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.

I'm Glad There Is You
The Four Freshmen Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

In this world of ordinary people
Extraordinary people
I'm glad there is you
In this world of overrated pleasures
Of underrated treasures
I'm glad there is you
I live to love, I love to live
With you beside me

This role so new I'll muddle through
With you to guide me
In this world where many, many play at love
And hardly any stay in love
I'm glad there is you
More than ever
I'm glad there is you

In this world where many, many play at love
And hardly any stay in love
I'm glad there is you

More than ever
I'm glad there is you

Overall Meaning

"I'm Glad There is You" is a romantic jazz ballad that expresses gratitude for the presence of someone special in the ordinary and extraordinary moments of life. The song recognizes the contrasting realities of the world, from the overrated pleasures to the underrated treasures, and asserts that the singer is glad that this special someone is with them in both. The lyrics acknowledge the challenges of learning a new role or adapting to new circumstances, but express confidence that with their love and guidance, it will be manageable. Finally, the song highlights the rarity of enduring love in a world where many people only play at it, emphasizing the value of the singer's bond with their loved one.

Line by Line Meaning

In this world of ordinary people
In a world filled with average individuals

Extraordinary people
People who stand out due to their uncommon qualities

I'm glad there is you
I am fortunate to have you in my life

In this world of overrated pleasures
This world excessively values transient happiness

Of underrated treasures
Undervalued precious things

I'm glad there is you
I am grateful to have you in my life

I live to love, I love to live
My purpose is to love, I am fulfilled by loving

With you beside me
You are my constant companion

This role so new I'll muddle through
I am uncertain in my new position and will do my best to succeed

With you to guide me
You are my source of direction and support

In this world where many, many play at love
In a culture where people often pretend to love