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.
do nothin' till you hear from
The Ames Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But they wouldn't hurt you, not much
Since everyone spread the story
With his own little personal touch
Do nothin' till you hear from me
Pay no attention to what's said
Why people tear the seam of anyone's dream
Do nothin' till you hear from me
At least consider our romance
If you should take the word of others you've heard
I haven't a chance
True I've been seen with someone new
But does that mean that I'm untrue
When we're apart the words in my heart
Reveal how I feel about you
Some kiss may cloud my memory
And other arms may hold a thrill
But please do nothin' till you hear it from me
And you never will
Do nothin' till you hear from me
Do nothin' till you hear from me
Pay no attention to what's said
Why people tear the seam of anyone's dream
Is over my head
Do nothin' till you hear from me
At least consider our romance
If you should take the word of others you've heard
I haven't a chance
True I've been seen with someone new
But does that mean that I'm untrue
When we're apart the words in my heart
Reveal how I feel about you
Some kiss may cloud my memory
And other arms may hold a thrill
But please do nothin' till you hear it from me
And you never will
The lyrics of "Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me" by The Ames Brothers caution the listener against believing gossip and rumors about infidelity. The song explains that sometimes rumors are simply embellished stories, and it is important to get the whole truth before believing any rumors or jumping to conclusions. The lyrics ask the listener to trust in the singer's love for them and not be swayed by what others might say.
The lyrics are written in second person, directly addressing the listener, which adds to the feeling of personal connection and trust between the singer and the listener. The use of rhetorical questions, such as "Why people tear the seam of anyone's dream/Is over my head," conveys a sense of confusion and frustration with the way rumors can spread and affect people's lives.
The song was first recorded in 1940 by Duke Ellington and His Famous Orchestra featuring vocals by Al Hibbler. The Ames Brothers' version was released in 1952 and became a hit, peaking at number 4 on the Billboard charts. The song has since been covered by many other artists, including Nina Simone and Barbra Streisand.
Line by Line Meaning
Someone told someone and someone told you
Gossip spreads like wildfire, and by the time it gets to you, it may not be entirely accurate or truthful.
But they wouldn't hurt you, not much
People often add their own spin or exaggeration to a story, but they usually don't intend to harm anyone.
Since everyone spread the story with his own little personal touch
Each person who spread the gossip added their own perspective or interpretation to the story, making it less reliable.
Do nothin' till you hear from me
Don't take action or make any judgments based on hearsay or rumors until you've heard the truth from the source.
Pay no attention to what's said
Don't let gossip or speculation affect your perception or behavior until you know what's actually true.
Why people tear the seam of anyone's dream is over my head
The reasons why people spread rumors or try to ruin others' reputations are beyond my understanding.
At least consider our romance
Don't let baseless gossip or innuendo destroy the real affection and connection we share.
If you should take the word of others you've heard, I haven't a chance
If you believe the rumors and don't give me a fair chance to explain or defend myself, our relationship may be doomed.
True I've been seen with someone new, but does that mean that I'm untrue
Seeing me with someone else doesn't necessarily mean I'm cheating or disloyal to you.
When we're apart the words in my heart reveal how I feel about you
My true feelings for you remain strong and unwavering, no matter what others may say or do.
Some kiss may cloud my memory and other arms may hold a thrill
I've had other experiences and attractions, but they don't diminish my love and commitment to you.
But please do nothin' till you hear it from me and you never will
I know that I can't control what others say, but I hope you'll trust me enough to listen to my side of the story and believe in our love.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DUKE ELLINGTON, BOB RUSSELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind