In 1957, a doo-wop group known as The Chesters existed with members Clarence Collins, Tracy Lord, Nathaniel Rodgers, and Ronald Ross. Anthony Gourdine, a former member of The Duponts, joined as lead vocalist. Ernest Wright took over for Ross, and the group recorded shortly for Apollo Records.
Changing their name to The Imperials, they signed with End Records in 1958. Their first single was "Tears On My Pillow", which was an instant hit. (While playing this song, D.J. Alan Freed dubbed the name "Little Anthony".) The B side, "Two Kinds of People" was also a hit. The group followed up with "Shimmy, Shimmy, Ko Ko Bop" in 1960. When their success dwindled in 1961, Little Anthony left to attempt a solo career. Some members left, and the line-up then became Collins, Wright, Sammy Strain, and George Kerr. Kerr was replaced by Kenny Seymour after a short time. This line-up had little success.
Little Anthony returned in 1963, replacing Seymour. With the help of record producer/songwriter Teddy Randazzo, the group found success on the new DCP label with the dramatic pop-soul records "I'm On The Outside Looking In" (1964), "Goin' Out Of My Head" (1964), "Hurt So Bad" (1965), "I Miss You So" (1965), "Take Me Back" (1965), and "Out of Sight, Out Of Mind" (1969).
Ernest Wright left in 1971 to join Tony Williams' Platters. He was replaced by the returning Kenny Seymour, who was again replaced after a short time by Bobby Wade. Strain left in 1972 to join The O'Jays, and was replaced by Harold Jenkins (who had already been functioning as the group's choreographer). Jenkins and Seymour had previously performed together in The Impacts. Little Anthony left for a second (more successful) attempt at a solo career. The trio of Collins, Wade, and Jenkins continued as "The Imperials".
Clarence Collins left in 1988 and was replaced by Sherman James. They toured as "Bobby Wade's Imperials". James left in 1992, and was replaced by Ron Stevenson. That same year, Collins, Wright, Strain, and Little Anthony reunited for a concert at Madison Square Gardens. When the decision was made for the foursome to tour together again, Wade relinquished the Imperials name, with his group becoming "Bobby Wade's Emperors". They became the house band at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas.
Little Anthony, Collins, Wright, and Strain continued touring as "Little Anthony and the Imperials". Strain retired in 2004, and Harold Jenkins returned to take his place.
They were inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame on October 15, 2006.
I'm on the Outside
Little Anthony & the Imperials Lyrics
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(ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
(ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
I'm on the outside looking in (ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
An' I wanna be, an' I wanna be back on the inside wi-ith you
You are with somebody new and I don't know what to do
'cause I'm still in love with you (in love with you)
I'm on the outside looking in (ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
I don' wanna be, I don' wanna be left on the outside all alone
Well, I guess I've had my day and you left me go my way
Now it's me who has to pay-ay-ay
I never should have gone away, I never should have gone away a-and left you like I did
(hoop-woo-ooh)
With tears in your ey-e-e-e-e-e-e-s
(hoop-woo-ooh)
I thought you'd take me back
But now, to my surprise (to my surprise)
<"I'm" sung as a sigh>
On the outside looking in (ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
Gotta find a way, gotta find a way back to your heart, dear, once again
Won't you take me back again? I'll be waiting here till then
On the outside looking in (ah-ah-ah-ah-ah)
Won't you take me back again? I'll be waiting here till then
On the outside looking in (ooh, ooh, ooh)
(ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
On the outside looking in (ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, looking in
(ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
I don' wanna be, I don' wanna be, I don' wanna be looking in
[Fade]
The song "I'm on the Outside Looking In" by Little Anthony & the Imperials is about heartbreak and the longing to be back with a former love. The lyrics suggest that the singer is watching their former lover be with someone else, and they desperately want to be back with them. The chorus repeats the title line, emphasizing the feeling of being outside and excluded from the relationship. The lyrics express regret for leaving their lover in the first place and the hope to be taken back.
The use of repetition in the song adds to the sense of longing and desperation. The "oohs" and "ahs" in the background create a feeling of melancholy, which fits well with the theme of heartbreak. The line "I thought you'd take me back but now, to my surprise" shows the singer's shock and sadness at not being accepted back into the relationship. Overall, the song captures the universal feeling of wanting to be loved and accepted.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm on the outside looking in (ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
Feeling excluded and isolated from you and your new partner.
An' I wanna be, an' I wanna be back on the inside wi-ith you
I deeply desire to be reunited with you and our former relationship.
You are with somebody new and I don't know what to do
I am struggling with the fact that you have moved on and are now seeing someone else.
'cause I'm still in love with you (in love with you)
My feelings for you have not changed and I am still deeply in love with you.
I don' wanna be, I don' wanna be left on the outside all alone
I do not want to be left feeling lonely and abandoned.
Well, I guess I've had my day and you left me go my way
I understand that you have moved on and left our past relationship behind.
Now it's me who has to pay-ay-ay
I must deal with the consequences of my actions and my decision to leave you.
I never should have gone away, I never should have gone away a-and left you like I did
I regret leaving you and abandoning our relationship as I did.
(hoop-woo-ooh) With tears in your ey-e-e-e-e-e-e-s (hoop-woo-ooh)
I remember how you cried when I left and how much pain I caused you.
I thought you'd take me back
I foolishly believed that you would forgive me and take me back into your life.
But now, to my surprise (to my surprise)
I am shocked by the reality that you have moved on and do not want me back.
Gotta find a way, gotta find a way back to your heart, dear, once again
I must figure out a way to win back your heart and begin a new relationship with you.
Won't you take me back again? I'll be waiting here till then
I plead with you to take me back, and I am willing to wait until you are ready to forgive me.
On the outside looking in (ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
I am still excluded from your life and relationships and feel like an outsider looking in.
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, looking in
I am still stuck outside, and it feels lonely and painful.
I don' wanna be, I don' wanna be, I don' wanna be looking in
I do not want to continue feeling excluded from your relationships and want to be reunited with you.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: TEDDY RANDAZZO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind