Originally the Royal Sons Quintet, the group began recording for Apollo Records in the early 1950s, changing its name to the Royals after abandoning gospel for secular music. The group paired Pauling with vocalists Jimmy Moore, Obadiah Carter, and Otto Jeffries, with Johnny Tanner singing lead. Later Tanner's younger brother, Eugene, would replace Jeffries. The robust Johnny Tanner sang lead on most of the group's hits, including "Think," although the sweeter-voiced Eugene Tanner stepped to the microphone for the group's best-known song, "Dedicated to the One I Love." "Baby Don't Do It" and "Help Me Somebody" became hits in 1953, but the group soon signed to Cincinnati's King Records. In addition to heartfelt odes like "Dedicated to the One I Love," Pauling also wrote comic and risque tunes, including "Monkey Hips and Rice," later the title of a two-CD anthology of the group's music released by Rhino Records in 1994. Pauling used an extra-long strap for his guitar, sometimes playing it down around his knees for comic effect. The group shared stages with all the major R&B artists of the 1950s, including Sam Cooke and Ray Charles, once substituting for the latter's Raelettes at a show in Durham, North Carolina.
Confusion arose when two groups of Royals began touring, the other led by Detroit R&B legend Hank Ballard. According to members of the "5" Royales, the confusion peaked in 1953 when an unscrupulous promoter booked Ballard's group in Winston-Salem, trying to pass the Detroit band off as its native-son namesakes, much to the chagrin of a local audience. Shortly thereafter, the air cleared when Winston-Salem's Royals became the "5" Royales and Detroit's Royals became the Midnighters. Ironically, both artists would have hits at King working with Rock & Roll Hall of Fame producer Ralph Bass, becoming good friends and routinely competing in battles of the bands at clubs like Atlanta's Royal Peacock in that city's Sweet Auburn section. Ballard's group gained fame for originating "The Twist", later a monster dance craze and hit for Rock & Roll Hall of Fame excludee Chubby Checker, and for its risque series of "Annie" songs, including "Work With Me Annie" and "Annie Had a Baby."
With King, "Think" and "Tears of Joy" became hits for the "5" Royales in 1957, while some of their lesser-known tracks from this period are now critically acclaimed as innovative. Veteran rock critic Dave Marsh chose the 1958 "5" Royales hit "The Slummer the Slum" as one of the top 1001 singles of all time in his book The Heart of Rock and Soul, crediting Pauling with capturing the first intentional use of guitar feedback on record, years before better-known squawks from the Beatles, Yardbirds, and Velvet Underground. In the 1960s, R&B gradually gave way to more polished soul music and the Royales' career waned rapidly.
The "5" Royales broke up in 1965, though various combinations of musicians would tour under the group's name into the 1970s. For a time Pauling continued recording with pianist and frequent Royales collaborator Royal Abbitt as El Pauling and the Royalton. Pauling's brother, Clarence Paul, a former member of the Royal Sons Quintet, found success as a producer and songwriter at Motown Records in the 1960s. Most of the group's members survived well into the 1990s, but not Pauling. After years of struggle with alcohol dependency, he ended up working as a night watchman at a Manhattan church and died of an apparent seizure on December 26, 1973.
Dedicated to the One I Love
The "5" Royales Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I know it's hard for you my baby
Because it's hard for me my baby
And the darkest hour is just before dawn
Each night before you go to bed my baby
Whisper a little prayer for me my baby
And tell all the stars above
This is dedicated to the one I love
I can be satisfied just knowing that you love me
There's one thing I want you to do especially for me
And it's something that everybody needs
Each night before you go to bed my baby
Whisper a little prayer for me my baby
And tell all the stars above
This is dedicated to the one I love
This is dedicated to the one I love
The "5" Royales's song Dedicated to the One I Love is a beautiful love ballad that expresses the sentiments of a lover who is far away from their beloved. The lyrics talk about how hard it is for both the singer and their lover to be separated, and how they both need each other. In the darkest hour, just before dawn, the singer asks their lover to whisper a little prayer for them and to tell all the stars above that this song is dedicated to the one they love. The song suggests that life can never be exactly the way we want it to be, but the singer can be satisfied knowing that their beloved loves them.
The song has a spiritual overtone with the reference to prayer and asking for divine intervention. It is a testament to the power of love and the comfort it brings when we are far away from those that we love. The song suggests that one does not need material things to be happy in life, but rather the simple reminder of someone's love can be enough to uplift the spirits.
Overall, Dedicated to the One I Love is a poignant love song that speaks to the hearts of many. Its lyrics are a beautiful tribute to the power of love, and the simple yet profound things we can do to show our love for someone special.
Line by Line Meaning
While I'm far away from you my baby
Even though I am physically distant from you, my dear
I know it's hard for you my baby
I acknowledge that this is difficult for you, my beloved
Because it's hard for me my baby
And I understand how hard it can be, as it is also hard for me
And the darkest hour is just before dawn
The most difficult moments occur right before a breakthrough or a positive change
Each night before you go to bed my baby
Every evening, before you retire to bed, my dear
Whisper a little prayer for me my baby
Say a brief prayer for me, my love
And tell all the stars above
Additionally, please let the stars in the sky know
This is dedicated to the one I love
That this song is specifically for the one I hold dear
Life can never be exactly like we want it to be
We may not always get everything we hope for in life
I can be satisfied just knowing that you love me
However, I find contentment in simply being aware of your love for me
There's one thing I want you to do especially for me
There is a particular request I have of you, my darling
And it's something that everybody needs
This is something that is essential for everyone
Each night before you go to bed my baby
Again, before you sleep each night, my dear
Whisper a little prayer for me my baby
Please offer a small prayer on my behalf, my love
And tell all the stars above
And inform the stars, once again
This is dedicated to the one I love
That this song is truly meant for the one I cherish above all else
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group, CARLIN AMERICA INC
Written by: Lowman Pauling, Ralph Bass
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@karenscales5077
My Uncle Lowman wrote this song. My Dad was also a member of the group. They were inducted in 2015 into the Rock Hall of Fame. The Early Influence Category. So proud of them. My dad is the last one on the far right. Obadiah Carter. RIH Fam
@bumrapp7
Will forever be a fan of this group brings back memories of growing up a young boy.Too bad we as a people don't have an archive somewhere to listen to and share with those of us who have no idea!!
@jmecklenborg
I hope that they earned royalties from the later versions of the song and weren't screwed out of their publishing.
@dre10dancer
Cool story1
@laminage
Well good for you! Congratulations. Today alot of Hip Hop Fans born in the 1990's are listening to Groups like these and they are blown away!
@charlllllllie
thank him for me
@walkofftheearth
love this version!
@NRfun
Thanks for teaching us this version exists. I love the guitar in the back! Your version was also really awesome! 😄
@Friendsforgood270
Took a minute but I reached the ORIGINAL. Thankyou Mr Lowman Pauling.
@richardklein4361
This is the original. Written by lead singer Lowman Pauling of the group. 1957. King Records. Have it in my 45 collection. This of course was a huge hit for our beloved Shirelles in 1961. Love it.