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.
Think
The "5" Royales Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Think of about the sacrifices
That I make for you
Think of all the time
That I spend with you
Think of all the good things
Think of all the bad things
I try not to do
So come on, baby, and
[CHORUS]
Think, think, think, think
About the good things
Think, think, think, think
About the right things
Think, think, think, think
About the best things
And maybe before you leave me
You'll realize I'm the one
That loves you
How much of all your happiness
Have I really claimed
How many tears have you cried
For which I was to blame
Lord, I can't remember
When it's not my fault
I tried so hard to please you
At least that's what I thought
So come on, sugar, and
[Repeat CHORUS]
The "5" Royales's song "Think" is a powerful plea to a lover to take a moment to reflect on the sacrifices and efforts made by the singer for the relationship to work. The song opens with repeated chants of "Think, think, think, think," which is an indication that the singer desperately wants his lover to think deeply about their relationship. He implores his lover to think about the sacrifices he has made for her and the time he spends with her. He does not want her to focus only on his mistakes but also on the good things he has done for her.
The singer continues to ask his lover to consider the tears she cried, which may have been caused by his actions. He admits that he cannot remember when he is wrong, but he tries very hard to make her happy. He is not perfect, but he is willing to learn and make things better. The chorus repeats the word "think" several times, emphasizing the importance of reflecting and contemplating before making any decisions about their relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Think, think, think, think
Let's take a moment to ponder
Think of about the sacrifices
That I make for you
Consider the things I do for you out of love and care
Think of all the time
That I spend with you
Recall the moments we share together
Think of all the good things
That I done for you
Acknowledge and appreciate the positive actions I take towards you
Think of all the bad things
I try not to do
Appreciate the negative things that I avoid doing
So come on, baby, and
Let's talk about this and work it out
[CHORUS]
Think, think, think, think
About the good things
Think, think, think, think
About the right things
Think, think, think, think
About the best things
And maybe before you leave me
You'll realize I'm the one
That loves you
Think deeply about all the positive, appropriate and excellent things, and with any luck, you will understand that I am the only one who loves you truly.
How much of all your happiness
Have I really claimed
To what extent have I contributed to your happiness?
How many tears have you cried
For which I was to blame
Have there been times when I have caused you pain and sadness?
Lord, I can't remember
When it's not my fault
I tried so hard to please you
At least that's what I thought
Sometimes, I cannot recall times when it was not my mistake.
I believed that I did everything in my capacity to make you happy
So come on, sugar, and
Let's work through our issues
[Repeat CHORUS]
Let's think again about all the great things we have together, and how I am the best thing for you.
Writer(s): James Brown
Contributed by Alice V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@donaldmorrow3096
The secret's out. These guys are in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. They had been quietly changing the course of R&B (setting the precedence for Soul music) and of Rock and Roll guitar playing since "Baby, Don't Do It" in 1953. This is the original classic raw materials James Brown used to make the first Funk single. That is the considerable effect this group has had on everyone who made hits out of landmark sides like this.
@TheSpikehere
Classic R&B.
@johnholloway2445
what a song to dance to
@larrysmith1201
I remember this from 1954 in my life loved it then and now I’m 82 years old
@jesmarluk6635
Awesome!
@seppokangas1488
Lowman Pauling on guitar
@alain59200
very nice Bill thnk for the sharing enjoy day
@swine74
mick jagger brought me here