They left for San Francisco in 1959, where they met Mort Lewis, Dave Brubeck's manager. Lewis became their manager and later that year secured them a contract with Columbia Records. Their second single, "Greenfields," released in January 1960, hit #2 on the pop charts, and their first album, Brothers Four, released toward the end of the year, made the top 20. Other highlights of their early career included singing their fourth single, "The Green Leaves of Summer," from the John Wayne movie The Alamo, at the 1961 Academy Awards, and having their second album, BMOC/Best Music On/Off Campus, go top 10. They also recorded the theme song for the ABC television series Hootenanny, "Hootenanny Saturday Night," in 1963.
The British Invasion and the ascendance of such folk musicians as Bob Dylan put an end to the Brothers Four's early period of success, but they kept performing and making records, doing particularly well in Japan and on the American hotel circuit.
The band attempted a comeback by recording a highly commercial version of Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man." But the band was unable to release it because of licensing issues, and The Byrds eventually stole their thunder by releasing their heralded version.
Mike Kirkland left the group in 1969, and was replaced by Mark Pearson, another University of Washington alumnus. In 1971, Pearson left and was replaced by Bob Haworth, who stayed until 1989 and was replaced by a returning Pearson. Dick Foley left the group in 1990 and was replaced by Terry Lauber. Despite all the changes and having spent 47 years in the business, the group is still active today (2004).
Goodnight Irene
The Brothers Four Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She told me you were too young
Now I wish I had never even seen your face
Or heard your lying tongue
So Saturday night I got married
Me and my wife settled down
Now me and my wife are parted
Irene goodnight, Irene goodnight
Goodnight Irene, goodnight Irene
I'll see you in my dream
Sometimes I live in the country
Sometimes I live in town
Sometimes I have a great notion
To jump into the river and drown
Oh, stop your carousin', stop you gamblin'
Stayin out late at night
Go home to your wife and family
Sit down by the fireside, bright
Irene goodnight, Irene goodnight
Goodnight Irene, goodnight Irene
I'll see you in my dream
Goodnight Irene, goodnight Irene
I'll see you in my dreams...
The lyrics to The Brothers Four's song "Goodnight Irene" explore the theme of regret and the repercussions of impulsive decisions. The singer in the song reflects on his past actions and longs for a different outcome. The first verse reveals that he was denied permission to marry the woman he desired by her mother due to her young age. The singer now wishes that he had never met her at all because of her unfaithfulness.
The second verse reveals that the singer has moved on and gotten married, but he and his wife have now separated. He decides to take a "stroll downtown" as a form of escapism. The chorus of the song, "Goodnight Irene, goodnight Irene, I'll see you in my dream" is a farewell to the past and an admission of nostalgia.
Line by Line Meaning
When I asked your mother for you
When I asked your guardian or parent permission to court you.
She told me you were too young
They informed me that you were underage, and I shouldn't become romantic with you.
Now I wish I had never even seen your face
I now regret pursuing a relationship with you even though I find you physically attractive.
Or heard your lying tongue
I regret meeting you and discovering that you are deceitful and untrustworthy.
So Saturday night I got married
As a result, I decided to settle down, and I got married on a Saturday evening.
Me and my wife settled down
My spouse and I created a new life together, building a home and raising a family.
Now me and my wife are parted
However, my relationship with my wife has ended, and we are no longer together.
I'm gonna take another stroll downtown
Now I'm going to go back to my old ways of going out at night and living a free-spirited life.
Irene goodnight, Irene goodnight
The song's chorus is a farewell to the person, Irene.
Goodnight Irene, goodnight Irene
The phrase 'goodnight' implies that the artist is leaving Irene's life behind.
I'll see you in my dream
Although they're saying goodbye, Irene will persist in their memory and dreams, and they'll never forget her.
Sometimes I live in the country
The artist frequently moves around, living in both rural and urban areas.
Sometimes I live in town
As a result, they've experienced different lifestyles and communities.
Sometimes I have a great notion
At times, the singer thinks about going over to the dark side and resorting to self-destructive behavior.
To jump into the river and drown
The singer may contemplate ending their life by jumping into a river and drowning.
Oh, stop your carousin', stop you gamblin'
Stop living a carefree and reckless life of gambling, partying, and carousing.
Stayin out late at night
Additionally, the line suggests that the artist is frequently out late and getting into trouble.
Go home to your wife and family
Instead, go back to your family and focus on taking care of your responsibilities.
Sit down by the fireside bright
Spend a peaceful evening with your family by the fireplace.
Goodnight Irene, goodnight Irene
Again, the chorus casts the message of bidding farewell to Irene.
I'll see you in my dream
Even though they are no longer together, the artist will always think of Irene and remember her fondly.
Goodnight Irene, goodnight Irene
The closing acknowledgments are repeated as an intentional recall to the song's beginning.
I'll see you in my dreams...
The song's second ending, establishing one ultimate resolution to the song.
Contributed by Gabriel G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
MiFY
It was 52 to 3 years ago that I fell in love with this song. The song itself-it's an old song, but I was the first to hear it from the original members of Bro 4, so it's very impressive. By the way, my theme song at that time was Bro 4's "Seven Daffodils" (laughs).
David Hubbell
The Brothers Four are amazing!
Donald Carr
Beautiful song, great rendition!!
john blahuta
Best harmony ever.....love all their songs. Aloha from Hawaii (originally Vienna).
cleidi orenzo
This is one of those groups like the Kingston Trio, Peter, Paul & Mary that have kept this folk-revival thing going until today.
barry heckels
they are amazing wish there was singers like them now
BoraMT
Those, whose birthdays fall in the dates between "August 9" and "November 18" (1950), please note that "Goodnight Irene" was the number #1 song throughout that period.
Soma Chakraborty
Maria Irene Jacob I guess your father was a fan of the Weavers and Pete Seeger?
Maria Irene Jacob
Thank you for this tidbit of info, Mr. BoraMT. My name is Irene, and my birthday is August 9. I have a very sentimental connection to this song because this was my father's lullaby to put me to sleep as a baby... ha..ha what a coincidence. Thank you sir.
Charles Barry
Pure acoustic music. lovely