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 Didn't Know About You
The Four Freshmen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The usual laughs, not often but loud
And in the world that I knew
I didn't know about you.
Chasing after the ring on the merry-go-round
Just taking my fun where it could be found
And yet what else could I do
Darling, now I know
I had the loneliest yesterday,
Every day
In your arms I know for once in my life,
I'm living
Had a good time every time I went out
Romance was the thing I kidded about
How could I know about love
I didn't know about you.
The Four Freshmen’s “I Didn't Know About You” is a love song that tells the story of the journey of a man who thought he had it all sorted out until he met the love of his life. The opening line, “I went around with my own little crowd, the usual laughs, not often but loud,” is a clear indication that the singer was all about seeking pleasure and companionship with friends. His world seems to be about having fun and looking for the next thrill.
The lyrics continue with the singer telling us that he had no clue about the existence of his current partner. “And in the world that I knew, I didn't know about you.” He was fixed to the things he knew and never considered anything more. Just like any other young adult, he spent his time chasing after the “ring on the merry-go-round” and looking for fun wherever he could find it. Until he met her, he was content with just living a lighthearted life.
But all of that changed the moment he laid his eyes on her. The line “Darling, now I know I had the loneliest yesterday, every day,” is a poignant indication that the singer had been jaded all along without realizing it. Meeting his love interest made him see how empty his life was without her. The last few lines of the song encapsulate the change in the singer's life as he now understands what it means to experience true love with another person.
Overall, the song is a reflection of how sometimes we only see what we want to see and that sometimes, we need to be knocked over by love to recognize its value.
Line by Line Meaning
I went around with my own little crowd
I used to spend time with my own group of friends
The usual laughs, not often but loud
We enjoyed jokes and laughter, but not regularly
And in the world that I knew
I was only familiar with the environment I was in
I didn't know about you
I was unaware of your existence
Chasing after the ring on the merry-go-round
I was focused on achieving materialistic goals
Just taking my fun where it could be found
I was seeking enjoyment wherever possible
And yet what else could I do
I didn't know any better
I didn't know about you
I was unaware of your presence and impact on me
Darling, now I know
My love, I have come to understand
I had the loneliest yesterday, every day
I used to feel lonely every single day
In your arms I know for once in my life
Being with you has made me realize
I'm living
I am truly experiencing life
Had a good time every time I went out
I used to enjoy myself whenever I went out
Romance was the thing I kidded about
I used to joke about romantic relationships
How could I know about love
I didn't understand what true love was
I didn't know about you
You were not a part of my life, so I was unaware of love's true meaning
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BOB RUSSELL, DUKE ELLINGTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@DrJonesJazzMore
0:00 Please Be Kind
2:57 I Hadn't Anyone Till You
5:03 At Last
8:08 I Didn't Know About You
10:50 Polka Dots And Moonbeams
14:57 I'm Beginning To See The Light
17:37 Long Ago And Far Away
20:08 I've Never Been In Love Before
23:06 Be Careful It's My Heart
24:28 It's A New World
28:53 I Can't Believe That You Are In Love With Me
31:11 First Affair
@tomfinland9572
Thanks for posting this.. I'd never heard if before.. can you imagine discovering a "new" Freshmen album?????? A+A+A+A+A+A+A+A+
@nancyreyes5219
The Best as always 🥰