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 Wild Irish Rose
The Ink Spots Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The sweetest flower that grows
You may search everywhere
Bu there's none can compare
With my wild Irish rose
My wild Irish rose
The sweetest flower that grows
She may let take
The bloom from my wild Irish rose
My wild Irish rose
The sweetest flower that grows
Some day for my sake
She may let take
The bloom from my wild Irish rose
The Ink Spots' song My Wild Irish Rose is a beautiful tribute to a woman who is compared to a wild Irish rose. The song starts with the singer acknowledging the beauty and sweetness that this woman possesses. He claims that she is the "sweetest flower that grows" and that her beauty is unmatched. The singer goes on to explain that while the search for someone like her may be all-encompassing, there is truly no one who comes close to her.
The chorus of the song repeats the sentiment of the first verse, emphasizing the beauty of the woman who has captured the singer's heart. However, the third verse takes on a somewhat melancholy tone, suggesting that the singer may lose his wild Irish rose. The phrase "she may let take the bloom from my wild Irish rose" implies that their love may not be enough to sustain the relationship, and that he may not be able to keep her.
Throughout the song, the images of the wild Irish rose serve as a metaphor for the woman that the singer loves. The song takes a simple idea – comparing someone to a flower – and turns it into a beautiful ode to love and beauty.
Line by Line Meaning
My wild Irish rose
The person singing is referring to their loved one as a wild Irish rose
The sweetest flower that grows
The singer considers their loved one as the most amazing and wonderful person in their life
You may search everywhere
The singer invites listeners to search everywhere but they will never find anyone as amazing as their loved one
But there's none can compare
Despite the possibility of finding other people, no one can come close to being as amazing as the singer's loved one
With my wild Irish rose
The singer emphasizes that their loved one is specifically a wild Irish rose, meaning they are unique and special in their own way
Some day for my sake
The singer hopes that one day their loved one will do something for their benefit
She may let take
The singer implies that their loved one has control over something they desire
The bloom from my wild Irish rose
The singer wants their loved one to give them part of what makes them special, represented by the bloom of their wild Irish rose
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BAGDASARIAN, TRADITIONAL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind