Original group members:
Barbara Ann Hawkins (born October 23, 1943)
Joan Marie Johnson (January 15, 1944 – October 5, 2016)
Rosa Lee Hawkins (born September 24, 1944)
The group hit the top of the charts in 1964 with "Chapel of Love," a song that Phil Spector, Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich had originally written for The Ronettes. The trio consisted of sisters Barbara Ann and Rosa Lee Hawkins; plus their cousin Joan Marie Johnson, from New Orleans. They first sang together in grade school. Originally they were to be called Little Miss and the Muffets, but were named the Dixie Cups just prior to their first release.
In 1963 the trio decided to pursue a professional career in music and began singing locally as the Meltones. Within a year Joe Jones, a successful singer in his own right with the Top Five 1960 single "You Talk Too Much," became their manager. After working with them for five months, Jones took them to New York, where record producers/songwriters Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller signed them to their new Red Bird Records.
The Dixie Cups debut single was the release, "Chapel of Love," which became their biggest hit reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart in June 1964. "Chapel of Love" sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. In 1987, the song "Chapel of Love" appeared on the Full Metal Jacket soundtrack and in the 1991 film, Father of the Bride. The hit single by The Dixie Cups was ranked #279 on Rolling Stone's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. The group also had several other hits including, "People Say" (#12, 1964), "You Should Have Seen the Way He Looked at Me" (#39, 1964), "Little Bell" (#51, 1965), and "Iko Iko" (#20, 1965).
"Iko Iko", a New Orleans traditional song, was recorded in 1964 but later was released as a single early in 1965. Barbara Hawkins had heard her grandmother sing the song, first recorded in 1953 as "Jock-a-Mo" by James "Sugar Boy" Crawford. Barbara Hawkins: "We were just clowning around with it during a session using drumsticks on ashtrays. We didn't realize that Jerry and Mike had the tapes running". Leiber and Stoller overdubbed a bassline and percussion, and released it. It was The Dixie Cups' fifth and last hit.
In 1965, the Dixie Cups moved to the ABC-Paramount record label before a recording hiatus in 1966 temporarily halted their careers. In 1974 the Hawkins sisters moved from New York to New Orleans, where they both began successful modelling careers. The Hawkins also worked as make-up artists. The Dixie Cups continued to tour as a trio with another New Orleans singer, Beverly Brown, replacing Joan Johnson who became a Jehovah's Witness and left her music career. Brown who had recorded two solo discs in the early 1960s stayed as the third member until the early 80s when she became ill and was replaced by Dale Mickle. The Dixie Cups continue to perform and make personal appearances. The current line-up consists of the same Hawkins sisters along with Athelgra Neville, sister of the singing Neville Brothers.
On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina swept through Louisiana, flooding and flattening most of New Orleans and displacing Barbara and Rosa Hawkins, who subsequently relocated to Florida. Joan Johnson relocated to Texas. Two years later in April 2007, The Louisiana Music Hall Of Fame honored The Dixie Cups for their contributions to Louisiana music by inducting them into The Louisiana Music Hall of Fame.
Discography
Singles
"Chapel of Love" b/w "Ain't That Nice" (1964) Red Bird Records / U.S. Chart (Billboard) #1 UK #22 Canada RPM #1
"People Say" b/w "Girls Can Tell" (1964) Red Bird Records/ U.S. Chart (Billboard) #12[8] R&B #7 Canada RPM #7
"You Should Have Seen The Way He Looked At Me" b/w "No True Love" (1964) Red Bird Records/ U.S. Chart (Billboard) #39 Canada RPM #20
"Little Bell" b/w "Another Boy Like Mine" (1964) Red Bird Records/ U.S. Chart (Billboard) #51[8] R&B #21
"Iko Iko" b/w "I'm Gonna Get You Yet" (1965) Red Bird Records/ U.S. Chart (Billboard) #20[8] R&B #20 UK # 23 Canada RPM #26
"Iko Iko" b/w "Gee Baby Gee" (1965) Red Bird Records/ U.S. Chart (Billboard) #20
"Gee The Moon Is Shining Bright" b/w "I'm Gonna Get You Yet" (1965) Red Bird Records/ U.S. Billboard #102
"Two-Way-Poc-A-Way" b/w "That's Where It's At" (1965) ABC-Paramount Records /Written by Harold Fedison
"What Goes Up Must Come Down" b/w "I'm Not The Kind Of Girl (To Marry)" (1965) ABC-Paramount Records
"A-B-C Song" b/w "That's What The Kids Said" (1965) ABC-Paramount Records
"Love Ain't So Bad (After All)" b/w "Daddy Said No" (1966) ABC Records
Albums
Chapel of Love (1964) Red Bird Records/ Billboard 200 #112
Iko Iko (1965) Red Bird Records (re-packaged album that is the same as their debut with a different album cover under the title Iko Iko)
Riding High (1965) ABC-Paramount Records
Doing It Our Way (2011) Iri Records
Compilations
Teen Anguish Volume One (1979) Charly Records
The Best Of The Dixie Cups (1985) Back-Trac Records
The Dixie Cups Meet The Shangri-Las (1986) Charly Records
The Very Best Of The Dixie Cups: Chapel Of Love (1998) Collectables Records
The Complete Red Bird Recordings (2002) Varèse Sarabande Records
All Grown Up
The Dixie Cups Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I ain't no baby no more
And I can do the things
I couldn't do before
Go where I wanta go
And I can see my friends
But I can shimmy all night
I put my high heels on
I wear my hair up high
I'm gonna go downtown
And there's a reason why
Cause I'm all grown up
Nothing I can do
Gonna stay out late
Get a boyfriend too
We'll just do anything
And when we say goodnight
But if he wants to kiss
Say now that's alright
I know we'll fall in love
And marry by and by
Cause I'm all grown up
That's the reason why
[Instrumental Bridge]
I put my high heels on
I wear my hair up high
I'm gonna go downtown
And there's a reason why
Cause I'm all grown up
Cause I'm all grown up
Cause I'm all grown up
Cause I'm all grown up
Ya, I'm all grown up
Ya, I'm all grown up
Ya, I'm all grown up
Ya, I'm all grown up
The Dixie Cups’ song “All Grown Up” seems to be about a young woman who is excited about reaching adulthood and being able to do things that she couldn't do before. The song is upbeat and filled with a sense of freedom that comes with growing up. The lyrics describe the woman’s excitement about being able to go wherever she wants, see her friends, and stay out late. She also talks about putting on her high heels and going downtown for a reason, implying that she is ready to party and explore her new freedom.
Additionally, the song touches on the woman’s desire to find a boyfriend and fall in love. The lyrics suggest that she believes that she is now mature enough for love and that it is time for her to start exploring relationships. The line “I know we'll fall in love, and marry by and by” implies that she thinks that she is ready for the next stage in life, which is settling down and starting a family.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I'm all grown up
I've reached a stage where I'm no longer a child and I've developed into an adult.
I ain't no baby no more
I've outgrown the child-like behavior and attitude that I used to have.
And I can do the things
I have freedom to do the things that I wasn't allowed to do before.
I couldn't do before
I was restricted from doing certain things because of my age or lack of independence.
Go where I wanta go
I have the ability to choose where I want to go and explore new places.
And I can see my friends
I can spend time with the people that I want to without limitations.
But I can shimmy all night
I can dance and enjoy myself without any restrictions or curfews.
Till the party ends
I can stay out late and socialize as long as I want to.
I put my high heels on
I dress up and present myself in a more mature and sophisticated way.
I wear my hair up high
I style my hair in a more grown-up and glamorous way.
I'm gonna go downtown
I'm going to explore and have fun in the city.
And there's a reason why
I have a purpose and intention behind my actions.
Cause I'm all grown up
My new freedom and independence is due to my maturation into adulthood.
Nothing I can do
There are no limitations or restrictions holding me back now.
Gonna stay out late
I will have the opportunity to stay out as late as I want.
Get a boyfriend too
I have the freedom to pursue romantic relationships without having to ask for permission.
We'll just do anything
At this point in my life, I can experiment and try new things without any judgment or control.
And when we say goodnight
When our night ends, we will say goodbye and go our separate ways.
But if he wants to kiss
If my significant other wants to kiss me, I'm okay with it.
Say now that's alright
I give them permission and consent to act accordingly.
I know we'll fall in love
I'm confident that I will find romantic love in the future.
And marry by and by
Eventually, I will get married to the person I love.
Ya, I'm all grown up
I'm celebrating my newfound freedom and maturity.
Contributed by Stella G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.