The Four Preps was a popular … Read Full Bio ↴From Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia
The Four Preps was a popular music quartet most popular in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
The group originally consisted of Bruce Belland (born 22 October 1936, Chicago, Illinois), Ed Cobb, Marv Ingram, (originally named "Marvin Inabnett") and Glen Larson (born 1937), who later become one of the most prolific creators and producers in the history of American television.
They had a minor chart hit that year with "Dreamy Eyes" and between 1956 and 1964 reached the top 100 charts with 13 different songs. The following year they appeared with Lindsay Crosby on the top-rated television special, The Edsel Show.
Their biggest hit was "26 Miles (Santa Catalina)," which was written by Belland and Larson and reached #2.
For a short period, Don Clarke replaced Marv Ingram while Marv finished college at UCLA, but he rejoined the group in 1960.
In 1960 they also recorded a parody single, "More Money for You and Me," which included single parody verses of several popular songs by The Fleetwoods, The Hollywood Argyles, The Platters, The Four Freshmen, The Kingston Trio and Dion and the Belmonts. The title parody, sung to the tune of "Tom Dooley," went like this:
Hang down the Kingston Trio,
Hang 'em from a tall oak tree;
Eliminate the Kingston Trio;
More money for you and me.
In 1966, David Somerville, formerly of The Diamonds, joined the group replacing Cobb. Belland and Somerville continued occasionally to perform as a duo after the breakup.
Belland continued writing songs for other singers, as well as writing television show scripts, eventually becoming a network executive. Cobb became a record producer and sound engineer. Larson became one of the most influential television producers in history, creating Battlestar Galactica and Knight Rider.
In the 1980s, Belland, Cobb, Somerville, and Jim Pike (formerly of The Lettermen) eventually formed a new "Four Preps" group, and went on to perform. J
Yester, Belland, and Somerville continued performing as a trio, using their last names, doing songs that were associated with The Four Preps, The Diamonds, and The Association.
Belland's daughters, Tracey Bryn Belland and Melissa Brooke Belland, followed in their father's footsteps as singers, forming a group named Voice of the Beehive
Big Man
The Four Preps Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well I talked big yesterday, but boy you oughta see me now
I bragged too long that your love was strong
There'd never be another guy
But you said more when you whispered your goodbye
I was a big man yesterday but boy you oughta see me now
I said that I was through with you
I didn't need you anyhow
But boy you oughta see me now
Those bragging words that you were mine
Of that there was no doubt
So empty now that half my life's walked out
Half my life left me yesterday
And boy you oughta see me now
If you will just forgive me dear
I'll never break another vow
I broke so many yesterday
And boy you oughta see me now
I couldn't see it yesterday
But now I know it's true
The only thing that made me big was you
I was a big man yesterday but boy you oughta see me now
If you could only see me now
You should see me now
The Four Preps’s song Big Man is about a man who once talked a big game about his relationship, but is now regretful that he did not value it more. The song describes how the man boasted about his love, but ultimately failed to follow through on his promises. The singer acknowledges his fault in losing his lover, and is asking for forgiveness as he realizes that the relationship was the only thing that made him a “big man” in the first place. The lyrics indicate that he now sees the error of his ways and is willing to make a change for the better.
The lyrics convey the feeling of regret that comes with losing something valuable and realizing its true worth. The use of past tense language and phrases like “yesterday” and “I said I was through with you” show that the man is reflecting on his past actions and words. The repetition of “boy you oughta see me now” emphasizes his current state of vulnerability and reinforces the idea that he now understands the gravity of his actions. The switch from first person “I” to second person “you” in the final verse signifies his attempt to address his former partner directly and ask for forgiveness.
Overall, the song is a powerful reflection on the complexity of human emotions and the importance of valuing relationships. It shows that even those who talk a big game and put themselves on a pedestal can be humbled by life’s experiences and that true growth comes from acknowledging one’s faults and doing better.
Line by Line Meaning
I was a big man yesterday but boy you oughta see me now
I spoke confidently in the past, but now I realize how wrong I was
Well I talked big yesterday, but boy you oughta see me now
Although I once boasted, now I seem small and insignificant
I bragged too long that your love was strong
I went on too much about how secure our love was
There'd never be another guy
I was convinced that no other man could take your place
But you said more when you whispered your goodbye
Your parting words spoke louder than my empty promises
I said that I was through with you
I declared that I was finished with our relationship
I didn't need you anyhow
I convinced myself that I could live without you
I said I didn't need you then
I repeated my misguided thoughts about being fine without you
But boy you oughta see me now
Now I'm a broken man and it’s painfully obvious
Those bragging words that you were mine
I used to boast that we were meant to be together
Of that there was no doubt
I was certain that our love was impenetrable
So empty now that half my life's walked out
Without you, my life feels unfulfilled and incomplete
Half my life left me yesterday
You left me, and I'm having a hard time coping
And boy you oughta see me now
I'm in a bad place and it’s very evident
If you will just forgive me dear
I'm hoping that you can find it in your heart to forgive me
I'll never break another vow
If you take me back, I promise to stay true to my word
I broke so many yesterday
I failed to keep my promises in the past
And boy you oughta see me now
I'm deeply remorseful for my actions
I couldn't see it yesterday
I was blind to the fact that you were the one who made me feel important
But now I know it's true
I see clearly now that my happiness depended on you
The only thing that made me big was you
You were the reason I felt important, and now I feel small without you
If you could only see me now
I'm pleading with you to consider taking me back
You should see me now
I'm not the same man I was before, and it's obvious to everyone
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BRUCE G BELLAND, GLEN LARSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Chris Fry
LOVE these guys... what perfect harmony! I got one of their albums when I was in my early teens and heard the "Big Draft Medly," "Big Man," and "Twenty Six Miles," and was awed by the great harmony and purity of their voices. I've never understood why they weren't right up there at the top with other singers that became so famous. Thank God for "The Four Preps."
Mary Ashworth
Magical piano part. + the guys harmonies so tight. Truly heaven sent.
RBAILEY57
I've always loved them, and this song. The harmony is beautiful!
Notyet Skeletal
I've heard my dad sing one line from this song since....the 80's and now I'm finally listing to it. He used to say "She was a big girl yesterday, boy you outta see her now".
Rod Mcdonough
That brilliant musical hook "I was big man yesterday but boy you otta see me now" and the piano part that follows is something I could listen to over and over again (and I do)
Carol Cooley
Me too!
Highland804
Great piano, great harmonies!
Peter Jackson
Brian highland
Sonja R
Amazing piano intro., and throughout. It has a hauntingly beautiful, and romantic melody..touches the heart.
freeguy77
"Big Man" peaked at #3 on Billboard's "Most Played by Jockeys" and #6 on "Best Selling Pop Singles in Stores." Starting on Aug. 4, Billboard unveiled it's now standard "Hot 100" chart. First #1 on the Hot 100 on Aug. 4: "Poor Little Fool" by Ricky Nelson.