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.
You'll Never Walk Alone
The Bachelors Lyrics
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Keep your chin up high
And don't be afraid of the dark
At the end of a storm is a golden sky
And the sweet silver song of a lark
Walk on through the wind
Walk on through the rain
Be tossed and blown
Walk on
Walk on
With hope in your heart
And you'll never walk alone
You'll never walk alone
When you walk through a storm
Hold your head up high
And don't be afraid of the dark
At the end of a storm is a golden sky
And the sweet silver song of a lark
Walk on through the wind
Walk on through the rain
Tho' your dreams
Be tossed and blown
Walk on
Walk on
With hope in your heart
And you'll never walk alone
You'll never walk alone
The Bachelors' song "You'll Never Walk Alone" is an uplifting and motivational tune that encourages listeners to persevere in the face of adversity. The lyrics reflect a message of hope and resilience, reminding listeners to keep pushing forward even when they feel lost or overwhelmed. In the opening lines, we hear "When you walk through a storm, keep your chin up high, and don't be afraid of the dark." This line is a metaphor for facing challenging times, suggesting that we must maintain our optimism and confidence even when things seem bleak. The metaphor continues with "At the end of a storm is a golden sky, and the sweet silver song of a lark," which implies that even after the lowest points, hope and beauty will return.
The second verse builds on this theme of resilience, urging listeners to continue walking through any difficulties they may encounter. Despite the wind and rain, the song encourages us to keep going, even if our dreams are "tossed and blown." The phrase "Walk on, walk on, with hope in your heart, and you'll never walk alone," is repeated several times throughout the song, emphasizing the importance of perseverance and support from those around us.
Overall, "You'll Never Walk Alone" is a song that celebrates hope and perseverance, reminding us that we are never truly alone when facing difficult times. By encouraging us to keep walking forward and maintaining our hope, the song provides a much-needed message of strength and inspiration.
Line by Line Meaning
When you walk through a storm
When you face adversity and struggle in life
Keep your chin up high
Maintain a positive and confident attitude
And don't be afraid of the dark
Don't let fear or uncertainty hold you back
At the end of a storm is a golden sky
After difficult times, there is a brighter future waiting
And the sweet silver song of a lark
There is beauty and joy to be found in life
Walk on through the wind
Keep moving forward even when met with resistance
Walk on through the rain
Persist despite the obstacles and challenges
Tho' your dreams
Even if your aspirations and ambitions
Be tossed and blown
Are disrupted or unsettled
Walk on
Continue progressing and striving
Walk on
Keep going with determination and courage
With hope in your heart
Maintain a positive outlook and belief in a favorable outcome
And you'll never walk alone
You'll never be without support or encouragement
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: Oscar Hammerstein II, Richard Rodgers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind