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
Charmaine
The Four Preps Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Charmaine, my Charmaine
I wonder when bluebirds are mating
Will you come back again
I wonder if I keep on praying
Will our dreams be the same
I wonder if you ever think of me, too
Charmaine, my Charmaine
Will you come back again
I wonder if I keep on praying
Will our dreams be the same
I wonder if you ever think of me, too
Charmaine, my Charmaine
The Four Preps's song Charmaine is a romantic ballad that explores the themes of longing, uncertainty, and unrequited love. The lyrics tell the story of a man who is deeply in love with a woman named Charmaine, but she keeps him waiting and he is unsure whether she feels the same way.
The first two lines of the song express the man's frustration with Charmaine's indecisiveness and his own uncertainty about their relationship. He wonders why she keeps him waiting and whether she will ever come back to him. The line "I wonder when bluebirds are mating" is a clever metaphor that suggests the man has been waiting so long for Charmaine that he is beginning to think that even the natural world is making more progress than he is with his love interest.
The chorus of the song is a repeated plea to Charmaine to come back to him. He wonders if his continued prayers will bring them closer together and whether she ever thinks of him like he thinks of her. The repetition of Charmaine's name throughout the song gives it a poetic quality and reinforces the idea that she is always on the man's mind.
Overall, the lyrics to Charmaine evoke a sense of bittersweet longing and hopeless love, resonating with anyone who has experienced unrequited feelings for someone special.
Line by Line Meaning
I wonder why you keep me waiting
I am curious as to why you make me wait so long, Charmaine.
Charmaine, my Charmaine
Addressing you, Charmaine, the one I care about so deeply.
I wonder when bluebirds are mating
I wonder if, during the time that bluebirds mate, if you will return to me, Charmaine.
Will you come back again
I am hopeful that you will return to me once more.
I wonder if I keep on praying
I wonder if my prayers will bring us closer to having our dreams realized, Charmaine.
Will our dreams be the same
I want to know if what we dream of, Charmaine, is the same.
I wonder if you ever think of me, too
I wonder if the feelings I have for you, Charmaine, are reciprocated.
Charmaine, my Charmaine
Again, addressing you, Charmaine, the one I care about so deeply.
Lyrics © Budde Music Publishing GmbH, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ERNO RAPEE, LEW POLLACK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
TheLimePopsicle
They really did a great imitation of the Bachelors sound.
TheLimePopsicle
As do I, it's a great song!!!
hunlandsMom
Thank you very much for this beautiful version of "Charmaine". I`ve knew just the Bachelors`s version of this song and of course the instrumentals until now.
Desert Flower
My name is Charmaine and I dress in this 40s era.. I love this song. I feel as though they are singing to me personally.
Peter T L Leong
Lime popsicle. I am speechless. being a mantovani fan for years, I never knew there were word to the song til today and what a version!!! breathless. thank you.............................
CarlDuke
Thanks for posting this one. Been looking for it for a long time.
shatinterry
This is just as good as the Bachelors' version, in fact.. very close,,
Svein Ramberg
But the boys here, had better voices than The Bachelors, but I also loves both groups!
James Dunn
Perhaps their voices are better, I don't know, but the vocals are not as memorable. I prefer The Bachelors version.
shatinterry
Yes they did, sound almost the same..