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.
Gaze on Other Heavens
The Kingston Trio Lyrics
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I was hopin' that you'd come to me. It's plain that I can see that you are cryin', yes, you are cryin'.
Yeah, I have often lied to cover up my pride and I have hurt you, yes, I have hurt you.
Let us be together as we face this stormy weather. Gaze on other heavens. Don't you cry. Don't you cry.
I have other friends. I think that they're the end, but I just love you. I just love you.
It goes on and on, longer than a song and I will need you. I will need you.
Let us be together as we face this stormy weather. Gaze on other heavens. Don't you cry. Don't you cry.
Let us be together as we face this stormy weather. Gaze on other heavens. Don't you cry. Don't you cry.
I was hopin' that you'd come to me. It's plain that I can see that you are cryin', yes, you are cryin'.
Yeah, I have often lied to cover up my pride and I have hurt you, yes, I have hurt you.
Let us be together as we face this stormy weather. Gaze on other heavens. Don't you cry. Don't you cry.
Oh, don't you cry. Oh, don't you cry. Oh, don't you cry.
The Kingston Trio's song "Gaze on Other Heavens" speaks about a relationship in turmoil, with the singer asking for forgiveness and longing for reconciliation. The lyrics suggest that the singer has made mistakes in the past, perhaps even lying to their partner in order to save face or to maintain their pride. Despite this, the singer still loves their partner and wants to be with them through any hardships that they might face in the future. The repetitive phrase "gaze on other heavens" serves as a reminder to not dwell on their current troubles, but to look towards the future with hope.
The song's imagery speaks to the emotions felt in a troubled relationship, particularly the feelings of guilt, regret, and longing. The use of weather imagery ("stormy weather") can be seen as a metaphor for the couple's current struggles. The mention of other friends further highlights the singer's struggle with their own priorities and loyalty.
Line by Line Meaning
I was hopin' that you'd come to me. It's plain that I can see that you are cryin', yes, you are cryin'.
I was hoping you'd share your troubles with me. It's obvious to me that you're upset and in tears.
Yeah, I have often lied to cover up my pride and I have hurt you, yes, I have hurt you.
I've let my ego and pride get in the way of our relationship and have lied to hide my shortcomings. I know I've caused you pain.
Let us be together as we face this stormy weather. Gaze on other heavens. Don't you cry. Don't you cry.
We should stick together and support each other through tough times. Look for hope in other places and don't let yourself be weighed down by sadness.
I have other friends. I think that they're the end, but I just love you. I just love you.
I may have other acquaintances, but you are the most important person in my life. I love you and value our relationship.
It goes on and on, longer than a song and I will need you. I will need you.
Life is an ongoing journey that never truly ends, and I know I'll need you by my side through all of it.
La, da,da,da,da,da,da,da,da,da,da, wheeeeee yeah.
This line doesn't have a specific meaning and is more of a filler chorus. It adds a fun, lighthearted tone to the song.
Oh, don't you cry. Oh, don't you cry. Oh, don't you cry.
This line is repeated multiple times as a reassurance to the person crying. It's a way of saying 'don't worry, everything will be okay.'
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOHN C. STEWART
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind