The Ink Spots were a popular vocal group that helped define the musical gen… Read Full Bio ↴The Ink Spots were a popular vocal group that helped define the musical genre that led to rhythm & blues and rock and roll, and the subgenre doo-wop. They and the Mills Brothers, another black vocal group of the 1930s and 1940s, gained much acceptance in the white community.
Their songs usually began with a guitar riff, followed by the tenor, who sang the whole song through. After the tenor 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 the opposite sex in the song. This was followed by the tenor, who finished up singing the last refrain or the last half of the song.

The Ink Spots formed in the early 1930s in Indianapolis. The original 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, DC) (tenor) (Played guitar and trumpet)
Jerry Daniels (b. 14 December 1915 - 7 November 1995, Indianapolis, Indiana) (tenor) (Played guitar and ukulele)
Charlie Fuqua (b. 20 October 1910 - 21 December 1971, New Haven, Connecticut) (baritone) (Played guitar)

When The Sun Goes Down
The Inkspots Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

In the evening, mama
When the sun goes down
In the evening, baby
When the sun goes down
Well, ain't it lonesome
Ain't it lonesome, babe
When your love is not around?
When the sun goes down

Last night, I laid a-sleeping
I was thinking to myself
Last night, I laid a-sleeping
I was thinking to myself
Well, what I been thinking
Is why that the one that you love
Will mistreat you for someone else?
When the sun goes down

The sun rises in the east
An it sets up in the west
The sun rises in the east, mama
An it set's in the west
Well, it's hard to tell, hard to tell
Which one will treat you the best
When the sun goes down

'Yea-ah'
'Ooo-ee, hoo-wee'
'Yea-ah'
'Hee, hoo-oh'
'Yea-hi'
'Hoo, hoo-eee'

Good-bye old sweetheart and pals
Yes, I'm going away
But I may be back to see you again
Some old rainy day
Well, in the evening, in the evening

When the sun goes down
When the sun goes down.

Overall Meaning

The Inkspots's song When The Sun Goes Down is a soulful and introspective piece exploring themes of loneliness, heartbreak, and betrayal in relationships. The first stanza speaks of being alone in the evening when your love is not around and how lonely it feels. The repetition of the phrase "When the sun goes down" creates a haunting and melancholic atmosphere that complements the theme of the song. The second stanza delves deeper into the pain of being mistreated by someone you love and wondering why they would abandon you for another person. The line "Why that the one that you love will mistreat you for someone else?" reflects the despair and confusion that often accompany betrayal.

The third stanza is a contemplation on the unpredictability of life and relationships. The rising and setting of the sun is used as a metaphor for the highs and lows of love, reflecting how it's hard to tell which person will treat you the best when things go wrong. The final stanza is a bittersweet goodbye to old friends and a lover. The singer acknowledges that he is leaving but expresses hope that he may return someday, creating a sense of longing and nostalgia.

Line by Line Meaning

In the evening, mama
At nighttime, mother

When the sun goes down
When daylight ends

In the evening, baby
At nighttime, beloved

Well, ain't it lonesome
It's very lonely

Ain't it lonesome, babe
It's very lonely, dear

When your love is not around?
When your beloved is absent?

Last night, I laid a-sleeping
Yesterday night, I was asleep

I was thinking to myself
I was pondering alone

Well, what I been thinking
Well, what I was pondering

Is why that the one that you love
Is why the one you love

Will mistreat you for someone else?
Would mistreat you for someone new?

The sun rises in the east
The sun ascends in the east

An it sets up in the west
And descends in the west

Well, it's hard to tell, hard to tell
It's difficult to ascertain

Which one will treat you the best
Who will treat you the best

Good-bye old sweetheart and pals
Farewell, dear sweetheart and friends

Yes, I'm going away
Indeed, I'm departing

But I may be back to see you again
However, I might return to visit

Some old rainy day
One day in the future

Well, in the evening, in the evening
Well, at nighttime, at nighttime

When the sun goes down
When the day comes to a close

When the sun goes down.
When the day comes to a close.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PETER CHATMAN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Mohamed Alaa

7y↑13

n the evening, mama
When the sun goes down
In the evening, baby
When the sun goes down
Well, ain't it lonesome
Ain't it lonesome, babe
When your love is not around?
When the sun goes down

Last night, I laid a-sleeping
I was thinking to myself
Last night, I laid a-sleeping
I was thinking to myself
Well, what I been thinking
Is why that the one that you love
Will mistreat you for someone else?
When the sun goes down

The sun rises in the east
An it sets up in the west
The sun rises in the east, mama
An it set's in the west
Well, it's hard to tell, hard to tell
Which one will treat you the best
When the sun goes down

'Yea-ah'
'Ooo-ee, hoo-wee'
'Yea-ah'
'Hee, hoo-oh'
'Yea-hi'
'Hoo, hoo-eee'

Good-bye old sweetheart and pals
Yes, I'm going away
But I may be back to see you again
Some old rainy day
Well, in the evening, in the evening
When the sun goes down
When the sun goes down.

All comments from YouTube:

Harley

5y↑20

I am 55 years old. My children are 29, 31, and 33. My Father (their Grandfather) used to play them in his car on a cassette tape. If my Dad was still living he would be 93 (1926 was his year of birth)...I am so grateful he taught all of us to love this group. I do not know this song but when I am lonely for my Dad I have two Cd's I play of the Ink Spots. Now, I can come to YouTube! Bless you!

Andrew Hunt

5y↑3

This group is awesome. I am saying this as a metalhead. But I fell in love with the more relaxed chilled pace of this band. Bill has an awesome voice

Harley

5y↑2

@Andrew Hunt Agreed.

Matt Heckler

6y↑20

This may be my favorite Deek-sung sound. He mostly did the silly upbeat ones but for me, this proves that while Deek may not have had the raw singing ability of Bill Kenny, he was surely capable of singing really memorable songs. I love this.