Edison Lighthouse was the alias of songwriters and producers Tony McCaulay and Barry Mason, with session vocalist Tony Burrows' vocals on the hit 'Love Grows', although members of the group Greenfield Hammer were eventually brought in to perpetuate the image of a real working band.
After the success of "Love Grows", Fradkin returned from New York City to join this newly formed British group as an original member of Edison Lighthouse. The recording of "Love Grows" proved to be a worldwide success reaching number five in the USA on the Billboard singles hot 100 chart in February 1970 and became a number-one hit the world over, selling a total of eight million copies. In fact, for the whole of 1970 it was the number-two selling pop record in the U.K.
Barbara Ann
Edison Lighthouse Lyrics
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Ba ba ba ba Barbara Ann
Ba ba ba ba Barbara Ann (take my hand)
Ba ba ba ba Barbara Ann
Ba ba ba ba Barbara Ann
You've got me rockin' and a-rollin'
Rockin' and a-reelin'
Barbara Ann
Went to a dance
Looking for romance
Saw Barbara Ann
So I thought I'd take a chance
Barbara Ann, take my hand
You've got me rockin' and a-rollin'
Rockin' and a reelin'
Barbara Ann
Ba ba ba ba Barbara Ann
Ba ba ba ba Barbara Ann
Ba ba ba ba Barbara Ann
Ba ba ba ba Barbara Ann (take my hand)
Ba ba ba ba Barbara Ann
Ba ba ba ba Barbara Ann
You've got me rockin' and a-rollin'
Rockin' and a reelin'
Barbara Ann
Ba ba ba ba Barbara Ann
Tried Betty Sue
Tried Betty Lou
Tried Mary Sue
But I knew it wouldn't, do
Barbara Ann ba ba ba ba
Barbara Ann ba ba ba ba (take my hand)
You've got me rockin' and a-rollin'
Rockin' and a reelin'
Barbara Ann
Ba ba ba ba Barbara Ann
Ba ba ba ba Barbara Ann
Ba ba ba ba Barbara Ann
Ba ba ba ba Barbara Ann (take my hand)
Ba ba ba ba Barbara Ann
Ba ba ba ba Barbara Ann
You've got me rockin' and a-rollin'
Rockin' and a reelin'
Barbara Ann
Ba ba ba ba Barbara Ann
Barbara Ann, Barbara Ann
Barbara Ann, Barbara Ann
Barbara Ann, Barbara Ann
The song "Barbara Ann" sung by Edison Lighthouse is a classic piece from the 1960s that is a tribute to a beautiful woman named Barbara Ann. The song starts with the repeated lyrics "Ba ba ba ba Barbara Ann" and "take my hand," which is a poetic way of inviting Barbara Ann to dance with the singer. The singer had gone to a dance looking for romance and stumbled upon Barbara Ann, who caught his attention instantly. The chorus of the song is all about how Barbara Ann makes him rock and roll, indicating that she is the perfect dancing partner.
The singer then goes on to talk about how he had tried other women but none of them could compare to Barbara Ann. The use of Betty Sue, Betty Lou, and Mary Sue in the lyrics is a clever way of highlighting how none of them were as wonderful as Barbara Ann was. In conclusion, the song is a beautiful ode to a woman who has caught the singer's eye.
Line by Line Meaning
Ba ba ba ba Barbara Ann
The singer is repeatedly singing the name Barbara Ann to express his love and attraction towards her.
Ba ba ba ba Barbara Ann (take my hand)
He is requesting or inviting Barbara Ann to take his hand, which signifies his desire to be close to her and possibly dance with her.
You've got me rockin' and a-rollin'
Barbara Ann's presence has made him feel energetic and lively, which he expresses through the phrases 'rockin' and a-rollin.'
Rockin' and a-reelin'
He is feeling a sense of dizziness or excitement which he describes as 'a-reelin', indicating that he is fully under the spell of Barbara Ann.
Went to a dance
The singer went to a social gathering or party where he possibly met Barbara Ann.
Looking for romance
He came to the party hoping to find love or passion, which he seems to believe he has found in Barbara Ann.
Saw Barbara Ann
This could be the moment where he first noticed Barbara Ann, leading to his instant infatuation with her.
So I thought I'd take a chance
Despite possibly being unsure of himself, he decided to risk rejection and approach Barbara Ann anyway.
Tried Betty Sue
The singer may have experimented with trying to get closer to other women at the party, but none could match the allure of Barbara Ann.
Tried Betty Lou
Another name of a woman he may have attempted to woo but ultimately failed to impress him like Barbara Ann.
Tried Mary Sue
He might have attempted to woo yet another woman but realized that his feelings for Barbara Ann were stronger.
But I knew it wouldn't, do
Despite his efforts to get close to other women, he felt deep down that no one could match the special qualities he saw in Barbara Ann.
Barbara Ann, Barbara Ann
The song ends with the singer repeating Barbara Ann's name twice more, emphasizing the deep connection he feels towards her.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Fred Fassert
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind