The Kingston Trio was formed in 1957 in the Palo Alto, California area by original lineup of Dave Guard (1934–1991), Bob Shane (1934–2020), and Nick Reynolds (1933–2008), who were just out of college. Greatly influenced by The Weavers, the calypso sounds of Harry Belafonte, and other semi-popular folk artists such as the Gateway Singers and the Tarriers, they were discovered playing at a college club called the Cracked Pot by Frank Werber, a local publicist then working at the Hungry i. He became their manager, and secured them a one-shot deal with Capitol Records.
Their first hit was a catchy rendition of an old-time folk song, "Tom Dooley", which went gold in 1958. It was so popular that it entered popular culture as a catchphrase: Ella Fitzgerald, for example, parodies it during her recorded version of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer". It won them the first Grammy award for Best Country & Western Performance in 1959. The next year, they won the first Grammy Award for Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording category for the album The Kingston Trio at Large.
At one point in the early 1960s The Kingston Trio had four albums at the same time among the Top 10 selling albums, a record unmatched for nearly 40 years. In spite of this, they had a relatively small number of hit singles.
The group's music was simple and accessible, with much use of tight vocal harmony, signature riffs (often played on the banjo), and repetitive choruses. Capitol producer Voyle Gilmore[1] enhanced their vocal sound to great effect with reverb and the relatively new process of doubletracking, in which the performers sang along with their own pre-recorded part to produce a stronger sound than with a single voice, in part due to a natural time gap of a fraction of a second between the original recording and the overdubbed part. At first pairs of tape recorders were used, then later multitrack recording machines, to produce the effect.
Guard left the band in 1961 as part of a disagreement over its musical direction. He formed the group Whiskey Hill Singers, and was replaced by John Stewart, who led the group through several more years of popularity until the arrival of The Beatles and British invasion rock bands pushed them from the charts.
In 1967 the Trio disbanded after a final performance at the Hungry i, June 17, 1967.
Shane, the lone member to resist the break-up of the Trio, started a new group, aptly named, "The New Kingston Trio," in 1969. Eventually, Shane was successful in reaching a contractual agreement with his former partners, Guard, Reynolds, and Werber, to secure and license once again, the original name, "The Kingston Trio" (unencumbered by the adjective new), in 1976.(Blake et al. 1986.) Shane still owns the property today, 2006.
For a number of years in the 1980s Reynolds, one of the original three members, rejoined Shane.
In 2004 Shane retired from the group due to health problems. He was replaced by Bill Zorn, who had been with Shane in an iteration of the group called The New Kingston Trio; Zorn also has been a member of The Limeliters.
In 2005 Bobby Haworth (a one-time member of The Brothers Four) left the group to be replaced by Rick Dougherty, who also had been a member of The Limeliters.
As of 2006, The Kingston Trio consisted of George Grove, Bill Zorn and Rick Dougherty.
in October 2017, Grove, Zorn, and Dougherty were replaced as the Trio by new licensees Reynolds and Marvin and their friend, Tim Gorelangton. In 2018, Josh Reynolds left the group and was replaced by Bob Haworth, who became a member of the band for the third time. At the end of 2018, Haworth left the group and was replaced by Don Marovich.
Across the Wide Missouri
The Kingston Trio Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Far across the wide Missouri
On the banks I hear her callin' to me
A-roll, a-rollaree
Across the wide Missouri
A-roll, a-rollaree
Across the wide Missouri
For seven years I've been a-roamin'
Seven years I left the valley
Now I live just for my true love to see
A-roll, a-rollaree
Across the wide Missouri
A-roll, a-rollaree
Across the wide Missouri
I'm pushin' on when dawn's a-breakin'
Goin' 'cross the wide Missouri
Where my love, she stands a-waitin' for me
A-roll (a-rollaree)
A-rollaree
Across the wide Missouri
A-roll (a-rollaree)
A-rollaree
Across the wide Missouri
In the Kingston Trio's song "Across the Wide Missouri," the singer is a man who has been away from his love for seven years. He hears her calling out to him across the wide Missouri river, and he is determined to make his way back to her. The lyrics utilize the traditional folk song "A-roll, A-rollaree" as a refrain throughout the song, which adds to its catchy and repetitive nature.
The singer speaks of his longing to be reunited with his love, which is a relatable sentiment for many people. The distance and time that separates them only increases his desire to be with her. The song has a sense of urgency, with the singer determinedly pushing forward towards his goal. The setting of the Missouri river adds to the song's nostalgic and romantic tone, as the river itself is a symbol of the passage of time and the rolling river of life.
Line by Line Meaning
My lady love, she stands a'waitin'
The singer's lover is waiting for them.
Far across the wide Missouri
The lover is far away from the singer, across the Missouri river.
On the banks I hear her callin' to me
The lover is calling out to the singer from the opposite bank of the Missouri river.
A-roll, a-rollaree
A traditional call used by river boatmen to coordinate rowing actions.
For seven years I've been a-roamin'
The artist has been travelling or wandering for seven years.
Seven years I left the valley
The singer has been away from the valley for seven years.
Now I live just for my true love to see
The singer's sole purpose is to reunite with their lover and be seen by them.
I'm pushin' on when dawn's a-breakin'
The artist is continuing to move forward towards their lover as the sun rises.
Goin' 'cross the wide Missouri
The artist is crossing the Missouri river to reach their lover.
Where my love, she stands a-waitin' for me
The artist's lover is waiting for them on the other side of the Missouri river.
A-roll (a-rollaree)
A traditional call used by river boatmen to coordinate rowing actions.
A-rollaree
A traditional call used by river boatmen to coordinate rowing actions.
Across the wide Missouri
The singer is crossing the Missouri river to reach their lover.
A-roll (a-rollaree)
A traditional call used by river boatmen to coordinate rowing actions.
A-rollaree
A traditional call used by river boatmen to coordinate rowing actions.
Across the wide Missouri
The artist is crossing the Missouri river to reach their lover.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: ERVIN DRAKE, JIMMY SHIRL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind