The founding members of the group were Conleth (Con) Cluskey (born 18 November 1941; died 8 April 2022), Declan (Dec) Cluskey (born 23 December 1942), and John Stokes (Sean James Stokes) (born 13 August 1940). In 1957 they formed their first band together, "The Harmonichords" (also seen as "The Harmony Chords"), a classically styled instrumental harmonica-act.
As The Harmonichords, they appeared on Hughie Green's 'Opportunity Knocks' on Radio Luxembourg[1] and on the 'Ed Sullivan' TV Show St. Patrick's Day Special (filmed in Dublin, broadcast 15 March 1959), where they played "Danny Boy."[2] They also played background music plus featured pieces in a 25 week radio comedy series called 'Odd Noises' on Radio Éireann featuring Eamonn Andrews.[3] They changed their name to "The Bachelors" in 1962 at the suggestion of Dick Rowe, A&R at Decca Records, who reportedly recommended the name "because that’s the kind of boy a girl likes."
During the 1960s, they had many successful songs in music charts in Europe Australia, South Africa, South America, parts of the USSR, and the United States. Some of the most successful were "Diane" (1964), "Marie" (1965), "I Wouldn't Trade You For the World" (1965), and "In the Chapel in the Moonlight" (1965). In 1965 they had the 'most played juke box track' with "The Stars Will Remember" from a film they made with then-current DJ Sam Costa.
Live work carried them into the 1970s with record breaking theatre season shows, but after a successful start to the decade with the album World of the Bachelors hitting the top 5, the band became less and less dominant in the music industry. Along with singers like Tom Jones they found themselves stuck in a decade of Glam Rock, unable to change with the times. They remained successful recording artists and moved to the Pye label, which contracted easy listening stars like Frankie Vaughan and Max Bygraves. Despite their last chart single being in 1967, they continued to play the cabaret circuit, still maintaining the original line-up until 1984, when there was "a messy split" between the Cluskey brothers and Stokes.
Following the split, the Cluskey brothers appeared as "The New Bachelors" and Stokes as "Stokes & Coe", Stokes allegedly also then appeared as "The New Bachelors" so the Cluskey's now perform as "Con & Dec The Bachelors"
In 2008 a compilation CD, "I Believe - The Very Best of The Bachelors," featuring the 60s hits together with two new songs recorded by Con and Dec Cluskey, was released through Universal who had acquired the Decca catalogue (available in the US as an import from Uni Classics Jazz UK), reached #7 in the UK Radio One album chart 27 July - 2 Aug 2008. Con and Dec Cluskey appeared on TV and radio to promote the album.
No Arms Can Ever Hold You
The Bachelors Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No heart can ever love you like this heart of mine
My dreams could all come true if you'll care for me
This love that I feel for you was just meant to be
No lips can ever kiss you like these lips of mine
No heart can ever love you like this heart of mine
My heart, my love are yours 'til the end of time
No arms will ever hold you like these arms of mine
The Bachelors's song "No Arms Can Ever Hold You" is a classic love song that speaks about the depth of love that the singer has for his partner. The lyrics talk about how the singer's arms are the only ones that can ever hold his partner, and how his heart is the only one that can ever love her. He goes on to say that his dreams can come true if she will care for him, and that the love he feels for her was meant to be.
This song beautifully captures the feeling of being in love, and how nothing else matters when you are with the one you love. It also puts across the fact that true love is irreplaceable and transcends all other pleasures in the world, as nothing else can ever compare to it. The repetitive lines "'til the end of time" and "No arms will ever hold you like these arms of mine" emphasize the singer's commitment to his partner and the intensity of his love for her.
Overall, the song is an ode to love, and it reminds us that true love is a rare and precious thing that should be cherished and held onto dearly.
Line by Line Meaning
No arms can ever hold you like these arms of mine
My love for you is so strong that no one can hold you as tightly or as lovingly as I can
No heart can ever love you like this heart of mine
My love for you is unique and unmatched by anyone else's feelings towards you
My dreams could all come true if you'll care for me
If you reciprocate my feelings and love me back, all my dreams and desires will be fulfilled
This love that I feel for you was just meant to be
Our love is predestined and meant to exist, it's a force that cannot be denied
No lips can ever kiss you like these lips of mine
My desire to physically express my love for you is so strong that no one else's lips can compare to mine
My heart, my love are yours 'til the end of time
I give you my heart and my love for eternity, until the end of time
No arms will ever hold you like these arms of mine
Repeating the first line to emphasize the depth and sincerity of the singer's love and commitment
Contributed by Grayson I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Milton Williams
The lead singer for The Bachelors was so unique that it made this a very special Group in the mid 60's, their rendition of "I Believe" is just outstanding.
Paddy Jackson
tooo rite pal
ken hoare
Great group,can never get tired of hearing them
votermedia
one of. the first albums ithouroughly their singing,i,ve heard lotss ssinging,but this the best. what everhappened to them
mike h
The Bachelors music is not played enough on oldies stations and particularly Sirius 60's. Great group with a wonderful sound. I have been a Bachelors fan since the 1960s.
Milton Williams
One of the great groups from the 60's. Good to be able to still listen to their great sound.
WendyKS93
My personal favorite by this great group. Absolutely love their harmony.
Pat Mackay
I've always loved the batchelors from being eight years old. Mum and dad always played the LP every Sunday.
Patty Persons
Beautiful! Had this on a 45 years ago and never forgot it. Great performance, beautiful harmony.
cricketbat08
Amazing vocals.