1… Read Full Bio ↴Musical groups in three genres have shared the name The Four Aces.
1. The Aces, initially known as "The Four Aces" were a Jamaican vocal group who are best known for their work with Desmond Dekker, but who also recorded without him. The initial line-up of the Aces was Clive Campbell, Barry Howard, Carl Howard, and Patrick Howard. The group came to the attention of Dekker, who supported them when they auditioned for Leslie Kong at Beverley's studio in 1965. The producer employed the group as backing singers for Dekker, recording many hits with him including "The King of Ska" (where they were credited as His Cherry Pies), "Get Up Adinah" (on which they were credited as the Four Aces"), huge hits such as "007 (Shanty Town)" and "Israelites", and the winner of the 1968 Festival Song Contest, "Music Like Dirt". By 1967 the only remaining original member was Barry Howard, along with Winston Samuels. Dekker's international success led to overseas tours, but the Aces were not taken along, Samuels refusing to fly, stating "Rastas did not fly on iron birds", and Barry Howard having already decided to emigrate to the United States. Instead they stayed in Jamaica and recorded without Dekker. They had a Jamaican hit in 1970 with "Mademoiselle Ninette", and by 1971 the line-up had again changed, with Barry now rejoined by Carl Howard. A string of hits followed with "Reggae Motion", "Take a Look", "Oh I Miss You", Call Me Number One", "Be My Baby", and "Sad Sad Song", and they had a near hit in the pop charts in 1973 with "Working on it Night and Day". Little more was heard from the group until 1982 when they released "One Way Street".
2. An American singing quartet which was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2001. The group is well-known for a plethora of hits, including: "Love is a Many-Splendored Thing", " Three Coins in the Fountain", "Stranger in Paradise", "Shangri-La", "Perfidia". All of the group's major hits were first performed by the original four members: Al Alberts (originally Albertini), Dave Mahoney, Lou Silvestri, and Rosario "Sod" Vaccaro. Although all were from Chester, Pennsylvania, Alberts and Mahoney actually met in the Navy. They formed a duo, with Alberts singing and Mahoney playing behind him. Later adding Vaccaro on trumpet and Silvestri on drums, the group played in the Philadelphia area. When they could not find a label which would release their record, "(It's No) Sin," Alberts started his own label, Victoria Records. "(It's No) Sin" sold a million copies! DECCA Records soon signed the group, billing them as The Four Aces Featuring Al Alberts. In 1956, Alberts left The Four Aces to try to make it as a soloist, but never made the charts. He was replaced as lead singer by Fred Diodati, another Philadelphia product. Over the years, as the remaining original members left, Diodati chose new singers to replace them. The right to "The Four Aces" name eventually landed in court. In 1975, Diodati was awarded the right to the name and continued to tour under it. The founding members, who again wanted to tour, were allowed to use the name, "The Original Four Aces, Featuring Al Alberts." The latter group retired in 1987. The Four Aces are still touring. (A link to their appearances is listed below.)
3. Cajun fiddler Leo Soileau was the second Cajun musician to record his works. This occurred in the late 1930s. The Four Aces was the name of his second string band (the first had been The Rhythm Boys). Soileau reitred from music in the 1940s with the demise of the string band sound.
I Understand
The Four Aces Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You know you want to be free
Darling, you know I'll let you go
You'd do the same for me
I understand
And darling, you are not to blame
If when we kiss it's not the same
It's not your fault because your heart has changed it's mind
You didn't mean to be unkind
I understand
Forgetting you will be far from easy
I've grown so used to your charms
I'll miss that old thrill and no one can fill
The place here in my arms
But if you find our love was really meant to be
Then darling, hurry back to me
And I'll understand
I understand
And darling, you are not to blame
If when we kiss it's not the same
I understand.
It's not your fault because your heart has changed it's mind
You didn't mean to be unkind
I understand
Forgetting you will be far from easy
I've grown so used to your charms
I'll miss that old thrill and no one can fill
The place here in my arms
But if you find our love was really meant to be
Then darling, hurry back to me
The Four Aces's song "I Understand" speaks about the complexities of love. The singer is addressing his partner who wants to be free, breaking away from the relationship. The singer knows and understands his partner’s wants and needs, so he is willing to let her go. He's not blaming her for anything and understands that her heart has changed. The singer is aware that forgetting her will be difficult because he has gotten accustomed to her charms, and no one can replace the place she has in his heart.
The song also highlights the possibility of reconciliation. The singer acknowledges that if it's meant to be, she will come back to him. Until then, he will hold on to the memories and the love they shared. Throughout the song, the tone is melancholic, and the singer's voice conveys sadness and heartbreak. The lyrics continue to emphasize the emotions associated with the end of relationships and the difficulty of letting go.
Overall, "I Understand" is a powerful depiction of relationships' dynamics and how complicated they can be. Sometimes, things do not work out as planned and people have to move on. Although it's tough to forget someone you love, the song offers some hope that things may work out in the end.
Line by Line Meaning
Why do you go on pretending
Why are you still pretending when you know you want to be free?
You know you want to be free
You are aware that you desire to be free.
Darling, you know I'll let you go
My dear, you know that I will allow you to leave.
You'd do the same for me
You would also let me go if the situation was reversed.
I understand
I comprehend your feelings and actions.
And darling, you are not to blame
My dear, you are not at fault.
If when we kiss it's not the same
When we kiss, the feeling has changed.
It's not your fault because your heart has changed it's mind
You are not responsible for the change in how you feel because your heart has changed its mind.
You didn't mean to be unkind
You did not intend to be hurtful or insensitive.
Forgetting you will be far from easy
It will be difficult to forget you.
I've grown so used to your charms
I have become accustomed to your attractive qualities.
I'll miss that old thrill and no one can fill the place here in my arms
I will miss the excitement of being with you, and no one can replace the spot you occupy in my embrace.
But if you find our love was really meant to be
However, if you discover that our love was truly destined to be,
Then darling, hurry back to me
My dear, then please return to me quickly.
And I'll understand
And I will continue to comprehend and support you.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: WILLIAM PAT BEST
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind