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.
Good News
The Kingston Trio Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Good news, Chariot's comin'
Good news, Chariot's comin'
And I don't want it to leave me behind
Good news, Chariot's comin'
Good news, Chariot's comin'
Good news, Chariot's comin'
There's a long white robe in Heaven I know
(There's a long white robe in Heaven I know)
There's a long white robe in Heaven I know
And I don't want it to leave me behind
Good news, Chariot's comin'
Good news, Chariot's comin'
Good news, Chariot's comin'
And I don't want it to leave me behind
There's a starry crown in Heaven I know
(There's a starry crown in Heaven I know)
There's a starry crown in Heaven I know
And I don't want it to leave me behind
Good news, Chariot's comin'
Good news, Chariot's comin'
Good news, Chariot's comin'
And I don't want it to leave me behind
There's a golden harp in Heaven I know
(There's a golden harp in Heaven I know)
There's a golden harp in Heaven I know
And I don't want to leave it behind
Good news, Chariot's comin'
Good news, good news, Chariot's comin'
Good, good news, Chariot's comin'
And I don't want it to leave me behind
The Kingston Trio's "Good News" is a gospel song that conveys the message of hope for a better future beyond our present world. The refrain of the song repeats the phrase "Good news, Chariot's comin'" in a catchy, upbeat melody that creates a sense of joy and jubilation.
The lyrics indicate that the chariot coming is a symbol of the end of the world and the arrival of Jesus, who will take the believers to heaven. The singer expresses their desire not to be left behind on earth, but instead, to join Jesus in the afterlife where there will be a long white robe, a starry crown, and a golden harp. The phrase "I don't want it to leave me behind" is repeated several times, highlighting the importance of being saved and joining Jesus at the end of times.
Overall, the song is a celebration of faith and the belief in a better future beyond our earthly existence. It is a call to action for people to live their lives in a way that is pleasing to God so that they can be saved on the day of judgment.
Line by Line Meaning
Good news, Chariot's comin'
There is joyful news that the chariot is coming
And I don't want it to leave me behind
I hope to be included and not left behind
There's a long white robe in Heaven I know
I am aware that there is a long white robe in Heaven
(There's a long white robe in Heaven I know)
I am certain about the existence of a long white robe in Heaven
There's a starry crown in Heaven I know
I am aware that there is a starry crown in Heaven
(There's a starry crown in Heaven I know)
I am certain about the existence of a starry crown in Heaven
There's a golden harp in Heaven I know
I am aware that there is a golden harp in Heaven
(There's a golden harp in Heaven I know)
I am certain about the existence of a golden harp in Heaven
Good news, good news, Chariot's comin'
This is very good news that the chariot is coming
Good, good news, Chariot's comin'
This is extremely good news that the chariot is coming
And I don't want to leave it behind
I do not wish to part with the golden harp in Heaven
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Kirk Barkley
These guys could sing the phone book & make it sound great!
james schleich
their vocal blend, enthusiasm, and spirit have never been matched. youthful energy contagious on this and all the early albums. the Dave Guard years the best. the sum was greater than the total of the parts. RIP Bob Shane---blessed with a great voice and interpretation skills
ssgtsouth
This gospel song is so good! It starts out so low then builds to where you think there is a whole choir singing. It was also the first song I learned to play on the guitar, only two cord if I remember.....People far and wide requested I........never play the guitar.........Thanks CompVid
seansvoice
Bob Gibson did a great version live on Hootenanny.
3Pitous
2 Chords only??... Well there's a change in the last chorus which adds a third. Don't forget that subtle 6th chord from time to time.. But I agree with you .A 2 chord song is merely a name for a song easy to play.Sorry you never played the guitar. Good News was one of the first songs I learnt to play.I still play it.Try again!
psakbar
I just love them.
Mr. Ramfan
What a SPECIAL time in American music this was...
sandyabbot
I grew up on the Kingston Trio, I have 9 of their albums.
Douglas Shane
Still a favorite, 60 years on!
XMLarry
Ty for posting this great spiritual!