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.
Rag Doll
Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, rag doll, ooh
Hand me down
When she was just a kid
Her clothes were hand-me-downs
Hand-me-down
They always laughed at her when she came into town
Little rag doll
Such a pretty face should be dressed in lace
Ooh, ooh ooh ooh ooh
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh
(Shag rag doll)
I'd change her sad rags into glad rags
If I could (if I could)
My folks won't let me
'Cause they say that she's no good
She's a rag doll, such a rag doll
Though I love her so
I can't let her know
Ooh ooh ooh ooh oh
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh oh
Aah aah aah aah aah, rag doll
I love you just they way you are
Ooh ooh ooh ooh oh, rag doll, ooh
Ooh ooh ooh ooh oh, rag doll, ooh
The lyrics to "Rag Doll" by Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons tell the story of a girl who grew up poor and wearing hand-me-down clothes. The people in her town mock her, calling her a rag doll. The singer, who loves her, wants to change her sad clothes into glad ones, but his parents disapprove of her and won't let him do it. Despite her poverty and being ridiculed, the singer loves her just the way she is and doesn't want her to change.
Line by Line Meaning
Ooh
Expressing excitement and enthusiasm about the upcoming story.
Oh, rag doll, ooh
Addressing the singer of the story, who is called 'rag doll' due to her poor appearance.
Hand me down
Referring to the singer's clothes, which were passed down to her from someone else.
When she was just a kid
Establishing the artist's childhood age at the time of the events being described.
Her clothes were hand-me-downs
Reiterating the poor quality of the artist's clothing.
They always laughed at her when she came into town
Describing the cruel behavior of the other people in the town towards the singer due to her appearance.
Called her rag doll
Explaining the origin of the singer's nickname.
Little rag doll
Adding emphasis to the artist's nickname for emotional effect.
Such a pretty face should be dressed in lace
Expressing the singer's belief that the artist is beautiful despite her clothes, and should be dressed accordingly.
Ooh, ooh ooh ooh ooh
Continuing the emotional tone of the song.
Shag rag doll
Using a repeated phrase to link back to the singer's nickname.
I'd change her sad rags into glad rags
Expressing the singer's desire to see the artist in nice clothing.
If I could (if I could)
Acknowledging that this desire is hypothetical, since the singer is unable to afford nice clothes for the singer.
My folks won't let me
Indicating that the singer is a child who is prevented from helping the singer by their parents.
'Cause they say that she's no good
Explaining why the singer's parents disapprove of the singer, potentially due to her poor background or reputation.
She's a rag doll, such a rag doll
Reiterating the artist's nickname for dramatic effect.
Though I love her so
Expressing the singer's feelings of love for the artist despite her flaws.
I can't let her know
Indicating that the singer keeps their feelings hidden from the singer, potentially out of shame or fear of rejection.
Aah aah aah aah aah, rag doll
Adding emotional emphasis to the singer's nickname.
I love you just they way you are
Reaffirming the singer's love and acceptance of the artist as she is, despite societal pressures.
Ooh ooh ooh ooh oh, rag doll, ooh
Ending the song by repeating the artist's name and expressing continued excitement and enthusiasm about her story.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BOB CREWE, BOB GAUDIO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ElliotBrownJingles
Just found out that Silence Is Golden was the B-side to this. What a 45!
@Nestor123057
Yes, many of their B sides could have been top 40 songs. My favorite was "Searching Wind", the B side of Bye Bye Baby (Baby Goodbye). Check it out on YouTube. On the record, and as a child it was haunting, and I loved it.
@ElliotBrownJingles
@@Nestor123057 I absolutely love that one too. Great suggestion!
@Nestor123057
The story behind this song is classic. According to Bob Gaudio, he'd stopped at a light on Riverside Drive when a young girl came up to his car and began washing his windshield. As the light turned green, he fumbled for change, but found nothing smaller than a ten-dollar bill. He said he couldn't just give her nothing. So, he gave her the ten. As he drove off, he looked in his rear view and saw the girl still standing there, staring at the bill. The image of that girl, in her tattered clothes, was so powerful that when he got to the studio, he began writing this song. The rest, as they say, is rock 'n roll history.
@georgesedares8036
All great songs touch the heart ! This one belongs among the top 5 in the world....
@williamkovacs6308
Great story
@snoopah3077
I hope this is true...
@nkechimordi
What a beautiful story behind an amazing song!
@bojandolinar1535
Holy smokes, 10$ in 1964 is like 90$ today. That girl had to be starring at that bill for a long time.
@user-di5sh9ce3h
Just saw Jersey Boys and it was awesome.