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).
What Now My Love
The Brothers Four Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How can I live through another day
Watching my dreams turn to ashes
And my hopes turn to bits of clay
Once I could see, once I could feel
Now I am numb, I've become unreal
I walk the night, without a goal
What now my love, now that it's over
I feel the world closing in on me
Here come the stars, tumbling around me
There's the sky, where the sea should be
What now my love, now that you're gone
I'd be a fool to go on and on
No one would care, no one would cry
If I should live or die
What now my love, now there is nothing
Only my last, good-bye...
The lyrics of The Brothers Four's song "What Now My Love" express the profound despair and emptiness that the singer feels after their loved one has left them. The opening line, "What now my love, now that you left me," captures the overwhelming sense of loss and confusion that follows the end of a relationship. The singer is left grappling with the question of how they can continue living through each day, as their dreams crumble and their hopes disintegrate like bits of clay.
The second verse further emphasizes the devastation caused by the departure of their loved one. The singer reflects on how they used to be able to see and feel deeply, but now they are numb and unreal. They wander aimlessly in the night, devoid of purpose and stripped of their heart and soul. The pain of the breakup is so immense that it has rendered them detached from their own emotions and existence.
In the bridge, the singer expresses the overwhelming loneliness and isolation they feel after the relationship has ended. They perceive the world closing in on them, and the stars and sky seem distorted and out of place. The absence of their loved one is like a void in their life, leaving them questioning their purpose and existence.
The final verse reveals the singer's desperation and resignation. They acknowledge that going on without their loved one would be foolish and that no one would truly care or grieve if they were to live or die. The only thing that remains is their final goodbye, as they confront the stark reality that there is now nothing left for them.
Overall, "What Now My Love" portrays the painful aftermath of a breakup, exploring the depths of despair, emptiness, and loss that such an experience can bring.
Line by Line Meaning
What now my love, now that you left me
Now that you have walked away from me, I am left wondering about what comes next in my life.
How can I live through another day
I struggle to find the strength and motivation to face each new day without you.
Watching my dreams turn to ashes
I witness my once vibrant dreams slowly crumbling and disintegrating into nothingness.
And my hopes turn to bits of clay
My optimistic aspirations now feel as fragile and worthless as pieces of clay.
Once I could see, once I could feel
There was a time when I possessed clarity and deep emotions.
Now I am numb, I've become unreal
But now, I have lost all sensation and have transformed into an empty shell of my former self.
I walk the night, without a goal
I aimlessly wander through the darkness of each night, lacking purpose or direction.
Stripped of my heart, my soul
I have been completely stripped of my essence, my heart, and my soul.
What now my love, now that it's over
Now that our relationship has ended, I find myself searching for meaning and purpose.
I feel the world closing in on me
The weight of the world seems to be suffocating me and closing in from all sides.
Here come the stars, tumbling around me
The stars in the sky appear to be falling and swirling chaotically around me, adding to the disarray of my emotions.
There's the sky, where the sea should be
The familiar and comforting image of the sky has replaced the vastness and serenity of the sea, symbolizing the loss and displacement I feel.
What now my love, now that you're gone
With your absence, I am left questioning what purpose or meaning my life holds now.
I'd be a fool to go on and on
To continue living without you would be foolish, as I feel this emptiness consumes me.
No one would care, no one would cry
If I were to continue existing or perish, no one would truly care or shed a tear for me.
If I should live or die
My existence or demise holds no significant value or impact in the grand scheme of things.
What now my love, now there is nothing
With the loss of your love, my world is devoid of anything meaningful or fulfilling.
Only my last, good-bye...
All I am left with is the farewell to you, as I surrender to the emptiness that engulfs me.
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