The group was formed at Booker T. Washington High School in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. The original line-up comprised John Gary Williams, Julius E. Green, William Brown and Robert Phillips. They were originally called The Emeralds, but changed their name because there was another group of that name; the name "Mad Lads" was suggested by Stax employee Deanie Parker in response to the group's behavior and also in recognition of local disc jockey Reuben "Mad Lad" Washington. They first recorded for Stax in 1964, releasing "The Sidewalk Surf", co-written by Isaac Hayes under the name Ed Lee, which was not a hit. However, their second record, "Don't Have To Shop Around", rose to no. 11 on the Billboard R&B chart, and no. 93 on the pop chart. Featuring organ by Hayes and piano by Booker T. Jones, it has nonetheless been described as "curiously anachronistic, owing more to doo-wop than southern soul," and featured "the high, innocent tenor of John Gary Williams."
They followed up with "I Want Someone", "I Want A Girl" and "Patch My Heart", which were all R&B hits in 1966. However, towards the end of the year Williams and Brown were drafted. The group continued to make live appearances with the pair being replaced by Sam Nelson and Quincy Billups Jr., but the new line-up's recordings were not as successful. After Williams returned from military service, he was reinstated in the group, over other members' protests, at the insistence of record company co-owner Jim Stewart. The group continued to have R&B chart hits through to 1969, their final hit being a version of "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" which also reached the pop chart. In 1972, the group continued for a while and finally split up.
Williams recorded a solo album, John Gary Williams, at Stax in 1973. He later worked outside the music business in Iowa and Los Angeles, before forming a new touring version of the Mad Lads in 1984. The new group recorded an album, Madder Than Ever, in 1990.
Julius E. Green died on January 14, 2013. William C. Brown III died on July 24, 2015, aged 69. John Gary Williams died in May 2019.
Chart singles
Year Single Chart Positions US Pop US R&B
1965 "Don't Have To Shop Around" 93 11
1966 "I Want Someone" 74 10
"I Want A Girl" - 16
"Patch My Heart" - 41
1968 "Whatever Hurts You" - 31
"So Nice" - 35
1969 "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" 84 28
"Patch My Heart" was also sampled in the #1 Pop Hit "All 4 Love", produced by Howie Tee and performed by Color Me Badd.
These Old Memories
The Mad Lads Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bring new tears
It's funny how these old memories
Can bring new tears
It seems like yesterday
My path has been revealed
The thought of losing you
(Burning burning burning)
I find it hard to smile
While I'm crying all the time
These old memories
Don't you know baby
They bring new tears
Listen
Yesterday I had your love
Today I have only pain
The love affair is over you say
But the hurt, the hurt still remains
Even though you're gone
(Though you are gone)
There's something still lingering on
In my heart
(In my heart)
Soul
(In my soul)
Mind
(In my mind)
It's got me yeah yeah
These old memories
Don't you know baby
Bring new tears
They bring new tears
Now I know everybody
(I know everybody)
Gets hurt sometimes
But I
(Made a mistake)
It's got me crying crying
Oooh yeah
These old memories
Don't you know baby
Bring new tears
Even your picture baby
(These old memories)
It brings tears
Just to see your picture
(Bring new tears)
When I look at my finger at your class ring baby
(These old memories)
That ring will bring tears to my eyes baby
(Bring new tears)
Everything of yours that I got...
The Mad Lads' "These Old Memories" is a soulful ballad about the pain of lost love and the overwhelming emotions that come with memories of a past relationship. The song speaks to the heartache of the singer who is struggling to move on from the love affair that has ended. The opening lines, "These old memories bring new tears," sets the tone for the entirety of the song, as the singer reflects on the past and the pain that still lingers despite the passage of time. These memories, which once brought joy, now only bring fresh tears and heartache.
The repeated chorus, "These old memories don't you know, baby, they bring new tears," emphasizes the idea that the past can have a hold on us even as we try to move forward. The pain of lost love is an all-encompassing feeling that permeates every aspect of the singer's life, from their heart to their soul to their mind. Even simple things, like the sight of a picture or a class ring, can trigger overwhelming emotions.
The Mad Lads' performance is emotional and raw, with lead singer John Gary Williams' soulful voice conveying the depth of his pain. The song's slow tempo, gentle piano and organ melodies, and the use of background vocals to harmonize with Williams, create a somber and reflective mood that adds to the emotional impact of the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
These old memories
The memories of our past together
Bring new tears
Make me cry afresh
It's funny how these old memories
It's ironic how my old memories of you
Can bring new tears
Can make me cry again
It seems like yesterday
It still feels like it was just recently
My path has been revealed
My future has become clear
The thought of losing you
The idea of losing you
Is still burning in my mind
Is still very vivid in my memory
(Burning burning burning)
It's still hurting me badly
I find it hard to smile
I can't seem to be happy
While I'm crying all the time
As I keep shedding tears
Don't you know baby
Do you not realize
Listen
Hear me out
Yesterday I had your love
I once had your love
Today I have only pain
Now I have only heartache
The love affair is over you say
You claim that our relationship is finished
But the hurt, the hurt still remains
But the pain still persists
Even though you're gone
Despite your absence
(Though you are gone)
(Although you're not here)
There's something still lingering on
There's something still left behind
In my heart
In the core of my being
(In my heart)
(In my emotions)
Soul
My spirit
(In my soul)
(Deep within me)
Mind
My thoughts
(In my mind)
(In my head)
It's got me yeah yeah
It's affecting me greatly
Now I know everybody
Now I understand that everyone
(I know everybody)
(I'm aware of this fact)
Gets hurt sometimes
Gets wounded occasionally
But I
But me
(Made a mistake)
(Screwed up)
It's got me crying crying
It's making me cry a lot
Even your picture baby
Even a photograph of you
(These old memories)
(These memories of us)
It brings tears
Makes me cry
Just to see your picture
Just looking at your photo
(Bring new tears)
(Makes me cry once again)
When I look at my finger at your class ring baby
When I see your class ring on my finger
(These old memories)
(These memories of us)
That ring will bring tears to my eyes baby
That ring will make me cry
(Bring new tears)
(Make me cry again)
Everything of yours that I got...
Everything I have of yours...
Contributed by Christopher G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.