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.
Standing on the Corner
The Four Freshmen Lyrics
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Standing on a corner watching all the girls go by
Brother you don't know a nicer occupation
Matter of fact, neither do I
Than standing on a corner watching all the girls
Watching all the girls, watching all the girls go by
I'm the cat that got the cream
Haven't got a girl but I can wish
So I'll take me down to Main street
And that's where I select my imaginary dish
Standing on a corner watching all the girls go by
Standing on a corner giving all the girls the eye
Brother if you've got a rich imagination
Give it a whirl, give it a try
Try standing on a corner watching all the girls
Watching all the girls, watching all the girls go by
Brother you can't go to jail for what you're thinking
Or for that woo look in your eye
Standing on the corner watching all the girls
Watching all the girls, watching all the girls go by
The Four Freshmen's "Standing On The Corner" is a lively and playful song, detailing the joys of standing on a street corner and watching all the passing girls. In the first verse, the singer describes the activity as a pleasant and enjoyable occupation that he shares with his brother. The chorus emphasizes the sheer pleasure of watching the girls go by. The second verse highlights the singer's dreaming and wishing for a girl, but until then, he finds satisfaction in his imaginary selections on Main Street. The third verse reassures the audience that the activity is harmless and that one cannot be charged for their thoughts or their look. Overall, the song paints a picture of a carefree and innocent time in American popular culture.
Line by Line Meaning
Standing on a corner watching all the girls go by
I'm just hanging around here, spending my time watching attractive girls passing by on this street corner.
Standing on a corner watching all the girls go by
There's nothing better than this activity for me to do, and maybe you feel the same way as well.
Brother you don't know a nicer occupation
There's no better way to occupy my time than this.
Matter of fact, neither do I
In fact, I can't think of anything else that's more pleasant than this.
Than standing on a corner watching all the girls
Watching all these girls is just so fascinating, I can't pull myself away.
Watching all the girls, watching all the girls, watching all the girls go by
I'm completely fixated on observing these women, not wanting to miss out on any of them.
I'm the cat that got the cream
Even though I don't actually have a girlfriend right now, I'm feeling pretty good about the prospect of finding one.
Haven't got a girl but I can dream
Without a girlfriend right now, I can still dream about having one in the future.
Haven't got a girl but I can wish
Although I don't have a girlfriend at the moment, I can still hope for one to come along.
So I'll take me down to Main street
I'll head down to the main street area for more opportunities to watch those lovely ladies.
And that's where I select my imaginary dish
Yes, I'll be looking around to find that special girl that can satisfy my imagination.
Standing on a corner watching all the girls go by
It's just great to stay at this corner, watching a stream of beautiful women pass me by.
Standing on a corner giving all the girls the eye
I'm not just watching them, but also checking them out with some suggestive looks.
Brother if you've got a rich imagination
If you've got a wild imagination like mine, then this is the perfect activity for you to try.
Give it a whirl, give it a try
Go ahead and try it, you might be surprised at how much you enjoy it.
Try standing on a corner watching all the girls
This is something you should experience for yourself, and see how good it feels.
Watching all the girls, watching all the girls, watching all the girls go by
It's amazing how much pleasure one can derive just by watching these ladies going about their daily business.
Brother you can't go to jail for what you're thinking
You won't get arrested just for thinking impure thoughts about these women, so go ahead and let your mind wander.
Or for that woo look in your eye
Even if you get caught checking out a particularly attractive one, it's not like you can get in trouble for that.
Standing on the corner watching all the girls
I'm going to keep standing right here on this corner, watching every girl that comes my way.
Watching all the girls, watching all the girls, watching all the girls go by
Every girl is unique and fascinating in her own way, and I'm not going to miss a single one of them.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: WILLIAM 'COUNT' BASIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
David Chernofsky
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