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.
Undecided
The Ames Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You say you'll stay and then you go
You're undecided now
So what are you gonna do
First you say you do and then you don't
And then you say you will and then you won't
Your undecided now
Now you want to play
And then it's no
And when you say you'll stay
That's when you go
You're undecided now
So what are you gonna do
I've been sittin' on a fence
And it doesn't make much sense
'Cause you keep me in suspense
And you know it
You promise to return
When you don't, I really burn
Well I guess I'll never learn
And I show it
If you got a heart
And if you're kind
Then don't keep us apart
Make up your mind
You're undecided now
So what are you gonna do
First you say you do and then you don't
No, you don't
And then you say you will and then you won't
No, you won't
You're undecided now
So what are you gonna do
Now you want to play and then it's no
Then it's no
And when you say you'll stay that's when you go
When you go
You're undecided now
So what are you gonna do
I've been sittin' on a fence
And it doesn't make much sense
'Cause you keep me in suspense
And you know it
You promise to return
When you don't, I really burn
Well I guess I'll never learn
And I show it
If you got a heart and if you're kind
Then don't keep us apart make up your mind
You're undecided now
So what are you gonna do
You say it's yes and then it's no
You say you'll stay and then you go
You're undecided now
So what are you gonna do
The Ames Brothers' song 'Undecided' speaks about a lover who is unable to make up their mind about their feelings towards the singer. The lyrics express the confusion and frustration experienced by the singer when their lover constantly changes their stance. The repeated phrases in the song's verses emphasize the indecisiveness of the lover, highlighting their inability to make a sound decision. The singer appeals to their lover, urging them to make up their mind and choose whether they want to stay committed or end their relationship.
The singer expresses their feelings of being stranded, as they sit on the fence and wait for their indecisive lover to choose a clear path. Their lover's constant shift between 'yes' and 'no,' and 'will' and 'won't,' brings about confusion, doubt, and disappointment. The chorus repeatedly questions the lover's undecided nature, prompting them to decide and take action. Throughout the song, the singer emphasizes the importance of clarity and honesty, urging their lover to make up their mind, be kind, and not keep them apart.
Line by Line Meaning
You say yes
You have expressed agreement
Then it's no
But now you disagree
You say you'll stay
You commit to being present
Then you go
But then you leave
Your undecided now
You're uncertain about what you want
So what are you going to do
What action will you commit to?
First you say you do and then you don't
You've made conflicting statements
And then you say you will and then you won't
Changing your mind once again
Now you want to play
You desire a casual relationship
And then it's no
But now you don't
And when you say you'll stay
You make another commitment
That's when you go
But then you abandon it
I've been sitting on a fence
I've been in a state of indecision
And it doesn't make much sense
This confusion is illogical
Cause you keep me in suspense
Your unpredictable behavior leaves me uncertain
And you know it
You're aware of how your actions make me feel
You promise to return
You pledge to come back
When you don't I really burn
When you don't follow through, it hurts me deeply
Well I guess I'll never learn
I seem to keep repeating this pattern
And I show it
My disappointment is evident
If your gotta heart
If you have genuine feelings
And if you're kind
And if you're considerate of others
Then don't keep us apart
Then don't create distance between us
Make up your mind
Decide what you really want
You say it's yes and then it's no
Your actions don't match your words
So what are you gonna do
It's time to make a decision
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Charles Shavers, Sydney Robin, Zbigniew Jacek Namyslowski
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
David LoganSr
Played this yesterday , once, while enjoying the Ames Brothers. Woke up this morning with just part of the chorus raging in my brain, and it took several minutes for remember which of the dozens of songs t listened to it was! Took two plays to quell it!
MikeBlitzMag
The Ames Brothers re-cut this Coral label monster classic when they signed with RCA Victor. The remake is a bit more bombastic, but there is merit in both versions. For my money, Undecided is right up there with I Saw Esau as their finest moments.
sauquoit13456
According to the December 15th, 1951 issue of Billboard Magazine, "Undecided" by the Ames Brothers peaked at #2 {for 1 week} on their 'Records Most-Played By Disk Jockeys' chart, for the week it was at #2, the #1 record for that week was "Sin" by Eddy Howard...
And at the same time, "Undecided" was at #5 on Billboard's 'Most-Played On Juke Boxes' chart...
Between 1948 and 1960 the Massachusetts quartet had fifty records on the Top 100 chart, nine made the Top 10 with two reaching #1, "Rag Mop" for 2 weeks in 1950 and "You You You" for 6 weeks in 1953...
Sadly three of the brothers have passed away; Joe (1921 — 2007), Gene (1923 — 1997), and Vic (1925 — 1978) but happily Ed, born Edmund Dantes Urick, celebrated his 93rdt birthday five months ago on July 9th, 2020...
And from the 'For What It's Worth' department, the remainder of the 'Records Most-Played By Jockeys' Top 10 on December 15th, 1951:
At #3. "Jalousie (Jealousy)" by Frankie Laine
#4. "Because of You" by Tony Bennett
#5. "Cold Cold Heart" by Tony Bennett
#6. "Shrimp Boats" by Jo Stafford
#7. "The Little White Cloud That Cried" by Johnnie Ray and The Four Lads
#8. "Cry" by Johnnie Ray
#9. "Domino" by Tony Martin
#10. "Just One More Chance" by Les Paul and Mary Ford
Edward Yorke
Thanks for the charts :-)
Judy Heath
Ed Ames passed away on May 21st 2023. He's with his brothers Joe, Gene and Vic in Heaven giving concerts.
Barry I. Grauman
Recorded on June 25, 1951.
Massimiliano Miotello
My birthday