This all got started when the girls met at James Monroe High School in the Bronx, New York. Lead singer Judy Craig was a mere 14-year-old while Patricia Bennett and Barbara Lee were both only 13, all of them facing a lot of challenges if they wanted to be stars. Yet they felt enough determination to hook up with writer/manager Ronnie Mack and sign with Big Deal Records. Though still an embryonic group, their version of "Tonight's the Night" went up to #76 in September 1960, showing the group's potential. Soon their trademark tight harmonies, coupled with their high-stepping confidence and the production duo Gerry Goffin and Carole King writing for them, earned the Chiffons had popular success in song after song.
Made up of the aforementioned Judy Craig, Patricia Bennett, and Barbara Lee at first, Sylvia Peterson of Little Jimmie And The Tops came into the group in 1963. That year, their song "He's So Fine" was the #1 record on both the Billboard Pop and R&B charts. The Chiffons' seemed to have completely 'made it', appearing on programs such as 'American Bandstand'.
British singer-songwriter George Harrison's 1971 song "My Sweet Lord" was musically almost identical, prompting a copyright infringement claim. A judge later found that the ex-Beatle had unintentionally plagiarized the earlier song. The Chiffons went on to record a competing version of "My Sweet Lord" in 1975. The case is often cited as one of the most famous and influential legal cases in the music industry.
The Chiffons' initial run at success was followed by other notable tunes such as the aforementioned "One Fine Day" as well as the songs "Sweet Talkin' Guy", "A Love So Fine", and "I Have a Boyfriend". Although many of their recordings were derivative of the period, fans appreciated their take on the contemporary pop sound. Their Top 40 single "I Have A Boyfriend" was notably playing on Dallas station KLIF on November 22, 1963 and was interrupted by the first radio bulletins of the JFK assassination.
The group also released material under the title 'The Four Pennies' that explored different musical styles. Though finding some fans, the phantom artist failed to break through commercially. The Chiffons themselves faced changing musical tides with the British invasion and the rise of many different trends, and their run of popular success appeared to have pretty much come to an end when the 70s began.
Though Craig left the Chiffons, they continued on as a trio. As the years passed, the group toured in the 'oldies circuit'. In 1992, Lee died from a heart attack the day before her 45th birthday. While that seemed to have put an end to the group, Craig decided to return. Peterson retired shortly thereafter and was replaced by Connie Harvey. Harvey has since left to pursue a solo career with Bennett also retiring. Craig continued on with replacement backup singers. After the turn of the millennium, Craig has still been touring as the Chiffons with her daughter and her niece by her side, performing at select shows throughout the U.S. and internationally.
Dream Dream Dream
The Chiffons Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Gonna get married
Goin' to the chapel and we're
Gonna get married
Gee, I really love you and we're
Gonna get married
Goin' to the chapel of lov
The sky is blue
(whoa-whoa-whoa)
Birds all sing
As if they knew
Today's the day
We'll say I do
And we'll never be lonely anymore
Because we're
Goin' to the chapel and we're
Gonna get married
Goin' to the chapel and we're
Gonna get married
Gee, I really love you and we're
Gonna get married
Goin' to the chapel of love
Bells will ring
The sun will shine
(whoa-whoa-whoa)
I'll be his and
He'll be mine
We'll love until
The end of time
And we'll never be lonely anymore
Because we're
Goin' to the chapel and we're
Gonna get married
Goin' to the chapel and we're
Gonna get married
Gee, I really love you and we're
Gonna get married
Goin' to the chapel of love
The Chiffons' song "Dream Dream Dream" is an upbeat and cheerful tune that is all about the excitement and anticipation surrounding a wedding. The lyrics are centered around the idea of two people who are deeply in love and are on their way to the "chapel of love" to get married. The first verse expresses the couple's love for each other, while the second verse highlights the beautiful spring day and the joyous atmosphere that comes with it. The third verse talks about the future of the couple's love, and how they will always be together and never feel lonely again.
The song is a classic example of the "girl group" sound that was popular in the 1960s, characterised by a catchy and upbeat melody, tight harmonies, and relatable lyrics. The song was written by Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich, and Phil Spector, who were all prominent songwriters of the era. It was first recorded by The Blossoms in 1962, but The Chiffons' version, released in 1964, became the most popular and well-known version.
Line by Line Meaning
Goin' to the chapel and we're
We're heading to the church where our wedding ceremony will take place
Gonna get married
We'll be officially united as husband and wife
Gee, I really love you and we're
I deeply cherish you and we're committing to spending the rest of our lives together
Goin' to the chapel of love
We're off to the place where we will exchange vows and declare our love
Spring is here
The season of love and new beginnings has arrived
The sky is blue
The sky is clear and bright, symbolizing a hopeful future for us
(whoa-whoa-whoa)
An expression of excitement and anticipation for our big day
Birds all sing
The birds are singing joyfully, perhaps as a celebration of our upcoming union
As if they knew
It feels like even the birds can sense the significance of this moment for us
Today's the day
Finally, after much preparation and waiting, this day has arrived
We'll say I do
We'll formally agree to become each other's lifelong partner
And we'll never be lonely anymore
We'll always have each other to share life's ups and downs with, never feeling alone
Bells will ring
The sound of wedding bells will mark the beginning of our life together
The sun will shine
The weather will be bright and happy, matching the mood of the day and our love
I'll be his and
I'll be his partner and he'll be mine, marking the beginning of our journey as a couple
He'll be mine
He'll be my partner and I'll be his, symbolizing our commitment to each other
We'll love until
We'll remain true to our love for each other until
The end of time
The very end of our lives
Contributed by Alaina E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.