The Ames Brothers got their beginning in Malden, where all four were born. The act consisted of Joe (born 3 May 1921), Gene (born 13 February 1923), Vic (born 20 May 1925 - died 23 January 1978) and Ed (born 9 July 1927).
Born into a non-professional but musical family, the boys were brought up on classical and operatic music. Their parents, David and Sarah Urick, were Russian Jewish immigrants from the Ukraine who read Shakespeare and semi-classics to their nine children from the time they were old enough to listen.
The brothers formed a quartet with a cousin Lennie, and had been touring United States Army and Navy bases entertaining the troops and were offered a job at the Foxs and Hounds nightclub, one of the fanciest clubs in Boston. This one week engagement turned into several months when the word got around of their appearance. At the time, they were going by the name of the Amory Brothers, a name taken from Vic's middle name and they were becoming quite popular in the area. It was at this time that Joe decided to rejoin the group. He said they were just having too much fun together for him to miss out. Taking their act to New York they got a job with bandleader Art Mooney. One day while at Leeds Publishing Company in search of a song called "Should I" that their mother had asked them to sing, Milt Gabler of Decca Records heard them singing it and had them cut a few sides for Decca Records just before the ban which started in January, 1948.
A year later when the ban was lifted, the Ames Brothers were the first artists to record for Coral Records. The name Amory was shortened to Ames. They were swept into national top billing with their first hit record, "Rag Mop," in January, 1950. Doing radio shows for free at times just for the experience, they later became regulars on such shows as The Arthur Godfrey Hour. One of the first acts to appear on the original Ed Sullivan Show when it was known as Toast of the Town, they made their debut with him when the show was telecast live from Wanamaker's Department Store.
Soon, they were the top paid group in nightclubs and supperclubs everywhere and their popularity on television was nationwide. In 1956 they starred in their own show, The Ames Brothers Show, which was seen on Friday nights. It was the first syndicated television show to be shown in foreign countries.
Over their fifteen year career the prolific Brothers notched up 50 U.S. chart entries, 21 of them on the Coral label before signing with RCA Victor. The group disbanded in the 1960s but Ed Ames went on with a successful singing and acting career, including playing Daniel Boone's sidekick, Mingo, on the successful Daniel Boone television series (1964-1970).
They were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1998.
Don't Blame Me
The Ames Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've hung around you just like a fool
Falling head and heels in love like a kid out of school.
My poor heart is in an awful state now
But it's too late now to call a halt
So if I become a nuisance it's all your fault!
Don't blame me for falling in love with you
I'm under your spell but how can I help it!
Don't' blame me!
Can't you see when you do the things you do!
If I can't conceal the thrill that I'm feeling,
Don't blame; me.
Ican't help it if that doggoned moon above
Makes me need someone like you to love!
Blame your kiss as sweet as a kiss can be
And blame all your charms that melt in my arms
But don't blame me.
I like every single thing about you
Without a doubt you are like a dream
In my mind I find a picture of us as a team
Ever since the hour of our meeting
I've been repeating a silly phrase
Hoping that you'll understand me one of these days.
Don't blame me for falling in love with you
I'm under your spell but how can I help it!
Don't' blame me!
Can't you see when you do the things you do!
If I can't conceal the thrill that I'm feeling,
Don't blame; me.
Ican't help it if that doggoned moon above
Makes me need someone like you to love!
Blame your kiss as sweet as a kiss can be
And blame all your charms that melt in my arms
But don't blame me.
The Ames Brothers' song "Don't Blame Me" is a love song that describes the singer's overwhelming feelings of falling in love with someone out of their control. The first verse portrays the singer's obsession with the person they found, and how they are "like a fool" for being so invested in that person. The following verse describes how the singer's heart is already in a "terrible state" and that it's too late for them to stop feeling this way. They then state that if they become annoying or clingy towards the person, it's entirely the other's fault for captivating their heart so wholly.
The chorus repeats the phrase "Don't blame me" over and over, expressing the idea that the singer has no control over their feelings for this person. They are under their love interest's charming spell and cannot help how they feel. The singer also associates the person with the moon, stating that they "can't help it if that doggoned moon above makes [them] need someone like [the person] to love." The last verse describes how the singer likes everything about the other person and that they are like a dream. They continue to express their hope that the person will understand their feelings one day.
Overall, the song describes a love that is intense and almost irrational. The singer is consumed with their feelings, and no matter how illogical or challenging it may become, they cannot help falling in love with this person.
Line by Line Meaning
Ever since the lucky night I found you
From the night we met, I've been incredibly lucky to have found you.
I've hung around you just like a fool
I've been foolishly infatuated with you, following you around.
Falling head and heels in love like a kid out of school.
I've fallen in love with you completely, like a kid who has no idea what they're doing.
My poor heart is in an awful state now
My heart is now in a terrible condition and is hurting.
But it's too late now to call a halt
Unfortunately, I can't stop myself from feeling this way about you.
So if I become a nuisance it's all your fault!
If I constantly bother you, it's only because you're the one who made me feel this way.
Don't blame me for falling in love with you
I can't help my feelings for you, so please don't blame me for loving you.
I'm under your spell but how can I help it!
I feel like you have a power over me, and I can't help but love you because of it.
Don't blame me!
Please understand that my love for you is beyond my control.
Can't you see when you do the things you do!
The things you do to me are so powerful that I can't help but love you even more.
If I can't conceal the thrill that I'm feeling,
I am overwhelmed with excitement and can't hide my feelings for you.
I can't help it if that doggoned moon above makes me need someone like you to love!
The force of nature, like the moon, makes it so I need someone like you to love.
Blame your kiss as sweet as a kiss can be
Credit your sweet and enchanting kiss for making me love you so much.
And blame all your charms that melt in my arms
Blame your charming behavior that makes me feel so comfortable and content around you.
But don't blame me.
But please remember that it's not my fault that I love you so much.
I like every single thing about you
I admire and appreciate every aspect of you completely.
Without a doubt you are like a dream
You are so perfect to me that it feels like a fantasy come true.
In my mind I find a picture of us as a team
I can clearly imagine us together, working together and supporting each other as a team.
Ever since the hour of our meeting
Since the exact moment we met, my feelings for you have been strong.
I've been repeating a silly phrase
I've been saying something silly and hoping you'll understand my feelings.
Hoping that you'll understand me one of these days.
I'm hoping you'll see how deeply I feel for you, and accept it.
Lyrics © DistroKid, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DOROTHY FIELDS, JIMMY MC HUGH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind