Formed in Queens, NY, in 1955, the Cleftones consisted of five friends from… Read Full Bio ↴Formed in Queens, NY, in 1955, the Cleftones consisted of five friends from Jamaica High School -- Herb Cox (lead), Warren Corbin (bass), Charlie James (first tenor), William McClain (baritone), and Berman Patterson (second tenor). Originally signed to Gee, the group released its first single, "You Baby You," late in 1955; an up-tempo doo wop song, the record became a regional hit. "Little Girl of Mine," the Cleftones' second single, broke nationally, charting at number eight R&B and number 57 pop in 1956; two other similar singles, "Can't We Be Sweethearts" and "String Around My Heart," were released the same year, yet they failed to attract national attention. "See You Next Year," a ballad the group recorded in 1957, did not earn the group an audience outside of New York. Two years later, McClain left the group and was replaced by Gene Pearson from the Rivileers. Patricia Spann was also added to the Cleftones' lineup that year, which helped nudge the band away from traditional group-oriented doo wop harmonies and towards a vocal sound that was dominated by the lead vocals. In 1961, the Cleftones realized the potential of the sound with their smash hit version of the standard "Heart and Soul;" it became the group's biggest hit, reaching number 18 on both pop and R&B charts. Later that year, the group had another hit with "For Sentimental Reasons," but the band had reached a peak with "Heart and Soul" and were never able to reach those heights again. The Cleftones broke up in 1964, three years after their greatest success. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All-Music Guide

Cleftones
The Cleftones Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Heart and soul
I fell in love with you
Heart and soul
The way a fool would do madly
Because you held me tight
(Held me tight) Held me tight
(Held me tight) Held me tight
(Held me tight) Held me tight

(Held me tight)
And so the kiss bear in the night

Heart and soul
I beg to be adored
Yes, and I lost control
And tumbled overboard gladly
That magic night we kissed
(That we kissed) Oh, we kissed
(That we kissed) Oh, we kissed
(That we kissed) Oh we kissed
(That we kissed)
There in the moon-mist

Oh, but your lips were thrilling
Much too much too thrilling
Never before were mine so strangely thrilling

Darling, and now I see
What one embrace can do
Come on, look at me
You've got me loving you madly
That little kiss you stole
(You stole) Oh, you stole
(You stole) Oh, you stole
(You stole) Oh, you stole
(Yes, you stole) All my heart
(You stole) and soul
(Yes, you stole) All my heart
(You stole) and soul
(Yes, you stole) Oh, you stole

(You stole) my heart
(Yes you stole) and soul...

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to The Cleftones' song "Heart and Soul" are about falling in love and losing control to that feeling. The first verse talks about how the singer fell for the person they're addressing with all their heart and soul. They mention feeling like a fool for falling so deeply in love. The second half of the verse talks about the person holding the singer tight and the kiss they shared. The second verse continues with the theme of losing control, with the singer begging to be adored and admitting they tumbled overboard gladly. They describe the night they shared a kiss in the moonlight and how it made their lips and body feel thrilling.

The last part of the song is when the singer admits that the kiss stole all their heart and soul. They mention how the embrace from the kiss affected them deeply and now they're loving the person madly. They repeat that the kiss stole their heart and soul multiple times to emphasize how much of an impact it had on them.

Overall, the lyrics to "Heart and Soul" are about being in love and losing yourself to that feeling. The writer uses various poetic devices like repetition, alliteration and personification to create a romantic and dreamy ambiance.

Line by Line Meaning

Heart and soul
I fell in love with you, with all my heart and soul

Heart and soul
Like a foolish lover, I gave my heart and soul to you completely

(Held me tight) Held me tight
You held me tight, and didn't let go

(Held me tight)
You held me tight

And so the kiss bear in the night
And so, under the night sky, we shared a magical kiss

Heart and soul
I begged to be adored, with all my heart and soul

Yes, and I lost control
Yes, I lost control, and fell deeply in love with you

And tumbled overboard gladly
I gave myself to you completely, with joy in my heart

(That we kissed) Oh, we kissed
That magical night, we shared a kiss to remember

(That we kissed) Oh we kissed
That magical night, we shared a kiss to remember

(That we kissed)
That magical night, we shared a kiss to remember

There in the moon-mist
Under the mystical moonlight, we shared a magical moment

Oh, but your lips were thrilling
Your lips were so thrilling to me

Much too much too thrilling
Almost too thrilling to handle

Never before were mine so strangely thrilling
I never felt anything so thrilling before in my life

Darling, and now I see
Oh, my love, now I see

What one embrace can do
The power of one embrace, which made me fall deeply in love with you

Come on, look at me
Look at me now, my love

You've got me loving you madly
You have my heart and soul, and I love you deeply

(You stole) Oh, you stole
That little kiss you stole from me

(Yes, you stole) All my heart
You stole my heart, my love

(You stole) and soul
And my soul, too

(Yes, you stole) All my heart
You stole my heart, my love

(You stole) and soul
And my soul, too

(Yes, you stole) Oh, you stole
You stole my heart and soul, my love

(You stole) my heart
You stole my heart, my love

(Yes you stole) and soul
And my soul, too

Contributed by Colton K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@yeastxtract1853

6y↑79

Heart and soul
I fell in love with you
Heart and soul
The way a fool would do
Madly
Because you held me tight
(Held me tight)
Held me tight
(Held me tight)
Held me tight
(Held me tight)
Held me tight
(Held me tight)
And stole a kiss there in the night

Heart and soul
I beg to be adored
Yes and I lost control
And tumbled overboard
Gladly
That magic night we kissed
(That we kissed)
Oh we kissed
(That we kissed)
Oh we kissed
(That we kissed)
Oh we kissed
(That we kissed)
There in the moon mist

Oh but your lips were thrilling
Much too much too thrilling
Never before were mine so
Strangely
Willing

Darling and now I see
What one embrace can do
Come on and look at me
You've got me loving you
Madly
That little kiss you stole
(You stole)
You stole
(You stole)
You stole
(You stole)
You stole
(Yes you stole)
Oh my heart
(You stole)
And soul
(Yes you stole)
Oh my heart
(You stole)
And soul
(Yes you stole)
You stole
(You stole)
My heart
(Yes you stole)
You stole
(You stole)
My.....

All comments from YouTube:

@unclebengz2489

3y↑31

Can someone explain to me, how can you dislike such art ?

@richardwarner3705

27w

Only the haters.♥️🎱😎🤓😉👍

@sage678

5y↑128

Watching American graffiti with my parents as a child introduced me into my love of every generation of music! My parents raised me right...and I’m proud to say that I love, and appreciate music I may never have never appreciated if not for my parents. They were before their time and I’m so thankful for that! 🎼 ♥️

@jaywalker5632

3y↑2

Music is the key to the soul!
This is one of my all time favorites!

@vivianmadisonmahoney9457

2y↑1

That's so wonderful!!

@VictoriaGarcia-cp4yn

2y↑1

Tell me some other movies to watch like that one! ❤️❤️

@jaywalker5632

22w↑1

@@Me-je2uw: sad to say we are a fading generation.
Let's go back to very little technology. It wouldn't bother me a bit.

@rafaelperez4350

50w↑11

Shocked this song only made to #18 on the Billboard chart. Great song I don't get tired of hearing it.

@doreenrush2948

1y↑4

I love this song The lead singer had such a great voice
This is rock in roll music at it's best. The lead singer passed away a few years ago. RIP.

@nortoncomando3728

1y↑9

One of the best songs on the soundtrack it definitely has some history behind it. This is one of the very best versions depending on you viewpoint of course. When I saw AG in 1973 at 13 I thought What Happened? How could we change so much in such a short time?

@steveadams7940

43w↑1

The whole world culture everything and one chaged in a blink and not for the best its awful i have a 17 and 18 year old sons and they grew up without any culture or anything that happens outside riding your bike till dark nobody looked or worried that we were slaughtered in some sickos basement who killed just to see what ot feels like the whole community would look out today tjey jist record and walk away nobody gets involved even at the cost of saving a life 😥 saf

@superfly9173

33w↑1

I too felt the exact same way as you. This was my parents generation, especially my dad and his older brother who graduated in 62. They really had the best era before the whole world blew up. I use to ask my dad when we would watch this in the mid to late 1970’s. “WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS COUNTRY”? How the heck could it change in just a few years. He went into the Army in 64 and he said when he got out in 67 and came home he could not believe his eyes. People with long hair smoking dope and acting like idiots. He said he thought to himself “what happened to the Doo Wop and Rock N Roll as he remembered it?” He said now dope music and the British Invasion ruined this country, but of course he said the assassinations of so many of our leaders and the Vietnam War was the main cause. He said people lost faith and trust in their Government. Sad that the rich and military industrial complex decided to destroy everyone’s hope and peaceful life.

@richardmanley2072

1y↑13

I love all the vocals and harmonies on this song gives me chills

@rafaelperez4350

50w↑1

The way it sung is amazing. And that perfect voice saying; "Yeaaah"

@valentinemichaelsmith5051

1y↑4

I saw American Graffiti 11 times in the theater , it had a strong impression on me and to this day nothing really matters except the music .

@lynneschantzen2250

3y↑16

Love this song. Brings back so many happy childhood memories

@db90990

2y↑9

This was one of my childhood favorites

@treovercoakley2404

2y↑19

The Oldies But Goodies never gets old and never will die

@yeastxtract1853

6y↑79

@johnslocum2404

We can figure out the lyrics, lol. Thanks

@AnnaLVajda

5y↑1

Stole?

@worldwide6266

4y↑4

Thank you James O Your effort is appreciated 👍

@cin3madelight

3y↑1

Moon mist, not moment

@450hpCOBRA

16y↑13

Thanks for posting all of these! Great movie, and songs. I really wish I'd grown up in that era.

@abbyst5400

Me too! I love this music it always makes me wish I was in that era!! 💗💗💗💗

@doreenrush8302

2y↑7

I love this song. This was when music was good.

@KARENK72886

16y↑11

Love this one, timeless. Full of passion!

@lilredcorvettegirl4334

4y↑101

2020 ~ The Oldies Are Still “ The Best” 👏👏❤️👏👏

@ninamartinez5171

3y↑4

2021 still the greatest 🎶

@johnnymarcello1385

3y↑2

Always will be

@kennydunhill1800

3y↑1

Hell fucking yeah

@jaywalker5632

3y↑2

There will never be anything like it again!

@Solidd0095

You can say that again!

@dinaaprea3779

3y↑20

One of the ALL TIME BEST Doo Wop songs ever made........

@CarlosHenrique-og2lz

6y↑4

muito linda esta musica

@ulises7612

6y↑78

This song was also in the ending of the movie Mischief !! Another great movie on the 50's era. Great soundtrack also. Not to forget Kelly Preston famous clip in this movie!

@64JBran

6y↑8

Filmed in Nelsonville , OH!

@rickyburgos3772

5y↑6

Yeah great film also

@4tuneagent

4y↑5

R.I.P. - Kelly Preston.. July 2020.

@nostalgicwisdom9022

3y↑4

Love mischief one of my favorite classics🔥

@hankwilliamsfan1986

2y↑1

actually saw owned mischief on beta when i was 4 i am now 36 and it's still one of my all time favorite movies

@darlenea.1410

6y↑36

This is what I felt for my first true deep love over 55 years ago. What a guy. He missed out on us being together. His loss.

@jaywalker5632

3y↑1

I always wanted a woman that felt the way I did about this kind of music!
True music True love!

@rickrick5041

2y↑1

What happened?

@darlenea.1410

2y↑4

@Rick rick His family moved to Hollywood and after awhile he stopped calling or coming to see me. Then after months went by and I stopped crying. I dated someone else that chased me for over a year. Then got married. He came back to see me and I still loved him deeply but it was too late. I still have in my heart. Over 10 years ago I found him and once in awhile we text one another. He's married with 2nd wife. He's a great guy.

@dumbpete

6y↑1

This wasn't their original song, but this is their original version of the song which almost stands on its own as a completely different song. The vibe and feel for this is much more soulful and I love it.

@aliceinchainsls4999

8y↑35

American Graffiti album, fist time I heard this beauty. Couldn't find it anywhere else.LOVE IT

@johnsmith-rs2vk

2y↑1

Yep .Wolfman Jack !

@patrarus6097

4y↑11

Thanks so much for posting this delightful song. I much prefer this version to that of Jan and Dean, although that one may have been more popular. Really like these walks down Memory Lane!

@jaywalker5632

This is truly the best version ever of this song!

@Jacob-sh4ym

2y↑10

The Best songs, the Best years!!!

@stephenstone8817

7y↑5

Great track with a lovely feel to this song.

@TexasTrails

7y↑5

great music! love the movie scenes

@metrokaraoke

6y↑8

One of the Greatest songs of all time. I would pay top $ for this version on karaoke.

@B4BoomersBlockBoy7

7y↑22

Back in the Day when Music was the Greatest and it was the Best of Times ! I will never forget this kind of Music , the Great Parties and The Greatest Looking Girls Ever ! ;-)

@jeffthepoet7

8y↑6

Popular song from 1938 by Hoagy Charmichael (music) and Frank Loesser (lyrics). My Grandpa met Hoagy, so I feel a little connection. Two classic together, Heart and Soul and American Graffiti. I have this album, too. Thanks for the post.

@robertcozza4185

2y↑1

MY FAVORITE OF ALL THE 60S SONGS!

@jimmcconnell5829

5y↑26

Back when music was music, so many great memories

@jaywalker5632

3y↑1

The kind of music that touches your soul literally!

@burtblahnik6074

4y↑1

Love this old song !

@chazhernandez657

2y↑1

This is My favorite movie. I am a movie buff. The youth the innocence. I was 13 when this came out. Saw it about 4 times in the movie theatre. Wore out 4 soundtrack albums. I went to work for Ktel records at 22 years old creative dept of complications. 🎶🎶🎶🎶

@mariomuccino6040

4y↑2

NOW THAT IS GREAT MUSIC.

@ffdztdr

9y↑21

AK47bandit you have the best music channel on all of youtube. The late 50's and early 60's was the best era of all time and American Graffiti is the best car movie of all time and the best movie about that era.

@jaywalker5632

Let's see this was one of my mom and dad's favorite songs it came out by the Cleftones in 1961 and I was born in 62 things are adding up!

@marilynmarquiss9

7y↑11

My mom used to listen to kind of music in her days growing up as a teenager in the 60’s

@circlesinthenight3141

I love these songs

@marciacatron9496

3y↑2

American Graffiti was one of the greatest movies to bring back the oldies on screen. Every kid today should be watching it & know what real music is.

@roberteaston6413

3y↑1

This woman at work had the nerve to tell me that Grease was a better movie than American Grafatti. Nonsense.

@marciacatron9496

3y↑1

@Robert Easton Oh Heck No. American Graffiti was & is still the best movie, Grease sucked to me.. I'm with you Robert

@roberteaston6413

3y↑1

@Marcia Catron I live in Canada. In the 1950's we received American hit songs three weeks after the USA did. Canada in the 1950's was a decent country but was the most boring country in the world. The USA had it all.

@marciacatron9496

3y↑1

@Robert Easton Nice I did not know that, thank you for sharing that with me. I'm from Georgia. Big southern girl here. LOL

@gerardomartinez6189

17w↑1

I’m 16 years old and I love American graffiti the best movie of all time ❤

1 More Replies...

@marilynlesjinks1724

3y↑5

This has been our song since the 60s.

@jaywalker5632

3y↑1

If you feel this way about each other it was obviously meant to be!
Awesome!

@DevoT

oh man, this one gets me. reminds me of listening to this record with a girl I loved way back when.

@memom010605

5y↑17

Now this was MUSIC!!!!!

@davidoverholt251

4y↑3

Best song on the movie!!!!

@stevemason5173

One outstanding tune... Excellent lyrics and melody...
Music should still be like this ... 50s, 60s, and 70s... Some of the 80s was good as well, but this jungle jump shit today SUCKS!!!

@Emm168

5y↑2

‘Doubt that the stars are fire, Doubt that the sun doth move his aides, Doubt truth to be a liar, But never doubt I love’

-Shakespeare

There is no greater love, than the love of our hearts together as one.

@sprky44

9y↑23

one of the greatest songs in this movie, crusin song

@elviraarriaga1424

Love this classic oldie Song and Video Content ❤

@mizpahmatiaha1773

Lovely vocalist in this song ☺️

@davidvale3260

Mischief introduced me to this song. My favorite 50s song 🎵 ❤

@badenbourne55

5y↑4

Brilliant luv it

@thegirlsnme

15y↑2

Thanks again for sharing HerkyHawk. Brings back lots of good memories. Blessed new year my friend!

@rodni7777

15y↑2

Wonderful!

@daviddyer1555

A fabulous song, especially at the end of the movie MISCHIEF!

@geraldinejones8649

6y↑10

This is One of Many of My Favorite Songs. Thank You Posting on YouTube.

@ATOMICROBOT667

High school 1984 driving my 65 SS 409 in the rain with this song playing… I miss those days!

@1SWEETSERENADER

1y↑2

Timeless ~

@otchris1046

46w↑1

Amazing 😍😍

@johnhuffinley5757

8y↑4

classic film classic track.hit the beat

@vinnydeciutiis

What a jam

@memeslove9535

2y↑1

When I hear this I think about David Zerbel what a Man the one I should have not let get away ❤️

@laurenbossio6863

7y↑81

this is when music was actually good !

@hidinginyourcloset

6y↑3

I actually asked people who liked today's music and they said it sounds good. They say that the retro music was stupid. well 1 o ly said that cause I asked them specifically and only them so... but still. how could they like such trash.

@sethprevatte

6y↑4

Art is subjective or something...

@squirrelgadget3498

6y↑4

Lauren Bossio hey jackass you realize 20 or 30 years from now people are gonna be saying that about today’s music cause guess what, it’s a subjective taste.

@andrewpark2361

6y↑4

I'm curious, if the year of this son'g s release wasn't in the title of this video, would you be able to point to this "when music was really good?" Would even guess the correct decade? Y ou're saying that this singular decade was the only time of good music out of all the decades of recrded music history? Come on now....

@Tarantulisimo

5y↑4

meanwhile back then, people were ripping on rock & roll & saying it was horrible jungle music, & reminiscing about the big band & pop era

3 More Replies...

@minecraftchicks3773

7y↑6

love this song

@davidatwell1421

8y↑133

This is American music!

@maryamico6962

6y↑3

David Atwell Love Only the Oldies,they at least had meaning.😘

@musicalsaber6433

Dorothy Crawley I don’t think the makers of this song were black.

@claytonburch8239

5y↑3

Musical Saber the Cleftones were a black doowop group.

@user-ip5xn9ks9k

4y↑2

@Dorothy Crawley This was made by a white person lmao.

@jaywalker5632

@Musical Saber :. Hoagy Carmichael 1938 but not as good as the Cleftones in my opinion!

1 More Replies...

@carloscasillas3934

5y↑4

Listen to that roar !!! I love this song

@otchris1046

46w

Yh amazing

@godragons100

True American Music!!

@sandrodonovan2171

2y↑1

It pains me to hear this masterpiece

@louismatassa8489

Still listening great old school music 🎵🎵🎵🎵 🎶🎶 🎶🎶 🎶🎶🎶 and they played this song in the movie mischief which came out 1985

@jchris8444

my just passed away july 2nd found this on her spotify as fave song. Always playing this for u mom we love u big Moe .

@Dununerp

Not what I was looking for but I love it

@DRock6906

You probably were looking for Heart And Soul by Huey Lewis And The News. That song is from their 1983 album titled Sports :-)

@Gcfanatic28

May have been looking for the Hoagy Carmichael song from 1939. That is more like what people learn on the piano.

@johnrusso158

played this on our 1959 rock ola we had in our house back in the day

@Donfrak

11y↑3

Mischief! Great movie, deserves a great song like this!

@ronkennington3157

8y↑8

Fantastic simply beautiful.

@bobbyhooper5736

Rock and Roll 4~ever ❤️

@krobigraubart

4y↑85

Lead Herb Cox passed away December 7, 2019. May he rest in peace.

@cozycool3505

4y↑4

krobigraubart - Awwww man he did are you positive ? This is terrible news I'm so sorry to hear this - he had such a great innocent voice 😞

@burtblahnik6074

4y↑3

Sad to lose him

@krobigraubart

4y↑2

@Burt Blahnik Indeed!

@ninamartinez5171

3y↑1

Amen to that

@jaywalker5632

3y↑1

R.I.P. Herb!

@creativecompanion

7y↑4

It was not the the Cleftones original song. It dates back to 1938. Hoagy Carmichael and Frank Loesser wrote it. Great song! Thanks for sharing!

@davidwadsworth8982

This was my parents song, they danced to it in NYC USO Club 1942 23 June, next day dd was on way to England to blow the hell out of the real Nazi's. I saw a black/white photo of them at that club. I don't give a darn whose song it is, it is my parents song. Mom loved Doo Wop,it's what we listened to growing up.

@edwardanthonylopez7262

Cleftones did it better! Shut ☝

@HenrodFilms

8y↑13

It's a damn shame my grandparents were born just a bit too early, and my dad and uncle were born a bit too late, they all just missed this era so now all the records in my house are either led zeppelin or glenn miller

@HenrodFilms

+J Sowndz I don't have a problem with them, it's just that there could have been 3 eras worth of music in my house instead of only 2

@jsowndz7613

+Henronicus sorry, original comment retracted

@HenrodFilms

J Sowndz No problem man, I probably could have worded my original comment better.

@64JBran

6y↑1

Pull out those Glenn Miller records and play the hell out of them!!!

@Grandtrunk

What a dichotomy!!

@jefflisenbee6303

7y↑10

paradise road, mannnnnn. this tune goes along with the racing scene at the end of american grafitti.

@gthefirm8986

Astronomically clear of todays music

@jillrapsey8030

2y↑2

Meet my future husband at a sock shop and he kissed me while dancing to this song‼💖🥰💖

@weeyin1155

15y↑2

Just LOVE it! Thanks to HerkyHawk1985 for sharing with us! Bright stars and hugs.. Jan and Susan.x

@otchris1046

46w

Amazing 😍😍
I love it.
So where did you first hear this song

@pi286

3y↑1

I dance in my room alone to this song.

@otchris1046

46w

Love this song

@clarkewi

Lowrider music. Love it.

@321SPONGEBOLT

I was surprised when I heard a cover of this on the televised version of "Stuart Little".

@donfrederick01964

23w↑1

cool movie and song

@stevemoravec2555

4y↑3

Heaven. Seriously!

@myostar7

29w↑2

Beam me back to the 50s

@ronaldgarrett409

True Love Is A Blessing ❤️❤️ With A Song In Our Hearts ❤️❤️ Heart & Soul I Fell in Love With You ❤️❤️ Heart & Soul The Way Two Lovers Do ❤️❤️🙏❤️🙏❤️🙏❤️ Ronnie Loves Theresa & Theresa Loves Ronnie ❤️❤️ Feeling Blessed ❤️🙏🙏❤️

@ghostrider-ek8gu

Queens NY's own .. Great, great group

@lk_alabama

3y↑1

American Graffitti is a great movie.

@mikkohalikka765

8y↑2

great song!!! mh Finland

@edyamarimartinez1641

This is not their original song, but yes their original version

@TechGamer-pq1gu

so they took an American classic and made it into a '60s pop song cool. far from original but still a great version of a good classic song.

@Connyhjort

10y↑1

Vilken låt och minnen oj oj =)

@marianneandersson896

Visst är det minnen

@treovercoakley2404

2y↑1

For me my favorite oldies but goodies doowop the best ever

@pamelaparizo

8y↑20

My dad used to play pool with Bo Hopkins. He came out to Simi once in a while.

@brianchristenson3320

6y↑3

Classic movie with classic cars 󾓦󾓦󾓦

@kimberlyisherwood4564

About the best do wop song ever.

@ghsgtnayhmd4792

I think the Jan and dean version is better but very good!

@ladymayhemladymayhem1237

I still my mini skirt till this day,and I will be 57 this year.love this film then and still do.the soundtrack is also good 👍👌

@johngreen6783

This is a remake of a 1938 classic pop tune. Not as good as the original but still a great song

@eddieedwards8679

RIP to the lead singer

@linkdeezie

This isn’t an original. It’s a remade rendition... GET RIGHT!

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