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)".
Teardrops
The Four Seasons Lyrics
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My tears are like crystals, they cover my window pane
I'm thinking of our lost romance and how it should have been
Oh if we only could start over again
I know you never forgive me dear, for running out on you
I was wrong to take a chance with somebody new
I sit in my room looking out at the rain
I know you never forgive me dear, for running out on you
Oh I long to do the things we used to do
I'm lonely and I'm blue yet I'll try to get along
Without you
Teardrops, teardrops, teardrops
I have to gain faith, hope and charity
God only knows the girl who will love me
Oh if we only could start over
Again
The Four Seasons's song "Teardrops" depicts a person who is feeling regretful and sorrowful about a lost love. In the lyrics, the singer is sitting alone in their room, looking outside as the rain pours and their tears fill the windowpane. They reminisce about their past relationship, wishing they could turn back time and make things right. They admit to their mistakes and that they were wrong for taking a chance with someone else. However, the song also portrays a sense of hope and determination, with a desire to move on and find someone who will love them.
The use of rain and tears in the lyrics creates a vivid image of the singer's sadness and heartbreak. The repetition of "teardrops" reinforces the theme of crying and emotional pain. The line "God only knows the girl who will love me" shows that the singer is trying to have faith that they will find love again, but it also suggests a sense of uncertainty and desperation. The song is a classic example of doo-wop music, which was popular in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
Line by Line Meaning
I sit in my room looking out at the rain
I'm feeling sad and missing you while I watch the rain from my room
My tears are like crystals, they cover my window pane
My tears are flowing so much that they're forming crystals that blur my window
I'm thinking of our lost romance and how it should have been
I can't help but think about our past and regretting the way our love ended
Oh if we only could start over again
I wish we could turn back time and begin our relationship anew
I know you never forgive me dear, for running out on you
I understand that you'll never forgive me for leaving you for someone else
I was wrong to take a chance with somebody new
I realize now that I made a mistake by taking a leap of faith with another person
Oh I long to do the things we used to do
I miss the things we did together and want to experience them again with you
I'm lonely and I'm blue yet I'll try to get along
I feel alone and sad but I'll try to cope and move on
Teardrops, teardrops, teardrops
My tears keep falling and won't stop
I have to gain faith, hope and charity
I need to find belief, optimism, and kindness in myself
God only knows the girl who will love me
Only God knows who will truly love me in the future
Oh if we only could start over again
I keep hoping we get a chance to begin again
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: B. GOLDER, E. CHARLES, H. STANLEY, R. CALHOUN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind