It was formed with the original name of Sentimental Four in Newport News, Virginia, U.S., in the late 1940s, and initially consisted of two sets of brothers - Rudy West (born 25 July 1932, Newport News, Virginia) and Bernie West (born 4 February 1930, Newport News), and Ripley Ingram (born 1930 - died 23 March 1995, Newport News) and Raphael Ingram. Ingram left in 1949 and Maryland Pierce (born 1933) and Dickie Smith became members in his place. At this juncture the name of the group was changed to The Five Keys.
They were signed to Aladdin Records in 1951, and in 1952 Rudy West left to join the United States Army, and he was replaced by Ulysses K. Hicks. In 1954 Dickie Smith left and was replaced with Ramon Loper.
At this point the Five Keys was signed to Capitol Records, and their popularity increased, although more instrumentation was used.
The group was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2002.
I Burned Your Letter
The Five Keys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Noege sseunen pyonji
Chaldeul eopbwa Chek it
Nun bushin taeyang arae naeri chineun hae bi
Geu ane sarang isumswige haneun neo wa na
Neo eh geu jageun maeum hana hana ga
Nege deo obshi k'eun sarang eh miro ga
You so beautiful areumdaeun neo eh miso
Nan niga animyeon sarang eh mon mala
Nan niga animyeon gippeum eh mon mala
Neon eotteon nugu boda naege hamdala
Mun tteuk noereul ch'eoeum man nan naleul giokhae
(Himdeulo deon nae sarmi)
Jichin neo eokkaereul nege gidael su itge
(Ije haengbokeul neukkigo)
Jamshirado neoui dung dwie
Shwil goseul jonghae jun
Nan neoreul ch'eoeum butho saranghangeoya
(Natto han neo oebshin sara)
If you go, If you leave
Nareul tarmagago
Nareul tarmaganeun
Urin saranghago
If you go, If you leave
Jamishi noreul tteonaneon
Nareul jubachul nege
Teogamsahe
My life it's like a song
Noege sseuneun dubeon jjae pyonji
Chaldeul eopa Check it
Nae maeum eh sarangeun shikchi anha
Shigani galsu rondeo tteugeopge ta ola
Ojik geudae gai eh ganuhan iliya
Sarang eh ppajyeo beorin
Nae so juhan sarama
Misoreul meogeum euro dang shin
Ui geu nun bichi ttaseureopge
Nae dungeuk gamssadeon geu sonkil
Nansaranghagie pyonhaji anha neun chinshilo
Oneul ba myeokshi nae gae hangidoro
Nege mu eo hana chulsobdeaon na in geol
(Neol wi hae gi do halge)
Dashi neoui gyeotte hamkke sumuel shiwheun geol
(Neol wihae sara galge)
Geu go ppunin naui sarangi
Neol miso jigehae neol deoul saranghage mandun geo yeo sso
(Neo wana urin yeongwonhi hana)
If you go, If you leave
Nareul tarmagago
Nareul tarmaganeun
Urin saranghago
If you go, If you leave
Jamishi noreul tteonaneon
Nareul jubachul nege
Chogeumda gaggai suksagyeo chulge
Saranghae
(Han na hanamyeon namu haengbok hae)
Just Can With You Gingin shigane sarogane
Namuna chinsolhal mideun ib'uilyohae
Neo manueul saranghae mideobolae
Yeongwonhi neomanuel jig'yeojolge
Gingin shigane sarogane
Namuna chinsolhal mideun ib'uilyohae
Neo manueul saranghae mideobolae
Yeongwonhi neomanuel jig'yeojolge
If you go, If you leave
Ijen nado ala neomal baraboneun
Geu reon nareul ara
If you go, If you leave
Neoui dwie sumeoseo
Hayan neoui nun mullo
Saranghalge
The lyrics to The Five Keys' song "I Burned Your Letter" capture the pain and longing of lost love. The first verse describes the singer's life as a song, with references to the sun and love, suggesting a happiness that has been interrupted. The chorus pleads for the love to stay, with the singer expressing how much they love the other person. The second verse describes the pain of the separation, with references to memories of the past and the hope that they can be together again. The final chorus is a plea to the love to never leave, with the singer pledging their love and devotion.
Overall, the lyrics suggest a love that was strong but has been lost through separation. The singer is left to deal with the pain and longing of the lost love, while also holding on to the hope that they can be together again. The song is a poignant expression of the universal experience of love and loss.
Line by Line Meaning
My life it's like a song
My life is comparable to a musical composition
Noege sseunen pyonji
I'm making this prediction for you
Chaldeul eopbwa Chek it
Don't hesitate, check it out
Nun bushin taeyang arae naeri chineun hae bi
The sunlight shines brightly, making its way into my eyes
Geu ane sarang isumswige haneun neo wa na
We're both inside that love, feeling it with all our hearts
Neo eh geu jageun maeum hana hana ga
Every little thing in your heart
Nege deo obshi k'eun sarang eh miro ga
It's leading me toward a deeper and stronger love for you
You so beautiful areumdaeun neo eh miso
Your smile is so beautiful and radiant
Nan niga animyeon sarang eh mon mala
Without you, I wouldn't know what love is
Nan niga animyeon gippeum eh mon mala
Without you, I wouldn't know what happiness is
Neon eotteon nugu boda naege hamdala
You mean more to me than anyone else
Mun tteuk noereul ch'eoeum man nan naleul giokhae
I remember myself looking desperate and pathetic for the first time
(Himdeulo deon nae sarmi)
(When my life was difficult)
Jichin neo eokkaereul nege gidael su itge
You can lean on my back now that you're exhausted
(Ije haengbokeul neukkigo)
(Feeling happy now)
Jamshirado neoui dung dwie
Even when I close my eyes
Shwil goseul jonghae jun
I'll keep the place you used to be
Nan neoreul ch'eoeum butho saranghangeoya
I will love you before anything else
(Natto han neo oebshin sara)
(I will live for no one else but you)
If you go, If you leave
In the event that you depart
Nareul tarmagago
You take my heart with you
Nareul tarmaganeun
You're taking me with you
Urin saranghago
We're in love with each other
Jamishi noreul tteonaneon
When you leave someday
Nareul jubachul nege
Remember me
Teogamsahe
Do it painfully
Chogeumda gaggai suksagyeo chulge
Let me hear it one more time, please say you love me
Saranghae
I love you
(Han na hanamyeon namu haengbok hae)
(It'll make us both happy)
Just Can With You Gingin shigane sarogane
Just moments with you, I'm happy
Namuna chinsolhal mideun ib'uilyohae
I believe there is evidence for true love
Neo manueul saranghae mideobolae
I will believe in loving only you
Yeongwonhi neomanuel jig'yeojolge
I'll commit myself to only you forever
Ijen nado ala neomal baraboneun
Now I know why I'm always looking at you
Geu reon nareul ara
And now you know me too
Neoui dwie sumeoseo
Breathing only with you
Hayan neoui nun mullo
Melting in your warm tears
Saranghalge
I will love you
Writer(s): Van Mccoy
Contributed by Elena M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jepsie Bright
The 5 keys were lost during this period of their career. 😨
Lionheart Roar
The Five Keys...Cream Of The Crop
John Bewall
Smooth
John Benn
WOW WOW WOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From a mad keen 73yo Aussie fan.
Jack Strong
Thanks for the comment John.