Guitarist Tony Gilkyson, formerly of the band X, and Austin singer-songwriter Eliza Gilkyson are Gilkyson's son and daughter. His other daughter Nancy has served for more than 20 years as a vice president at Warner Bros. Records
Gilkyson was born Hamilton Henry Gilkyson in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania in 1916. Like many people growing up in a small town in the 20's and 30's, he and his family spent a lot of time listening to music on the radio. Known as "Terry," he attended the University of Pennsylvania for a time, majoring in music, before moving to Tucson, Arizona in his early 20's. Terry worked on a ranch and then joined the military during World War II. He returned to Pennsylvania and worked in his family's insurance business, all the while composing folk songs that he enjoyed playing and singing.
In 1947 Terry got married and headed to California, intent on launching a career as a folk singer. He hosted a weekly radio program of folk music for the Armed Forces Radio Service, The Solitary Singer. In 1949 he recorded Cry Of The Wild Goose. Eventually singer Frankie Laine recorded the song and had a number one hit with it, in 1950. Terry Gilkyson was beginning to draw some notice. He performed with the well known folk group the Weavers in the early 50's.
Unlike many folk singers, Gilkyson avoided political controversy and concentrated more on writing songs with commercial appeal. One evening he found himself on a radio show with Rich Dehr and Frank Miller. Dehr and Miller had been performing folk songs in clubs and took the name Easy Riders from one of their songs, C.C. Rider. Gilkyson's talents as a singer and songwriter complemented those of Dehr and Miller very well. They became a group, with Dehr performing most of the lead vocals.
The three wrote a song titled Memories Are Made Of This. It was recorded by Dean Martin with the Easy Riders providing background on the recording, and went to #1 on the pop charts early in 1956. Then it was time for their own success as recording stars. They wrote and recorded a song about the most famous sand-sifter in pop music history, and it was difficult for anyone to go anywhere in 1957 without hearing their version of their toe-tapping top ten hit Marianne:
All night, all day, Marianne,
Down by the seaside sifting sand.
Even little children love Marianne,
Down by the seaside sifting sand.
Based on a Bahamian folk tune, Marianne became a million seller, and was the group's only top forty pop hit as performers. The song was recorded by a variety of other performers, with the Hilltoppers also taking it to the top ten.
Terry Gilkyson and the Easy Riders wrote and recorded a number of songs, including Everybody Loves Saturday Night, The Girl In The Wood, and Remember The Alamo. One such song was recorded by a group of fraternity brothers from Phi Gamma Delta at the University of Washington; calling themselves the Brothers Four, they had a top ten hit with Greenfields in 1960. Songs written by Terry Gilkyson and the Easy Riders were recorded by the Kingston Trio, Gale Storm, Harry Belafonte, Doris Day, Burl Ives, the New Christy Minstrels, and many other performers. The Easy Riders put a West Indies folk song from 1927 called Tell The Captain on vinyl and it was later turned into a top ten song in the 60's by the Beach Boys under the title Sloop John B.
In the 60's Terry Gilkyson left the group and began working on movies for Walt Disney Studios. He wrote music for movies such as Swiss Family Robinson and The Aristocats, along with the television program The Wonderful World Of Disney. In 1968 he received an Academy Award nomination for writing The Bear Necessities for the motion picture The Jungle Book.
Terry Gilkyson retired to Santa Fe, New Mexico. Three of his children, Nancy, Eliza, and Tony, have been active in the music business. While visiting his daughter Eliza in Austin, Texas, in 1999, Terry died from natural causes.
The contributions to American popular music made by Terry Gilkyson and the Easy Riders are significant. Their best remembered song is without a doubt the 1950's standard Marianne.
Marianne
Terry Gilkyson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Down by the sea side siftin' sand
Even little children love Marianne
Down by the seaside siftin' sand
Marianne, oh, Marianne, oh, won't you marry me?
We can have a bamboo hut and brandy in the tea
Leave your fat old mamma home, she never will say yes
My, my, yes
All day, all night, Marianne
Down by the sea side siftin' sand
Even little children love Marianne
Down by the seaside siftin' sand
When she walks along the shore, people pause to greet
White birds fly around her
Little fish come to her feet
In her heart is love but I'm the only mortal man
Who's allowed to kiss my Marianne
Don't rush me
All day, all night, Marianne
Down by the sea side siftin' sand
Even little children love Marianne
Down by the seaside siftin' sand
When we marry we will have a time you never saw
I will be so happy I will kiss me mother in law, fooe
Children by the dozen in and out the bamboo hut
One for every palm tree and coconut
Hurry up now
All day, all night, Marianne
Down by the sea side siftin' sand
Even little children love Marianne
Down by the seaside siftin' sand
The song "Marianne" by Terry Gilkyson & The Easy Riders is a description of a man’s affection for a woman named Marianne, who he admires for her beauty and easygoing nature. The lyrics describe Marianne sifting sand by the sea, which is a symbol of her simple way of life. The singer of the song professes his love for Marianne and asks her to marry him. He promises her they’ll have a bamboo hut and enjoy brandy in the tea. The singer seems to have his life planned out, and he wants Marianne to be a part of it.
The second verse describes how people pause to greet her when Marianne walks along the shore. She’s adored by little fish and white birds who fly around her. The singer confesses that Marianne’s heart is full of love, but he’s the only one allowed to kiss her. The final verse describes the singer’s plans for their future life. He envisions having a dozen children in and out of their bamboo hut, one for every palm tree and coconut tree. The song is a lighthearted, whimsical ode to the simple life and the joys of love.
Line by Line Meaning
All day, all night, Marianne
Marianne is present by the seaside all day and all night.
Down by the sea side siftin' sand
Marianne spends her time sifting sand by the sea.
Even little children love Marianne
Even the children by the seaside adore Marianne.
Down by the seaside siftin' sand
Marianne is still sifting sand by the sea.
Marianne, oh, Marianne, oh, won't you marry me?
The singer wants to marry Marianne and asks for her hand.
We can have a bamboo hut and brandy in the tea
The singer imagines their future home to be a bamboo hut with brandy in their tea.
Leave your fat old mamma home, she never will say yes
The singer suggests that Marianne's mother would oppose their marriage.
If mama don't know now, she can guess
The singer is confident that even if Marianne's mother doesn't know about their relationship yet, she can still figure it out.
My, my, yes
The singer expresses excitement and eagerness for their future together.
When she walks along the shore, people pause to greet
Marianne is popular among the people by the seaside and is greeted when she walks along the shore.
White birds fly around her
The singer describes the beauty and grace of Marianne while she is by the sea.
Little fish come to her feet
Marianne attracts little fish near her feet when she is by the sea.
In her heart is love but I'm the only mortal man
Marianne loves the singer but he considers himself the only one worthy of her love and affection.
Who's allowed to kiss my Marianne
The singer believes that only he has the right to kiss Marianne.
Don't rush me
The singer asks others not to rush or interfere with his relationship with Marianne.
When we marry we will have a time you never saw
The singer envisions a happy and exciting future with Marianne after they are married.
I will be so happy I will kiss me mother in law, fooe
The singer expresses his happiness and joy about his future with Marianne, which is so great that he even jokes about kissing his mother-in-law.
Children by the dozen in and out the bamboo hut
The singer imagines having many children and them running around their bamboo hut.
One for every palm tree and coconut
The singer jokes that they will have so many children that there will be one for every palm tree and coconut in their yard.
Hurry up now
The singer urges others to hurry up and leave so that he can focus on his future with Marianne.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, DEHR FAMILY MUSIC, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Richard Dehr, Terry Gilkyson, Frank Miller
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mischagee1667
My sister "Marianne", passed away yesterday after a long illness. I used to sing this to her when we were kids. R.I.P. little sister.
@javimen
May your sister Marianne and my mother Maryanne rest in peace. I know they're waiting for you and me down by the seaside siftin' sand.
@johncolman181
It was so happy it takes me back to my Caribbean trips one island at a time. Each island has its own culture, food and flavor.
@billandmaryannbirkel2867
I was 8 years old when I would sit by the radio and listen to this song. My parents told me they were singing about me (my name is Mary Ann). :)
@scottburton9701
Great song that was popular during the calypso craze of the late 50's.
@marianneries2952
my name is marianne and my family had a home at the shore (east coast); my mom used to sing this to me when i was a little girl; such sweet memories; didn't realize it was calypso
@christianjesen.1
Such a beautiful song I love this song back then,is this your favorite song too?
@leighharlow7439
Brings back memories!!! Thanks!!!
@waltercyr9455
Great song that sings to mirth-filled hearts...
@shirleyjennings5787
Awesome!