Origins And Early Successes
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Originally inspired by The Beatles, the Cowsills developed their musicianship and harmonized vocals in performances at school dances and churches in their hometown. They were encouraged by their parents, Barbara and Bud Cowsill, who drove them around to shows in the family's station wagon. Bud had retired from a long career in the US Navy to manage his children's career together with his wife.
The band drew increasing attention through the 1960's as their musical proficiency improved. In late 1965, the initial four members were hired as a regular act on Bannisters Wharf in Newport where they would sing "The Beatles" songs hour after hour. They also produced their first recordings, and released them on Mercury Records. Despite their appeal, the company passed on a record contract for reasons never specified. In 1966, the band was signed by MGM records, and shortly after Barbara - who would become known to their fans affectionately as "Mini-Mom" due to her diminutive stature - joined the group to record The Rain, The Park and Other Things. Shortly thereafter the band was expanded yet again to include siblings Susan and Paul.
With the success of "The Rain, The Park and Other Things" the band quickly became a popular act in the U.S., and achieved significant airplay in England and other parts of Europe. "The Rain, The Park and Other Things" wound up reaching #2 on the Billboard charts, and sold some three million copies in its first release.
Bob Cowsill is quoted as follows on the band's early days:
"Although Bill and I performed at a very young age, and Bill, myself, Barry and John did a lot of frat parties at Brown University and clubs in Newport ... the most memorable performance of what I would view as the precursor of what The Cowsills would be was at King's Park in Newport (right at the foot of Halidon Hall) at some carnival. The family angle just evolved ... first Bill and me, then Bill me and Barry, then Bill, me, Barry and John, then Bill, me, Barry, John and Mom, then Bill, me, Barry, John, Mom and Paul, then later, me, Paul, John, Barry, Mom and Susan, then back to Bill, me, Barry and John (very briefly in the end) and then to me, Paul, John and Susan. Our first real break came when we were playing the MK Hotel in Newport (in the basement there) and a guy from the Today show saw us and asked if we wanted to be on the Today show. We weren't famous or anything but we were young and we were related and we were quite good. So we went on the Today show (I doubt a tape exists of that but if it did it would be priceless to see) and someone from Mercury Records saw us which ultimately led to our signing with that label and putting out "Most Of All" (a great "school's out" song that should have been our first hit in my opinion) which led to Artie Kornfeld and Steve Duboff. Mercury dropped us, but Artie and Steve had written "The Rain, The Park and Other Things" and we went in and recorded that song at A&R studios in New York and took the whole package to MGM who decided wouldn't it just be terrific if their mother performed with them and, voila, the rest, as they say, is history. "
In 1969 they had another number two hit with their version of the title song from the musical Hair.
The Cowsills are often cited as the inspirtation for TV's "The Partridge Family."
Is It Any Wonder
The Cowsills Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All I wanted to do was play
That old love game
Even though I lacked ability
To change
Man I was lonely
And she was all I was looking for
Then she said she was leaving
Ya she had to go now
She don't want to love me anymore
She don't want to be the heart that mine
Beats for
Is It Any Wonder?
Well I had my way
And there was nothing that she could say
Could have change my mind
I guess I was to set
In my ways
And though I'm not the first one
To admit when things go wrong,
That I never saw it coming.
In the end she was everything I ever wanted now.
She don't want to love me anymore.
She don't wanna be the heart that mine
Beats for.
Is it any wonder?
I don' t know if I should laugh or cry.
What's the use in it now?
What am I suppose to do without her?
It's a little too much to ask anybody.
If I had a second chance,
You know I'd do it all so differently.
Oh but it's too late to think about
All the could have beens and should have beens
It wasn't suppose to happen.
She don't wanna love me anymore
She don't wanna be the heart that mine
Beats for.
Is it any wonder?
She don't want to love me anymore.
Is it any wonder?
She don't want to love me anymore.
Is it any wonder?
She don't want to love me anymore.
Is it any wondering?
The Cowsills's song "Is It Any Wonder" explores the emotions of a man who has lost the woman he loves. The singer is infatuated with a woman, but struggles with feelings of loneliness and lack of self-confidence. He knows that she's leaving him, but he can't help but wonder why - and what he could have done differently. He goes back and forth between wanting to laugh and cry, feeling confused and lost without her.
The lyrics suggest that the singer has a tendency to dwell on the past, as he can't help but think about all the "could have beens and should have beens." However, he knows deep down that it's too late to change anything. The song captures the pain of heartbreak and the regret that comes with it, leaving the listener to question if there was really anything he could have done differently.
Overall, the song expresses the universal feeling of heartbreak and the confusion that comes with it. The singer's emotional journey is relatable to anyone who has loved and lost - and regrets the path not taken.
Line by Line Meaning
Soon as she looked my way
The moment I saw her, I was attracted to her.
All I wanted to do was play
I only wanted to be with her and pursue a romantic relationship.
That old love game
The pursuit and courting of a romantic partner.
Even though I lacked ability
Despite not having the necessary skills or experience in relationships.
To change
To alter or improve the way I approached love and relationships.
Man I was lonely
I felt isolated and alone before meeting her.
And she was all I was looking for
I believed that she was the perfect person for me.
And I thought it was forever
I believed that our relationship would last a lifetime.
Then she said she was leaving
She told me that she was ending our relationship.
Ya she had to go now
She had made up her mind and needed to leave immediately.
She don't want to love me anymore
She no longer has romantic feelings for me.
She don't want to be the heart that mine
Beats for
She does not want to be the person I have strong romantic feelings for.
Is It Any Wonder?
Is it surprising that our relationship ended?
Well I had my way
I got what I wanted in our relationship.
And there was nothing that she could say
She had no influence over my decisions in our relationship.
Could have change my mind
I was set in my ways and unwilling to change.
I guess I was to set
In my ways
I was stubborn and resistant to change.
And though I'm not the first one
To admit when things go wrong,
I am willing to acknowledge my mistakes in our relationship.
That I never saw it coming.
I did not expect our relationship to end the way it did.
In the end she was everything I ever wanted now.
She fulfilled all of my desires and expectations in a romantic partner.
I don't know if I should laugh or cry.
I am unsure how to react to the end of our relationship.
What's the use in it now?
There is no benefit or purpose in dwelling on the past.
What am I suppose to do without her?
I do not know how to move forward in life without her.
It's a little too much to ask anybody.
The situation is too difficult for anyone to handle without support.
If I had a second chance,
If I could start our relationship over again.
You know I'd do it all so differently.
I would change my behavior and approach to our relationship.
Oh but it's too late to think about
Reflecting on the past will not change the current situation.
All the could have beens and should have beens
All the missed opportunities and mistakes in our relationship.
It wasn't suppose to happen.
I did not expect our relationship to end this way.
Is it any wonder?
Is it surprising that our relationship ended the way it did?
She don't wanna love me anymore.
She has moved on from our relationship and does not have romantic feelings for me.
Is it any wonder?
Is it surprising that our relationship did not work out?
She don't want to love me anymore.
She has ended our romantic relationship and does not have feelings for me anymore.
Is it any wonder?
Is it surprising that our relationship fell apart?
She don't want to love me anymore.
She has moved on from our relationship and does not have romantic feelings for me.
Is it any wondering?
Is it surprising that I am still questioning why our relationship ended?
Contributed by Skyler C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Cal-zk4nc
Soon as she looked my way
All I wanted to do was play
That old love game
Even though I lacked ability
To change
Man I was lonely
And she was all I was looking for
And I thought it was forever
Then she said she was leaving
Ya she had to go now
She don't want to love me anymore
She don't want to be the heart that mine
Beats for
Is It Any Wonder?
Well I had my way
And there was nothing that she could say
Could have change my mind
I guess I was to set
In my ways
And though I'm not the first one
To admit when things go wrong,
That I never saw it coming.
In the end she was everything I ever wanted now.
She don't want to love me anymore.
She don't wanna be the heart that mine
Beats for.
Is it any wonder?
I don' t know if I should laugh or cry.
What's the use in it now?
What am I suppose to do without her?
It's a little too much to ask anybody.
If I had a second chance,
You know I'd do it all so differently.
Oh but it's too late to think about
All the could have beens and should have beens
It wasn't suppose to happen.
She don't wanna love me anymore
She don't wanna be the heart that mine
Beats for.
Is it any wonder?
She don't want to love me anymore.
Is it any wonder?
She don't want to love me anymore.
Is it any wonder?
She don't want to love me anymore.
Is it any wondering?
@BroadcastJohn
This is my absolutely favorite Cowsills song. I never get tired of listening to it.
@usmc-veteran7316
After all these years, I'm addicted to The Cowsills. Grew up on hard rock n roll. At 61 yrs old I've mellowed out quite a bit. The Cowsills are a fresh sound from the mid to late 60s.
@michaelbuday5630
I'm the same age, and I have the same attitude. Really been into re-discovering the Cowsills. A shame they weren't getting much publicity as they reformed.
@michaelbuday5630
How the heck wasn't this widely released as a single? Heard it for the first time tonight, and it is truly a hit single!
@williamnelson727
totally addicted to that sound. it might be 1994, but it is unmistakably 1960's torch-
and-twang rock-a-billy. -suitable for Cleveland or Liverpool.
@ianmclennon3602
This should have been a No. 1, but radio in general was on the way out in '94 and couldn't have identified a hit if you'd thrown the Grammy at them. Too bad - this is a solid tune.
@tamjac10
I totally agree. It should have been a no 1 hit!
@WingchickWindyWarren
I'm a musician and I totally agree.
@Boppinabe
The 90s were a musical wasteland.
@dantauro4575
This is a great song, brings back memories of my youth listening to the Cowsills. The past is priceless.