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.
Silver Star
Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Riding my Palomino
Silver Star, there you are, Silver Star
Got my gun and my white ten gallon
Bigger than life , I reckon
Silver Star, there you are, silver Star
In my dream I make much dinero
Chasin' the Bandelleros
Silver Star, there you are, Silver Star
But he, he gave me a nine to five, honey
Ain't livin' but I'm alive
Sure cut me down to size
He gave me the second prize
I'm layin' it on the line, honey
I'll let it go by this time
Next time around, I'll swear
Gonna get me somewhere, somewhere
In my dream I'm a desert hero
Bigger than Valentino
Silver Star, there you are, Silver Star
Leading ladies in warm embraces
Ecstasy on their faces
Silver Star, there you are, Silver Star
The song "Silver Star" by Frankie Valli is a classic track that tells a story of a man who dreams of being a western hero. In his dream, he rides his trusted companion Palomino and carries a big gun and a white ten-gallon hat. He refers to his horse as the Silver Star which seems to have a special place in his imagination. He imagines himself making lots of money chasing after Bandelleros, a term used for Mexican bandits. He is living the dream of being a hero, and this gives him a sense of fulfillment.
However, in reality, he is just an ordinary man who is working a nine-to-five job. His dream is what gives him a sense of life and makes him feel alive, even though he is not living the dream. He recognizes that he was cut down to size by fate and that he has been given the second prize. However, he vows to keep trying to achieve his dream of being a hero someday, hoping that next time he will get somewhere.
The lyrics of "Silver Star" show how important it is to have a dream and to hold on to it no matter what. The song encourages the listener to never give up on their aspirations and always strive to achieve their goals.
Line by Line Meaning
In my dream I'm a western hero
The singer is imagining himself as a brave cowboy in his dream
Riding my Palomino
He is picturing himself riding on his cream-colored horse
Silver Star, there you are, Silver Star
He repeats the phrase 'Silver Star' several times, which may represent his desire for success and fame
Got my gun and my white ten gallon
He is armed with his revolver and cowboy hat, both symbols of the Wild West
Bigger than life , I reckon
The singer feels larger than life and invincible in his dream
Silver Star, there you are, Silver Star
Again, he repeats 'Silver Star,' emphasizing his aspiration for stardom
Silver Star, Silver Star
Another repetition of the phrase, which might represent his fixation on his dream
In my dream I make much dinero
He imagines himself making a lot of money in his dream
Chasin' the Bandelleros
He is pursuing the notorious Mexican outlaws, 'the Bandelleros,' another Western trope
Silver Star, there you are, Silver Star
His desire for fame and success still persists
But he, he gave me a nine to five, honey
Reality sets in, as he reveals that his actual life is far from his dream
Ain't livin' but I'm alive
Despite the disappointment of his reality, the singer is still grateful and breathing
Sure cut me down to size
His job made him realize the harshness of reality and the impracticality of his dream
He gave me the second prize
The 'he' can refer to his boss or society, and the 'second prize' means he has to settle for a mediocre existence
I'm layin' it on the line, honey
The singer is being honest and truthful about his feelings
I'll let it go by this time
He won't take any action or make any changes yet
Next time around, I'll swear
In the future, he promises himself to try harder to achieve his dreams
Gonna get me somewhere, somewhere
He will find a place where he belongs, and that place is not in his current 9-5 job
In my dream I'm a desert hero
He has another dream of being a hero, but this time, he's picturing himself in the desert
Bigger than Valentino
The singer perceives himself as grander and better than the iconic actor Rudolph Valentino
Leading ladies in warm embraces
He envisions himself with beautiful women, who are affectionate to him, perhaps another dream he has
Ecstasy on their faces
The ladies are happily enamored by the singer in his dream
Silver Star, there you are, Silver Star
The repetition of 'Silver Star' signifies the singer's recurring fantasies of fame and success
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: BOB GAUDIO, JUDY PARKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@arturoarturo9691
Lyrics
In my dream l'm a western heroe
Riding my palomino
Silver star, there you are Silver star
In my dream l make much dinero
Chasin` the bandelleros
Silver star, there you are Silver star
He gave me a Nine to five honey
Ain't living but l'm alive
Sure cut me down to size
He gave me the second prize
I'm layin' it on the line, honey
I'll let it go by this time
Next time around, l swear
Go, look at me somewhere somewhere
In my dream l'm a desert heroe
Bigger than valentino
Silver star, there you are Silver star
Leading ladies In warm embraces
Ecstasy on their faces
Silver star, there you are Silver star
@enriqueastupina7440
My favorite Four Seasons song.
@ianoliver7271
For me the greatest 4 Seasons song by a country mile!!
@carolball5764
Along with Who loves you .
@keredeven8865
You cannot beat the 70s for music 🎼🎹🥁🎸🎷
@bp6329
couldn't agree more
@chrisearl5970
I second that motion!
@amandacerasale4679
You're right there the 60s/70s/80s were the best years for music.
@1goodthing
60 's was as good.
@kev12364
60s/ 70s
@ianoian1
For me is on the Top Ten songs of the 70s - and beyond - absolutely wonderful!!