The Kingston Trio was formed in 1957 in the Palo Alto, California area by original lineup ofย Dave Guard (1934โ1991),ย Bob Shane (1934โ2020), andย Nick Reynolds (1933โ2008), 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.
Five Hundred Miles
The Kingston Trio Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I read the things she wrote
She said, we miss you girl
We love you come on home
Well I didn't have to pack
I had it all right on my back
Now I'm five hundred miles away from home
Cold and tired and all alone
Yes, I'm five hundred miles away from home
It's hard to tell the state I'm in
Where I'm going, where I've been
But there's a dream I've been following so long
If mama knew the things I've done
She'd forgive them everyone
But I'm still five hundred miles away from home
Away from home, away from home
Cold and tired and all alone
Yes, I'm five hundred miles away from home
Can't remember when I ate
it's just thumb and walk and wait
And I'm still five hundred miles away from home
If my luck had been just right
I'd be with them all tonight
But I'm still five hundred miles away from home
Away from home, away from home
Cold and tired and all alone
Yes, I'm five hundred miles away from home
Lord, I'm still five hundred miles away from home
The Kingston Trio's song "Five Hundred Miles" is a poignant representation of a homesick soul who is away from home, feeling cold, tired, and all alone. The tears that fall on Mama's note suggest that the persona is reading a letter from home, causing them to miss their loved ones intensely. The message in the letter is that the family misses the persona and loves them, urging them to come back home. Despite the love and warmth that the message offers, the persona's life choices have landed them in a position where returning home is somewhat impossible. Instead, they carry all that matters to them on their back and are still five hundred miles away from home.
The persona appears to have been wandering for a long time and is unsure of their location or which direction to go. However, the dream they have been pursuing for an extended period keeps them going. The persona is aware of the things they have done that Mama would have forgiven had she known. Still, they are unable to make it back home as they are too far away. The verse about not remembering when they ate is an indication that the persona is going through a challenging phase, which has resulted in them being reduced to just walking, with no clue on what the future holds. Overall, the song creates a sense of nostalgia, homesickness, and loneliness, perfectly capturing the struggles that one goes through when far away from home.
Line by Line Meaning
Tear drops fell on mama's note
Mama wrote a heartwarming letter to me, which was filled with tears of love and longing.
When I read the things she wrote
As I read through the letter, I could not help but feel its emotional weight.
She said, we miss you girl
Mama and them all at home felt my absence and longed for my presence.
We love you come on home
Mama and family reaffirmed their love for me and hoped I would come back home soon.
Well I didn't have to pack
I had so little to carry along with me that it did not even require packing.
I had it all right on my back
All of my worldly possessions could fit on my back, emphasizing how little I had and how far from home I am.
Now I'm five hundred miles away from home
Leaving home was easy, but the distance I now am from home is a difficult reality to face and bear.
Away from home, away from home
I am away from home - both physically and emotionally - highlighting my lonely status.
Cold and tired and all alone
The environmental conditions around me are unpleasant, and the arduous journey has left me alone and exhausted.
Yes, I'm five hundred miles away from home
My physical distance from home has made me realize how much I miss and long for familiar places and people.
It's hard to tell the state I'm in
My mental and emotional state is chaotic and difficult to describe accurately.
Where I'm going, where I've been
I do not have a clear understanding of where I am headed or where I have come from.
But there's a dream I've been following so long
I have been pursuing a dream for a long time, which has kept me going, but now it seems farther away than ever.
If mama knew the things I've done
I have made choices and done things that would have troubled my mother if she knew.
She'd forgive them everyone
Despite the wrongs I have done and the choices I have taken, deep down, I believe my mother would forgive me.
But I'm still five hundred miles away from home
Even with the thought of forgiveness, I am still a long way from home, and my guilt still weighs heavily on me.
Can't remember when I ate
The journey has been so arduous and challenging that I cannot even recall the last time I had a meal.
it's just thumb and walk and wait
I spend my days hitchhiking, walking, and waiting to get closer to my goal.
And I'm still five hundred miles away from home
The distance between home and me remains the same, even with all the effort I have put in so far.
If my luck had been just right
Things have not gone as planned so far, and if luck had favored me, I may have made more progress towards my dream.
I'd be with them all tonight
If things had gone well, I would be reunited with my family tonight.
But I'm still five hundred miles away from home
Notwithstanding what might have been, I am indeed five hundred miles away from home and feeling more alone than ever.
Lord, I'm still five hundred miles away from home
I pray the Lord will give me strength, comfort, and protection on this challenging journey that I have undertaken, with me still so far away from home.
Lyrics ยฉ Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Hedy West
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
mike89128
Back in 1963 while in Air Force Basic Training, we finally got a free hour at the squadron patio. One of the airmen was able to get his guitar out of storage. When he played this song, 80 voices softly sang it in unison with much feeling. Have not forgotten those special minutes after all these years.
Suzy Roeser-Winston
Thank you for your service!!
Eternal Being33
๐
kaysee88
just reading this tears me up ;(
Mac Morgan
I first heard the trio in 1958 and still enjoy them. I saw them in Philadelphia in the 60s when john Stewart had joined them. Like many of us, all the original members have passed into history. So long to Bob, Nick, Dave and John.
Tianna Knight
Such a beautiful and sad song! This was always one of my absolute favorites to hear in the car on our family road trips. It always hit me so hard in my heart and I loved it. Thanks dad for instilling in me a love of good music, and for all the amazing family memories that I will cherish for the rest of my life.
Life's never perfect, but in some moments it's really close. <3
Love, A Youth of Today.
History and Headlines
One of their best songs!
Will Brennan
I found this music in my dad's car after he passed now I listen to it alot wow . I always made him listen to my music . Guess better late then never
Richard Reno
This song always reminds of my Dad ,the Kingston trio was one of his favorite groups he always listened to them when he returned from deployment when he was aboard his ship in the navy and when he returned home from Vietnam. He passed 15 years ago and now they bring back a flood of memories of him
gunsmoke1967
Me two went to Vietnam always reminded me of home instead of 500 miles it was 15,000 miles