Brothers William and Wilbert Hart formed the group with Richard Daniels, and Randy (Rudy) Cain in high school in the early 1960s. Richard Daniels one of the founding members would be drafted just before the groups first major success.
Soon, they became known throughout the Philadelphia area, signing with Cameo Records. At Cameo, Stan Watson introduced them to the man who made them famous, producer Thom Bell, then working with Chubby Checker. Bell dreamed of creating a Philadelphia version of Motown and struck gold with the Delfonics, whose first album, released on Watson's own Philly Groove record label, featured the hit "La-La (Means I Love You)", in 1968. Four more Bell-produced albums appeared in the next few years: The Sexy Sound of Soul, The Delfonics Super Hits, The Delfonics and Tell Me This Is a Dream. Among the Delfonics' popular hits were "Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)", "For the Love I Give to You", "Ready or Not Here I Come (Can't Hide from Love)" and "Hey Love". Prior to the release of "La-La (Means I Love You)", they had a hit with "He Don't Really Love You" on the small Moonshot label.
Philadelphia soul was smoother than traditional soul, strongly influenced by Phil Spector's "Wall of Sound" production, but solidly based in the doo-wop sounds of the 1950s. Randy Cain left the group in 1971, and in 1973 had a hand in formulating Blue Magic when he brought singer-songwriter Ted Mills in to do some writing for W.M.O.T. (We Men of Talent), and the remaining future members of Blue Magic came in for an audition. The rest, as they say, is history. Cain was replaced by Major Harris; by then, however, Thom Bell had moved on to produce The Stylistics and later, The Spinners. The Delfonics swiftly produced another album, Alive and Kicking, produced by Stan Watson. However, in the absence of Thom Bell, the Delfonics' career declined sharply, and with the exception of the aforementioned Hey Love and the minor hits "When You Get Right Down to It", "I Don't Want to Make You Wait" and "I Told You So", success eluded them after 1975. ("For the Love I Give to You", although popular, was never released as a single.) Most of their songs at this point were written by lead singer William Hart.
Major Harris left and had major success with the song "Love Don't Let Me Wait". Wilbert Hart also left around this time, leaving William Hart as the only original member. New members were brought in, and the group continued for some time. The group then broke up and reformed with William Hart, Randy Cain, and Major Harris. (Wilbert Hart formed his own Delfonics group; the members were Wilbert, Eban Brown (falsetto lead), and Dr. S. Love.) Dr. Salaam Love has performed with both William and Wilbert Hart for the last twenty five plus years. Although often in the background he is more than qualified to take lead when asked. His claim to Fame is his vocal versatility. Randy Cain left for a second time, and was replaced by Frank Washington of The Futures.
Their music enjoyed a mild renaissance in the mid-1990s when New Kids On The Block had a hit with "Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)". "La La Means I Love You" and "Didn't I (Blow Your Mind)" played a pivotal role in the film Jackie Brown. In the film, one of the characters is so struck by the music, he goes out and buys The Delfonics Greatest Hits cassette the following day. Their songs appeared in numerous movies and "Ready or Not Here I Come (Can't Hide from Love)" served as the basis of two hit hip hop singles: it was the chorus for The Fugees' 1996 hit "Ready or Not", and Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott and Timbaland sampled the string and horn intro for Elliott's hit 1997 "Sock It to Me". The Notorious B.I.G.'s last hit, "Playa Hata" released that same year, was a take-off on "Hey Love." The Delfonics also provided backing vocals on the track "After the Smoke has Cleared" on the 1996 hip hop album Iron Man by Ghostface Killah. In 2004 Ghostface also sampled "La-La Means I Love You" for his song "Holla" from his album The Pretty Toney Album. "Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)" was also sampled on Cam'ron's hit single "Hey Ma".
The current line-up of the Delfonics is William Hart, Garfield Fleming (baritone lead), and Johnny ("JJ") Johnson. Wilbert also has a group, sometimes called "The Delphonics", "The New Delfonics" or simply billed as "Wilbert Hart". Eban Brown went on to become the lead singer of The Stylistics, and Frank Washington is now the lead singer of The Spinners. The current line-up of the group is featured in concert on the DVD's "The Big Show" and "'70's Soul Jam," whereas Wilbert Hart's group is featured on the DVD "Old School Soul Party Live!," which was part of the PBS "My Music" series. Major Harris is also featured on the recently re-released DVD "Blue Magic/Margie Joseph/Major Harris Live!", which was recorded during their prime in 1975.
Tell Me This Is a Dream
The Delfonics Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That lived across the street
And you're the same old girl, yeah
That I was dying to meet
Well, now you're running around
And you think that I don't know
And you know if I found out
And it hurts me so bad
Whoa, oh, oh, yeah
Tell me this is a dream
Somebody, please
Tell me this is a dream
Somebody, please
Tell me this is a dream
And I remember
When you kissed me
You said you loved me so much, girl
Said our love would always be
Now you're running around
You think that I don't know
And you know if I find out
It's gonna hurt me so
And it hurts me so bad
Whoa, oh, oh, yeah
Tell me this is a dream
Somebody, please
Tell me this is a dream
Somebody, please
Tell me this is a dream
You know, I'm just like a guy right now
That don't want to face the reality
Of the one I love, believe in me
You know, loving you too much
Not wanting you to realize
That you're in love with someone else
Whoa, oh, oh, yeah
Tell me this is a dream
Somebody
Tell me this is a dream
Somebody
Tell me this is a dream
Tell me this is a dream
Somebody
Tell me this is a dream
Somebody, please
Tell me this is a dream
Tell me this is a dream
Somebody
Tell me this is a dream
Somebody
The Delfonicsβs βTell Me This Is A Dreamβ is a lament from a man who is heartbroken that his lover has been unfaithful. The song begins with the singer acknowledging that the woman he has loved for a long time is the same one he used to admire from afar when she lived across the street. He then expresses his frustration that she has been running around behind his back, and he feels betrayed that she thinks he doesn't know what's going on. The singer is aware that if he finds out for sure, itβs going to hurt him deeply. He then pleads with someone to tell him that this is only a bad dream.
One of the most poignant moments in the song comes when the singer remembers a time when the woman he loves told him that she loved him and their love would always be. He contrasts this with her current behavior and expresses his pain and confusion. He reveals that heβs unsure how to handle the situation and does not want to face the reality that the woman he loves might be in love with someone else. The song ends with the singer begging for someone to tell him that all of this has been a bad dream.
Line by Line Meaning
You're the same old girl
The person addressed is the same person from before.
That lived across the street
They lived across the street from each other.
And you're the same old girl, yeah
Their identity has not changed.
That I was dying to meet
The artist was eager to meet the addressee.
Well, now you're running around
The addressee is now unfaithful.
And you think that I don't know
The addressee is under the impression that their infidelity is a secret.
And you know if I found out
The singer believes that the addressee is aware that they will be hurt if they find out.
It's gonna hurt me so
Revelation of the addressee's infidelity would cause the artist emotional pain.
And it hurts me so bad
The artist is already in emotional pain due to their suspicion of the addressee's infidelity.
Tell me this is a dream
The artist questions the reality of their situation.
Somebody, please
The singer is desperate for reassurance or denial.
And I remember
The artist has fond memories of their relationship with the addressee.
When you kissed me
The addressee has previously been intimate with the singer.
You said you loved me so much, girl
The addressee expressed love for the singer.
Said our love would always be
The addressee believed that their relationship would last.
You know, I'm just like a guy right now
The artist compares their emotions to those of other men.
That don't want to face the reality
The artist is resisting the truth.
Of the one I love, believe in me
The singer is in love with the addressee.
You know, loving you too much
The singer's love for the addressee is overwhelming.
Not wanting you to realize
The artist fears being rejected by the addressee.
That you're in love with someone else
The addressee is in love with someone other than the artist.
Tell me this is a dream
The artist continues to question the reality of their situation.
Somebody
The singer again pleas for confirmation or denial.
Tell me this is a dream
Reiteration of the artist's desire for their situation to not be real.
Somebody, please
The singer's desperation remains.
Lyrics Β© Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: WILLIAM HART, WILLIAM A. HART
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@karl24-75
Thank you God....for the Delfonics !!!
@shirleybranham751
Yes!
@Zaidemeit
Rest in peace, William βPoogieβ Hart!!! Your voice was heaven-sent.
@akatheheretic3014
Memories were made of this!! Back when Black men/women liked , loved & wanted each other. Who's here in 2019?
@shirleybranham751
I'm here! Yes, memories!!!
@abdulrasulalah8414
So true Brothaπ―
@denisecruz8711
Hey everyone. My name is Denise Cruz, and I'm from the South Side of Chicago. We,grew up on dusties. Brings back some great memories, and some sad, but these oldies are always goodies..
@erikrodriguez4535
I'm. From Southside where are u from Brighton park / back of the yards
@bobbkg762
ok
@bobbkg762
What do you mean by saying Dusties, is that a Chicago term.