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
Girls Can Tell
The Dixie Cups Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Girls can tell
Girls can tell if things are right
When they kiss a boy goodnight
And I can tell that you're just right for me
By the little things they do
And I can tell that you'll be true to me
I know we never make each other cry
I know we'll never, ever say goodbye
Girls can tell if love is real
By the way a kiss can feel and
I know we will stay together and
We will be in love forever
Cause, when it comes to boys
Girls can tell
I know we never make each other cry
I know we'll never, ever say goodbye
Girls can tell if love is real
By the way it make them feel and
I know we will stay together and
We will be in love forever
Cause, when it comes to boys
Girls can tell
Girls can tell
Girls can tell...
Girls can tell
Girls can tell
Girls can tell
The Dixie Cups' song "Girls Can Tell" discusses the power of intuition and the ability of women to decipher the truth behind a person's actions. The song's lyrics suggest that girls can instinctively tell if someone is right for them or not, and they can also sense if a person is not being truthful. The central theme of the song is that girls have the innate ability to understand love and relationships on a deeper level.
The opening lines, "Girls can tell if things are right, when they kiss a boy goodnight" suggest that a girl's instinct is not to be underestimated when it comes to matters of the heart. In the second verse, the lyrics state, "Girls can tell if boys are true, by the little things they do." The song speaks to the idea that women have a sixth sense when it comes to recognizing behavior that may indicate a person's true intentions.
The chorus of the song reiterates the idea that girls can tell when love is real and that they will stay with the person who is right for them. It conveys a message of confidence in one's own instincts and feelings when it comes to relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Girls can tell if things are right
Girls have a natural ability to perceive if a situation is favorable or not.
When they kiss a boy goodnight
Girls can judge the compatibility of a romantic relationship based on how it feels when they kiss their partner goodnight.
And I can tell that you're just right for me
The singer has judged that their partner is perfect for them.
Girls can tell if boys are true
Girls have a sense of intuition that can help them discern whether a boy is being truthful or deceitful.
By the little things they do
The actions and behaviors of a boy can provide insight into their honesty and trustworthiness.
And I can tell that you'll be true to me
The singer trusts that their partner will remain loyal and honest in their relationship.
I know we never make each other cry
The singer is confident that their relationship is not based on negative emotions such as sadness or anger.
I know we'll never, ever say goodbye
The singer is certain that their love will endure and that they will never break up.
Girls can tell if love is real
Girls have the ability to sense if their romantic feelings for someone are genuine and deep.
By the way a kiss can feel and
A kiss can serve as an indicator of the level of romantic chemistry and connection between two people.
I know we will stay together and
The singer is optimistic and confident that their relationship will continue and endure.
We will be in love forever
The singer believes that their love for each other is enduring and timeless.
Cause, when it comes to boys
Boys are the focus of the song's message and theme.
Girls can tell
Girls have a unique ability to perceive the nuances and subtleties of romantic relationships between themselves and boys.
Contributed by Josiah B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.