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.
Darlin' Are You Dreaming
The Kingston Trio Lyrics
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Days are getting' longer. Robins comin' 'round. Wood pile's gettin' mighty low to the ground.
Fields are gettin' greener. Possum's on the run. Honeysuckles yearnin' for the April sun.
Darlin' are you dreamin' as you surely ought to be 'bout the happy days a-comin' when you'll dream with me.
Seems like only yesterday we made our plans. I up and asked your folks if I could be your man.
Went into town, bought a little ring. Went right down your list and didn't forget a thing.
As we go down the paths of this world you know, they'll be some days when a cloud will show
But with your help through the joys and through the fears, I'll cherish and I'll love you, dear, through all the years.
Darlin' are you dreamin' as you surely ought to be 'bout the happy days a-comin' when you'll dream with me.
Darlin' are you dreamin' as you surely ought to be 'bout the happy days a-comin' when you'll dream, dream with me.
The Kingston Trio's song "Darlin' Are You Dreaming" is a sweet, romantic tune that speaks to the future and the happy days to come. The lyrics paint a picture of the changing seasons, with the days getting longer and the fields getting greener, and the promise of a bright and joyful future. The singer asks his love if she is dreaming of that future, and invites her to dream with him.
The lyrics are full of imagery and wordplay, with references to robins, wood piles, possums, and honeysuckles. The verses detail the couple's journey, from making plans to getting engaged, and facing the ups and downs of life together. The chorus repeats the central question, asking if his love is dreaming of their future together, and echoing the sentiment that they will dream and love together for all the years to come.
Overall, "Darlin' Are You Dreaming" is a romantic and nostalgic song that captures the feeling of looking forward to a bright future with the person you love. The lyrics are simple but heartfelt, and the melody is gentle and soothing.
Line by Line Meaning
Days are getting' longer.
The daylight hours are increasing.
Robins comin' 'round.
The spring season is arriving and birds are returning.
Wood pile's gettin' mighty low to the ground.
The winter supply of wood is dwindling.
Fields are gettin' greener.
The grass and plants in the fields are getting more colorful and lively.
Possum's on the run.
Animals and critters are becoming more active due to the changing weather.
Honeysuckles yearnin' for the April sun.
The fragrant honeysuckle plants are eagerly waiting for the warmth of April.
Darlin' are you dreamin' as you surely ought to be 'bout the happy days a-comin' when you'll dream with me.
Are you imagining the wonderful future that we will share together?
Seems like only yesterday we made our plans.
It feels like not long ago when we made arrangements for our future together.
I up and asked your folks if I could be your man.
I approached your parents and requested to be your partner for life.
Went into town, bought a little ring.
I purchased a small ring in the town as a symbol of our love.
Went right down your list and didn't forget a thing.
I made sure to take care of everything on your list and didn't leave anything behind.
As we go down the paths of this world you know, they'll be some days when a cloud will show.
In our journey through life, there will be some periods of difficulties or obstacles.
But with your help through the joys and through the fears, I'll cherish and I'll love you, dear, through all the years.
Yet with you by my side, I will treasure and adore you during both the good and the tough times.
Darlin' are you dreamin' as you surely ought to be 'bout the happy days a-comin' when you'll dream with me.
Are you envisioning the happy days that we will spend together in the future?
Darlin' are you dreamin' as you surely ought to be 'bout the happy days a-comin' when you'll dream, dream with me.
I implore you to dream with me about a wonderful shared future.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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