The Ink Spots were a vocal group in the 1930s and 1940s … Read Full Bio ↴(1934-1954)
The Ink Spots were a vocal group in the 1930s and 1940s that helped define the musical genre that led to rhythm and blues and rock and roll, and the subgenre doo-wop. They gained much acceptance in both the white community and black community largely due to the ballad style introduced to the group by lead singer Bill Kenny. They were inducted into the Rock & Roll hall of fame in 1999.
Their songs usually began with a guitar riff, followed by the tenor Bill Kenny, who sang the whole song through. After Kenny finished singing, the bass would either recite the first half, or the bridge of the song, or would speak the words, almost in a free form, that were not part of the song, commonly using the words "Honey Child", or "Honey Babe", expressing his love for his darling in the song. This was followed by Kenny, who finished up singing the last refrain or the last half of the song. On some songs Deek Watson would sing the lead rather than Bill Kenny. This was mostly on the uptempo "Jive" songs.
The Ink Spots formed in the early 1930s in Indianapolis. The founding members were :-
Orville "Hoppy" Jones (b. 17 February 1902, Chicago, Illinois – d. 18 October 1944, New York City) (bass) (Played cello in the manner of a stand up bass)[1]
Ivory "Deek" Watson (b. 18 July 1909, Mounds, Illinois – d. 4 November 1969, Washington, D.C.) (tenor) (Played guitar and trumpet)
Jerry Daniels (b. 14 December 1915 – d. 7 November 1995, Indianapolis, Indiana) (tenor) (Played guitar and ukulele)
Charlie Fuqua (b. 20 October 1910 – d. 21 December 1971, New Haven, Connecticut)
(baritone) (Played guitar)
*** BILL KENNY ***
The voice that made them famous Bill Kenny (Mr. Ink Spot) was born June 12th 1914 in Philadelphia PA, and died Mar 23rd 1978 in New West Minister, British Columbia. When Bill Kenny joined the group in 1936 they were mostly a "Jive" ensemble, performing swinging uptempo songs. It wasn't until The Ink Spots 1939 recording of "If I Didn't Care" that Bill Kenny's voice began being regularly featured on Ballads, which it was until The Ink Spots disbanded in 1954. Hits that feature Bill Kenny include "I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire", "We Three", "The Gypsy", "Address Unknown", "With My Eyes Wide Open I'm Dreaming", "So Sorry", "Bless You", "My Prayer", "Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall", "It's A Sin To Tell A Lie", It Isn't A Dream Anymore", and dozens of others. Bill Kenny has been listed as an influence by such great artists as Elvis Presley, Sam Cooke, Johnny Mathis, Sonny Till, Clyde McPhatter and many others. Bill Kenny is often noted as the father of Doo Wop for his high tenor singing and his introduction of the popular "Top & Bottom" format used by virtually every Doo Wop group in the 50's and 60's.
Since Bill Kenny broke up The Ink Spots in 1954 there have been well over 500 black vocal Quartets calling themselves The Ink Spots none of which have or had any original members. There are even groups still touring as The Ink Spots today. It is largely accepted that if the group didn't contain Bill Kenny then the group was/ is a fake.
My Greatest Mistake
The Ink Spots Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
was falling in love,
falling in love with you.
My greatest mistake
was dreaming of you
and thinking my dreams
would come true.
It was easy to see
though I hoped and
I prayed
someday, it could be.
My greatest mistake,
my greatest heartache
was falling in love
with you.
Darlin',
you know my greatest mistake
was falling in love.
And I mean,
falling in love
with a beautiful gal like you.
You know,
I made another mistake.
Know what that was?
Just dreamin' of you
and being foolish enough to think
that all of my dream
was bound to come true.
You know, it should have been easy for me to see
that honey, ,
you never loved me.
'Course, I hoped and I prayed
that maybe someday
it could be.
My greatest mistake,
my greatest heartache
was falling in love
with you.
The Ink Spots' song "My Greatest Mistake" is a bittersweet tune about the regrets of a man who fell in love with someone who never loved him back. The lyrics express the singer's feelings of hurt and disappointment, but also his willingness to acknowledge his own role in his heartbreak. He admits that his greatest mistake was dreaming and hoping that his love would be reciprocated when it was clear that it never would be. He also acknowledges his own foolishness for not realizing this sooner.
Despite the sad message of the song, it also leaves a sense of closure for the singer. He has accepted that his love was unrequited and that he must move on with his life. The use of the word "darlin'" suggests that he still cares for his lost love, but he has come to terms with the fact that they can never be together. Overall, the lyrics are a poignant expression of the pain and regret that come with unrequited love.
Line by Line Meaning
My greatest mistake
Acknowledges that the singer has made a significant error
was falling in love,
The mistake was to fall in love with someone
falling in love with you.
Specifically, the mistake was to fall in love with the person being addressed
My greatest mistake
Reiterates the mistake
was dreaming of you
Another mistake was to fantasize about this person
and thinking my dreams
The mistake was to believe that dreams can be a reality
would come true.
Specifically, that this person would love the singer back
It was easy to see
The following was obvious
you never loved me,
That this person did not love the singer back
though I hoped and
Despite the singer's optimistic outlook
I prayed someday, it could be.
The hope that one day this person could love the singer back
My greatest mistake,
Restates the mistake made
my greatest heartache
The emotional pain caused by this mistake
was falling in love
This mistake specifically involved loving someone
with you.
The person this song is addressed to
Darlin',
Term of endearment directed at the person being addressed
you know my greatest mistake
The person being addressed is already aware of the mistake
was falling in love.
Restated that the mistake was to fall in love with someone
And I mean,
Emphasizes the importance of what is about to be said
falling in love
Reiterating that the mistake was to love someone
with a beautiful gal like you.
Specifically, that the mistake was to love this particular beautiful woman
You know,
Assuming that the person being addressed already understands the following point
I made another mistake.
Acknowledging a different mistake was made
Know what that was?
Asking if the person being addressed can guess what the mistake was
Just dreamin' of you
The mistake was to have fantasies about this person
and being foolish enough to think
Acknowledgment that this was an unwise assumption
that all of my dream
Assuming everything the singer dreamed about would come true
was bound to come true.
That all of the singer's dreams would be made real
You know, it should have been easy for me to see
The singer admits that they should have realized sooner
that honey, ,
Another term of endearment directed at the person being addressed
you never loved me.
Reiterating that the person being addressed did not love the singer back
'Course, I hoped and I prayed
Despite that, the singer still hoped and prayed for a different outcome
that maybe someday
The hope that at some point in the future
it could be.
This person could love the singer back
My greatest mistake,
Repeating the mistake made
my greatest heartache
Reiterating the emotional pain the mistake caused
was falling in love
Again, emphasizing that the mistake specifically involved loving someone
with you.
Reiterating the person this song is addressed to
Writer(s): Jack Fulton, Jack O'brien
Contributed by Tyler K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.