After Be-Bop-A-Lula had become a huge hit in 1956 (peaking at #7 and spending 20 weeks in the Billboard Pop Chart), Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps (often mis-named as 'the' Blue Caps) were unable to follow it up with the same level of commercial success, but released critically acclaimed songs like Race With The Devil (#96 in Billboard) and Bluejean Bop (#49).
Following a visit to Europe in 1959, Vincent managed to attract a new huge and discerning audience there, especially in England and France. By that time his career had mostly ended in the US. In 1960, while on tour in Britain, Vincent and songwriter Sharon Sheeley were seriously injured in a high-speed traffic accident. Vincent broke his ribs, collarbone, and added further damage to his already weak leg which he had injured in a motorcycle accident in 1955 and refused to have amputated, and Sheeley suffered a broken pelvis. Both Vincent and Sheeley survived, but the accident killed Vincent's tourmate and Sheeley's fiancé, Eddie Cochran.
Vincent subsequently moved to England in 1963. His stage shows became "must see" events and his bands through those years were to spawn some of the most respected players in the world today. It was during his early tours of Britain that he adopted the trademark leather outfit, at the suggestion of British Rock 'n' Roll impressario, Jack Good.
Hi Lili Hi Lo
Gene Vincent Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On every tree there sits a bird, and ev'ryone I ever heard
Could break my heart without a word singing a song of love
A song of love is a sad song, Hi-Lili, Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo
A song of love is a song of woe, don't ask me how I know
A song of love is a sad song, for I have loved and it's so
I sit at the window and watch the rain, Hi-Lili, Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo
A tear for him, a tear for me, A tear for the love he swore
A tear for him and one for me, and one for under the cedar tree
And one for where ever my love my be, and then I shall weep no more
A song of love is a sad song, Hi-Lili, Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo
A song of love is a song of woe, don't ask me how I know
A song of love is a sad song, for I have loved and it's so
I sit at the window and watch the rain, Hi-Lili, Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo
Tomorrow i'll probably love again, Hi-Lili, Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo
The lyrics of Gene Vincent's "Hi Lili Hi Lo" are a reflection on the bittersweet nature of love. Vincent observes that just as there is a bird on every tree singing a song of love, there are also people singing the same song. This universal experience of love is both beautiful and tragic, as the song of love can break hearts without a single word. The singer laments that a song of love is always a sad song, for he has loved and lost.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the melancholic tone of the lyrics. The repetition of "Hi-Lili, Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo" adds a haunting quality to the song, while the lyrics "A song of love is a song of woe, don't ask me how I know" suggest that the singer has experienced heartbreak before. The final verse suggests that the singer is not done with love, despite its painful nature. He acknowledges that he will likely love again tomorrow, even as he weeps for the love he has lost.
Line by Line Meaning
On every tree there sits a bird, singing a song of love
There are birds on every tree singing love songs
On every tree there sits a bird, and ev'ryone I ever heard Could break my heart without a word singing a song of love
All the birds on every tree sing love songs and each one has the power to break my heart without even saying a word
A song of love is a sad song, Hi-Lili, Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo
Songs about love are often sad and filled with emotion
A song of love is a song of woe, don't ask me how I know
I don't know how I know, but songs about love are always full of pain and sadness
A song of love is a sad song, for I have loved and it's so
I know that songs about love are sad because I have loved before and it was painful
I sit at the window and watch the rain, Hi-Lili, Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo
I sit by the window, watching the rain fall and thinking about love
Tomorrow I'll probably love again, Hi-Lili, Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo
Even though love is painful, I know that tomorrow I will probably love again
A tear for him, a tear for me, A tear for the love he swore
I cry tears for both me and my lover, and for the love he promised me
A tear for him and one for me, and one for under the cedar tree And one for where ever my love my be, and then I shall weep no more
I cry tears for him and for myself, also for the place where we first fell in love. But once I've cried all my tears, I will move on
A song of love is a sad song, Hi-Lili, Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo
Love songs are often sad and filled with sorrow
A song of love is a song of woe, don't ask me how I know
I can't explain how I know, but songs about love are always tinged with pain and sadness
A song of love is a sad song, for I have loved and it's so
I know that love songs are sad, because I've loved before and it was painful
I sit at the window and watch the rain, Hi-Lili, Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo
I sit by the window, watching the rain fall and remembering the pain of love
Tomorrow i'll probably love again, Hi-Lili, Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo
Even though love is painful, I know that tomorrow I will probably love again
Lyrics © ANTHEM ENTERTAINMENT LP
Written by: BRONISLAW KAPER, HELEN DEUTSCH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
cloverboat
In my opinion Gene was at his finest when singing ballads. He had a beautiful, sweet voice and always captured the very heart of a slow song with great elegance.
Jarski J.
Much underrated. This is emotionally strong and beautiful Gene Vincent.
Savoy209
such a beautiful song, Gene was an underrated ballad singer - in his own realm, he is up to par with Roy Orbison, only a different style
Ian Saunders
Gene's cover is the best version of this song for me.
Mitch Gawlik
Never, never, never did I expect to like this song, no matter who sang it. I even avoided listening to Gene's version, my mistake.
He truly was a master of ballads.
Carole McLarty
How sweet it is * Gene brings me down to my knees with his beautiful voice and the tears run down my face * Sweet Gene , I love him so !
FE Peer Review
I just adore his ballads. I never cared to listen to them before. But he breathes so much life into them.
On The Ochils
Once again.....an American artist more appreciated in Europe than his home country. Gene Vincent....rest in peace.
Rafael Vera Greus
Maravillosa canción, una versión maravillosa.
ALAIN ZILKA
Magnifique balade, un des plus beaux slows de Gene ! 👏