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.
Time Waits for No One
The Ink Spots Lyrics
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It passes you by
It rolls on forever
Like the clouds in the sky
Time waits for no one
Goes on endlessly
It's just like a river
You'll find that love is like this
Each precious moment we miss
Will never, ever return again
So don't let us throw
One sweet moment away
Time waits for no one
Let's make love while we may
The Ink Spots's song "Time Waits for No One" is a poignant reminder that time never stops moving forward. The opening line of the song, "Time waits for no one," sets the tone for the entire tune. The repetition of the phrase throughout the song emphasizes the importance of making the most of our time while we have it.
The second and third lines of the song compare time to clouds in the sky and a river flowing out to the sea. The imagery of these natural elements reinforces the idea that time is a force of nature that we cannot control. The fourth line, "Goes on endlessly," emphasizes the idea that time will continue to move forward regardless of our actions or circumstances.
In the second verse, the song shifts to a focus on love. The lyrics suggest that love, like time, is a fleeting thing that we must appreciate while we have it. The line, "Each precious moment we miss," emphasizes the idea that we must be present in the moment and appreciate every second we have with our loved ones. The last two lines of the song, "Time waits for no one/Let's make love while we may," serve as a call to action, urging us to make the most of our time and to cherish the moments we have with the people we love.
Line by Line Meaning
Time waits for no one
The unstoppable, irreversible nature of time is a universally acknowledged fact
It passes you by
Every moment that elapses cannot be reclaimed, and time continues to move along without any regard for individual desires or intentions
It rolls on forever
Time is infinite and never-ending, much like the constant motions of the world we inhabit
Like the clouds in the sky
Metaphorically speaking, time flows by in a seemingly effortless, almost ethereal way that reminds humans of the unpredictability of nature
Goes on endlessly
Time is ceaseless and infinite, and it will never stop or slow down to accommodate the needs of individuals
It's just like a river
Much like a river that flows with little regard for impediments or obstacles, time moves onwards without any consideration for the desires or intentions of human beings
Flowing out to the sea
Eventually, time will come to an end, but until then, it will keep moving along without interruption or consideration for individual experiences
You'll find that love is like this
Just like time, love is ever-changing, and it is difficult to predict when or how it will affect an individual
Each precious moment we miss
Every moment that passes by without notice cannot be reclaimed or restored, and therefore is lost forever
Will never, ever return again
Once an opportunity has been missed, it cannot be reclaimed or replicated, and will only exist in memories and regrets
So don't let us throw
The singer urges the listener not to overlook or disregard precious moments of love that are presented to them
One sweet moment away
Every moment of love that is lost or disregarded is an opportunity missed, and will never return
Time waits for no one
The chorus repeats the central message of the song, which is that time is an unstoppable force that moves ahead regardless of individual desires, hopes or fears
Let's make love while we may
The singer urges the listener to take advantage of every moment of love that is presented to them, as they will not last forever
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Keith Richards, Mick Jagger
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind