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.
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
The Ames Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Let nothing you dismay
Remember Christ our savior
Was born on Christmas day
To save us all from Satan's power
When we were gone astray
O tidings of comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
From God our heavenly father
A blessed angel came
And unto certain shepherds
Brought tidings of the same
How that in Bethlehem was born
The son of god by name
O tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
"Fear not", then said the angel
"Let nothing you affright
This day is born a Savior
Of virtue, power, and might
So frequently to vanquish all
The friends of Satan quite"
O tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
The shepherds at those tidings
Rejoiced much in mind
And left their flocks a-feeding
In tempest, storm, and wind
And went to Bethlehem straightway
This blessed babe to find
O tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
But when to Bethlehem they came
Whereat this infant lay
They found him in a manger
Where oxen feed on hay
His mother Mary kneeling
Unto the Lord did pray
O tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
Now to the Lord sing praises
All you within this place
And with true love and brotherhood
Each other now embrace
This holy tide of Christmas
All others doth deface
O tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
The Ames Brother’s rendition of “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” is a classic Christmas song that tells the biblical story of the birth of Jesus Christ. The song addresses the listeners as “merry gentlemen” and encourages them to let nothing dismay them. The first verse reminds the listeners of the reason for the season, which is the birth of Christ our savior on Christmas day. The second verse describes how an angel brought tidings of Christ’s birth to certain shepherds in Bethlehem. The shepherd’s were told not to fear and that a savior had been born to vanquish Satan and his followers. The shepherds set out to find the blessed babe in Bethlehem and upon arrival, found Mary and Joseph with Christ lying in a manger surrounded by oxen. The final verse encourages everyone in the room to embrace each other with true love and brotherhood during the holy tide of Christmas, which overshadows all other celebrations.
Line by Line Meaning
God rest you merry gentlemen
May God grant happiness to you gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Do not be troubled by anything
Remember Christ our savior
Remember Jesus who saved us
Was born on Christmas day
Was born on the day of Christmas
To save us all from Satan's power
To rescue all of us from the control of Satan
When we were gone astray
When we had wandered away from the right path
O tidings of comfort and joy
Oh, news that brings joy and comfort
From God our heavenly father
An angel sent by God our heavenly father
A blessed angel came
A holy angel arrived
And unto certain shepherds
And announced to certain shepherds
Brought tidings of the same
Delivered the same news
How that in Bethlehem was born
That the son of God was born in Bethlehem
The son of god by name
Named the son of God
Fear not
Do not fear
Then said the angel
The angel said
Let nothing you affright
Do not let anything frighten you
This day is born a Savior
Today a Savior is born
Of virtue, power, and might
Who is virtuous, powerful, and mighty
So frequently to vanquish all
So as to often conquer all
The friends of Satan quite
Satan's allies completely
The shepherds at those tidings
The shepherds rejoiced with that news
Rejoiced much in mind
Were very glad and happy
And left their flocks a-feeding
They left their herds feeding
In tempest, storm, and wind
In stormy and windy weather
And went to Bethlehem straightway
And went immediately to Bethlehem
This blessed babe to find
To find this holy infant
But when to Bethlehem they came
But when they arrived in Bethlehem
Whereat this infant lay
Where this baby lay
They found him in a manger
They discovered him resting in a manger
Where oxen feed on hay
Where oxen eat hay
His mother Mary kneeling
His mother Mary was kneeling
Unto the Lord did pray
Prayed to the Lord
Now to the Lord sing praises
Sing praises to the Lord now
All you within this place
Everyone inside this place
And with true love and brotherhood
And with sincere love and brotherhood
Each other now embrace
Embrace each other now
This holy tide of Christmas
This holy season of Christmas
All others doth deface
Surpasses all others
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: GRACE PRICE, ROBERT LEE BLACK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind