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.
Get Away John
The Kingston Trio Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Get away, get away
Poor John
John Hardy was a fightin' man
Carried a razor ev'ry day
He killed a man in Mobile town
You ought to see my Johnny get away
Get away
Get away, get away
Poor John
John Hardy was standin' at the bar
So drunk he could not see
Along came a sheriff with a warrant in his hand
"Johnny boy, you'd better come with me
Yeah, Johnny boy, you'd better come with me"
John Hardy had a pretty little gal
Kept her dressed in blue
He saw her in the hangin' crowd
Cryin', "Johnny boy, I'll be true to you
Johnny boy, I'll be true to you"
True to you
True to you, true to you
Poor, John
I've been to the East and I've been to the West
Been this whole world 'round
I've been to the North and I lived in the South
This will be my buryin' ground
This will be my buryin' ground
Well, I've been this wide world over
Been this whole world 'round
Been to the river and I've been baptized
Take me to my buryin' ground
Get away, get away, get away
The Kingston Trio's song "Getaway John" tells the story of a man named John Hardy who is known for his fighting and the razor he carries with him every day. The song begins by urging John Hardy to escape from something, "get away." The lyrics suggest that he may have done something wrong or illegal, and he needs to flee. The song then goes on to explain that John Hardy had killed a man in Mobile town, and that he is skilled at evading capture.
The next verse tells of John Hardy's drunkenness and the arrival of the sheriff with a warrant for his arrest. The lyrics suggest that John Hardy is reluctantly taken into custody, and that he may not have known what was happening due to his intoxication. The third verse introduces a love interest for John Hardy, a woman who wears blue and cries when she sees him in the hangin' crowd. She pledges her fidelity to him, but the lyrics are ambiguous as to whether or not John Hardy is hanged.
The final verse describes John Hardy's travels and his acceptance of his eventual death. He has been "this whole world 'round" and knows that "this will be my buryin' ground." The song ends with an urgent repetition of "get away" suggesting that John Hardy is still in danger and needs to escape. Overall, the song presents a tragic and violent narrative that raises questions about justice, law and order, and the consequences of violence.
Line by Line Meaning
Get away, get away
Escape from the authorities and troubles.
Get away, get away
Reiterate the importance of leaving quickly.
Poor John
Express sympathy for John Hardy's difficult situation.
John Hardy was a fightin' man
John Hardy was known to be a combative person.
Carried a razor ev'ry day
John carried a weapon every day.
He killed a man in Mobile town
John Hardy has previously murdered someone in Mobile town.
You ought to see my Johnny get away
John Hardy's ability to slip away unnoticed after committing a crime.
Get away
Reiterate the importance of John getting away.
Get away, get away
Emphasize once again the urgency of running away.
Poor John
Reiterate the pity for John Hardy.
John Hardy was standin' at the bar
John Hardy is drunk and off guard.
So drunk he could not see
John Hardy was completely intoxicated.
Along came a sheriff with a warrant in his hand
The sheriff arrived to take John Hardy into custody.
'Johnny boy, you'd better come with me
The sheriff is ordering John Hardy to come with him.
John Hardy had a pretty little gal
John had a beautiful girlfriend.
Kept her dressed in blue
John's girlfriend wore blue because it complemented her well.
He saw her in the hanging crowd
John sees her in the crowd waiting for his execution.
Cryin', 'Johnny boy, I'll be true to you'
His girlfriend pledges her love to John Hardy during his execution.
True to you
His girlfriend will remain faithful to him even after he is no more.
True to you, true to you
Reiterate the solemn promise of being loyal to John.
Poor, John
Emphasize the tragic fate that John met with.
I've been to the East and I've been to the West
I have traveled all over the world.
Been this whole world 'round
I have traveled around the world completely.
I've been to the North and I lived in the South
I have been to both the North and the South and even resided there.
This will be my buryin' ground
This place would be where I breathe my last.
Well, I've been this wide world over
I have traveled across the world and back.
Been this whole world 'round
I have completed my journey all around the world.
Been to the river and I've been baptized
I have been to the river to cleanse my sins.
Take me to my buryin' ground
Take me to the place where I belong.
Get away, get away, get away
Reiterate the need to flee and escape certain death.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Planet_Molly
The success of the Kingston Trio was based upon two undeniable and irreplaceable realities: The rare and utterly unique voices of those 3 men, and the equally rare and unique souls from which those voices sprung. The Kingston Trio were God's gift to this world. And the world, being what it is, failed to appreciate them enough. Those of us who do, are kindred spirits.
james schleich
revisiting the Trio since the death of Bob Shane. The Guard years were by far the best. Once in a life time magic vocal blend. So pleasing to the ear.
Kirk Barkley
Thanks for your post, James: always loved the Guard years best myself.
PRR5406
Dave Guard had the best ear for arrangements and the type of songs which reflected the three part harmonies of Bob, Nick, and himself. After Dave, the Trio remained excellent, but never quite as rich and deep.
Kirk Barkley
Agree 100%
ken wilson
Hell I'm damn near 80 and I keep coming back to these songs which are remarkably well produced. Yes treasures.
Mark Newton
Remember the Alamo and All My Sorrows from "At Large" album.
buddylarsen
--it is astonishing how good they were. These songs are a cultural treasure --and they're fun, and will never be out-of-style.
Mark Newton
From their 4th album "At Large," a masterpiece.
Tai Chi Man
What a fantastic legacy! Thanks guys. May you all rest in peace!