Brooklyn-born, she moved to Levittown at age 11 and was writing songs by 13. At that time she formed her first "girls group," The Jivettes, with two high school friends and the trio performed original songs at hospitals, schools and charity benefits throughout Long Island.
When her mother arranged a meeting for Ellie with Cadence Records president Archie Bleyer (of Everly Brothers and Chordettes fame), the young talent was advised "to keep writing, but finish school," and Ellie did just that. She attended Hofstra University, was it's Spring Queen and was graduated with top honors, a BA degree in English, and a listing in "Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities."
During her latter years in college, she met Jeff Barry. Eventually, the couple married and went on to become co-writers of some of the most memorable classic pop/rock hits.
In 1962, shortly after her college graduation and a three and a half week High School English teaching stint, Ellie began working in the offices of hot songwriters Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. There, in New York's famed music business headquarters, The Brill Building, she wrote songs with Doc Pomus and Tony Powers and experienced her first chart successes with "This Is It," sung by Jay and the Americans, and "He's Got The Power," sung by the Exciters. With Barry, Ellie formed The Raindrops (doing all the vocals) and they skimmed the top 10 with "What A Guy" and "The Kind Of Boy You Can't Forget."
Joining forces with legendary producer Phil Spector, a string of legendary hits were created, including: "Be My Baby," "Da Doo Ron Ron," "And Then He Kissed Me," "Chapel Of Love" and "River Deep, Mountain High." With Barry, this trend continued with number one smashes, such as "Hanky Panky," "Do Wah Diddy" and the epic "Leader Of The Pack," co-written with Shadow Morton. Also, during these years, Greenwich reigned as one of New York's top demo/session singers and vocal arrangers, working with artists ranging from Dusty Springfield and Lesley Gore to Ella Fitzgerald, Bobby Darin and Frank Sinatra. One of her most exciting sessions was re-arranging the background vocals on Aretha Franklin's "Chain Of Fools" and working with Cissy Houston and the 'Sweet Inspirations.' During one of her many demo sessions, Greenwich met and "discovered" Neil Diamond and went on to co-produce all his early hits such as "Cherry, Cherry" and "Kentucky Woman," doing background vocals as well. Ellie was also producing for Red Bird Records at a time when female record producers were a real rarity.
In the late 60's, Greenwich found continued success in collaborations with Bob Crewe, having a top 40 record, as an artist, with "I Want You To Be My Baby" - in writing for The Hardy Boys TV series - and in singing on popular commercials for Cheerios, Clairol and Ford Mustang . She would become one of the city's busiest female jingle writers and singers through the 70's and into the 80's being nominated for several Clios, including the "Ooo-La-La-Sasson" Jeans spot and entering the Clio Hall of Fame with a Levi's Jeans commercial from England.
Subsequently, Greenwich worked with Desmond Child, Nona Hendryx, Cyndi Lauper and Paul Shaffer, among others. In 1984, "Leader Of The Pack," a show about her life and music, opened at New York's The Bottom Line. The success of this show led to a 1985 Broadway run at the Ambassador Theater, where it swept up an extraordinary trio of honors: A Tony Award nomination for Best Musical, a Grammy nomination for Best Cast Album and The New York Music Award for Best Broadway Musical.
Inducted into the Songwriters' Hall Of Fame in 1991, Greenwich developed a sitcom, a treatment for an original Broadway Musical, a children's animated program with original characters, a Christmas movie and she is working on a book. In 1997, the #1 Dance and Pop record in England and Australia was Ellie's song, "The Sunshine After The Rain."
Elton John, Cher, Tina Turner, Mariah Carey, Bette Midler, Celine Dion, U2 Twisted Sister and Hanson are some of the contemporaries who have recorded her songs and "Christmas, Baby Please Come Home," started the Holiday season for over fifteen years on the Late Night With David Letterman Show.
You Don't Know
Ellie Greenwich Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Since the day I laid eyes on you
& you don't know how hard it is to hide
All my love (baby) deep inside
& I'll pray that's the way it's gonna stay
& day by day I'll just pretend 'cause she's my friend
& I can't let her know I really love you so, oh oh
Won't somebody help me? Oh help me, please help me, oh
You don't know what I've been goin' through
'Cause till I die (baby) I'll love you
& I'll try not to cry when you walk by
'Cause she's just like a sister to me & she, yes she
Is so in love with you, I don't know what to do, no oh
Won't somebody help me? Oh help me, I love you, oh
(You don't know) know what I've been goin' through
Since the day I laid eyes on you
(You don't know) know (what I've been goin' through)
Don't know what I'm gonna do
('Cause till I die) baby (I'll love you)
Ellie Greenwich's song "You Don't Know" talks about a person who has fallen in love with someone and is struggling to keep their feelings hidden because the person they love is already with someone else. The lyrics show the internal struggle of someone who is in love with someone they can't have but is trying to keep their feelings hidden. They have to pretend that they are just friends with the person they love, even though they want to express their true feelings.
The line, "You don't know how hard it is to hide, all my love (baby) deep inside" is a clear indication of the struggles that the singer is going through. They are trying so hard to keep their feelings under wraps because they are not reciprocated, and revealing them would not change the situation.
The chorus echoes the same sentiments, "You don't know what I've been going through, 'cause till I die (baby) I'll love you, and I'll try not to cry when you walk by." Even though the singer is in love with someone who is already taken, they can't stop loving them.
Overall, "You Don't Know" tells the story of love that cannot be expressed, and the inner turmoil of someone who is in love with someone they can't have.
Line by Line Meaning
You don't know what I've been goin' through
You are unaware of the tumultuous emotions I have been experiencing since I met you
Since the day I laid eyes on you
Since the moment I first saw you
& you don't know how hard it is to hide
You have no idea the difficulty I face in concealing
All my love (baby) deep inside
All of the love I feel for you burrowed deep within me
& I'll pray that's the way it's gonna stay
I hope that the status quo remains static
& day by day I'll just pretend 'cause she's my friend
Each day I will maintain a facade because she and I are friends
& I can't let her know I really love you so, oh oh
I cannot allow her to become aware that I hold deep affection for you
Won't somebody help me? Oh help me, please help me, oh
Will anyone please come to my aid?
& I'll try not to cry when you walk by
I will endeavor not to shed tears when you pass by me
'Cause she's just like a sister to me & she, yes she
As she is akin to a sister to me and she, indeed she
Is so in love with you, I don't know what to do, no oh
Is enamored with you, leaving me unsure of how to proceed
('Cause till I die) baby (I'll love you)
(For as long as I live) I will cherish you dearly
(You don't know) know what I've been goin' through
You are unaware of my circumstances
(You don't know) know (what I've been goin' through)
(You don't comprehend) the experiences I am undergoing
Don't know what I'm gonna do
I am unsure of my next course of action
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: NICOLE JOHNSON, ROB BEACON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind