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.
Ronnie
Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You were my first love
So very warm and tender the way you loved me
Hey girl can't you remember and want more of me
Ronnie Ronnie Ronnie how can you go
Ronnie Ronnie Ronnie I am regretting but can't stop forgetting because
You were my first love
You said now you don't need me because I cheated
Why didn't you believe me when I repeated
Ronnie Ronnie Ronnie I'll never know
Ronnie Ronnie Ronnie I'll go on living and keep on forgiving because
You were my first love
I walk alone
I cry at home
Night after night
(Night after night)
Day after day
I never cheated
I still repeated
Ronnie Ronnie Ronnie I'll never know
Ronnie Ronnie Ronnie I'll go on living and keep on forgiving because
You were my first love
I'll go on living and keep on forgiving because
You were my first love
(Keep repeating couplet "I'll go on living and keep on forgiving because
You were my first love" while fading away)
The song "Ronnie" by Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons talks about a first love that the singer cannot let go of. They address Ronnie, whom they had cheated on, asking her how she could leave when she was their first love. The singer reminisces on their love story and how tenderly Ronnie loved them. They are regretful that Ronnie chose to leave, apologizing for their mistake but still forgiving themselves for it because Ronnie was their first love.
The lyrics depict a love story that has been marred by infidelity but remains nostalgic and bittersweet. The singer is alone and crying at night, unable to forget Ronnie and their love. They have stayed faithful despite repeated misunderstandings, but Ronnie has chosen to leave. The couplet "I'll go on living and keep on forgiving because you were my first love" repeats throughout the song, emphasizing the depth of the singer's feelings and their inability to move on.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll go on living and keep on forgiving because
You were my first love
Despite the pain of your betrayal, I will continue to live and forgive you because you were my first love.
So very warm and tender the way you loved me
Your love was gentle and affectionate in the way you showed it to me.
Hey girl can't you remember and want more of me
I wish you could remember the good times we had and crave them again with me.
You said now you don't need me because I cheated
You claim you don't need me anymore because I was unfaithful to you.
Why didn't you believe me when I repeated
I kept telling you the truth, but you refused to believe me.
I walk alone
I cry at home
Night after night
(Night after night)
Day after day
I never cheated
I still repeated
I am alone and heartbroken, crying every night and day, even though I never cheated and still professed my love to you.
Ronnie Ronnie Ronnie how can you go
I am still in disbelief that you could leave me after everything we shared.
Ronnie Ronnie Ronnie I am regretting but can't stop forgetting because
You were my first love
I regret what happened between us, but I cannot forget you entirely despite the pain you caused me because you were my first love.
Ronnie Ronnie Ronnie I'll never know
I will never understand why you did what you did and why you chose to leave.
Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BOB CREWE, BOB GAUDIO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@user-ww7ec2ot4n
Lyrics:
I’ll go on living and keep on forgiving because
You were my first love
So very warm and tender the way you loved me
Hey girl, can’t you remember and want more of me
Ronnie, Ronnie, Ronnie, how can you go
Ronnie, Ronnie, Ronnie, I am regretting but can’t stop forgetting because
You were my first love
You said ‘now you don’t need me because I cheated’
Why didn’t you believe me when I repeated
Ronnie, Ronnie, Ronnie, you’ll never know
Ronnie, Ronnie, Ronnie, I’ll go on living and keep on forgiving because
You were my first love
I walk alone
I cry at home
Night after night
(Night after night)
Day after day
Oh,
I never cheated
Oh I still repeated
Ronnie, Ronnie, Ronnie, you’ll never know
Ronnie, Ronnie, Ronnie, I’ll go on living and keep on forgiving because
You were my first love
I’ll go on living and keep on forgiving because
You were my first love
I’ll go on living and keep on forgiving because
You were my first love……
@sonia11541
DRUMS, DRUMS, DRUMS, AWESOME! I was 12 1967, & living in Newark! Awesome childhood!
@lindsey7668
I'm only in high school and I absolutely love this music. It's nice to be able to share something like that with older generations and honestly it's just so much better than any modern music.
@kngzv3202
Im right there with you man :)
@thegreat5316
I'm in high school too, you're so right, I love this music
@lintangrumi
I fell in love with The Four Seasons when I was in junior high as well, so I get that feeling of yours! To think of it, I’m on my final year of college now so Frankie Valli and the guys have been a huge part of my teenage years haha
@katrinablackwell5174
You have great taste in music!! Keep it up!!
@douglasallen9428
I’m only 31 years old, but I have loved the oldies my whole life!
@jamesprevard6555
School days in the 60tys. Flashback!
@amcone8268
I heard it in the 70s.
@jamesprevard6555
@@amcone8268 1975 swearing 2 god!