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.
I'm Looking over a Four Leaf Clover
The Ames Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That I overlooked before
One leaf is sunshine, the second is rain
Third is the roses that grow in the lane
No need explaining, the one remaining
Is somebody I adore
I'm looking over a four-leaf clover
The lyrics to The Ames Brothers’ song “I’m Looking over a Four Leaf Clover” speak about the realization and appreciation of something that was previously taken for granted. The singer is looking over a four-leaf clover, a symbol of good luck, which he had overlooked before. The first two leaves represent contrasting situations: sunshine and rain. The third leaf is a representation of the beautiful and fragrant roses that grow in the lane. The fourth leaf is left unexplained until the last verse when the singer reveals that it is someone whom he adores.
The song talks about how often in life, people fail to appreciate the good things they have until they’re gone. The singer had overlooked the four-leaf clover before and only now in hindsight does he appreciate the beauty of the clover. Perhaps, the singer had taken someone for granted in the past and now realizes how important they are to him. The metaphorical meaning of the song holds that people should appreciate the good things in their lives before it is too late.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm looking over a four-leaf clover
I am searching for something or someone that brings me good luck or happiness.
That I overlooked before
I previously failed to see or appreciate the value of what I am now searching for.
One leaf is sunshine, the second is rain
Life brings both good and bad experiences, represented respectively by the sunshine and rain on the clover leaf.
Third is the roses that grow in the lane
Along with the challenges and joys of life, there is also beauty and growth, symbolized by the roses on the clover leaf growing in the lane.
No need explaining, the one remaining
The fourth leaf of the clover, which represents love or a special person, requires no further explanation or justification for its importance.
Is somebody I adore
The fourth leaf represents someone who is deeply cherished and loved.
I'm looking over a four-leaf clover
Continuing to search for and appreciate the good luck and happiness that life has to offer.
That I overlooked before
Being grateful for second chances and recognizing the value of what was previously overlooked or taken for granted.
Contributed by Landon I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@gemtuN1
I'm glad people have this amazing music documented.
@ernasimkins925
Brings back such wonderful memories of my mom and I dancing in the kitchen when I was a little girl and her and daddy I also would trip the light fantastic sometimes LOL
@jlassie
It sounds like producer Milt Gabler had just discovered and signed the Ames Brothers a few weeks before the start of the 1948 recording ban. Hence, he was anxious to shoehorn them into any conceivable setting where they might manage to secure a hit, before they ran out of time. This record definitely has a 'kitchen sink' feel to it, with Morgan, the Ames's, Milt Herth, and an unidentified female chorus all thrown into the mix, in a bold attempt to cash in on the recent success of Art Mooney's 'Mummers Parade'-style revival of of this 1920s tune.
@dylanmayes9513
This was the first song I listened to on a 78 rpm record.