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 β 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 β d. 4 November 1969, Washington, D.C.) (tenor) (Played guitar and trumpet)
Jerry Daniels (b. 14 December 1915 β d. 7 November 1995, Indianapolis, Indiana) (tenor) (Played guitar and ukulele)
Charlie Fuqua (b. 20 October 1910 β 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.
Your Feet's Too Big
The Ink Spots Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mercy!
Sounds like baby patter
Baby elephant patter, that's what I calls it
Say, up in Harlem, at a table for two,
There were four of us, me, your big feet and you
From your ankles up, I say you sure are sweet,
Yes, your feet's too big!
Don't want ya 'cause your feet's too big!
Can't use ya 'cause your feet's too big!
I really hate ya 'cause your feet's too big!
Yeah!
Lah-dee-doo-dah,
Nah-dah-nah-dah
Where d'ya get 'em?
Nah-dee-ah-dah
Your girl, she likes ya, she thinks you're nice,
Got what it takes to be in paradise
She said she likes your face, she likes your rig,
But, man, oh, man, them things are too big
Oh, your feet's too big
Don't want ya 'cause your feet's too big!
Mad at ya 'cause your feet's too big
I hate ya 'cause your feet's too big
My goodness, gun the gunboats!
Shift! Shift! Shift!
Oh, your pedal extremities are colossal
To me you look just like a fossil
You got me walkin', talkin' and squawkin',
'Cause your feet's too big, yeah
Come on and walk that thing
Oh, I never heard o' such walkin', Mercy!
You know your pedal extremities really are obnoxious.
One never knows, do one?
The Ink Spots's song "Your Feet's Too Big" is a playful and humorous critique of a potential lover's over-sized feet. The lyrics start by describing the sound of the person's footsteps as similar to that of a baby elephant. The singer then tells the story of being at a restaurant with his lover and another couple when he realizes that his lover's feet are simply too big. Although he introduces her as sweet from the ankle up, he cannot get over the size of her feet. The chorus repeats several times, emphasizing that he cannot date or use her because "your feet's too big!"
The second verse introduces the perspective of the potential lover, who likes the singer and thinks he has all the qualities necessary to be "in paradise." However, even she cannot overcome the fact that his feet are much too big. The song ends with the singer comically exclaiming that the person's feet are "obnoxious" and that "one never knows" what to expect in life.
Overall, the song uses exaggerated humor to poke fun at the physical feature of oversized feet. It also highlights the idea that physical attraction is an important part of romantic relationships, and that this particular trait can be a deal-breaker for some people.
Line by Line Meaning
Who's that walkin' 'round here? Mercy! Sounds like baby patter Baby elephant patter, that's what I calls it
The singer is commenting on the loud sound made by the person's feet while walking, and uses the metaphors 'baby patter' and 'baby elephant patter' to describe it.
Say, up in Harlem, at a table for two, There were four of us, me, your big feet and you From your ankles up, I say you sure are sweet, From there down, there's just too much feet!
The singer describes a scenario in which they were on a date with someone, but were accompanied by the person's excessively large feet. While they think the person is attractive from the ankles up, they find their feet to be too large.
Yes, your feet's too big! Don't want ya 'cause your feet's too big! Can't use ya 'cause your feet's too big! I really hate ya 'cause your feet's too big! Yeah!
The singer expresses their dislike towards the person with large feet, stating that their feet are too big to be wanted, used or loved.
Lah-dee-doo-dah, Nah-dah-nah-dah Where d'ya get 'em? Nah-dee-ah-dah
The singer asks where the person got their large feet, using nonsensical syllables to convey a playful tone.
Your girl, she likes ya, she thinks you're nice, Got what it takes to be in paradise She said she likes your face, she likes your rig, But, man, oh, man, them things are too big
The singer acknowledges that the person's partner likes them for their personality and appearance, but also agrees with their own assessment that the person's feet are too large.
Oh, your feet's too big Don't want ya 'cause your feet's too big! Mad at ya 'cause your feet's too big I hate ya 'cause your feet's too big
The singer reiterates their previous disapproval of the person's feet, saying they don't want them, are mad at them, and hate them due to their large feet.
My goodness, gun the gunboats! Shift! Shift! Shift!
The singer uses exclamations to indicate that they want to leave the situation because of the person's large feet.
Oh, your pedal extremities are colossal To me you look just like a fossil You got me walkin', talkin' and squawkin', 'Cause your feet's too big, yeah
The singer makes a comparison between the person's feet and a fossil to emphasize their size, and says that they've caused them to walk, talk, and squawk strangely.
Come on and walk that thing Oh, I never heard o' such walkin', Mercy! You know your pedal extremities really are obnoxious. One never knows, do one?
The singer sarcastically invites the person to walk with their large feet, but then says they've never heard anyone walk in such a way before, and their feet are unpleasant. They then end with a rhetorical question about whether anyone really knows how to deal with large feet.
Lyrics Β© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ada Benson, Fred Fisher
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Valerie Yates
This always makes me laugh - excellent tune and lyrics.
John F
Iβm always teasing my wife because of what I call her sturdy feet.... I just played this to her and she walked out ππππ
David Mullin
Walked out? Sounds like she ski'd out π
Activate Windows
What an incredible band.
Catherine TheGrrreat
I love this song and I love the Inks
David LoganSr
Have heard and Love other versions of this, but now I think I have a new favorite version!
Lloyd Harrison
Timeless brilliance.
LemonGrass541
this will be played at my funeral
Liam Anderson
Love these guys
Obari
Omm this shit π₯π₯π₯ funny af had me dead πππ€£