The Four Freshmen began as a American vocal group popular from the 1950s th… Read Full Bio ↴The Four Freshmen began as a American vocal group popular from the 1950s through to the early 1960s. Founded by brothers Ross and Don Barbour in 1948 as freshmen at Butler University, the other two original members included their cousin Bob Flanigan and Hal Kratzsch. Well-known for their multi-part harmonies, they are notable as early purveyors of vocalese and as the forerunners of vocal-harmony based rock music, particularly that of The Beach Boys. In their current configuration, The Four Freshmen continue to perform.

The group took off after being signed to Capitol Records in 1952 at the insistence of high profile fan, Stan Kenton. They remained popular throughout the 50s and early 60s, releasing a wide array of successful albums, movie and television appearances and performing countless sold-out concerts. The band eventually lost mainstream attention with the emergence of the British pop bands of the 1960s, even though they managed to stay together even after the retirement of final original member Bob Flanigan in 1992.

As of 2001, the Freshmen have been composed of Bob Ferreira, Brian Eichenberger, Curtis Calderon, and Vince Johnson. Although the new lineup of the Four Freshmen have continued the legendary vocal tradition of the original band and perform many of the same standards, the current sound has more of a lounge sound rather than focusing primarily upon harmonies. This modernized sound has proven quite successful, as the group won Down Beat magazine's reader's poll award for Vocal Group of the Year in 2000, proving the quartet's prominence in the jazz world today.

Guilty
The Four Freshmen Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Though you've decided that our love is wrong
And think that we should part
It seems as though I have loved you so long
You'll always be in my heart

Is it a sin
Is it a crime
Loving you dear like I do

If it's a crime then I'm guilty
Guilty of loving you

Maybe I'm wrong dreaming of you
Dreaming the lonely night through
If it's a crime then I'm guilty
Guilty of dreaming of you

What can I do
What can I say
After I've taken the blame?
You say we're through
You'll go your way
But I'll always feel just the same

Maybe I'm right
Maybe I'm wrong
Loving you dear like I do

If it's a crime then I'm guilty
Guilty of loving you

Overall Meaning

The Four Freshmen's song "Guilty" is a tender ballad that speaks of a love that has been deemed wrongful by others. The singer acknowledges that his love interest has made the decision that they must separate, but he cannot help the fact that he has loved her for so long. He sings that if loving her is a crime, then he is guilty indeed. He questions whether dreaming of her and remaining devoted to her is truly a sin, and laments the fact that he may never be able to come back from the blame that has been assigned to him. Despite the heartbreak and separation, he still cannot help feeling guilty for loving her.

The lyrics of this song are universal in their portrayal of the pain that comes from loving someone who may not reciprocate those feelings or who is deemed off-limits by society's norms. It speaks to the human condition of vulnerability and the inability to control our own emotions. The song's melody echoes its lyrical content, with a soft yet pensive melody that matches the singer's introspective tone.

Line by Line Meaning

Though you've decided that our love is wrong
Even though you've made the decision that our love is not socially accepted

And think that we should part
And believe that we should move on from one another

It seems as though I have loved you so long
It appears that I have loved you for an extended amount of time

You'll always be in my heart
You will forever remain in my heart

Is it a sin
Is it morally wrong

Is it a crime
Is it illegal

Loving you dear like I do
To love you as deeply as I do

If it's a crime then I'm guilty
If it is unacceptable to society, then I am responsible

Guilty of loving you
Responsible for loving you unconditionally

Maybe I'm wrong dreaming of you
It is possible for me to be incorrect in thinking about you constantly

Dreaming the lonely night through
Dreaming of you all night when I'm lonely

Guilty of dreaming of you
Responsible for dreaming of you consistently

What can I do
What actions can I take

What can I say
What words can I express

After I've taken the blame
Even after I've been criticized for feeling this way

You say we're through
You declare that our relationship is finished

You'll go your way
You'll move on to your own path in life

But I'll always feel just the same
But my feelings for you will remain unchanged

Maybe I'm right
It is possible that I am correct

Maybe I'm wrong
It is possible that I am mistaken

If it's a crime then I'm guilty
If loving you is considered inappropriate, then I am at fault

Guilty of loving you
Responsible for loving you unconditionally

Lyrics © DistroKid, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave
Written by: Harry Akst, Gus Kahn, Richard A. Whiting

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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