The group was founded in the early 1960s in Jersey City, New Jersey, USA by Michael Arnone, Joe Santollo, John Salvato, Tom Bialoglow, and lead singer Joey Canzano (later known as Joey Vann). George Paxton, a former big band leader was impressed by the group's style and signed them to his Coed Records label. Their first single "You Belong to Me" had previously been a hit for Jo Stafford in 1952. The Duprees' version was given a big band backing by Paxton and reached the US top ten in 1962.
The band had more top 40 hits in the next few years. "My Own True Love" was a vocal adaptation of "Tara's Theme" from the soundtrack of Gone with the Wind and became the group's second hit. "Have You Heard" and "Why Don't You Believe Me" also reached the Top 40 charts and, like "You Belong to Me," were originally early '50s female vocal hits (Joni James, in this case). The band became known for mixing doo-wop vocals with big band arrangements. Tom Bialoglow left in 1963. Mike Kelly, who had recorded on the group's original demos for George Paxton, replaced Joey Vann as lead vocalist in 1964.
Despite becoming unfashionable after the Beatles spearheaded the British Invasion in 1964, the Duprees continued to record, turning in a more "pop" direction, and reaching the Top 100 as late as 1975. The group still performs today on the oldies circuit, but with no original members. Joe Santollo died in 1981, Joey Vann died in 1984 and Mike Arnone died in 2005.
Richie Rosato, who sang lead for the Duprees throughout much of the '80s and '90s, left the group in 2002. Michael Kelly sang with The Chaperones for a brief stint in 2006. Tommy Bialoglow has his own group called Twilight Time. John Salvato is a booking agent and no longer performs. The group currently consists of Tommy Petillo (with the group since 2002), Jimmy Spinelli, Phil Granito, and Tony Testa.
Carousel
The Duprees Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I never felt so alone again
I stop to think at a wishing well
My thoughts send me on a carousel
Here I am standing on my own
Not a motion from the telephone
I know not a reason why
Just you wait and see (just you wait and see)
As school life is a
It is a woken dream
Aren't you feeling alone?
I guess its just another
I guess its just another
(I had sex with your mother) night alone
Now as I walk down the street
I need a job just to sleep in sheets
Buying food every once in a while
But not enough to purchase a smile
A tank of gas is a treasure to me
I know now that nothing is free
I talk to you every now and then
I never felt so alone again
Just you wait and see (just you wait and see)
As school life is a
It is a woken dream
Aren't you feeling alone?
I guess its just another
I guess its just another
Night alone
Thanks a lot you guys!
Hey kids, it's Satan. Thanks a lot for coming on down to
The show tonight. Hope you all had a great time. I know I did.
Those Blink fellas sure put on a kick ass show, huh. Hope to see
You all at the after show party. I'm gonna start sucking dicks
And squeezin' titties, maybe I can put my peepee in your mouth.
I love it when the kids come on over and I get, I have them suck
And kiss my peepee tenderly and gently. I like it when the kids sit
On my lap, and talk about unicorns and flowers and things like that.
Maybe I'll even suck their blood. See ya kids later!
Hey, how you guys doin' up in the back? Now from the top balcony,
Can I get an Amen? Now from the floor, can I get a Hallalujea? Now from
All these other assholes, can I get an oh yeah?
The Duprees's song Carousel starts with the singer talking about feeling alone and using a wishing well for comfort, but the thoughts that come to him only send him on an emotional carousel. He stands alone, waiting for a call, and wonders what the reason for his solitude could be. He recognizes that he is stuck in the endless cycle of his thoughts and can't escape. The singer then talks about his struggles with basic necessities like food, shelter, and transportation, and how they're a treasure to him. He feels that nothing in life is free, and he's constantly reminded of his loneliness as he talks to the person he cares about every now and then.
This song is about the feeling of loneliness and how it drives a person's thoughts around the same cycle time and again. The person feels like they're stuck in the repetitive loop of emotions, and it's hard for them to get out of it. The song's second half shifts the tone, with an apparent interruption from Satan, which brings a jarring change to the music and lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
I talk to you every now and then
I occasionally speak to you
I never felt so alone again
I feel extremely lonely
I stop to think at a wishing well
I pause at a well where people toss coins in and make a wish
My thoughts send me on a carousel
My ideas put me on an emotional rollercoaster
Here I am standing on my own
I am standing alone
Not a motion from the telephone
The telephone is not ringing
I know not a reason why
I do not know why
Solitudes a reason to die
Isolation is a cause of death
Just you wait and see (just you wait and see)
Wait and watch
As school life is a
As school life is
It is a woken dream
It is an illusion
Aren't you feeling alone?
Do you also feel alone?
I guess its just another
I suppose it is
I guess its just another
I suppose it is
(I had sex with your mother) night alone
A night alone (with inappropriate interjections)
Now as I walk down the street
While walking down the street
I need a job just to sleep in sheets
I need a job just to afford bedding
Buying food every once in a while
Occasionally buying food
But not enough to purchase a smile
But not enough to make oneself happy
A tank of gas is a treasure to me
A full gas tank is a valuable commodity to me
I know now that nothing is free
I now understand that everything comes with a cost
Just you wait and see (just you wait and see)
Wait and watch
As school life is a
As school life is
It is a woken dream
It is an illusion
Aren't you feeling alone?
Do you also feel alone?
I guess its just another
I suppose it is
I guess its just another
I suppose it is
Night alone
A night alone
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Tom Delonge, Scott Raynor, Mark Hoppus
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind