In 1960, the group known as The Four Lovers evolved into The Four Seasons, with Frankie Valli as the lead singer, Bob Gaudio (formerly of The Royal Teens) on keyboards and tenor vocals, Tommy DeVito on lead guitar and baritone vocals, and Nick Massi on bass guitar and bass vocals.
The Four Seasons and the Beach Boys were virtually the only American groups whose successful careers were not derailed when the Beatles and the British Invasion bands hit the States in 1964. In fact, 1964 ranks as the Four Seasons' biggest year of all, despite the insurgency from abroad, which attests to their durability and appeal among America's teenagers. That appeal stemmed from the Four Seasons' ability to complement spotless Italian-American doo-wop harmonies with the forceful falsetto and three-octave range of lead vocalist Frankie Valli - the other members were Bob Gaudio on keyboards and tenor vocals, Tommy DeVito on lead guitar and baritone vocals, Gerry Polci on drums, and Nick Massi on bass guitar and bass vocals. Frankie Valli and Tommy DeVito previously performed with Nick DeVito (Tommy's twin brother) and Hank Majewski as the Four Lovers. later on the Four Season where heavley shaped by the songwriting of band member Bob Gaudio, with arrangements and production that drew upon everything from Phil Spector's "Wall of Sound" to the danceable beat of Motown's pop/R&B singles. During a hitmaking streak that spanned the years 1962-68, the Four Seasons netted two dozen Top Forty singles, including the Number One hits "Sherry," "Big Girls Don't Cry," "Walk Like a Man" and "Rag Doll." They've sold over 100 million records worldwide, making them the most successful white doo-wop group in rock and roll history.
At their peak, the Four Seasons made recordings that expressed the tough-but-tender sensibility of their home turf in the Northeast much in the way the Beach Boys encapsulated the world of Southern California in harmony and song. In the words of Billy Joel, a longtime fan who grew up listening to them on Long Island, "The Four Seasons had wonderful chord progressions, beautiful writing, terrific production fantastic harmony, records that really spoke to us."
The band released their first hit "Sherry" in 1962. Under the guidance of producer/songwriter Bob Crewe, The Four Seasons followed up "Sherry" with several well-remembered hits, including "Big Girls Don't Cry", "Walk Like a Man" and "Candy Girl". In the mid 1960s, the British Invasion slowed down their career somewhat, but the Four Seasons released several more big hits in 1964, such as "Dawn", "Rag Doll", which was the first single on WABC Radio, New York to be "pick hit of the week" one week and the number 1 single the following week, "Big Man in Town", "Ronnie" and "Save It for Me". Nick Massi left the Four Seasons in 1965 and was replaced by Joe Long who became the mainstay on bass and backup vocals until 1976. Several more Top 10 singles followed, including "Let's Hang On", "Working My Way Back To You", "Can't Take My Eyes Off You", and "C'mon Marianne"; but by late 1967, the group's popularity was deteriorating, as public interest moved towards rock with a harder edge and more socially conscious lyrics. The band would, however, enjoy a brief revival in their popularity in the mid 1970s, with the hits "Who Loves You", "Swearin' to God", and their last number one hit "December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)".
Fallen Angel
The Four Seasons Lyrics
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Been waiting here, it seemed a million years to me
But hush now I know you're all cried out
It's all right inside, I've had no doubt
About your love for me
I can see behind the tears
I'm certain of the way we feel
And given time the hurt will heal
I need you, I think I always will
From time to time you play around
But I love you still
You tried them all, at ev'rybody's beck and call
Maybe you resist them all
When I tell you how I missed you
Fallen angel, I'll forgive you anything
You can't help the things you do
Home again so won't you close the door
Stay here with me and
We'll forget what's gone before
Just hold me tight
Our love is gonna make it right
Put shadows way beyond recall
The ghost has almost gone
Fallen angel, I'll forgive you anything
You can't help the things you do
The Four Seasons's song Fallen Angel is a touching ballad about a lover who has waited for their partner to come back home. The opening line "You're home again, I'm glad you kept the key" shows how relieved and happy the lover is that their significant other has finally returned home. The lyrics suggest that the singer may have cheated on their lover, as the line "From time to time you play around" insinuates that their partner may have been unfaithful at some point. However, despite the hurt that the singer may have caused, the lover believes in forgiveness and is willing to look past the mistakes and problems in their relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
You're home again, I'm glad you kept the key
I'm happy you're back home, and I'm grateful you still have access to it
Been waiting here, it seemed a million years to me
I've been anxiously waiting for your return, and it felt like a very long time to me
But hush now I know you're all cried out
Be quiet now, I realize you've already shed a lot of tears
It's all right inside, I've had no doubt
It's okay, I've always been certain about your love for me
About your love for me
I have no doubt that you love me
I can see behind the tears
I can see the truth through your tears
I'm certain of the way we feel
I'm sure about our emotions
And given time the hurt will heal
With time, the pain will fade away
I need you, I think I always will
I require you, and I believe that's always going to be the case
From time to time you play around
Occasionally, you flirt with others
But I love you still
But I still love you
You tried them all, at ev'rybody's beck and call
You experimented with all of them, responding to anyone's attention
Maybe you resist them all
Perhaps you resisted them all
When I tell you how I missed you
When I express how much I missed you
Fallen angel, I'll forgive you anything
Fallen angel, I'm willing to forgive you no matter what
You can't help the things you do
You can't help what you do
Home again, so won't you close the door
Back at home, could you please shut the door
Stay here with me and we'll forget what's gone before
Stay with me, and we'll ignore everything from the past
Just hold me tight
Simply hold me firmly
Our love is gonna make it right
Our relationship will fix things
Put shadows way beyond recall
Eliminate any negative memories and feelings
The ghost has almost gone
The past's influence is almost gone
Fallen angel, I'll forgive you anything
Fallen angel, I'm willing to forgive you no matter what
You can't help the things you do
You can't help what you do
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: DOUG FLETT, GUY FLETCHER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind