The original group consisted of Harry Douglass (baritone), Vernon Gardner (first tenor), George Lawson (second tenor) and Edward Ware (bass). George Lawson was replaced by William James (Jimmy) Lundy in 1950.
The group began at Hampton Institute (now known as Hampton University) in Hampton, Virginia. Their 1948 song Recess in Heaven became their first hit.
They appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show, held command performances before the Queen of the United Kingdom (in the 1960s), and US President Dwight D Eisenhower. They also performed with Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, Count Basie, Fats Waller, Charlie Christian and Thelma Carpenter.
In Europe they were especially popular in countries like Sweden and Norway from the 1950s and upwards, appearing on numerous TV shows, even releasing several hit-singles performing songs in Swedish and Norwegian. As late as the 1970s they recorded a Norwegian language version of the Norwegian hit song Ratiti. The group continued to tour into the early eighties.
The last surviving early member of the group, Jimmy Lundy, lived in Portsmouth, Virginia, and died in October 2007 in Maryview Hospital in Portsmouth Virginia.
Two later members of the group are still alive: Ronnie Bright was the bass of the Deep River Boys 1964-1968. After leaving the group he went to the Coasters, from which he has now retired. Eddie Whaley Jr was tenor of the Deeps 1969-1971. He was born in Brighton, England and lives in Florida.
Smack Dab in the Middle
The Deep River Boys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In any clime
Where people like
A rockin time
And stay awake
Both day and night
Till everybody's feelin good an' right
(Smack dab in the middle)
I wanna be
(Smack dab in the middle)
Ahhhhh, smack dab in the middle, boys now
So I can rock and roll to satisfy my soul
Ten Cadillacs
A diamond mill
Ten suits of clothes
To dress to kill
A ten room house
Some Bar B Q
And fifty chicks not over twenty-two
Then throw me
(Smack dab in the middle)
Oh, I wanna be
(Smack dab in the middle)
Ahhhhh, now boys you can see why I wanna be smack dab in the middle now
So I can rock and roll to satisfy my soul
One hundred beds
with chorus girls
A street that's paved
with natural pearls
a wagon load
of bonds and stocks
Then open up the door at Fort Knox
Then throw me
(Smack dab in the middle)
I wanna be
(Smack dab in the middle)
Ahhhhh, now listen boys throw me smack dab in the middle right now
So Ray can rock and roll to satisfy his soul
That's all right!
(bridge)
A lot of bread and gangs of meat
Oodles of butter and somethin sweet
Gallons of coffee to wash it down
Bicarbonated soda by the pound
Then throw me
(Smack dab in the middle)
I picture it
(Smack dab in the middle)
Ahhhhh, throw me now, smack dab in the middle right now
So I can rock and roll to satisfy my soul
Alright!
The Deep River Boys' song "Smack Dab In the Middle" is a fun and upbeat celebration of a rockin' good time. The song's narrator is asking to be thrown into any town where the people know how to have a good time, and he wants to be right in the middle of the action. He lists off a series of material possessions he desires, including ten Cadillacs, ten suits of clothes, and a ten-room house, but it's clear that what he really wants is to be surrounded by people and music.
Throughout the song, the singer repeats his desire to be "smack dab in the middle," emphasizing his desire to be at the heart of the action. He imagines a street paved with natural pearls, a wagon full of bonds and stocks, and one hundred beds filled with chorus girls, all while still insisting that what he really wants is to rock and roll and satisfy his soul.
Overall, the song is a joyful celebration of good times, material wealth, and the power of music to uplift the spirit. It's a reminder that sometimes all we need is to be surrounded by the things we love and the people who make us feel alive.
Line by Line Meaning
Pick me a town
In any clime
Where people like
A rockin time
Choose a place with a happening vibe and where people love to party and have a good time, no matter where it is located.
And stay awake
Both day and night
Till everybody's feelin good an' right
A place where people are full of energy, staying awake both day and night until everyone is feeling happy and satisfied.
Then throw me
(Smack dab in the middle)
I wanna be
(Smack dab in the middle)
Ahhhhh, smack dab in the middle, boys now
So I can rock and roll to satisfy my soul
I want to be right in the action -- right in the middle of this place, where I can rock and roll to my heart's content and fulfill my desires.
Ten Cadillacs
A diamond mill
Ten suits of clothes
To dress to kill
A ten room house
Some Bar B Q
And fifty chicks not over twenty-two
I want lavish possessions like ten Cadillacs, a diamond mill, ten suits to show off, a ten-room mansion, some BBQ to eat, and of course, fifty young women to hang out with.
One hundred beds
with chorus girls
A street that's paved
with natural pearls
a wagon load
of bonds and stocks
Then open up the door at Fort Knox
I want even more luxury, like a hundred beds for chorus girls to sleep in, streets made of natural pearls, a wagon full of valuable bonds and stocks, and even access to Fort Knox.
A lot of bread and gangs of meat
Oodles of butter and somethin sweet
Gallons of coffee to wash it down
Bicarbonated soda by the pound
I want plenty of delicious food, with bread and meat in abundance, tons of butter and sweet treats, coffee to quench my thirst, and soda by the pound.
Alright!
An exclamation of excitement or satisfaction.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CHARLES E CALHOUN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ellis Witcher
Excellent! This song has such a great rhythm to it.
whitefalcon64
A Jesse Stone composition, still one of my all-time favourites. Nice version, but in my estimation much better sung by the Mills Brothers. Anyway, thanks for post. Greetings from Spain
dorsy2
I met Harry Douglass of this group in the 1960's in Taipei; I'm not sure who was with him in the group at that time. It changed from time to time. He was extremely nice and the others were as well. I played for them in a bar in one of the hotels. We closed it up at one in the morning. They had already done a gig that night but still felt like singing. Saw them again in Okinawa later.
brian Adams
0 dislikes, let's keep it that way.
59cadcoupe
No wallflowers here, everybody hit the floor !!!
lili1916
dorsy2!! I´ll tell you who the other singers were in the Deeps with Harry Douglass in 1960! Jimmy Lundy, tenor; Al Bishop, bass and Ray Durant, piano.