In 1952, after months of performing at local functions, The Five Sharps wer… Read Full Bio ↴In 1952, after months of performing at local functions, The Five Sharps were spotted by a producer and taken into a studio to record two songs. The group recorded their own "Sleepy Cowboy" and the standard "Stormy Weather". The session took most of the day and they were paid in hot dogs and soda pop. First tenor Bobby Ward remembers that sales of "Stormy Weather" were so bad that he and the other members had to buy their own copies, even though they had never been paid for the recording in the first place. The song was released on Jubilee #5104. "Stormy Weather" is today considered one of the most collectible doo-wop singles ever released. Only three 78rpm and no 45rpm copies are known to exist.

Stormy Weather
The Five Sharps Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Don't know why there's no sun up in the sky
Stormy weather
Since my man and I ain't together,
Keeps rainin' all the time

Life is bare, gloom and misery everywhere
Stormy weather
Just can't get my poor self together,

I'm weary all the time
So weary all the time
When he went away the blues walked in and met me.
If he stays away old rockin' chair will get me.

All I do is pray the lord above will let me walk in the sun once more.
Can't go on, every thing I had is gone
Stormy weather

Since my man and I ain't together,
Keeps rainin' all the time

Overall Meaning

The Five Sharps's song Stormy Weather is a classic torch song that talks about the intense emotions that come with a break-up, in this case, the singer's man leaving her. The song expresses a sense of despair and desolation, employing the weather as a metaphor to convey the mood of the singer. The opening lines of the song, "Don't know why there's no sun up in the sky, stormy weather" set the scene of the song, giving the impression of a gloomy, rainy day. The weather reflects the singer's state of mind as she faces the loneliness that comes with the end of a relationship.

The second stanza, "Life is bare, gloom and misery everywhere, stormy weather, just can't get my poor self together, I'm weary all the time," amplifies the forlorn feeling of the singer, providing a sense of hopelessness and incapacity to bounce back from the break-up. The lyrics then move to the chorus, where the singer talks about the fear of being alone for too long, as evidenced in the line, "If he stays away, old rockin' chair will get me." The singer uses this phrase to suggest the notion of becoming old and lonely, with nothing but an empty rocking chair to accompany her. The song concludes with the singer's plea for a better tomorrow, where she hopes to find the strength to move on from the heartbreak and "walk in the sun once more."

Line by Line Meaning

Don't know why there's no sun up in the sky
I'm feeling frustrated and confused as to why the weather is so gloomy.

Stormy weather
The chaotic and tumultuous state of my life and emotions.

Since my man and I ain't together,
Ever since my partner and I parted ways,

Keeps rainin' all the time
I'm experiencing a constant downpour of negative emotions.

Life is bare, gloom and misery everywhere
My life feels empty, and sadness is pervasive.

Just can't get my poor self together,
I feel lost and unable to emotionally stabilize myself.

I'm weary all the time
I'm constantly exhausted from the emotional turmoil I'm experiencing.

So weary all the time
My exhaustion is all-consuming and unrelenting.

When he went away the blues walked in and met me.
My partner leaving me caused profound sadness to enter my life.

If he stays away old rockin' chair will get me.
If my partner doesn't return, I fear becoming a lonely, isolated old woman.

All I do is pray the lord above will let me walk in the sun once more.
My religious faith is my only hope for relief from the darkness in my life.

Can't go on, every thing I had is gone
I feel like I can't continue living because everything I held dear has been lost.

Since my man and I ain't together,
My separation from my partner is the root of my suffering.

Keeps rainin' all the time
This emotional storm won't let up.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, BMG Rights Management, S.A. MUSIC
Written by: Harold Arlen, Ted Koheler

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@brainfyre

5y↑7

Stormy Weather
Lena Horne
Don't know why
There's no sun up in the sky
Stormy weather
Since my man and I ain't together
Keeps rainin' all the time
Life is bare
Gloom and misery everywhere
Stormy weather
Just can't get my poor self together
I'm weary all the time, the time
So weary all the time
When he went away, the blues walked in and met me
If he stays away, old rocking chair will get me
All I do is pray the Lord above will let me
Walk in the sun once more
Can't go on
All I have in life is gone
Stormy weather
Since my man and I ain't together
Keeps rainin' all the time
Keeps rainin' all the time
I walk around, heavy-hearted and sad
Night comes around, I'm still feelin' bad
Rain pourin'…

All comments from YouTube:

@thecavedweller616

8y↑261

its amazing what the internet can do in terms of being able to preserve history like this

@Godzillafan1980

5y↑3

Yes but who will preserve the internet ... centuries from now if the human race still exists that is

@beeps123

5y↑1

the cave dweller there will be tonnes and tonnes of good stuff floating in the corridors of the past. Of course mixed with a lot of crap. There’ll probably be apps that will filter out all the BS.

@kanenine5838

3y↑1

Untill they deem it racist or some bullshit and forever scrub it from digital existence. And because people rely on technology, we are losing value in hard copies.

@JK-ww8dn

Only some history.

@pascalponcelet5830

J'ai vu ce disque dans pawn stars mon dieu l'expert avait raison le son est horrible

2 More Replies...

@tannerdavis8163

3y↑184

On pawn stars they said it sounds terrible, but quite honestly i love it, it’s so soothing, the fact we are even able to listen to this is unreal, thankyou you youtube

@lilrosey4728

3y↑2

Man turn that z

@massey4business

You're welcome.

@TheUltimateGC

2y↑2

I found a version on Spotify by a group called The Five Sharks which is probably what they were referring to because that version is sung very off key.

@nxtcosmic6081

2y↑1

Yeah I agree...if it was clearer this would be perfect

@nxtcosmic6081

2y↑1

@Merle Galentine jr but youd bump lil pump tho 😂

7 More Replies...

@RickOnTheDrums

8y↑1.2K

Pawn Stars brought me here.

@bastiaanvandermost427

8y↑4

Rick OnTheDrums me to LOL

@welingtonleal1

7y↑8

Me too. I am from Brazil. Long Live to R&B!

@otaviodini

7y↑4

Rick OnTheDrums same here

@hanokreddy6341

me too

@09artix

lol same!!

137 More Replies...

@michaelp2977

4y↑103

After watching the episode about this recording on P/Stars, I was expecting a horrible rendition of Stormy Weather equivalent to Mrs. Miller (of Tonight Show infamy) singing Downtown. This is a little raw, too thunder rich, and unpolished, but not deserving of the trashing it received on Pawn Stars.

@TammyBundleballs

3y↑13

First, that's how I felt too. I rather enjoyed this, personally.
And second, I looked up the Miller version of Downtown. Hilarious! Thank you XD

@lordfezerellii

3y↑7

Those imperfections at the time was something unheard of. The waves on vinyl are closer to natural sound waves as opposed to most speakers today

@richardsleep5242

3y↑8

@@lordfezerellii Most people today, who I guess did not grow up with 78RPM records, don't seem to know that they were pressed on very brittle and breakable shellac, not vinyl. Shellac come from a tree resin; vinyl is made from petroleum. 78 RPM records played on a juke box when I was a kid sounded terrific. Powerful bass response due to the fast speed.

@funkadelphiarecords

6y↑161

In memory of Teddy The Raccoon who sat on and promptly broke the only known copy of the Five Sharps 78!

@jalalalbustami9105

5y↑2

funkadelphiarecords hahahaha cracked me up bro 😂

@ilbmlb51

4y↑4

I think there are 7 copies that are available including the one that teddy the racoon sat on.............the thing is to find them and in what condition they are in............

@lilrosey4728

3y↑1

Man i love that raccoon man he cool

@pickaname29

2y↑1

Allegedly

@DracoHandsome

2y↑11

There are three versions of Stormy Weather by the Five Sharps.

1. The 45 of the original 1952 recording. No copy of this has ever been found and no one is 100% certain there ever was one. The 45 is a "holy grail" among collectors.

2. The 78 of the original 1952 recording. There are only 3-ish surviving copies. This video is a digital recording of this version.

3. The 45 of a second recording in 1964 by a new group, also called the Five Sharps. Nowhere near so valued as the original.

@bloodorange6713

3y↑44

the intro with the thunder is surreal and wonderful

@MellowFellowOfYellow

3y↑3

Reminds me of Riders on the Storm

@holdennorman9209

W pfp

@itiswhatitaintanditaintwha1427

Reminds me of Rythm Of The Rain by The Cascades.

@jakefromstatefarm357

6y↑219

Thumbs up if your here because of pawn stars

@r.o5865

1 thumbs up 😂😂😭😭😭😆

@thetemplelaboratory

That guy was right, this is awful.

@carloswick1

@@thetemplelaboratory growing up in east la I can see why most ppl will find this bad and all but over here this is amazing and the best thing to cruise around to inna low rider lol

@stuckinmyhouse6782

3y↑24

I don't get why they said the song was horrible it sounds really good

@kingofkings635

2y↑4

I was watching Pawn stars which sparked my interest and here I am, thank you for making this available a great part of history.

@SmoothCinnamonX

3y↑24

Cool! I love rare stuff! Thanks for posting! Isn't it fascinating to think that this record is now enjoying MUCH more exposure now, nearly 70 years after its release, due to technology? :)

@richardsleep5242

3y↑19

I was a teenager in the R&B vocal group era and collected 78's and 45's of the genre. Growing up in Chicago, there were Chess & VJ group recordings in my record box: Moonglows, Spaniels, El Dorados. The 5 Sharps are primitive and seems to have only a piano backing, but it is charming and sincerely done all the same.

@elqueopina5466

3y↑19

"Solo es vale porque es raro no porque sea bueno"
El precio de la historia

@nxtcosmic6081

2y↑11

Man...this song is actually pretty amazing and soothing..makes me wanna cook dinner while sipping wine...and I don't even drink wine 😭

@borisgiannikvachuk2290

23w

or cook dinner 😂

@janethouse1779

5y↑26

Yep here because of Pawn Stars. I wonder how they did the sound effect of thunder at the end? Possibly large sheet of metal they hit with something. Interesting.

@paulmaringelli5536

5y↑4

The used a copy of thunder from a "sound effects" tape. Back in the day recordings of various sound effects were very popular and used often on records, radio and TV shows.

@shirleybaker3387

I knew about this long before pawn stars. the so called expert does not know his ass from a hole in the ground.

@lilrosey4728

Cool

@winstonairedale

2y↑9

I saw this record on Pawn Stars and just had to look it up just like the rest of you guys I'm 63 years old I never heard of this song but it's great

@scotthester1192

3y↑5

Very peaceful and soothing.

@RonaldVaughan

3y↑7

THANK GOD somebody archived this INCREDIBLY rare song.....WOW....I have heard SO MUCH about this infamous song...it has a place in music history....

@geraldzydek1295

3y↑4

Very cool sounding group of guys. You don't hear that kind of music anymore. music of the 50's told a story, had neat melodies, and the groups sung from the ❤️ with soul

@LeCarlton

3y↑6

I for one think this is an amazing rendition of the song

@joebarriga-9945

1y↑2

yes, the sound is the precursor of all the oldies to come by later.

@FlameReturns

6y↑5

i love this cover

@michaelgannaway645

5y↑3

Looking Back At : The Five Sharps, Stormy Weather (1952)
You may remember this record from an episode of Pawn Stars. One collector tried to sell Rick the coveted 78 RPM disc for $25,000. The price was deemed too steep for the vinyl, which was not in the best shape. However, this record is extremely rare (only three known copies exist) and highly sought after — copies have sold for as high as $20,000.

@bleamingblatherskite999

27w

I agree with the Pawn Stars assessment. This is a tough listen, but I'm glad I could hear it.

@intothemystic3922

4y↑46

“Well that’s funny because I’ve gotten offers for four times that amount”. Why tf didn’t you take those then 🤦‍♀️

@joe_chill1060

Heat of the moment?

@jakostein9943

3y↑3

Cause he went in looking for 25k. The previous offer he mentioned was for 4k

@kennebunksewer3681

6y↑32

Many of you are missing the point of why this record has such value. The singing, the song and the quality of the record has little to do with it. The story behind the record and its cultural significance is what is important here.

@drspaseebo410

5y↑3

Spot-on, Kennebunk !

@thewheelies6801

Coupled with its extreme rarity, of course.

@joannemaguuire9664

3y↑3

One of the main reasons why this record is so rare is because there was a fire and many of the Jubilee master tapes were destroyed.
Slim felt guilty about the 78 being broken that he offered money a ND credit

@grahammaguire404

41w

Well I'm glad you explained that...just how strong was that glue you were "INHALING"

@ZDiddy7777

3y↑19

Anybody who thinks this is good needs to listen to an actual classic, I would suggest "Back That Azz Up" by the genius lyricist Juvenile

@Goldenwolf333

3y↑1

A true poet

@thedoctor7158

Anybody who thinks this is good would be satisfied with a recording of a rabid cat being thrown down a deep well in a metal bucket.

@ntorok

4y↑1

I’m here from Facebook. I’m a native of Perth Amboy and that’s where this group is from.

@joaquinmaldonado4210

12w

Did they record it in an actual storm? Crazy cool.

@stevedeleon8775

2y↑1

Same here ...I was curious about this high dollar 78 rpm record of Stormy Weather...

@thisisonlyatest44

15w

For those here from Pawn Stars, I believe the music expert, Warwick, was confused. There is a group called The Five SHARKS that also recorded a doo-wop Stormy Weather and it is THAT rendition that is awful. Interestingly, the part where Warwick makes that claim seems to have been edited out in some of uploads of this segment - so I think either he or someone else realized this mistake.

@thedevilsbandit2849

2y↑1

That’s really nice :)

@jessebowman161

4y↑20

its actually really nice. not my styles of music but i like it

@carloswick1

3y↑1

Fr it’s not bad at all I’d vibe to it

@bolskanera3461

2y↑2

Me encanta 🧡🚀🇪🇦

@jacklynlopez2323

5y↑12

Pawn Stars brought me here!! And as I can see, others as well!!

@allexisstewart4535

3y↑6

What the hell is Warwick talking about I enjoyed it! I don’t think it sounds bad at ALL.

@matronmalice9867

26w

This sounds good. What the what pawn stards?

@Mr.Pink1776

Thanks Clifford!

@josephconsoli4128

26w

You have to realize that this cut is not highly collectible because of its content. It's the legend that's been built up around it. As far as the song itself, the Spaniels version puts it to shame.

@leviathan3187

3y↑2

Only copy was broken...yet we have a full version here....the internet is a mystery.

@TheTrooperMB

there are more copies for sure

@leviathan3187

Uh huh

@DooWops4Ever

2y↑1

This audio is taken from the cracked record. It still plays, but has an annoying tick every revolution. An audio engineer cut and spliced the tape every time the tick passed by. Took him over 24 hours

@dannovack1364

Warmans American records collectibles book states there were only three 78s known but I see this demo looks very interesting. No 45s have popped up in later years?

@PrinceRyanMcReynolds

29w

Maybe anyone who called it a horrible record was saying this because of some stuff that could be seen with potential portions of sound quality but in my opinion this is absolutely a good song that may have even sounded better on the original master for all we know.

But yeah even if there is some potential problems with the quality, this is not a horrible record, this is a good record, granted sure it is too bad the original master is gone cause who knows maybe it sounded better than this but still I like this song regardless and intend to add it into my iPod for sure.

@missellendiane

7y↑1

amazing- ty

@gerardhaubert8210

I read that Slim dropped the copy had. The Teddy the Raccoon story was just a rumor. Is the picture authentic?

@kathleencady5756

Me too. I was watching Pawn Stars. I started listening to this one and others the group recorded.

@TwickenStep

this goes hard

@srercrcr

21w

The 78 is super rare. Twenty years ago it was worth $7000

@ramsesalvarez5711

2y↑1

El Precio de la Historia me trajo hasta aquí.
Quería escuchar esa música tan rara y exótica que mencionan en el episodio.

@lelexlui

2y↑1

Jajajja también vine por ese motivo

@senjubunny

quite frankly all i can imagine is a fallout protagonist walking to this song

@aldobonilla5080

7y↑5

I like

@boomranger40

8y↑15

first time I have ever heard about this particular record was tonight on "Pawn Stars" the expert said it's rare but not great, I disagree.

@dougbauer2552

8y↑2

same

@johnd.lictro1312

+steve cannon I jumped up and down in my seat when I saw that record. I was stunned Rick never heard of it. I was even more stunned the expert let it get away.

@keithm5224

I love it, but I can also understand why many people don't. I think the B side's pretty good too. It's called Sleepy Cowboy

@kottyking

He didn’t say it wasn’t great. He said it had a crack down it which it did.

@alexsalazar1116

How much did the expert say this album was worth?

@juancampoy4722

I ve Heard close to or over 25,000 dlls

@user-kg9ls7wr3k

48w

So cool!

@JimmyBonesBMB

Me too! Rick on the drums! 🤣
One drummer to another!
Play it at 1.25 speed!
Way better!

@tristancontreras1622

Bravo 👌!

@stonesrolling5823

Escuche esta rareza por un programa de tv.casa de empeños

@sylvainclere3523

3y↑1

C'est un skeud extrêmement rare,le seul explemplaire au monde a été prêté à une station de radio qui l'a rendu cassé, son raton laveur s'est assis dessus. Ce disque est un mythe, le st graal des disquaires dans le style do whap

@kikimoi6093

3y↑1

Ils viennent de le dire ce soir dans l émission...

@sylvainclere3523

3y↑1

Ouais je me cultive à coup de pawn stars

@superdave7241

3y↑1

Huh???

@vansfirek7

Thanks pawn stars 🤩

@JoePiervincentiWorld

3y↑5

This record was the subject of a negotiation on the Gold and silver pawn shop video on YouTube and Warwick the specialist in expert on records and music didn't care for the record because of its poor quality. He did go on to say that back in those years guys would harmonize on the street corners and I was one of those guys I don't remember all the songs we sang but we sang things like the four seasons and the doo-wop songs and those types of records. I would just like to point out to Warwick that you have people that record today that sound like that given the equipment that they're using so back in the fifties like 52 the stuff we had to record with was very very poor compared to today so I would suggest stand up tall and be professional Warwick and don't be so quick to criticize because unless you sing and sing better than most people I would not violate the unwritten code and the music world of criticizing a fellow artist for their work and that's right I said it. Leslie I took my hat off to the five shops for venturing on this record and making it a musical product for the world to enjoy and they deserve every dollar that this record is worth in today's market.

@johnestupido1418

Should we put it on the correct speed now?

@BigEmptyZen

8y↑8

Find a copy in pristine condition and get yourself $20,000. Pretty expensive piece of cheap vinyl.

@leon9021

6y↑7

Skorpio its shellac actually

@yahmom626

7y↑5

Why was this considered a holy grail of R&B records? I'm sure there are a lot more unknown R&B artists from the 50s, 60s and 70s that never blew up like these guys and are worth less

@joeysaucedo7346

7y↑4

gravy macphail it's doo wop, not R&B. The value comes from the actual rarity, since all but a handful of copies from a 1930's recording survive to this day.

@leon9021

Its popular because of its fame and rarity in the community. Look at the pawn stars clip for it.

@MrRom92DAW

6y↑2

Charles Taylor one of these in ANY condition would go for that much

@keithm5224

5y↑2

Joey Saucedo It’s R&B, not Doo-Wop. Doo-Wop wasn’t a thing in 1952

@ilbmlb51

4y↑1

@@keithm5224 yes Keith!!!!!!........You're right!!!......Rhythm & Blues was the term used in the 1950's. "Doo Wop" was coined in 1970 by Art Laboe in CA. I personally dont like the phrase because I have my reservasions of Art Laboe. In my opinion, he was unable to distinguish "DOO-WAH" from "DOO-WOP"

3 More Replies...

@BandGangJ

2y↑1

cant believe the guy on pawn stars said this is terrible

@mort2902

Of course I looked in vain for this record but prefer the harmony of The Spaniels version.

@brownda1a

But the Spaniels' version is too bouncy. Check out The Leaders' version for better blues.

@mort2902

@@brownda1a Interesting tempo. Starvation? Are there more stanzas? Never heard of the leaders. Thanks

@brownda1a

@@mort2902 This 1933 song was covered by many artists, and in the mid-fifties, R&B recordings tended to be very local because radio stations made their own playlists. This version got the airplay in the D.C. area where I was at the time.

@mort2902

@@brownda1a First time I've heard those lyrics and couldn't find them anywhere. They must have been playing in the studio.

@alexyo3927

4y↑2

Just saw Pawan stars and had to listen

@holdwholetruthholy1511

Fairly powerful song even though this rendition seems a lot like it wasn't their best performance. Disadvantageous circumstances in the recording studio perhaps. Maybe 1952 wasn't the most comfortable time for an all black group to record in a white studio. I wish that they had become famous for selling lots of records rather than the least

@NelsonMontana1234

Okay, the piano is horribly out of tune and the background vocals are pretty raggy, but the lead vocal isn't that bad.

@diegopazsolarte

50w

El Precio de la Historia me trajo aquí.

@tonistinchcomb6247

Wow, they know how to slaughter a good song. Lena Horne made this record a hit. Let's keep it that way.

@NickBrandan221

6y↑9

I honestly dig it

@15kalas15

3y↑2

same

@carloswick1

3y↑2

Same

@SuperRutgersfan

Uh, someone said this wasn’t bad. Yes it is. It’s horrible.

@jimsullivan3456

i saw this on Pawn stars yesterday.its not bad at all.i like it,better than the crap they play today.where in Queens NY are they from?my family is from Queens

@muratpolatel1503

İ am waching this right now and i dont know the selling price

@danielmkubacki

7y↑17

I like it. Raw Doo-Wop sound.

@thedailylifeofalonelyman6870

Oh my God...

@TheHein123

Pawn stars, thanks hou!

@johnramirez1654

4y↑3

OMG pawn stars got my ass here!!!

@Bradygoodz

Yep

@jidebamgoye4670

16w

Me too. 😊

@acatnamedscamper3307

3y↑1

Let me get a guy to look at this……..

We all look it up on our phones….lol

@eletricguitarguy

6y↑1

Please can anyone post the lyrics of this song? My english is rust! =0

@brainfyre

5y↑7

@Richard53445

I also have a copy of the song bye the Spaniels with 5300 songs of Doo
Wop & Rock & Roll songs all top hits.

@motherfuckerjones3854

6y↑6

Casey Kasem from American Top 40 brought me here!

@ronalkjimez8794

6y↑1

Precio de la historia lo vuelve hacer

@timopuente2972

rare means good? I cannot understand it

@williamscarboro4577

Ditto!

@mare678

Pawn Stars brought me here also!!!

@victorwho744

3y↑3

I thought it was a alright version, not bad at all..

@hendrix760

3y↑5

seen this on Pawn Stars and was also curious, had to hear it,,not bad

@jesuslovesyouandisthewayto1114

Jesus our lord loves you and died for our sins repent and have faith to be saved

@fourzeromike

El Precio de la Historia 06/07/2022

@miguelvera8220

28w

Pawn Stars also brought me here

@brogamerscentral4528

4y↑3

If you’re here because of a bathroom reader then like

@patriotas666...

2y↑1

En el precio de la historia Rick no lo quiso comprar

@TreeDesings3D

¿This is R&B?

@angemedin

Yes I'm here bec of Pawn Stars 🌟

@edwardfarnsworth5915

Uncle John's Bathroom Reader brought me here.

@NeyBessa

Just the same from Brazil

@FaithInHisBloodOrg

An ok old song...

@misbruikersnaam

That make 2 of us

@wlocke2

I'm sure Val Shively has it,Upper Darby ,PA

@Doowop1956

For sure he has the reissue on the Bim Bam Boom label because I bought one from him years ago.

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