In 1960, the group known as The Four Lovers evolved into The Four Seasons. Its initial line-up featured Frankie Valli as the lead singer, Bob Gaudio (formerly of The Royal Teens) on keyboards and tenor vocals, Tommy DeVito on lead guitar and baritone vocals, and Nick Massi on bass guitar and bass vocals. Massi was replaced in 1965 by Charles Calello, who was in turn replaced later in 1965 by Joe Long on bass guitar and bass vocals.
Frankie Valli and Tommy DeVito had previously performed with Nick DeVito (Tommy's twin brother) alongside Hank Majewski as the aforementioned Four Lovers. As stated before, the Four Seasons released their first hit, titled "Sherry", in 1962. Under the guidance of producer and songwriter Bob Crewe, The Four Seasons followed up "Sherry" with several well-remembered hits, including "Big Girls Don't Cry", "Dawn", "Walk Like a Man", "Candy Girl" and "Save It for Me". Nick Massi left the Four Seasons in 1965 and was replaced by Joe Long, who became the mainstay on bass and backup vocals until 1976. Several more Top 10 singles followed, including "Let's Hang On", "Working My Way Back To You", "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" and "C'mon Marianne"; but by late 1967, the group's popularity was deteriorating, as public interest moved towards rock with a harder edge and more socially conscious lyrics. The group would, however, enjoy a brief revival in their popularity in the mid-1970s, with the hits "Who Loves You", "Swearin' to God" and their last number one hit "December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)". Don Ciccone was a member of the Four Seasons in 1976 and was lead vocal on several songs, such as "Slip Away", "Let's Get It Right" and "Rhapsody". He played lead guitar.
The Four Seasons (group members 1961-1965) were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990 and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1999. Jersey Boys, a musical play based on the lives of The Four Seasons, directed by Des McAnuff (The Who's Tommy, 700 Sundays) premiered at his La Jolla (California) Playhouse and opened on Broadway on November 6, 2005 to generally positive reviews. It won 2006 Tony Awards for Best Leading and Featured Actor in a Musical won by John Lloyd Young & Christian Hoff, Best Light Design in a Musical and Best Musical.
The group's music was one of many influences to the Jersey Shore sound of the 1970's and 1980's. However, by the 1980s, Frankie Valli was the only original group member left. Frankie Valli still tours today, performing many of The Four Seasons classic songs. Nick Massi died in 2000 of cancer. Despite Joe Long's extensive contributions to The Four Seasons, Joe Long remains the only member of the group's “definitive line-up” not inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio, most likely because he was not in the original group. Much controversy still exists over this decision, especially in light of the many top-10 hits the group had during his tenure.
Bye Bye Baby
Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
can't put it off any longer,
I've just got to tell you anyway.
Bye bye baby, baby goodbye,
bye bye baby, don't make me cry.
You're the one girl in town I'd marry,
I wish it could be.
I could love you but why begin it,
'cause there ain't any future in it.
She's got me so I'm not free so why?
Bye bye baby, baby goodbye,
bye bye baby, don't make me cry.
Guess I never will know you better,
wish I knew you before I met her.
Gee, I wish you could be for me.
Should have told you that I can't linger,
there's a wedding band on my finger.
She's got me and I'm not free so why?
Bye bye baby, baby goodbye,
bye bye baby, don't make me cry.
...
The lyrics of Bye Bye Baby are an emotional confession from the lead singer, who is in love with a girl in town but cannot be with her due to his current relationship. He recognizes the risk that his words could end their friendship, but he cannot keep his feelings hidden any longer. The chorus, "Bye bye baby, baby goodbye, bye bye baby, don't make me cry," suggests that he knows the pain that this conversation will bring and he hopes that the girl does not break his heart.
The verse, "You're the one girl in town I'd marry, girl, I'd marry you now if I were free. I wish it could be," expresses his overwhelming desire to be with the girl, knowing that she is the one for him. However, he realizes that his situation is not conducive to a future, and therefore, it would be unwise to act on his feelings. He feels frustrated and trapped by his current relationship, as he cannot give his heart fully to anyone else.
Line by Line Meaning
If you hate me after what I say,
I have something to tell you that could potentially result in you hating me.
can't put it off any longer,
I can't keep this to myself any longer.
I've just got to tell you anyway.
Despite the potential consequences, I need to tell you the truth.
Bye bye baby, baby goodbye,
Farewell, my love.
bye bye baby, don't make me cry.
Please don't make this harder on me than it already is.
You're the one girl in town I'd marry,
Out of all the women in this town, you're the one I would choose to marry.
girl, I'd marry you now if I were free.
If I wasn't already in a committed relationship, I would marry you right now.
I wish it could be.
Unfortunately, our circumstances prevent us from being together.
I could love you but why begin it,
I have feelings for you, but there is no point in pursuing them.
'cause there ain't any future in it.
Our situation has no potential for a future together.
She's got me so I'm not free so why?
I am already committed to someone else, so why bother pursuing something with you?
Guess I never will know you better,
It's unfortunate that we won't get to know each other better.
wish I knew you before I met her.
I regret not meeting you before I became involved with someone else.
Gee, I wish you could be for me.
I wish circumstances were different, and we could be together.
Should have told you that I can't linger,
I should have been upfront with you that I couldn't continue our relationship.
there's a wedding band on my finger.
I am already married.
She's got me and I'm not free so why?
I am already committed to someone else, so why bother pursuing something with you?
Bye bye baby, baby goodbye,
Farewell, my love.
bye bye baby, don't make me cry.
Please don't make this harder on me than it already is.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@user-ww7ec2ot4n
Lyrics:
If you hate me after what I say
I can’t put it off any longer
I just gotta tell you anyway
Bye bye baby, baby goodbye
Bye bye baby, don’t make me cry
You’re the one girl in town I’d marry
Girl, I’d marry you now if I were free
I wish it could be
I could love you but why begin it
‘Cause there ain’t any future in it
She’s got me and I’m not free, so
Bye bye baby, baby goodbye
Bye bye baby, don’t make me cry
Guess I never will know you better
Wish I knew you before I met her
Gee, how good you would be for me
Should have told you that I can’t linger
There’s a wedding band on my finger
She’s got me and I’m not free, so
Bye bye baby, baby goodbye
Bye bye baby, don’t make me cry
Bye bye baby, baby goodbye
Bye bye baby, don’t make me cry…
@suzannep8371
For all of these years I thought that The Bay City Rollers were the original artist, I’m gob smacked!
@gertvanlaar5670
It was the same for me .
Never knew the Bay City Rollers version was a cover .
But I like the cover much more 😁
@paulanthony5274
Same with most ub40 tracks and rod Stewart lots of covers and Boyzone although not all are covers with the bands I mentioned
@dryyoureyes5009
@Paulus lind x
@nicktubach2652
Same here. I was today years old. Wow!
@JordanWilliams_Link7702
@Gert van Laar both are good
@Nestor123057
Can't pick a favorite 4 Seasons song, but this one has got to be in the top 300.
@juliereminiec4937
Ragdoll, Candy Girl & Dawn are my favorite four seasons songs
@ToMaToEsGrOw
@Alissa Reminiec no opus 17?
@thedowagerd.2431
Opus17, Big Man in Town, Let's Hang On, Walk Like a Man.