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)
Whispering Grass
The Inkspots Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why tell the tress what ain't so
Whispering grass, the trees don't have to know, no, no
Why tell them all your secrets
Who kissed there long ago
Whispering grass, the trees don't need to know
She will tell the birds and bees
And everyone will know
Because you told the blabbering trees
Yes, you told them once before
It's no secret anymore
Why tell them all the old things
They're buried under the snow
Whispering grass, don't tell the trees
'Cause the trees don't need to know
Now, don't you tell it to the trees
'Cause they'll just run 'n' tell the birds and bees
Then everybody'd know 'Cause you told them doggone trees
Yes you did, you know you did, ya told 'em once before
Now look atcha', honey child, it ain't no secret no mo'
Why tell them all the old things
They're buried under the snow
Whispering grass, don't tell the trees
'Cause the trees don't need to know
The Inkspots's song Whispering Grass is a song about keeping secrets and not whispering them to the trees. The singer asks the green grass why it tells the trees things that aren't true and why it shares its secrets with them. The grass is warned that the trees will tell the birds and bees and then everyone will know the secret. The singer urges the grass not to tell the trees anything, as they don't need to know.
The song is not only about keeping secrets, but also about the idea of whispers and their power. By whispering, one can transmit information secretly, and this is precisely what the grass is doing to the trees. By doing so, the grass is giving up control of its own secrets, and the singer is saying that this is not necessary. The grass should not feel the need to share its secrets with the trees, especially as the trees don't need to know them.
Overall, The Inkspots's song Whispering Grass is a warning against the dangers of letting secrets slip out, and urges the listener to keep their secrets to themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
Why do you whisper, green grass
Why are you speaking so softly, green grass?
Why tell the tress what ain't so
Why inform the trees of things that are untrue?
Whispering grass, the trees don't have to know, no, no
Talking to the grass softly won't inform the trees, and they don't even need to know.
Why tell them all your secrets
Why divulge all your secrets to them?
Who kissed there long ago
Who kissed there in the distant past?
Whispering grass, the trees don't need to know
Although you whisper to the grass, the trees don't need to know that you disclosing secrets about anyone kissing there.
Don't you tell it to the trees
Don't pass these secrets to the trees
She will tell the birds and bees
The trees will then inform the birds and the bees
And everyone will know
At that point, everyone will be aware of the secrets
Because you told the blabbering trees
Due to your careless talk with the trees
Yes, you told them once before
You have a record of telling them before, and forgetting that they are incapable of keeping a secret.
It's no secret anymore
The confidential details are no longer confidential at all.
Why tell them all the old things
Why convey to them things that belong to the past?
They're buried under the snow
Their interests are frozen in the past.
Whispering grass, don't tell the trees
Don't tell the trees things that you do not want them to tell anyone else.
'Cause the trees don't need to know
This information does not serve the interests of the trees.
Now, don't you tell it to the trees
Do not share this story with the trees
'Cause they'll just run 'n' tell the birds and bees
Using the tree as a confidant is futile as they will inform the birds and bees.
Then everybody'd know 'Cause you told them doggone trees
Because you told those trees, everybody would eventually find out.
Yes you did, you know you did, ya told 'em once before
It is true that you already revealed secrets to the trees before.
Now look atcha', honey child, it ain't no secret no mo'
As a result of this, the confidential information is no longer private, and it is common knowledge now.
Why tell them all the old things
Why tell the trees details of the past?
They're buried under the snow
The past is buried by the snow, indicating it is time to let things go.
Whispering grass, don't tell the trees
Do not tell the trees things that put your secrets at risk.
'Cause the trees don't need to know
Your confidential information does not affect the trees in any way.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Garrec
Lyrics:
Why do you whisper, green grass?
Why tell the trees what ain't so?
Whispering Grass, the trees don't have to know.
No, No, Why tell them all your secrets?
Who kissed there long ago?
Whispering grass, the trees don't need to know.
Don't you tell it to the breeze 'cause she will tell the birds and bees
And ev'ryone will know because you told the blabbering trees
Yes, you told them once before;
It's no secret any more.
Why tell them all the old things?
They're buried under the snow.
Whispering Grass, don't tell the trees
'Cause the trees don't need to know.
Don't you tell it to the breeze 'cause she will tell the birds and bees
And ev'ryone will know because you told the blabbering trees
Yes, you told them once before;
It's no secret any more.
Why tell them all the old things?
They're buried under the snow.
Whispering Grass, don't tell the trees
'Cause the trees don't need to know.
MAC
I'm 77 years old. My father drove the tour bus for Louie Armstrong and the Inkspots. Never heard this song till tonight. Wonderful.
Sharon McAuley
Awesome
❤
Katie Irish Eyes
Amazing ☘️
thewhippetwhisperer Etal
He must have had some great memories ❤
Riva Fussball
❤
Sierra
Thank the lord you’ve heard it. God speed.
Grease
I'm 16, soon to be 17 years old and born in 2006. I can assure you this music will never die
Adam Christopher Dixon
Beautifully said
mike heap
You must listen to a cover version from the early 80's with Don Estelle and Windsor Davies a comedy duo from the UK, you won't be dissapointed. 👍🏼
Harold Parratt
@mike heapAh thanks for the memories Mike, used to watch ‘Half Hot Mum all the time!