The group was formed in Nashville, Tennessee in 1964 when Bill Justis (best known for his hit "Raunchy") became their manager and formed Buckhorn Music with the help of Wilkin's mother, Marijohn Wilkin, a country music writer. Signed to Mala Records, a sublabel of Bell Records, their primary contribution to popular music was in injecting country-sounds into the burgeoning surf rock scene. Their 1964 debut single "G.T.O." reached No. 4 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. A subsequent single, "Bucket T" reached No. 54 on the Billboard chart that same year.
After an album and tour in 1964, Ronny & the Daytonas had another hit in 1965 with a ballad, "Sandy", and an album that reflected a similar country-inflected surfer sound. In 1966 Ronny and the Daytonas switched to RCA Records and released a romantic ballad called "Diane, Diane" and the upbeat "All American Girl", both of which had some success on the charts. The band toured for a short time after this before disbanding.
The mid-1980s saw some interest in re-uniting various band members for a few engagements. The last known appearance of The Daytonas was a concert in upstate New York on July 4, 1995.
As of 2004, Buck Wilkin Music publishing was licensing Ronny & the Daytonas songs for the U.S. and Canada, and occasionally published their music on 180 gram vinyl media in limited production runs.
somebody to love
Ronny & The Daytonas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And all the joy within you dies
Don't you want somebody to love, don't you
Need somebody to love, wouldn't you
Love somebody to love, you better
Find somebody to love
When the garden flowers baby are dead, yes and
Don't you want somebody to love, don't you
Need somebody to love, wouldn't you
Love somebody to love, you better
Find somebody to love
Your eyes, I say your eyes may look like his
Yeah, but in your head, baby, I'm afraid you don't know where it is
Don't you want somebody to love, don't you
Need somebody to love, wouldn't you
Love somebody to love, you better
Find somebody to love
Tears are running down and down and down your breast
And your friends, baby they treat you like a guest
Don't you want somebody to love, don't you
Need somebody to love, wouldn't you
Love somebody to love, you better
Find somebody to love
The lyrics of Ronny & The Daytonas's song "Somebody to Love" describe the feeling of being lost and alone in a world that can be cruel and deceitful. The opening lines, "When the truth is found to be lies and all the joy within you dies," suggest a sense of disillusionment and despair. The singer is searching for someone to love, someone to hold onto during these difficult times. The repetition of the line "Don't you want somebody to love?" reinforces the feeling of longing and desperation.
As the song progresses, the imagery of a dead garden and a mind filled with red (likely representing anger or confusion) is used to reinforce the sense of despair that the singer is feeling. The line "Your eyes may look like his, but in your head, baby, I'm afraid you don't know where it is" suggests that the person the singer is addressing may look like someone they used to love, but they are not the same person they used to be.
The final lines of the song, "Tears are running down and down and down your breast, and your friends, baby they treat you like a guest," further drive home the idea that the person the singer is addressing is lonely and looking for someone to connect with. The repetition of the refrain "Don't you want somebody to love?" throughout the song reinforces the idea that love is the answer to the singer's problems.
Overall, "Somebody to Love" is a powerful and emotional song that speaks to the universal human experience of longing for love and connection.
Line by Line Meaning
When the truth is found to be lies
When what you believed to be true is actually a deception
And all the joy within you dies
When you lose all the happiness you once had
Don't you want somebody to love, don't you
Do you not desire to be loved by someone?
Need somebody to love, wouldn't you
Wouldn't you benefit from having someone to love?
Love somebody to love, you better
It would be wise to find someone to love
Find somebody to love
Search for a person to love
When the garden flowers baby are dead, yes and
When the beauty in your life has deteriorated
Your mind, your mind is so full of red
Your mind is consumed with negative thoughts and emotions
Your eyes, I say your eyes may look like his
You may resemble someone in appearance
Yeah, but in your head, baby, I'm afraid you don't know where it is
However, mentally you are lost and confused
Tears are running down and down and down your breast
You are crying uncontrollably
And your friends, baby they treat you like a guest
Your friends do not prioritize your feelings or treat you as they should
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DARBY R. SLICK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind