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
Going To The Chapel
The Dixie Cups Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Interesting Facts ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And we're gonna get married
Going to the chapel
And we're gonna get married
Gee I really love you
And we're gonna get married
Going to the chapel of love
Spring is here (ooo-ooo-ooo)
The sky is blue (sky is blue)
Birds all sing (oh the birds all sing)
Like they do (yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah)
Today's the day (wah-hooo-ooo)
We'll say "I do" (ooo-ooo)
And we'll never be lonely anymore
Because we're
Going to the chapel
And we're gonna get married
Going to the chapel
And we're gonna get married
Gee I really love you
And we're gonna get married
Going to the chapel of love
Bells will ring (ri-ii-iing) (bells will ring)
The sun will shine (hey hey hey yeah) (the sun will
shine)
I'll be hers (yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah) (I'll be hers)
And she'll be mine (oh oh oh oh oh oh oh) (and she'll
be mine)
We'll love until (we'll love until) (hey hey hey)
(we'll love until)
The end of time (ooo hooo) (the end of time)
And we'll never be lonely anymore
Because we're
Going to the chapel
And we're gonna get married
Going (goin') to the chapel
And we're gonna get married
The Dixie Cups's song "Going To The Chapel" is a classic love song about a couple who are deeply in love and are about to get married. The lyrics express their excitement and anticipation for their upcoming wedding day. The first verse and chorus repeat the phrase "going to the chapel, and we're gonna get married" as a way to emphasize the joy and excitement of the day. The second verse describes the beauty of the season with the arrival of spring and how it complements the happiness and new beginnings represented by the wedding ceremony. The final verse speaks of the couple's commitment to love each other unconditionally until the end of time.
Overall, the lyrics of "Going To The Chapel" are simple and direct, but they capture the essence of a special day that will remain in the couple's memories forever. The repetition of phrases and the upbeat tempo of the song reflect the sense of joy and excitement associated with weddings.
Interesting facts about the song:
Interesting Facts
Note: This section uses generative AI, which can be inaccurate.
Line by Line Meaning
Going to the chapel
We are heading towards the church
And we're gonna get married
We are going to exchange vows and become spouses
Gee I really love you
I have a strong affection towards you
Going to the chapel of love
We are headed to a place where love is celebrated and affirmed
Spring is here (ooo-ooo-ooo)
The season of growth and new beginnings has arrived
The sky is blue (sky is blue)
The atmosphere is clear and calm
Birds all sing (oh the birds all sing)
The flying creatures are vocal and happy
Like they do (yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah)
As they typically behave
Today's the day (wah-hooo-ooo)
The day we have been waiting for has arrived
We'll say "I do" (ooo-ooo)
We will affirm our commitment to each other
And we'll never be lonely anymore
We will forever have each other's company
Bells will ring (ri-ii-iing) (bells will ring)
Wedding bells will toll
The sun will shine (hey hey hey yeah) (the sun will shine)
The weather will be great
I'll be hers (yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah) (I'll be hers)
I am giving myself to her
And she'll be mine (oh oh oh oh oh oh oh) (and she'll be mine)
She is committing herself to me
We'll love until (we'll love until) (hey hey hey)
Our love will endure
(we'll love until)
The end of time (ooo hooo) (the end of time)
Until the world comes to an end
Going (goin') to the chapel
We are on our way to the church
And we're gonna get married
We will become husband and wife
Contributed by Kennedy H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
K G
Goin' to the chapel
And we're gonna get married
Goin' to the chapel
And we're gonna get married
Gee, I really love you
And we're gonna get married
Goin' to the chapel of love
Spring is here, the sky is blue, whoa
Birds all sing as if they knew
Today's the day we'll say "I do"
And we'll never be lonely anymore
Because we're goin' to the chapel
And we're gonna get married
Goin' to the chapel
And we're gonna get married
Gee, I really love you
And we're gonna get married
Goin' to the chapel of love
Bells will ring, the sun will shine, whoa
I'll be his and he'll be mine
We'll love until the end of time
And we'll never be lonely anymore
Because we're goin' to the chapel
And we're gonna get married
Goin' to the chapel
And we're gonna get married
Gee, I really love you
And we're gonna get married
Goin' to the chapel of love
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Goin' to the chapel of love
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
James Crawley
My parents had another wedding to renew their vows. Dad had this song play while mom came down the aisle. This is their song. It was playing on the jukebox when they met. 50 years they're still together.
Marsiela Alvarez
Thank you everyone 😊
Julie Reminiec
I dedicated this song to my niece & nephew in law when they got married
Cookie Michelle
That is sooo sweet 😍😭
Delores Spencer
Mu older sisters used to sing this to us younger sisters 🙏🏽❤️ good memories
Cookie Michelle
@Delores Spencer 🙂
Nicole Dingle
Getting married today and this song gives me all the feels!!!❤
Josh
Oh my goodness, so happy you found this song right before your wedding. Hope you too have enjoyed your first two months together!!
Hoyt Bullock
Getting married today!!! Found this song, and it absolutely express's my feelings on this wonderful day. Love you Honey!!!!!
sarah gale
Hope you had a wonderful day xx