Gospel purists may feel that what was done to the Charioteers is something like trying to turn a chariot into a Corvette. The black gospel group, newly transformed into a vocal pop group by enterprising record company executives, failed to turn the desired commercial quarter with the momentum of the Ink Spots. An early vehicle for lead tenor Billy Williams, who would have an even more successful career on his own, the Charioteers left behind a respectable recorded legacy nonetheless in both the gospel and pop genres. The group was first formed in Ohio in 1930, and by 1937 had settled into a vocal lineup of Williams, second tenor Ed Jackson, baritone Ira Williams, and bass Howard Daniels, with piano accompanist Jimmy Sherman. Opportunities to record began after the group vanquished all contenders in a Ohio quartet contest in 1934, most notably getting a chance to cut a pair of songs for Decca that was part of the contest prize. Vocalion began actually paying the group to record several years later, resulting in a fine collection of black gospel material including jubilees, spirituals, and folk tunes such as "Wade in the Water" and "Ezekiel Saw de Wheel." The Charioteers continued in this direction until signing a contract with Columbia in 1940.
The mega-label that would later tell Bob Dylan to ditch the Christian music or take a hike needed a commercial rival for the Ink Spots, who at that time were under contract to Decca. In terms of this rivalry, Williams and his group wound up like some of the chariots with shattered wheels in the climactic scenes of Ben Hur. Fortunately, however, this was the music business and not a Roman chariot race, with enjoyable victories to be savored by participants throughout the race. For the Charioteers, these began with the group's 1940 recording of Russ Morgan's song "So Long" and continued through six more chart hits. The group was also heard on the radio backing other vocal stars, including Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra. In comparison, the Ink Spots had some 36 hits during the same time period and was the first name on the list for studio backup singing.
The Charioteers appeared regularly on network radio, most notably Crosby's show. The group also made appearances in motion pictures and toured in the musical revue Hellzapoppin'. "On the Boardwalk in Atlantic City" was a hit record for the group in 1946. "Open the Door, Richard" was such a smash novelty song the following year that six different artists had versions on the charts, including the Charioteers. Which only makes sense, since if anything could open a door, a chariot could. In the '50s Williams literally left the group behind. He had an opportunity to present a vocal group on the television program Sid Caesar's Your Show of Shows, but the producers insisted the the Charioteers were too old and demanded Williams hitch up a more modern form of musical transportation. The Billy Williams Quartet was thus launched, and the Charioteers ground on with new lead singer Herbert Dickerson. There were no more hits, and a steadily diminishing presence on-stage until the group called it quits in 1957. Williams, who was the first live guest on the American Bandstand show, died in Chicago in the early '70s.
Lily Belle
The Charioteers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Who's got lips that's fresh as autumn rain when summer is through? Lily Belle
And who's got all the leaves that flutter so they're ready to fall, Lily Belle
Birdies take one look at her, and stop their singing to call, "my, you're swell"
Oh and incidentally, there's one more thing to tell
If your eyes are open and you think you're seeing a dream, it's
(Who's got eyes that sparkle at you?), Lily Belle
(Who's got lips that's an autumn dew?), Lily Belle
You can catch a sunbeam
(Who's got all the leaves that are ready to fall? Lily Belle)
Birdies take one look at her, and stopped their singing to call ("My, you're swell!")
Oh and incidentally, there's one more thing to tell (do tell)
If your eyes are open and you think you're seeing a dream, it's
(Who's got eyes that sparkle at you?), Lily Belle
(Who's got lips that's an autumn dew?), Lily Belle
Would you like a sunbeam (a sunbeam) on a rainy day (on a rainy day)
You can catch a sunbeam
(Who's got all the leaves that are ready to fall? Lily Belle)
The Charioteers’s song Lily Belle is a tribute to a woman named Lily Belle who possesses an extraordinary beauty that is compared to the freshness of autumn rain and the sparkle of dew on a lily. Her beauty is so striking that even the birds stop singing to stare at her. The song’s lyrics suggest that Lily Belle is a dreamlike figure, prompting listeners to question whether they are seeing an apparition or if she is real. The song's message is one of admiration and awe for a woman whose beauty is impossible to ignore.
The lyrics in Lily Belle convey an appreciation for natural beauty, using striking imagery to describe Lily Belle's attributes. The song's lyrics evoke the beauty of nature, describing the sparkle of dew on a lily and the fresh autumn rain. The image of birdies stopping their singing to call out to Lily Belle adds to the dreamlike quality of the song. The song's message is one of appreciation for the beauty of the world around us, embodied by the beauty of Lily Belle.
Line by Line Meaning
Who's got eyes that sparkle like a lily sprinkled with dew? Lily Belle
Who has eyes that glisten and shine bright like morning dew on a beautiful lily flower? The answer is Lily Belle.
Who's got lips that's fresh as autumn rain when summer is through? Lily Belle
Whose lips feel soft and refreshing like raindrops in the autumn season after a long hot summer? The answer is Lily Belle.
And who's got all the leaves that flutter so they're ready to fall, Lily Belle
Who possesses leaves that sway in the gentle breeze and seem to be eagerly waiting to fall off? The answer is Lily Belle.
Birdies take one look at her, and stop their singing to call, "my, you're swell"
As soon as birds catch sight of Lily Belle, they stop singing and chirp praises to her, surprised by her beauty.
Oh and incidentally, there's one more thing to tell
By the way, there's another thing to mention or add here.
If your eyes are open and you think you're seeing a dream, it's (Who's got eyes that sparkle at you?), Lily Belle
If you can't believe your eyes and think you're looking at a dream, then know that it's the enchanting and lovely Lily Belle who has such sparkling eyes.
(Who's got lips that's an autumn dew?), Lily Belle
Who has lips that feel like fresh, cool autumn dew? The answer is the captivating and graceful Lily Belle.
Would you like a sunbeam (a sunbeam) on a rainy day (on a rainy day)
Do you want to feel hopeful and happy when everything else seems gloomy and sad? Just like sunshine breaks through the clouds on a rainy day, so too will Lily Belle brighten up your spirits.
You can catch a sunbeam
It's possible to experience the warmth and positivity of a sunbeam, just like it's possible to encounter someone like Lily Belle who radiates such qualities.
(Who's got all the leaves that are ready to fall? Lily Belle)
Who owns the leaves that shake slightly in the wind and seem ready to drop down? It's the graceful and charming Lily Belle.
Birdies take one look at her, and stopped their singing to call ("My, you're swell!")
Upon seeing Lily Belle, birds stop their melodic tweeting to praise her beauty and awesomeness with statements like "Oh wow, you're amazing!"
Oh and incidentally, there's one more thing to tell (do tell)
As an aside or addendum, there's yet another thing of note to convey or let someone know about.
If your eyes are open and you think you're seeing a dream, it's (Who's got eyes that sparkle at you?), Lily Belle
In case you're not sure if what you're observing is reality or fantasy, know that Lily Belle has those sparkling eyes that can make people feel like they're in a dream.
(Who's got lips that's an autumn dew?), Lily Belle
As a reminder, it's the captivating and graceful Lily Belle who has that special way of making her lips feel as fresh and cool as autumn dew.
Would you like a sunbeam (a sunbeam) on a rainy day (on a rainy day)
In case you're feeling down or blue, would you like to experience the uplifting and cheerful feeling that Lily Belle can offer? Just like a sunbeam can break through the clouds on a rainy day, Lily Belle has the ability to lift people's spirits.
You can catch a sunbeam
Remember that it's possible to feel the positive and radiant energy that a sunbeam brings, and likewise it's possible to encounter someone like Lily Belle and feel bright and joyful.
(Who's got all the leaves that are ready to fall? Lily Belle)
To jog your memory, it's the elegant and charming Lily Belle who appears to have command over the fluttering, relaxed leaves that appear ready to fall down.
Lyrics © NEXT DECADE ENTERTAINMENT,INC., Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: D. FRANKLIN, I. TAYLOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Somebody Someone
❤️R.I.P Lily Belcher ❤️
(I heard a cover version of this during the credits of the latest Bob's Burgers episode.)
thirteenlilsykos
Same. I literally just heard it and that's why I'm here!
oh yeah
❤ me too!!
SolitareHeartz
Bob's Burgers lead me here. Such a beautiful song. Very touching
Somebody Someone
🖤❤️🤍RIP Lily Belcher🤍❤️🖤
💐🌹🌸🌻🌷🌼🌺💐
thirteenlilsykos
It reminded me I need to go see my own mother...
Lily pie
🙌 all fellow Lily Belles out there WE ARE SPEACIAL
lily belle
Lily Belle's unite!
Lily pie
Yup
Joy T
My Daughter is a Lily Belle ❤