The Cadillacs an American doo-wop group from Harlem, New York were formed i… Read Full Bio ↴The Cadillacs an American doo-wop group from Harlem, New York were formed in 1953 and are noted for their 1955 hit "Speedoo".

The group came together as The Carnations, with lead vocalist Earl "Speedo" Carroll (November 2, 1937 – November 25, 2012), Bobby Phillips, Lavern Drake (bass vocalist), and Gus Willingham. As the group moved into the recording studios, James "Poppa" Clark was added as a fifth member, and the name "The Cadillacs" was given to them. The group's first recording came in July 1954, with Josie Records #765, featuring Gloria and Wonder Why.

In 1955, Willingham and Clark left the group and were replaced by Earl Wade and Charles Brooks. At this time, the group first began to experiment with choreography, suggested by manager Esther Navarro. Later that year came the group's biggest hit, "Speedoo", Carroll's nickname. Lavern Drake left the group in 1956 and was replaced by J. R. Bailey.

In 1957, differences in opinion caused the group to split. One group was initially known as The Four Cadillacs, with current bass J. R. Bailey, former bass Lavern Drake, and new members Roland Martinez and Bobby Spencer. The previous year, Bobby Spencer had written the "My Boy Lollipop" pop song shuffle for Barbie Gaye, which was played by Alan Freed and secured Barbie Gaye a spot in his 1956 Christmas Show opening for Little Richard. In 1964, an Ernest Ranglin produced ska version of the song became a multi-million seller for Jamaican teenager Millie Small and made producer Chris Blackwell rich, leading to further development of his Island Records label.

The other four current members - Carroll, Wade, Brooks, and Phillips - continued recording separately, later as Earl Carroll and the Cadillacs. Bailey's group also included former group saxophonist Jesse "Tex" Powell, and recorded in early 1958 as Jesse Powell and the Caddys. Both groups recorded simultaneously on Josie Records. Later in 1958, the groups combined back into one. Carroll's backup vocalists, Wade, Brooks, and Phillips, all decided to retire and Carroll joined Bailey, Drake, Martinez and Spencer. Carroll's lead spot had been given to Spencer and Bailey, and he left shortly thereafter, creating a new group, Speedo and the Pearls, which recorded briefly in 1959. In 1959, the Cadillacs are also featured in the movie Go Johnny, Go

The group split and re-formed in 1960, with Carroll, Martinez, Kirk Davis, and bass Ronnie Bright. Later the group was Carroll, Martinez, the returning Bobby Spencer, Milton Love, and Reggie Barnes. Martinez, Love and Barnes were all members of The Solitares at one time.

In 1961, the group began to resemble The Coasters in their music. The lineup shifted again, now with Carroll, Martinez, Curtis Williams, Ray Brewster, and Irving Lee Gail. Carroll was out by 1963 to enter the group they'd been emulating, The Coasters, with Carl Gardner, Billy Guy, and former Cadillac Ronnie Bright. 1963 also ended the group's run on Josie Records.

Brewster and Martinez brought in former members Bobby Spencer and J. R. Bailey and continued to record through 1963. The group split, with Bailey joining the Jive Five. Brewster brought in former Cadillac/Solitare Milton Love with Solitares Bobby Baylor and Fred Barksdale. This group recorded briefly in 1964. Spencer became lead vocalist, with Joey Levine (Ohio Express, Reunion) as backing vocalist, for Crazy Elephant, a bubblegum music group, in 1969.

The Cadillacs were back in 1970 with J. R. Bailey, Bobby Spencer, original member Bobby Phillips (who had retired from Speedo's group during the split), and new member Leroy Binns, of The Charts. Steven Brown later replaced Phillips. Teddy Pendergrass came on as the groups drummer. The group split into the mid-1970s and some members joined Herold Melvin and the Bluenotes, including Teddy Pendergrass as drummer. In 1979 Earl Carroll, Earl Wade, Bobby Phillips, and Steven Brown came together for a Subaru commercial.

Carroll had remained with the Coasters during this time, and left in the early 1990s to permanently re-form the Cadillacs with Phillips, Brown, Gary K. Lewis, and musical director Eddie Jones. Brown left in 2003. Phillips died in March 2011.

The Cadillacs were inducted into The Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004.

Woe Is Me
The Cadillacs Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Woe woe woe woe woe woe

Yea yea yea Yea yea yea

Woe woe woe woe woe woe

Somebody stole my girl away

I've been crying both night and day

Woe Woe Woe is me

Will somebody please hear my plea

I've been down on a-bended knees

I've been livin in misery

Woe Woe Woe is me

Yeah yeah yeah yeah baby

A long time ago

Yeah yeah yeah yeah baby

I need your lovin,

Turtle dovin

Woe woe woe woe woe woe

Yea yea yea Yea yea yea

Woe woe woe woe woe woe

Yeah yeah yeah yeah baby

A long time ago

Yeah yeah yeah yeah baby

I need your lovin,

Turtle dovin

Woe woe woe woe woe woe

Yea yea yea Yea yea yea

Woe woe woe woe woe woe

Yeah

Woe woe woe woe woe woe

Yea yea yea Yea yea yea
(alvino99)

Overall Meaning

The Cadillacs' song "Woe Is Me" is a classic doo-wop ballad about heartbreak and longing. The lyrics express the singer's deep sorrow and misery after his girl was taken away from him, and his desperation for someone to hear his plea for help. He recounts his sleepless nights and lonely days, and his pleading to the heavens for his girl to return.

The repetition of "woe woe woe" and "yea yea yea" throughout the song emphasizes the singer's emotional distress and sadness. The use of "turtle dovin" (a slang term for cuddling) in contrast to the rest of the lyrics shows his desire for intimacy and companionship, which he now craves more than ever.

Overall, the melancholic tone of the song and the singer's raw vulnerability speaks to the universal pain of heartbreak and the innate human need for love and connection.

Line by Line Meaning

Woe woe woe woe woe woe
Repeating "woe" six times to emphasize a deep sense of grief and sorrow.

Yea yea yea Yea yea yea
Repeating "yeah" six times to convey a helpless plea for assistance.

Somebody stole my girl away
Expressing the pain and disbelief of losing a lover to someone else.

I've been crying both night and day
Revealing the heartache and constant emotional turmoil that the artist is going through.

Woe Woe Woe is me
Coined from Job's lamentation to express the deep sadness and despair felt by the artist.

Will somebody please hear my plea
Plaintively asking for anyone to listen and help in a time of need.

I've been down on a-bended knees
Using an idiom to convey begging and pleading to get the lover back.

I've been livin in misery
Acknowledging the terrible emotional agony that the artist is experiencing.

Yeah yeah yeah yeah baby
Addressing the one he loves and desperately needs back in his life.

A long time ago
Reflecting on the past and how things used to be good with the lover.

I need your lovin, Turtle dovin
Expressing the singer's true desire and need for the affection and attention of the lover, also using an endearing expression.

Contributed by Chase A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS