All of the band members adopted pseudonyms ending with the surname "Ramone", though none of them were related. They performed 2,263 concerts, touring virtually nonstop for 22 years. In 1996, after a tour with the Lollapalooza music festival, the band played a farewell concert and disbanded. By a little more than eight years after the breakup, the band's three founding members—lead singer Joey Ramone, guitarist Johnny Ramone, and bassist Dee Dee Ramone—had died. Drummer Tommy Ramone, the last surviving original member, died in 2014.
Their only record with enough U.S. sales to be certified gold was the compilation album Ramones Mania. However, recognition of the band's importance built over the years, and they are now cited in many assessments of all-time great rock music, such as the Rolling Stone list of the 50 Greatest Artists of All Time and VH1's 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock. In 2002, the Ramones were ranked the second-greatest band of all time by Spin magazine, trailing only The Beatles. On March 18, 2002, the Ramones—including the three founders and drummers Marky and Tommy Ramone—were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 2011, the group was awarded a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
Formation: 1974–1975
Forest Hills High School, attended by the four original members of the Ramones
The original members of the band met in and around the middle-class neighborhood of Forest Hills in the New York City borough of Queens. John Cummings and Tamás Erdélyi had both been in a high-school garage band from 1966 to 1967 known as the Tangerine Puppets. They became friends with Douglas Colvin, who had recently moved to the area from Germany, and Jeffry Hyman, who was the initial lead singer of the glam rock band Sniper, founded in 1972.
The Ramones began taking shape in early 1974, when Cummings and Colvin invited Hyman to join them in a band. The initial lineup featured Colvin on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Cummings on lead guitar, and Hyman on drums. Colvin, who soon switched from rhythm guitar to bass, was the first to adopt the name "Ramone", calling himself Dee Dee Ramone. He was inspired by Paul McCartney's use of the pseudonym Paul Ramon during his Silver Beatles days. Dee Dee convinced the other members to take on the name and came up with the idea of calling the band the Ramones. Hyman and Cummings became Joey Ramone and Johnny Ramone, respectively.
A friend of the band, Monte A. Melnick (later their tour manager), helped to arrange rehearsal time for them at Manhattan's Performance Studios, where he worked. Johnny's former bandmate Erdélyi was set to become their manager. Soon after the band was formed, Dee Dee realized that he could not sing and play his bass guitar simultaneously; with Erdélyi's encouragement, Joey became the band's new lead singer.
Dee Dee would continue, however, to count off each song's tempo with his signature rapid-fire shout of "1-2-3-4!" Joey soon similarly realized that he could not sing and play drums simultaneously and left the position of drummer. While auditioning prospective replacements, Erdélyi would often take to the drums and demonstrate how to play the songs. It became apparent that he was able to perform the group's music better than anyone else, and he joined the band as Tommy Ramone.
The Ramones played before an audience for the first time on March 30, 1974, at Performance Studios. The songs they played were very fast and very short; most clocked in at under two minutes. Around this time, a new music scene was emerging in New York centered around two clubs in downtown Manhattan—Max's Kansas City and, more famously, CBGB (usually referred to as CBGB's). The Ramones made their CBGB debut on August 16. Legs McNeil, who cofounded Punk magazine the following year, later described the impact of that performance: "They were all wearing these black leather jackets. And they counted off this song...and it was just this wall of noise.... They looked so striking. These guys were not hippies. This was something completely new."
The band swiftly became regulars at the club, playing there seventy-four times by the end of the year. After garnering considerable attention for their performances—which averaged about seventeen minutes from beginning to end—the group was signed to a recording contract in late 1975 by Seymour Stein of Sire Records. Stein's wife, Linda Stein, had seen the band play at CBGB; she would later co-manage them along with Danny Fields. By this time, the Ramones were recognized as leaders of the new scene that was increasingly being referred to as "punk". The group's unusual frontman had a lot to do with their impact. As Dee Dee explained, "All the other singers [in New York] were copying David Johansen [of The New York Dolls], who was copying Mick Jagger.... But Joey was unique, totally unique."
Ramona
Ramones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Little Tom and Joey
You know we're comin' over
Sweet sweet little Ramona
You're getting better and better
It's getting easier than ever
Hey you kids in the crowd
You know you like it
Sweet sweet little Ramona
She always wants to come over
Sweet sweet little Ramona
I think I'll try and phone her
I let her in if you're wondering why
'Cause she's a spy for the BBI
I let her in and I started to cry
And then I knew I wanted to die
Oooh, little Ramona
Oooh, little Ramona
Oooh, little Ramona
Oooh
Sweet sweet little Ramona
She always wants to come over
Sweet sweet little Ramona
I think I'll try and phone her
I let her in if you're wondering why
'Cause she's a spy for the BBI
I let her in and I started to cry
And then I knew I wanted to die
Oooh, little Ramona
Oooh, little Ramona
Oooh, little Ramona
Oooh
"Ramona" is a song by the American punk rock band, the Ramones. The song is a typical example of their punk rock style and features fast-paced and catchy guitar riffs, combined with simple but effective lyrics. The song is about a girl named Ramona, who is a recurring character in many of the Ramones' songs. The song describes Ramona as a sweet and attractive girl, who is always eager to visit the band.
The first verse of the song introduces the members of the band, including Johnny, Dee Dee, Tom, and Joey, and their intention to visit Ramona. The chorus of the song repeats the characters of Ramona and describes the band's admiration for her. The second verse of the song takes a more unusual twist, with the admission by the singer that Ramona is a spy for the BBI (presumably the Federal Bureau of Investigation). This revelation causes the singer to experience conflicting emotions, leading to him crying and wanting to die. The song ends with a chant of "Oooh, little Ramona," which is a testament to the attractiveness and allure of the titular character.
Overall, "Ramona" is a somewhat typical example of a Ramones song. It features catchy riffs, simple but effective lyrics, and a fast-paced beat. However, the twist in the second verse sets it apart from some of their other songs and adds an unusual element of intrigue and suspense.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey Johnny, hey Dee Dee
Addressing the fellow band members Johnny and Dee Dee with excitement and familiarity.
Little Tom and Joey
Mentioning the other two members of the band, Tom and Joey.
You know we're comin' over
Informing Ramona that the band is coming over to her place.
Sweet sweet little Ramona
Describing Ramona as sweet and little, which may be used affectionately.
You're getting better and better
Complimenting Ramona on her pleasing qualities which are getting even better.
It's getting easier than ever
Implying that it's getting easier to be around Ramona.
Hey you kids in the crowd
Addressing the audience with familiarity and excitement.
You know you like it
Suggesting that the audience enjoys the loud music and overall experience.
When the music's loud
Further emphasizing the idea that loud music is enjoyable for the audience.
I think I'll try and phone her
Indicating that the artist plans on calling Ramona.
I let her in if you're wondering why
Explaining that the singer allowed Ramona inside for a particular reason.
'Cause she's a spy for the BBI
Revealing the real reason why Ramona was allowed to enter, which is to spy for the BBI organization.
And then I knew I wanted to die
Showing the singer's despair and regret after allowing Ramona in who is a BBI spy.
Oooh, little Ramona
Affectionately calling Ramona.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Douglas Colvin, Jeff Hyman, John Cummings, Thomas Erdelyi
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@BahaJamil
Ramones - Ramona
Hey, Johnny
Hey, Dee Dee
Little Tom and Joey
You know we're goin' over
Sweet, sweet little Ramona
You're getting better and better
It's getting easier than ever
Hey, you kids in the crowd
You know you like it when the music's loud
Sweet, sweet little Ramona
She always wants to come over
Sweet, sweet little Ramona
I think I'll try and phone her
I let her in if you're wondering why
'Cause she's a spy for the BBI
I let her in and I started to cry
And then I knew I wanted to die
Oh, little Ramona
Oh, little Ramona
Oh, little Ramona
Oh
Sweet, sweet little Ramona
She always wants to come over
Sweet, sweet little Ramona
I think I'll try and phone her
I let her in if you're wondering why
'Cause she's a spy for the BBI
I let her in and I started to cry
And then I knew I wanted to die
Oh, little Ramona
Oh, little Ramona
Oh, little Ramona
Oh
@bujomujo4200
My daughter is today 5 years old. Her name is Ramona becaouse of this song :)
@gavetgarcia6404
ohhh woooou... I wish I could say the same.....but...
@carlitoxb110
It’s easy to tell You’re a great parent
@agentstarling1979
MY NAME IS RAMONA TO :D
@BloodTuna
good
@chris73brown
Cool
@davornovak7625
I was 10 year's old when i heard this song. Now i'm 42. I have a daughter. Her's name is Ramona. ❤
@mantia39
Ramones were one of a kind. Nobody will ever match them.
@yaninadiaz9232
My dog names Ramona for this song 😉🐕🐶💕
@RkKay-xe4qb
Finally other Ramona’s out there