Formed in 1956 in Bergen County, New Jersey, USA, the Royal Teens are remem… Read Full Bio ↴Formed in 1956 in Bergen County, New Jersey, USA, the Royal Teens are remembered primarily for the 1958 rock 'n' roll novelty number "Short Shorts". Originally a quartet called the Royal Tones, the line-up included pianist Bob Gaudio (17 December 1942, Bronx, New York, USA), saxophonist Bill Crandall, bassist Billy Dalton and drummer Tom Austin. Influenced by black music, they worked as back-up band to traveling R&B artists. Gaudio and Austin had written an instrumental dance song as a warm-up for their stage show. Adding the lyrics, "Who wears short shorts? We wear short shorts", the song was heard by an executive of ABC-Paramount Records, who signed them to the label; the single hit number 3 in the USA. At that time Crandall was replaced by Larry Quagliano and Dalton also left, to be replaced by Al Kooper. Joe Villa, formerly of the doo-wop outfit the Three Friends, was added as vocalist, making the band a quintet. They scored one further chart single for ABC and one for Capitol Records before starting to disintegrate in 1960. Although some members continued with the unit until 1965, recording for such labels as Mighty, All New, Jubilee, Blue Jay and Swan, there was no further success. Gaudio went on to become a member of the Four Seasons and a top producer. Kooper later formed the Blues Project and Blood, Sweat And Tears. The Royal Teens never recorded an album.

Believe Me
Royal Teens Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Each night as I go wandering
Down the street of tears
I think about the love we shared
Throughout our teenage years

Believe me, oooh, wah oooh
Wah oooh, believe me

Just because you said goodbye
Do you think that I will die
Just because you broke my heart
Now you thinking you're so smart

All the kids in town will know
They will know you hurt me so
Did you have to tell them all
That I still love you

I love you so
Can't let you go
(Believe me, believe me)
If you return
Love's flame will burn
(Believe me, believe me)

Just because you said goodbye
Do you think that I will die
Just because you broke my heart
Now you thinking you're so smart

All the kids in town will know
They will know you hurt me so
Did you have to tell them all
That I still love you
Oooh wah oooh

Oooh wah oooh

Oooh wah oooh
Oooh wah oooh

Overall Meaning

The Royal Teens’ song “Believe Me” is a bittersweet and nostalgic ode to teenage love. The singer, who is probably a young man, takes a melancholic stroll down the “street of tears” every night and reminisces about the love he shared with his teenage sweetheart. He is heartbroken that the girl has said goodbye and broken his heart, and he feels betrayed that she has told their friends about their breakup and his continuing love for her.

Although the singer understands that his friends and acquaintances will know about his painful experience, he hopes that the girl will realize that he is still in love with her and return to reignite their love. He believes that their love is strong, and he wants the girl to believe him too.

The song’s melancholic melody and poignant lyrics capture the quintessential teenage romance and heartache. They also reflect the enduring themes of love, loss, and hope that are universal to all ages.

Line by Line Meaning

Each night as I go wandering
Every night as I wander aimlessly

Down the street of tears
Through the path of sorrowful memories

I think about the love we shared
I reminisce about our past affection

Throughout our teenage years
During our adolescent lives

Believe me, oooh, wah oooh
Trust me, oh, whoa, oh

Just because you said goodbye
Simply because you bid farewell

Do you think that I will die
Do you assume that I will perish

Just because you broke my heart
Only because you shattered my emotions

Now you thinking you're so smart
Thinking you are knowledgeable

All the kids in town will know
Every young person in our community will be informed

They will know you hurt me so
They will understand how much you caused me pain

Did you have to tell them all
Was it necessary for you to inform them all

That I still love you
That I still possess romantic feelings for you

I love you so
My feelings for you are incredibly strong

Can't let you go
I cannot bring myself to move on from you

If you return
In the case that you come back to me

Love's flame will burn
Our love will reignite

Oooh wah oooh
Oh, whoa, oh

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CATHAL JOSEPH SMYTH, CHRISTOPHER JOHN FOREMAN, DANIEL MARK WOODGATE, GRAHAM MCPHERSON, LEE JAY THOMPSON, MARK WILLIAM BEDFORD, MICHAEL BARSON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS

Genre not found

Artist not found

Album not found

Search results not found

Song not found

Comments from YouTube:

Roberto Quintero

14y↑110

I'm 17 and I have been listening to this type of music since I could remember.. People may call me weird, and make fun of me since of my age and what I listen to. But seriously, this is real music!

Stormy Weather

That it is 20 something and love this music as well. Sweet Oldies all day

Laurette Castellano

1y↑2

And now you are 29. Do you still listen to it?

Keith Dukes

2y↑1

Good man, you have excellent taste young man & do not take any notice of what yr peers think!!!😊👍

maydom04

2y↑1

Don't listen to your critics, YOU are on the ball!

My My

3y↑2

You simply are an authority on music, I don't think that's weird at all, and maybe the people who think that of you are the weirdos!

6 More Replies...

bopsieboy

13y↑13

One of my all time favorite songs. I was born in 1946 so I was a young teen when this came out. I CAN go back in time.....just close my eyes, listen and I'm right back there!

coyotesong

14y↑9

this song is perfection. Bob Gaudio's phrasing is absolutely superb...The slow lead in, the bass beat with the tinkling piano...and lush harmonies with killer lyrics...."Now you're thinking you're so smart" in a perfect cadence....ooooh, the hurt and the pain of this chick jilting this guy can be felt through every hall and classroom with classmates jeering at what a bozo he is for doing whatever it was that caused her to get up and leave..

Freddie Barrett

11y↑12

One of the greatest doowop songs ever recorded.Listen to the harmonizing.This is no plan.This is rare talent,and a way of life for this group.Thank GOD I lived in this era.

Cynthia's Channel

11y↑68

One of the Best songs from the Doo-Wop era.. "Believe Me"

brian byczek

This one really takes me back to a beautiful space in time...

Rick rick

Cynthia's Channel I do

Malcolm Hough

4y↑3

Yes this song is the tops I melt wen I hear songs like this rock n roll forever and doo whop

lou orlando

4y↑11

I'll never stop loving and listening to doo-wop. The '50s and early '60s was the best music ever. In some cases, if you sing the lyrics to today's songs it may be a matter for Confession!

Pat Rarus

6y↑33

Thanks for posting. This song really brings back memories from 1959 when I was a tween. I agree that this one is far superior to "Short Shorts."

GEORGE, MUSIC FOR ALL 4 SEASONS

I don’t know about being superior to Shorts Shorts, considering Shorts Shorts was truly a rock n roll tune for it’s time.

Rick rick

4y↑1

Pat Rarus Both are good

joe forte

4y↑1

You may like this song, "Forever's Much To Long " by go cat go, check it out !

Harold Gillette

4y↑11

Don't actually remember this song from long ago,but I discovered it recently and think it's great!

Harold Fisher

5y↑102

The 50`s and early 60`s were the best years for music, cars, fun times so glad I was there, and never left.

robert wesex

Uncle Sal's car was a black ''58 Oldsmobile; "Da car wit da mose chrome", he 'd say. This is the car that represents the mascot of doo wop to me!

saradon96

I'm still stuck in the 60's

Rick rick

Harold Fisher That’s what I’ve been saying for years

Joško Miletić

4y↑1

@Dave Jones I agree

Joško Miletić

I agree

6 More Replies...

PG2020

5y↑4

It doesn't get any better than this gem.

flyingmerkel6

11y↑6

Arguably one of the best Do-wop songs!

Bruce Farris

8y↑164

I'm so lucky to have grown up in the era of doo-wop and R&R---great music even greater memories!!!

Joseph Chimenti

I never left the fifties just recently I had a 56 Chevy 58 Impala 64 Chevy the music was the best everything was the best g

Garyl Swindlehurst

Amen . Mer too

Bruce Farris

4y↑1

@ducks I had a phony ID, so I bought the beer--no one got drunk just buzzed--drugs?-we didn't have a clue--our music was our high !!

daniel C.

5y↑1

@Charlie Miller don't forget the cigeret rolled up in your shirt sleeve.

daniel C.

5y↑2

@Charlie Miller Great time in American history. Everything in abundance, people had fun without drugs . We were happy with one girl. People went steady. Everyone knew there neighbors, and relitives. Its all gone now, but great for those of us who lived that time.

8 More Replies...

rhett janes

4y↑29

This is the kind of music I was raised on being my grandmother raised me I am 28 now and she was a teen in the 50s I'll tell you there was something magical about it romance was alive back then there was just such an innocence about that era for some reason

Nick D'angelo

6y↑10

one of my favorites when first released and still one of my all time favorites!

Jerry Kirkegaard

4y↑13

The fifties and very early sixties music are all I listen to. Sadly the most of the groups and artistes are gone

studebaker Larry

it would be great to have a time machine , and go back and see it all happen 👍👍🇺🇸🇺🇸

TJ

7y↑9

Love this doo wop. Found the 45 in my collection tonight.

jcdiaz442

12y↑3

Real music with sincere, meaningful words that convey heart feelings. Great song!

Elizabeth Snyder_baldonado

6y↑2

I LOVE this song-back then, & now. So HAPPY to hear it again...thank you.😚🎶

darry haynes

14y↑4

One of my favorites from my teenage years.I could never find this record back then,so many thanks for posting. I will add that I agree this is not a "doo wop" record.The term is horribly misused today. "Believe Me" and many others(for example Larry Hall's "Sandy" here on this very page) are about as close to "doo wop" as Louis Armstrong's "Hello Dolly". As stated elsewhere, they are simply rock and roll from that era,but they are NOT "doo wop".

thecountofbasie

15y↑2

Gaudio co-wrote it...and "Connie-O" is one of my fave Four Seasons sides, actually...think this is the best track the Royal Teens ever did, and easily on my top 40 doo-wop list...

Freddie Barrett

6y↑8

This is good stuff.This is real music with a message.

Maryann Skerchek

5y↑8

Brings back so many memories and a great time in growing up to all this music.

Rick Smith

5y↑2

Love it!!!

paprikash

9y↑14

I've always loved this song .A song frozen in time !!!!!!!!!

Jesus Medrano

4y↑7

I'm so stoked this came up in my recommendations. I had completely forgotten about this song. I first heard in the 90's when I was a teen. One of the best Doo Wop tracks ever.

don fegan

5y↑3

Great memories from an incredible era!!! Awesome Doo-Wop!!! This is when music was music!!!

Bill Madden

5y↑195

73 YRS YOUNG AND STILL LOST IN THE 50'S NOTHING WILL EVER REPLACE OUR MUSIC
ESPECIALLY THE CRAP THEY PLAY TODAY.

Sharon Janto

2y↑1

Have loved this music for as long as l can remember. I am with all you guys out there. I wish I could turn back the clock to the the time when music was music .

Gigawatts & Crocs

2y↑1

Names Phill by the way, Same as the old Mans born in 1939.

David Tabarovski

3y↑1

@William Harriman Nice.

paprikash

4y↑1

I was born in June 1946 and I agree 100 %

Philip Clock

4y↑1

👍

10 More Replies...

FreddieC

6y↑27

My kind of music always was and always will be....Doo wop forever.....

Doug James

11y↑2

Absolutely love this song and all music from the era. Nothing can compare!

Cynthia's Channel

11y↑4

ALWAYS A FAVORITE.. I JUST LOVE THIS SONG... GREAT SONG... GREAT DOO WOP

Kurt Kieffer

6y↑2

I Love these guys! Doo Wop Forever!

Joseph Kane

7y↑6

Another Timeless Classic D00 WOP Single By The Royal Teens Called Believe Me a great song to dance around to On The Jukebox In The USA in the 50's

Moose200760

14y

This song brings back memories of great times, A unique sound with great beat!

Brad Redenbach

12y↑1

It doesn't matter what age you are when you're in the face of great music like this; it's universal. This song has everything I think a great song should have: a catchy tone, a legato melody and a Doo-wop cadence we all love.

Zack Fleming

4y↑11

Thanks for another obscure oldie. Takes me back to my 17 year old girl, now wife of 54 years, sitting beside me and hearing the dual quads ring and the thunder of the exhaust when I opened the cut outs. Southeast Asia changed everything and it was never the same.

Sandy

Welcome home brother nam 69

Lori and Richard Volano

I am right there with you ,we are fortunate to have returned .

Glenn Jacobs

congrats on 54!

thedoowopcorner

4y↑3

Top class song! Thanks for posting!!!

rljrl

6y↑47

Wow!! Does this bring back memories of 1959. Thanks for the posting.

Ned Scarisbrick

Memories of El Monte and the Legion Hall

Alan Sand

5y↑5

Love these oldies !

april lear

6y↑6

Never heard this until last year 2017 what a great doo sop 50s song can't stop playing it how did I miss this all those years ago

Glenn Jacobs

welcome to the family

Bill locurto

5y↑9

love doo wop a classic.wish i can build a time machine

Troy Engler A.K.A. Troy Fat'e

12y↑2

I am only 23 and I love doo wop music I think I am gonna try to bring it back in my cartoon that I have been working on since I was 4 years old!!

여드름 치료

13y↑1

Doo wop is the shit man, And I'm in love with rock n roll and lysergic electric sounds. Everybody must respect and love the classics.

Vin D

7y↑8

A real song. A real message. Chords were great! Hey, if you like hearing other Bs, try Percy Sledge's "Warm and Tender." When you see Side "A," you'll understand how the music business operated back then.

alberto mario ascencio yuduman

No se puede discutir, la música de esas décadas ha sido algo maravilloso, tengo 74 años, me emociono, al escuchar tanta belleza musical, romanticismo profundo e inocente, gracias a todos los que han podido subir estos archivos musicales, y agradesco a la vida , que me ha permitido revivir tanta calidad de canciones , 🙏 gracias infinitas

Charles C

4y↑2

What a masterpiece !!!

Johnny Phillips

8y↑4

I didn't grow up with Doo Wop, but I love it.

Sheri Orr

2y↑1

This is true singing talent. They didn't have all the modern technics like they have in 2022. DooWoop lives on in our hearts and memories.

Julian Vega

8y↑1

I love this song!!!!!!

RXRguy

12y↑1

One of the RoyalTeens best Just so glade I was there when it all started, just never knew how good it was. It was a time when songs were about young love and not disrespect of the ladies. Sure miss those innocent days.

D.L. X

6y↑2

Doo Wop . . . . is just the best ! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

david frazier

7y↑3

still the best music ever

Freddie Barrett

6y↑1

Real good music.Nothing out there today will ever touch music from the 60,s

Al Dodson

9y↑99

It was a wonderful time in music, America and cars.

Diana McFarland

4y↑1

I MISS THOSE GOOD OLD DAYS.

joe gongora

6y↑2

Even though I wasn't from the 50's I've always loved 50's music. This is a great tune. I had a single Short Shorts by The Royalteens. In high school back in the 70's when we had 1950's dress-out & parties or gatherings. I dressed like the 50's. On that dress-out day our Driver's Ed teacher also dressed- out. He pasted a duck- tail on the back of his neck. If he had to talk to you he had to turn his whole body cos he couldn't turn his head. He did look cool because he was from that time period.

William Shook

5y↑4

A great tune...I rate it in my top ten records...a true stoy in San Bernardino

Katherine Gates

💞 Yes ...The Best Music Ever!!! Still listening to all of our 50s and 60s music everyday....It will keep our hearts young forever.💞 74 yrs young now...😘✌️

Ruben medina

9y↑1

EL SONIDO NOSTALGICO DE FINES DE LOS 50S

Prince Tumelo Segobaetso

13y↑2

i'm 21 & i love doo wop with all my heart ,ths music takes me to another place ,my age mates dn't get it tho ,thy think i'm crazy .i dn't care doo wop makes me happy .

Charles Carlson

6y↑2

M1, you hit the rock note here! Thank you so much for this gem!

Banderuola66-Szonja

13y↑1

How I love this GEM !! Believe Me !! Endless Stars for this great upload **********++

Richard Fazakas

7y↑10

I haven't heard this song in decades. Oh the best years for Rock n Roll, 1955 thru 1964, of course that's my opinion only. Those were the Days at the Friday or Saturday night Dances.

Bidder 44

6y↑2

Love the tune, love the ivories being tickled in the background - classic early R&R.

tony ryan

9y↑1

this is a good song .love the beat, its now q of my favorites.

Bear

8y↑74

Two years have passed since my last posting, and I'm still coming back to listen to this again. Being 70 sucks.

louisgut1 Lou Gutnicki

@david frazier my first was a souped up 62 Dynamic 88 that was a car

Glenn Jacobs

you hit 70. and you get to hear this song again!

Rick rick

Bear You said it

Leslie Grosslight

@Tim Liddell i M GOING ON 80! STILL LOVIN THE beat!!!

wolfie palumbo

hey I m 74 , playing Dion and doo wop on my tele , and cruising in my Camaro, 70 s don t suck

25 More Replies...

Glenn Jacobs

6y↑24

So sad.
When you are 17, love someone, she doesn't love you back, it hurts SOOOOOO much.
You grow up, look back and laugh at yourself a little.
Thanks Bob Gaudio.....and nice piano.

tahoe61

Nicely stated.

rockinrobin246

14y

One of my all time favorite oldies. !! WHAT has happened to this type of fantastic music. It is a shame that it has virtually disappeared from the play lists of radio stations. Today's music is basically junk.

vince mazz

12y↑7

"did you have to tell them all that I still love you?"...... a classic!

CJ Cory

Doo Wop will always be my favorite music. Nothing better, ever!

Larry Huffman

6y↑2

I was enlisting in the Army when this came out. Fantastic memories! Those were the good old days!

vinylsingleman

15y

Thanks for posting! Nice that they went to a totally different sound from "Short Shorts". Both great tunes, just that so many artists followed up their big hit with a sound-alike tune, which often just didn't sound as good as the first one.

William Shook

4y↑1

A big hit in the 50's by The Royal Teen. This in my Top 10 Records. Listen seven times in a row and your here the genius and creativity. A+ retired Marketing Professor Cafton Hills College, Yucaipa CA.

dan fiore

3y↑1

Sweet masterpiece.

Richard Fazakas

I haven't heard this song in over 50 years, it brings back the Good Old Memories of Rock n Roll ... Those were the Best of Times.

PG2020

5y↑3

Love just love!!!

cdsnow1966

6y↑1

DOOWOP FOREVER !!.LOVE THIS !!

4prtharmny

15y

actually the first time i sang harmony on stage at a local high school dance, this was the song. i'll never forget it. there was just two of us and one guitar. great oldie doowop

Rusty Walker

One of the great Doo Wop songs of the 1950s. I’m 74 listening in December 2020!

OWLGANG01

4y↑1

Ya know I really love this kind of music theres just something that's so great about the era of music and like I don't know what it is about the sound that I just love and even though I wasnt born in that era I'm happy that the music is still around to day and that we have the internet because I can just listen to hours and hours of this stuff and never get bored

MrAlbanyrick

11y

this one takes me back. i wish they still made music like this.

gaming, airsoft, and juggling

4y↑2

I'm a metalhead, but damn, this shit still kicks ass

charles r. bacon sr.

9y↑3

This is quickly becoming a favorite! <3

Paul Little

7y↑1

sad they never had more hits,fantastic doo wop.

eziggy46able

14y

Nice song! Sweet goosebump doowop.

Freddie Barrett

10y↑4

One hellava doowhop song.One of the best I have ever heard.Love this song.Takes me back to the early 60,s.

Mauro Antonio

Love this song. 🥰

Richard Rivas

8y↑6

They don't make songs like this any more ,I wish they would.

Dameandthecatz

15y↑1

"Thank you" for posting this wonderful song, I've been looking for it for so long

Ken Cohen

6y↑1

I first heard this record opver my friend's apt in the Stuyvesant Town projects back in 1961. It was the record that started me collecting and is still one of my all time favorites..thanks for some very great memories.

Brian Foley

14y↑1

I tried to tell friends about "Italian Doo-Wop." They'd just come from "The Jersey Boys" broadway show, but still laughed and said, "What the hell is Italian Doo Wop. Just goes to show that a) you can't mess with the originals and b) Broadway musicals suck. Believe me. Thanks for putting this up. Check out "The Elegants" ("Little Star") if you love this stuff. Dion and the Belmonts rock, too!

Robert Isidore

6y↑2

Just LOVE THIS SONG

Drew Beck

13y

Fantastic, underrated doo-wop classic.

A/Z

10y

Maravillosa.

Michael Allen

14y

I'm 19, and I can tell you sure do feel like the only teenager in the United States who appreciates and lives the 1950s each and every day. This is my life, and I know this was my real era. I thank the ability through technology and my parents to continue to get a clearer idea of what that era was like.

mangledinal

12y↑1

Members have included Bob Gaudio, Billy Dalton, Tom Austin, Larry Crandall, Al Kooper, Joe Villa, Larry Quagliano, Bob Azzara, Flip Cesario, Don Sabatino, Vince Cautero. Had a #3 hit in 1958 with "Short Shorts", written by group member Bob Gaudio, a future member and founder of The Four Seasons. Al Kooper founded Blood, Sweat and Tears. Love this music. Thanks for uploading!

NYDutch1968

15y

Great song with the wonderful piano in the background. I think Bob Gaudio either wrote or heavily influenced this song. The Four Seasons "O-Connie-O" had the same kind of sound.

RockLives4u

15y

Great sound... You have a great taste of R&R posting this song.. Doo Wop is always nice to listen to.. Thanks for the up load..

terry wheatley

10y↑9

one of my favorite doo wops!!

Ron LHeureux

4y↑1

Awesome Doo Wop. I just wish they would have had a better recording studio.

douglas dryburgh

7y↑2

Lead singer is Joe Villa. Met him April 1 of this year at Hauppauge High School. A weekend do wop extravaganza. He was great. Prior to that he was the lead singer and composer of "Blanche" by the three friends.