Three Coins in a Fountain
The story of The Four Aces started when Philadelphia born Al Alberts was se… Read Full Bio ↴The story of The Four Aces started when Philadelphia born Al Alberts was serving in the U.S. Navy and teamed up with tenor saxist Dave Mahoney. After discharge in 1946 they performed back in Pennsylvania as a duo, and then with local boys Rosario (Sod) Voccaro on trumpet and drummer Lou Silvestri, formed an instrumental combo. Pretty soon they discovered they were even better vocalists than musicians. Al was the lead and Dave, Sod and Lou added the tenor, baritone and bass voices. After a while of singing local dates they were approached by songwriters George Hoven and Chester Shull with a number they had written called '(It's No) Sin.' When the song received it privately on a label they christened Victoria. Local radio station plays soon spread across the State and eventually the country. In the end the record sold over a million copies. Eventually, the group was signed by Decca who released their second million copy seller, 'Tell Me Why.' A change of backing orchestra from Owen Bradley to Jack Pleis then brought further successes with 'Heart of My Heart,' their first American No.1, the million selling 'Three Coins in the Fountain,' and their top 10 version of 'Mister Sandman.' Al Alberts left the group in 1958 to pursue a solo career and was replaced by Freddie Diodatti, who fronted the foursome on their 1959 chart success 'The World Outside.' Dave and Sod left the group in the Sixties. The final member, Lou, left in 1976 to join the other members in a group, which was named The Original Four Aces, who continued to perform until 1987.


Discography

Heart And Soul
(It's No) Sin
Tell Me Why
Heart and Soull
A Garden In The Rain
Strange In Paradise
The Gang That Sang "Heart Of My Heart"
Mr. Sandman
Perfidia
Melody Of Love
Three Coins In The Fountian
I'm Yours
Should I
There Is A Tavern In The Town
You Brought Me Love
In Apple Blossom Time
Dream
So Long
Laughing On The Outside
Organ Gringer's Swing
La Rosita
Just Squeeze Me
I Understand
It's A Woman's World (From Woman's World)
Wedding Bells (Are Breaking Up That Old Gang Of Mine)

A pair of Philadelphia boys, Al Alberts and Dave Mahoney, finding themselves in the North Atlantic in the Navy in WWII, killed time by singing together. Joining two more local boys, Rosario and Louis, they formed the Four Aces, following in the footsteps of the Ames Brothers. Their first hit was "(It's No) Sin," which was shopped to no avail to New York record companies, and finally released by Al, who started his own record company, Victoria Records, to do it. The song peaked on Billboard's charts at #4 in 1951, and the Aces were quickly signed by Decca. The group-written "Tell Me Why," "A Garden in the Rain," "Perfidia," "I'm Yours" and "Heart and Soul" were next to climb high on the charts. Appearing frequently on TV, Aces singles "La Rosita," "Just Squeeze Me," "Laughing on the Outside" and "The Gang that Sang (Heart of My Heart)" were among 8 of the group's hits in 1952. "Stranger in Paradise" went to #2 on the charts, which the Aces finally topped with the theme from the movie "Three Coins in a Fountain." Popular hits "Dream" and "So Long," followed, and "Mr. Sandman" and "Melody of Love" scored in Billboard's top five before the floodgates of Rock 'n Roll opened in 1955, and even that year the Aces had another chart-topper with "Love is a Many Splendored Thing." "Heart" features 24 of the group's (all accompanied) upbeat, romantic tunes in a nicely done package with group history and photos. For smooth quintessential 50s pop harmonies, Four Aces win every time!

Three Coins in a Fountain
Four Aces Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Make it mine
Make it mine
Please, make it mine

Three coins in the fountain
Each one seeking happiness
Thrown by three hopeful lovers
Which on will the fountain bless

Three hearts in the fountain
Each heart longing for its home
There they lie in the fountain
Somewhere in the heart of Rome

Which one will the fountain bless
Which one will the fountain bless

Three coins in the fountain
Through the ripples how they shine
Just one wish will be granted
One heart will wear a valentine

Make it mine
Make it mine
Make it mine

Which one will the fountain bless
Which one will the fountain bless

Three coins in the fountain
Through the ripples how they shine
Just one wish will be granted
One heart will wear a valentine

Make it mine




Make it mine
Make it mine

Overall Meaning

The Four Aces' song "Three Coins in the Fountain" is a classic romantic ballad that describes three hopeful lovers throwing coins in a fountain in Rome, each wishing for happiness and longing for their home. The song implies that only one of them will be blessed by the fountain with love, symbolized by the wearing of a valentine heart. The chorus repeatedly asks for the fountain to "Make it mine" for each of them, emphasizing their desire to be the chosen one.



The metaphor of the three coins in the fountain represents the three different choices of lovers, suggesting that their fate depends on luck, destiny or a higher power. The nostalgic and wistful mood of the song is enhanced by the mention of the heart of Rome, as if the fountain were a magical place where dreams come true. The repetition of the phrase "Which one will the fountain bless" underscores the uncertainty and suspense of the lovers' fate and the listener's anticipation of the outcome.


Overall, "Three Coins in the Fountain" is a sentimental and romantic song that captures the essence of chance, hope, and longing for love. Its timeless lyrics and memorable melody have made it a beloved classic that has been covered by many artists and used in several films and TV shows.




Line by Line Meaning

Make it mine
The singer requests that their wish be granted and their heart be blessed.


Three coins in the fountain
Three coins are thrown into the fountain in hopes of finding happiness.


Each one seeking happiness
The coins represent the hopeful desires of each lover wishing for a happy future.


Thrown by three hopeful lovers
The coins are thrown into the fountain by three individuals full of hope and love.


Which one will the fountain bless
The fate of these lovers is uncertain, as they wait to see which one the fountain will choose to bless.


Three hearts in the fountain
The hearts of the lovers are represented by the coins thrown into the fountain.


Each heart longing for its home
Each lover longs for a place where their heart can rest and be at peace.


There they lie in the fountain
The coins rest in the fountain as a symbol of the hearts' desires.


Somewhere in the heart of Rome
The coins and the lovers are in the city of Rome, a place of beauty and love.


Through the ripples how they shine
As the coins are tossed into the fountain, they create ripples that reflect the shining of the coins.


Just one wish will be granted
Only one of the three lovers will have their wish granted by the fountain.


One heart will wear a valentine
The lover whose wish is granted will receive a symbol of love, a valentine.




Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jule Styne, Sammy Cahn

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@dianalazaro8995

This is my father's favorite song, he passed away just yesterday. This reminds me of how happy he is singing this

@ralph-hudson

My father was friends with the Four Aces. I met Al Alberts several times when I was a young boy ( I'm 76 now ). He was a real nice guy. He lived in Media, PA.

@sensesfail5140

I'm very sorry for your loss. He is watching over you.

@edmonyangco8997

Same, also my father's favorite song and the band he always playing it in our stereo before he pass away.i miss my father.

@garyjackson5025

My mum is in a care home one of this group also lives there. I played this dong to both of them and other residents the other day neither knew who I was. They liked the music been played but had no connection. Live life to the full as though today is your last. ❤

@markherron1407

Happy Birthday to Al Alberts of Four 🍀 Aces Blessings and Hugs 💖💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕

@spyderjockey

I can't seem to get enough of this music. It touches my soul so deep and brings me back to much easier and happier times. I sit and listen to this wonderful music with a warm glow in my heart and eyes running over down my cheeks.

@kenallanphillips

I hear ya! This music is my passion. I am doing what I can to keep it alive and honor it!

@dalezimmerman4151

I saw this movie when I was 6 years old and promised myself that I would see this fountain, it took me 60 years but I did, and this music brings it all back.

@lilshwee

I'm glad there's Youtube so I can enjoy this music too. I love it and I'm only 16! 

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