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.
Ramona
The Bachelors Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where the mountains high
Seem to kiss the sky
Someone is out yonder, o'er the hills
Waiting patiently, Waiting just for me
Ramona, I hear the mission bells above
Ramona, they're ringing out our song of love
To always remember the rambling rose you wear in your hair
Ramona, when day is done you'll hear my call
Ramona, we'll meet beside the water fall
I dread the dawn when I awake to find you gone
Ramona I need you my own
Let's wander out yonder o'er the hills
By a babbling brook
Where we'll find a nook
To build our own love nest, o'er the hills
Darling of my heart, Never more to part
Ramona, I hear the mission bells above
Ramona, they're ringing out our song of love
I press you, caress you, and bless the day you taught me to care
To always remember the rambling rose you wear in your hair
Ramona, when day is done you'll hear my call
Ramona, we'll meet beside the water fall
I dread the dawn when I awake to find you gone
Ramona I need you my own
"Ramona" by The Bachelors is a love song that narrates an individual's journey to find love. The song starts with the individual wandering around the hills, waiting for someone who is out there waiting for him patiently. Here, the mountains are depicted to be kissing the sky, which symbolizes the immense love and passion the individual has for Ramona, his beloved. The song then goes on to express the individual's unconditional love towards Ramona, where he hears the mission bells above ringing out their song of love. He expresses his feelings of adoration and affection for her, always remembering the rambling rose she wears in her hair.
Towards the end, the individual proposes to Ramona, suggesting they wander out yonder over the hills and by a babbling brook, where they can find a nook to build their own love nest. He reiterates his undying love for her by saying that he does not want to part from her, calling her the darling of his heart. The song ends with the individual expressing his fear of losing Ramona, as he wakes up to find her gone. He concludes by saying that he needs her to be his own.
Overall, "Ramona" portrays a journey of love, from the highs of passion to the fear of losing one's beloved, and emphasizes the need for love and companionship in life.
Line by Line Meaning
I wander out yonder o'er the hills
I am exploring beyond the hills
Where the mountains high
The mountains are tall
Seem to kiss the sky
They appear to touch the sky
Someone is out yonder, o'er the hills
There is someone waiting for me beyond the hills
Waiting patiently, Waiting just for me
They are waiting for me with patience
Ramona, I hear the mission bells above
I hear bells that remind me of you
Ramona, they're ringing out our song of love
The bells are ringing a song that represents our love
I press you, caress you, and bless the day you taught me to care
I cherish and appreciate how you taught me to love
To always remember the rambling rose you wear in your hair
I'll always remember the flower you wear in your hair
Ramona, when day is done you'll hear my call
When the day is over, I will call for you
Ramona, we'll meet beside the water fall
We will reunite next to a waterfall
I dread the dawn when I awake to find you gone
I'm scared to wake up and find you've left
Ramona I need you my own
I need you, you are mine
Let's wander out yonder o'er the hills
Let's explore beyond the hills together
By a babbling brook
Next to a small, lively stream
Where we'll find a nook
Where we'll discover a cozy spot
To build our own love nest, o'er the hills
To create a home for our love beyond the hills
Darling of my heart, Never more to part
You are dear to my heart, and we will never be separated
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: L. Wolfe Gilbert, Mabel Wayne
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@flybobbie1449
My mother played these songs over and over in the 60's. Takes me back to my childhodd. Rip mum.
@michaelgarforth8325
Takes me back to my youth
@ianblack519
This is when we had entertainers and quality .
@00lilyvonshtupp
I have to play this for my Ma ! She is 91 and named Ramona. Im sure she hasn't heard it in years . If, ever..
@qpgirl9952
Remember this song from 1968 when I got married 🤗
@ramo4114
Great song! I wasn't born yet, but mom had clear ideas, so she named me Ramona 😉
@7884golfguru
So cool
@stephaniem5091
Yeah same here, I wasn't born for quite a few years after this, but I love it, it's fantastic! Ramona is a great name too!
@heymoe70
Me too! 😁
@moejoe1030
Here here, I totally agree!