thought-provoking piece that speaks to the human condition, our questions about the world, and our search for answers.
Line by Line Meaning
From the canyons of the mind
We wander aimlessly through our thoughts and emotions
We wander on and stumble blindly
Our search for truth is often misguided or unclear
Through the often tangled maze
We encounter many obstacles and challenges while searching
Of starless nights and sunless days
We experience times of darkness and sadness
While asking for some kind of clue
We seek guidance and direction in our pursuit of truth
Or road to lead us to the truth
We desire a clear path to follow towards truth and meaning
But who will answer?
We wonder if anyone will provide answers or guidance
Together vowing, hand in hand
Two people profess their love and commitment to each other
That love's imbedded in their hearts
They believe their love is genuine and deep-rooted
But soon an empty feeling starts
They begin to feel unsatisfied and unfulfilled
To overwhelm their hollow lives
Their lives become empty and unfulfilling
And when they seek the how's and why's
They search for answers as to why they feel this way
But who will answer?
They wonder if anyone can provide answers or solutions
A young man's lying very still
A man has been killed
His arms will never hold his child
He will never have the chance to be a father
Because a bullet running wild
He was killed by a stray bullet
Has struck him down and now we cry
We mourn his death and seek answers for why he had to die
But who will answer?
We wonder if anyone can explain why this happened
A figure teeters near the edge
Someone is standing on the brink of suicide
And jeering crowds collect below
Onlookers are goading the person to jump
To egg him on with, 'Go, man, go!'
They are encouraging him to take his own life
But who will ask what led him
We wonder who will try to understand his situation
To his private day of doom
The day he takes his own life
And who will answer?
We wonder if anyone can provide help or support
If the soul is darkened
If someone is lost or struggling
By a fear it cannot name
If they are afraid but don't know why
If the mind is baffled
If they are confused or uncertain
When the rules don't fit the game
When things don't make sense or follow the expected pattern
Who will answer? Who will answer? Who will answer?
We seek someone who can provide guidance or support
In the rooms of dark and shades
In places of sadness, grief, or depression
The scent of sandalwood pervades
The smell of incense fills these spaces
The colored thoughts in muddled heads
People in these spaces have confused or chaotic thoughts
Relining in the rumpled beds
They struggle to find rest or peace
Of unmade dreams that can't come true
Their hopes and aspirations feel unattainable
When we ask what we should do
When we seek guidance or direction
Who, who will answer?
We wonder if anyone can provide help or solutions
The world revolves in apathy
The world seems indifferent and uninvolved
As overhead, a row of specks
As airplanes fly overhead
Roars on, drowned out by discotheques
Their noise is lost in the sounds of modern life
And if a secret button's pressed
If someone with power or influence makes a big decision
Because one man has been outguessed
Because one person has been outsmarted or defeated
Who will answer?
We wonder who is responsible for such decisions
Is our hope in walnut shells
Do we believe in magical talismans or other superstitions
Worn 'round the neck with temple bells
Like amulets worn for protection
Or deep within some cloistered walls
Is truth only found in isolated, religious communities
Where hooded figures pray in halls?
Where people perform religious rituals in secret
Or crumbled books on dusty shelves
Is truth only found in ancient texts and forgotten knowledge
Or in our stars, or in ourselves
Is truth something we can only find within us or through fate
Who will answer?
We wonder if there is anyone who can provide real answers
If the soul is darkened
If someone is lost or struggling
By a fear it cannot name
If they are afraid but don't know why
If the mind is baffled
If they are confused or uncertain
When the rules don't fit the game
When things don't make sense or follow the expected pattern
Who will answer? Who will answer? Who will answer?
We seek someone who can provide guidance or support
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: L.E. AUTE, SHEILA DAVIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@himaxize
Who Will Answer?
Ed Ames
Hallelujah, hallelujah
Hallelujah
From the canyons of the mind
We wander on and stumble blindly
Through the often tangled maze
Of starless nights and sunless days
While asking for some kind of clue
Or road to lead us to the truth
But who will answer
Side by side two people stand
Together vowing, hand in hand
That love's imbedded in their hearts
But soon an empty feeling starts
To overwhelm their hollow lives
And when we seek the hows and whys
Who will answer
On a strange and distant hill
A young man's lying very still
His arms will never hold his child
Because a bullet running wild
Has cut him down
And now we cry, Dear God
Oh, why, oh, why
But who will answer
High upon a lonely ledge
A figure teeters near the edge
And jeering crowds collect below
To egg him on with, go, man, go
But who will ask what led him
To his private day of doom
And who will answer
If the soul is darkened
By a fear it cannot name
If the mind is baffled when
The rules don't fit the game
Who will answer, who will answer
Who will answer
Hallelujah, hallelujah
Hallelujah
In the rooms of dark and shades
The scent of sandalwood pervades
The colored thoughts in muddled heads
Reclining in rumpled beds of
Unmade dreams that can't come true
And when we ask what we should do
Who, who will answer
Neath the spreading mushroom tree
The world revolves in apathy
As overhead, a row of specks
Roars on, drowned out by discotheques
And if a secret button's pressed
Because one man has been outguessed
Who will answer
Is our hope in walnut shells
Worn round the neck with temple bells
Or deep within some cloistered walls
Where hooded figures pray in halls
Or crumbled books on dusty shelves
Or in our stars, or in ourselves
Who will answer
If the soul is darkened
By a fear it cannot name
If the mind is baffled when
The rules don't fit the game
Who will answer, who will answer
Who will answer
Hallelujah, hallelujah
Hallelujah
Songwriters: L.E. AUTE / SHEILA DAVIS
@dogsportstrainingbysherry5488
"Who Will Answer" was our class song in my high school graduating class of 1970.
Well, we picked a difficult song with a chanting, liturgical set of verses, with even a few spoken parts! But with a class size of 36 seniors, what were we to do with this wordy song when it was time to perform it during commencement?
Simple, we had a senior boy who had a nice singing voice, and who also was good at extemporaneous speaking and debate. He was the only boy who could deliver the verses with the proper amount of passion and urgency as he asked the rhetorical question, "Who Will Answer?"
I am almost certain that the rest of our class merely served as the background chorus for this song! Who Will Answer, Allelujia, Ooh, Aah, etc. And I doubt we sang all verses. But it was a long time ago....
Thanks for posting this song!
@kd1058
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah
From the canyons of the mind
We wander on and stumble blindly
Through the often tangled maze
Of starless nights and sunless days
While asking for some kind of clue
Or road to lead us to the truth
But who will answer?
Side by side two people stand
Together vowing, hand in hand
That love's imbedded in their hearts
But soon an empty feeling starts
To overwhelm their hollow lives
And when they seek the how's and why's
Who will answer?
On a strange and distant hill
A young man's lying very still
His arms will never hold his child
Because a bullet running wild
Has struck him down and now we cry
"Dear God, oh, why, oh, why?"
But who will answer?
High upon a lonely ledge
A figure teeters near the edge
And jeering crowds collect below
To egg him on with, "Go, man, go!"
But who will ask what led him
To his private day of doom
And who will answer?
If the soul is darkened
By a fear it cannot name
If the mind is baffled
When the rules don't fit the game
Who will answer? Who will answer? Who will answer?
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah
In the rooms of dark and shades
The scent of sandalwood pervades
The colored thoughts in muddled heads
Reclining in the rumpled beds
Of unmade dreams that can't come true
When we ask what we should do
Who, who will answer?
'Neath the spreading mushroom tree
The world revolves in apathy
As overhead, a row of specks
Roars on, drowned out by discotheques
And if a secret button's pressed
Because one man has been outguessed
Who will answer?
Is our hope in walnut shells
Worn 'round the neck with temple bells
Or deep within some cloistered walls
Where hooded figures pray in halls?
Or from old books on dusty shelves
Or in our stars, or in ourselves
Who will answer?
If the soul is darkened
By a fear it cannot name
If the mind is baffled
When the rules don't fit the game
Who will answer? Who will answer? Who will answer?
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah
"Who Will Answer?", released as a single in November 1967, is the title track of the 1968 album Who Will Answer? by the adult contemporary singer Ed Ames. Originally written as the Spanish song "Aleluya No. 1" by the Philippines-born Spanish singer-songwriter, poet and painter Luis Eduardo Aute, it was adapted into an English-language version with new lyrics by songwriter Sheila Davis. Credits to Wikipedia.
@user-yc9eo8ju3d
I haven’t heard this song in over 45 years. Ed Ames was my father’s favorite singer. His voice was awesome . Rest In Peace Dad. I love you. ❤️
@joaneporter3702
Same — my dad’s fav. RIP 11/17/2011
@MichelleGraye
Love this classic song and thanks to the Righteous Gemstones (Season 3, Episode 6), new fans are born. Ed Ames had such a beautiful voice and does this song justice.
@haleyhall7865
Me!! Love this song
@stephenwcairns
❤
@Wonderhussy
OMG what an absolute banger!! 😍🤩 RIP, Ed Ames...thank you for leaving us with this masterpiece
@MrTrashcan1
One of the most incredible songs of all time and more pertinent now than ever before.
@tonyallen6510
Yes!!!!!👍👍👍👍👍
@Wonderhussy
💯 agreed
@Cynthia-ht8ld
I love listening to this song. Ed Ames has a commanding baritone that a person can take notice of. God rest his soul. Ed Ames July 9,1927-May 21,2023. Rest in peace, Ed Ames . We love and miss you so much.
.