The group, formed in New Haven, Connecticut, consisted of leader Fred Parris, Lou Peebles, Stanley Dortch, Ed Martin and Jim Freeman in 1954. With little success, the group reorganized, with Dortch and Peebles leaving, and new member Al Denby entering. The group then recorded "In the Still of the Night", which was originally released as the b-side to the single, "The Jones Girl". The single was released the following year, and "In the Still of the Night" ended up charting at number three on the R&B chart and number 25 on the pop charts. Parris entered the Army soon after, and the group reorganized again, with Martin, Freeman, Tommy Killebrew, Jessie Murphy and new lead Bill Baker. This lineup hit with another highly successful song, Billy Dawn Smith's "To The Aisle".
Upon Parris' return from the Army, a new lineup was assembled, consisting of Parris, Lou Peebles (who was in a previous incarnation of the Five Satins), Sylvester Hopkins, Richie Freeman and Wes Forbes. The group would be briefly known as "Fred Parris and the Scarlets", until the Baker-led group split up. At this point, they reverted to the Five Satins name, but had little success on the charts.
By the early 1970s the group was Parris, Peebles, Richie Freeman, Jimmy Curtis and Corky Rogers, and they continued recording into the 1980s, with Parris, Richie Freeman, Curtis and Nate Marshall. Meanwhile, Bill Baker started his own Five Satins group in 1981, with former Satin Sylvester Hopkins and Hopkins' brothers Carl and Frank. By the late 1980s, this group consisted of Baker, Harvey Potts, Jr., Anthony Hofler and Octavio DeLeon.
Fred Parris continues to perform. Bill Baker died in 1994.
Awards and recognition:
In 2003, the Five Satins were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame.
Present day:
One of the original members of the Five Satins now works in the cafeteria at the University of New Haven. Jim Freeman lives in Norwalk, Iowa and owns a pest control company. Wes Forbes is a psychologist in the State of California, currently employed with Alliant International University as a Training Director
Fred Parris passed away in January of 2022.
WHEN THE SWALLOWS COME BACK
The Five Satins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That's the day you promised to come back to me
When you whispered, "Farewell", in Capistrano
Twas the day the swallow flew out to sea
All the mission bells will ring
The chapel choir will sing
The happiness you'll bring
When the swallows come back to Capistrano
That's the day I pray that you'll come back to me
All the mission bells will ring
The chapel choir will sing
The happiness you'll bring
Will live in my memory
When the swallows come back to Capistrano
That's the day I pray that you'll come back to me
The Five Satins's song "When The Swallows Come Back To Capistrano" speaks to the hope and longing of a lover waiting for their significant other's return. The lyrics are set against the backdrop of Capistrano, a historical city located in Orange County, California, that is known for its annual swallow migration. The return of the swallows is seen as a harbinger of spring and a time of renewal.
The song begins with the statement, "When the swallows come back to Capistrano, that's the day you promised to come back to me." The singer is holding out hope that their lover will return to them, just as the swallows return to Capistrano each year. The mention of the "promise" highlights the importance of this reunion to the singer, conveying a sense of longing and deep desire for their partner's return.
The song continues, "When you whispered, 'Farewell,' in Capistrano, twas the day the swallow flew out to sea." This line speaks to the idea that the swallow's departure is symbolic of a farewell, perhaps indicating that the singer's lover left on the same day as the swallows. This further emphasizes the importance of the swallows' return to Capistrano as a sign of hope for the singer.
The chorus repeats the idea of the swallows' return as a symbol of hope and happiness. The mission bells ringing and the chapel choir singing create a sense of celebration, while the lines "the happiness you'll bring/will live in my memory" express the depth of emotion felt by the singer. The final line of the chorus, "That's the day I pray that you'll come back to me," reinforces the idea that the swallows' return is a sign of hope for the singer's reunion with their lover.
Overall, "When The Swallows Come Back To Capistrano" is an emotionally charged song that speaks to themes of hope and longing. By weaving in the annual swallow migration of Capistrano, the song creates a powerful metaphor for the singer's desire for their lover's return.
Line by Line Meaning
When the swallows come back to Capistrano
The day you promised to come back to me.
That's the day you promised to come back to me
Referring to the return of swallows as a symbol of hope that your lover would return.
When you whispered, "Farewell", in Capistrano
The day the swallow flew out to sea.
Twas the day the swallow flew out to sea
That was the day when you bid your farewell to me and went away.
All the mission bells will ring
A celebration of your return to me.
The chapel choir will sing
Singing for joy, for the moment that I have waited for has finally arrived.
The happiness you'll bring
Returning to me brings only joy and happiness.
Will live in my memory
I will always remember the happiness you brought to me when you returned.
That's the day I pray that you'll come back to me
Expressing a fervent hope that you will return on the day the swallows come back to Capistrano.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: LEON T. RENE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind