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 Night Irene
The Kingston Trio Lyrics
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Irene, goodnight. Irene, goodnight Goodnight, Irene. Goodnight, Irene. I'll see you in my dreams.
Last Saturday night I got married. Me and my wife settled down.
Now, me and my wife are parted. Gonna take a little stroll downtown.
(Chorus)
Yeah, and sometimes I take a great notion I'm gonna jump in the river and drown.
(Chorus)
Stop ramblin'. Stop that gamblin'. Stop staying out late at night.
Go home to your wife and family. Stay there by the fireside, bright.
(Chorus)
Goodnight, Irene. Goodnight, Irene. I'll see you in my dreams.
The Kingston Trio's "Good Night Irene" is a classic American folk song that was first recorded in the early 20th century. In this song, the singer sings to a woman named Irene, bidding her farewell for the night and expressing hope to see her in his dreams.
The lyrics suggest that the singer has recently married, but he and his wife have separated. He decides to take a walk downtown, where he may find some temporary comfort or distraction. The third verse is darker, with the singer expressing suicidal thoughts and a desire to jump in the river and end his life.
The final verse urges the listener to stop living recklessly and return home to their spouse and family, instead of staying out late gambling and rambling around. The song's refrain repeats the name Irene and bids her a farewell, suggesting that the singer is using her as a symbol of comfort or stability in his turbulent life. Overall, the song paints a complex portrait of the struggles of love and marriage, and the desire for escape and comfort in difficult times.
Line by Line Meaning
Irene, goodnight. Irene, goodnight Goodnight, Irene. Goodnight, Irene. I'll see you in my dreams.
A farewell to Irene, the singer's lover, as they part ways with hopes to see her again in their dreams
Last Saturday night I got married. Me and my wife settled down.
The singer got married recently and has now settled down with their wife
Now, me and my wife are parted. Gonna take a little stroll downtown.
The singer and their wife are now separated, and they plan to take a walk in the city
Yeah, sometimes I live in the country and sometimes I live in town.
The artist alternates between living in the countryside and the city
Yeah, and sometimes I take a great notion I'm gonna jump in the river and drown.
The artist occasionally feels overwhelmed and considers suicidal thoughts
Stop ramblin'. Stop that gamblin'. Stop staying out late at night.
Advice for the listener to stop wandering, gambling, and staying out late
Go home to your wife and family. Stay there by the fireside, bright.
Encouragement for the listener to go back to their family and settle down by the fire
Goodnight, Irene. Goodnight, Irene. I'll see you in my dreams.
A final farewell to Irene, with the hopes of seeing her again in the artist's dreams
Writer(s): Alan Lomax, John Sr Lomax, Huddie Ledbetter
Contributed by James O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.