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.
Trying To Make A Fool Of Me
The Delfonics Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Listen baby, I'm gonna love you
Right or wrong
don't fence me out
Cause I love you so
And I never want to let you go
But you keep trying to make a fool of me
Trying to make a fool of me
Trying to make a fool of me
You keep trying, trying, trying
Trying, trying, trying
Our love was done before it starts
Listen baby, you think that you are having fun
Somehow I know, you hurt me so
Sooner or later gonna let me go
And you keep trying to make a fool of me
Trying to make a fool of me
Trying to make a fool of me
Trying to make a fool of me
And you keep trying, trying, trying
Trying, trying, trying
Somehow I know, you hurt me so
Sooner or later gonna let me go
And you keep trying to make a fool of me
Trying to make a fool of me
Trying to make a fool of me
Trying to make a fool of me
The Delfonics’ song “Trying To Make A Fool Of Me” is a melancholic and lamenting ballad that tells the story of a man whose trust and love for his partner is being constantly abused. The opening lyrics, “We've been together for so long, Listen baby, I'm gonna love you, Right or wrong, don't fence me out” encapsulate the man’s devotion and commitment towards his partner, even in the face of mistrust and dishonesty.
As the song unfolds, it becomes clear that the man is aware that his partner is trying to deceive him, “But you keep trying to make a fool of me, Trying to make a fool of me”. Despite this knowledge, the love he feels for his partner is too strong to let go. The chorus echoes the man’s victimization, as he is helpless in the face of his partner’s constant betrayal, “Trying to make a fool of me, Trying to make a fool of me, Trying to make a fool of me, Trying to make a fool of me, You keep trying, trying, trying, Trying, trying, trying”.
The final verse, “Somehow I know, you hurt me so, Sooner or later gonna let me go” suggests that although the man loves his partner deeply, he knows that he cannot be with her forever. He can see that his relationship is built on false promises and deception, and he knows that eventually, he will have to move on. The song’s melancholic tone conveys a sense of sadness and loss, and speaks to the enduring human experience of betrayal and heartbreak.
Line by Line Meaning
We've been together for so long
We have been in a long-term relationship
Listen baby, I'm gonna love you
I promise to love you
Right or wrong
Regardless of the circumstances
don't fence me out
Don't exclude me
Cause I love you so
I love you deeply
And I never want to let you go
I never want to end our relationship
But you keep trying to make a fool of me
You keep trying to deceive me
Trying to make a fool of me
Attempting to make me look foolish
Our love was done before it starts
Our relationship was doomed from the beginning
Listen baby, you think that you are having fun
You believe you are enjoying the relationship
Somehow I know, you hurt me so
I have a feeling you are causing me pain
Sooner or later gonna let me go
You will eventually leave me
And you keep trying to make a fool of me
You continue to attempt to deceive me
Trying to make a fool of me
Trying to make me look foolish
Trying, trying, trying
Persistently attempting
Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Thomas Randolph Bell, William Alexander N Hart
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@1mespud
Thank you, WILLIAM "POOGIE" HART for doing your part to help tame mankind with your gift and talent. The Delfonics was part background soundtrack to my once young life. May GOD bless your legacy and surviving family.
@universeb5159
I love the Delfonics, especially William Harts voice. R.I.P William Hart 🙏🏾
@user-qk8uh4me5v
Simply one of the greatest male vocal groups of ALL TIME. As someone said, "True vocalists." Peerless!!!
@genegene6570
The Delfonics....the lyrics...the rhythm....the style....INCOMPARABLE & TIMELESS!
@charlesljones2454
The delfonics were a part of the musical experience of the seventies that had the greatest falsetto singers of all time .....there was also the continental four .....the stylistics .....smokey Robinson ......blue magic ......Eddie Kendricks of the temptations .....and Charles McCormick of bloodstone .....who could switch from a baritone with gruff to a five octave falsetto ..... Please ......how did I forget to mention philip.bailey .....in my opinion the most powerful falsetto of all time.
@davidwatson1268
These jams take you back to a different time & place...I love these old school r&b jams...they can't be touched! Please keep it going by sharing it with your kids, nieces & nephews etc,etc this music cannot die!!
@glenbutler9611
What a smooth, classic, funky groove! Real grown folks music is timeless🥰!
@thomasjimenez401
Philly soul at it's best, Philly label top the charts in pop and R and B charts throughout the 70ies.
@MikeBTek
The joy and sadness of love, but you can't live without it. Back in the day these songs made my heart so clean toward women. It was a road that placed romance over sex, and the eternal over the temporary. No wonder I have been with the same lady for over 40 years. "When you get right down to it," there is definitely something spiritual about The Delfonics songs. Thank you William, Wilbert, Randy ad Major. Of course like a true Delfonics fan I consider myself unofficially the fifth member.
@thomford3386
Love this song! Always takes me back to the early 70's summer in SE DC going on field trips with the recreation center. The teenagers with summer jobs always played music on the bus to the parks, museums, Zoo, etc. The 1st note of this songs takes me right back.... The power of music! Also, the Dramatics "What you See is What you Get" & Whispers "I Only Meant to Wet my Feet". I was a kid and loved those old people songs...lol Guess whose "Old" Now... The POWER of Great Music will always Live On!