The Marcels were a doo-wop group known for turning beloved American classic… Read Full Bio ↴The Marcels were a doo-wop group known for turning beloved American classical pop songs into rock and roll. The group formed in 1959 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with lead Cornelius Harp, bass Fred Johnson, Gene Bricker, Ron Mundy, and Richard Knauss. In 1961 many were shocked to hear a new version of the ballad, "Blue Moon" that began with the bass singer say, "bomp-baba-bomp" and "dip-da-dip." Still, the record sold a million and is featured in The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.
The disc climbed all the way to number one in the UK singles chart. However all follow-ups sank without trace, and the group became known there as a one-hit wonder. Even in their U.S. homeland, later revivals in the same vein as "Blue Moon" - "Heartaches" and "Melancholy Baby" - were much less successful.
In August of 1961, Knauss and Bricker left and were replaced by Alan Johnson (brother of Fred) and Walt Maddox. Mundy left soon after, leaving the group a quartet.
In 1962, Harp and Alan Johnson left, and were replaced by Richard Harris and William Herndon. There was a brief reunion of the original members in 1973. The group made several recordings in 1975 with Harp back on lead.
By the early 1990s the group was Johnson, Maddox, Harris, Jules Hopson and Richard Merritt.
The group split around 1995. Fred Johnson formed his own group with new members, while the other four members recruited new bass Ted Smith. Maddox won a lawsuit against Sunny James Svetnic, the manager of Johnson's group, for trademark infringement in 1996. Svetnic died in 2002.
Johnson reunited with Harp, Mundy, and Knauss in 1999 for the PBS special Doo Wop 50 with a fifth member.
The disc climbed all the way to number one in the UK singles chart. However all follow-ups sank without trace, and the group became known there as a one-hit wonder. Even in their U.S. homeland, later revivals in the same vein as "Blue Moon" - "Heartaches" and "Melancholy Baby" - were much less successful.
In August of 1961, Knauss and Bricker left and were replaced by Alan Johnson (brother of Fred) and Walt Maddox. Mundy left soon after, leaving the group a quartet.
In 1962, Harp and Alan Johnson left, and were replaced by Richard Harris and William Herndon. There was a brief reunion of the original members in 1973. The group made several recordings in 1975 with Harp back on lead.
By the early 1990s the group was Johnson, Maddox, Harris, Jules Hopson and Richard Merritt.
The group split around 1995. Fred Johnson formed his own group with new members, while the other four members recruited new bass Ted Smith. Maddox won a lawsuit against Sunny James Svetnic, the manager of Johnson's group, for trademark infringement in 1996. Svetnic died in 2002.
Johnson reunited with Harp, Mundy, and Knauss in 1999 for the PBS special Doo Wop 50 with a fifth member.
The Wonder Of It All
The Marcels Lyrics
Yeah, yeah
It's Zayy
Let my words inspire and lift you up, I came up from nothing (Nahriyaha)
I can see your hungry for your turn, good advice they told me, don't rush it
I'll roll my problems and match with yours, 'cause I can tell you been thugging
And if yo pistol keep you safe, who is they to tell you don't clutch it?
I heard it help me slow down, so I sip this lean
I played my cards and I got on now, living dreams
I took too many xans, they dangerous but fulfill my needs
He shoot his blick, I shoot my blick, watch how we shoot in sync
Okay now it's a new year
But last year pain is still here
Drinking to flush out my problems
The problem's what's in the mirror
When you love 'em but you scared to trust 'em, we all know how that is
When you love her but you gotta say fuck her, I'm sorry that's how life gets
(Yeah, yeah, yeah)
I want you in my corner solid, I can't lecture you 'bout loyalty
I ride out with this choppa, they might have sent you out to slaughter me (On God)
Ima be the me I am 'til the day them angels call for me
I've had demons on my shoulders, say take this perc and come and walk with me
Straight down that long road (I been up for a minute)
Straight down that long road (Tryna find myself and who I am)
Straight down that long road (I'm having trouble finding me)
Straight down that long road
On a journey for my soul
I suit up and boot up to shoot it down
I'm in this position, can't lose it now
Can finally afford me some Louis now
We gotta watch how we be moving now
Ain't no more riding with that window down
Unless them folks tryna make the news or somethin'
I'm so high up, I can't look down
I shit on bitches, ain't have to move a muscle
This shit through my veins, ain't no IV
When I need you most, I knew you'll leave
I pour up 4's, that's just my thing
I throw up 5's, they know I bleed
They know I'd die before I'd sing
They know I'd rise before I'd sink
They know I'd ride if that's time and if it's time, that's RIP
I lost my auntie to some cancer (Okay now just hold on)
She was there before my Pampers (Okay now just hold on)
I talk to God like he gone answer (Okay now just hold on)
And now they ask me what I stand for (Okay now just hold on)
I just tell 'em I stand on business
I lost some niggas in them trenches
I lost my uncle to his kidneys
I roll up pain, blow out my feelings
A brand new batch but same prescription
It's brand new smoke, bitch come and get it
And if it's that, you know I'm with it
I keep a rack on me like tennis
It's one up top, Glock sending kisses
Detox my soul, my heart been missing
I cry alone so they can't hear it
I'm on my own but I walk fearless
I preach the truth behind my lyrics
I turned my back on having children
But naw fuck that, I dropped my mission
They need my back as codefendant
I'm here for you and that's a given
It's Zayy
Let my words inspire and lift you up, I came up from nothing (Nahriyaha)
I can see your hungry for your turn, good advice they told me, don't rush it
I'll roll my problems and match with yours, 'cause I can tell you been thugging
And if yo pistol keep you safe, who is they to tell you don't clutch it?
I heard it help me slow down, so I sip this lean
I played my cards and I got on now, living dreams
I took too many xans, they dangerous but fulfill my needs
He shoot his blick, I shoot my blick, watch how we shoot in sync
But last year pain is still here
Drinking to flush out my problems
The problem's what's in the mirror
When you love 'em but you scared to trust 'em, we all know how that is
When you love her but you gotta say fuck her, I'm sorry that's how life gets
(Yeah, yeah, yeah)
I want you in my corner solid, I can't lecture you 'bout loyalty
I ride out with this choppa, they might have sent you out to slaughter me (On God)
Ima be the me I am 'til the day them angels call for me
I've had demons on my shoulders, say take this perc and come and walk with me
Straight down that long road (I been up for a minute)
Straight down that long road (Tryna find myself and who I am)
Straight down that long road (I'm having trouble finding me)
Straight down that long road
On a journey for my soul
I suit up and boot up to shoot it down
I'm in this position, can't lose it now
Can finally afford me some Louis now
We gotta watch how we be moving now
Ain't no more riding with that window down
Unless them folks tryna make the news or somethin'
I'm so high up, I can't look down
I shit on bitches, ain't have to move a muscle
This shit through my veins, ain't no IV
When I need you most, I knew you'll leave
I pour up 4's, that's just my thing
I throw up 5's, they know I bleed
They know I'd die before I'd sing
They know I'd rise before I'd sink
They know I'd ride if that's time and if it's time, that's RIP
I lost my auntie to some cancer (Okay now just hold on)
She was there before my Pampers (Okay now just hold on)
I talk to God like he gone answer (Okay now just hold on)
And now they ask me what I stand for (Okay now just hold on)
I just tell 'em I stand on business
I lost some niggas in them trenches
I lost my uncle to his kidneys
I roll up pain, blow out my feelings
A brand new batch but same prescription
It's brand new smoke, bitch come and get it
And if it's that, you know I'm with it
I keep a rack on me like tennis
It's one up top, Glock sending kisses
Detox my soul, my heart been missing
I cry alone so they can't hear it
I'm on my own but I walk fearless
I preach the truth behind my lyrics
I turned my back on having children
But naw fuck that, I dropped my mission
They need my back as codefendant
I'm here for you and that's a given
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Iziah Brown
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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@MannyIsTHEGamer
Blue Moon, you saw me standing alone
Without a dream in my heart
Without a love of my own
Blue Moon, you knew just what I was there for
You heard me saying a prayer for
Someone I really could care for
And then there suddenly appeared before me
The only one my arms will ever hold
I heard somebody whisper, "Please adore me"
And when I looked, the moon had turned to gold
Blue Moon, now I'm no longer alone
Without a dream in my heart
Without a love of my own
@nobodysseus2905
When my dad used to sing this to me as a little kid, my mother just shook her head like 'what are you teaching our kid?' lol. Ahh the memories! <3
@PajamaPantsStudios
Haha, I can clearly imagine my dad doing that. I can also imagine my mom reacting the same way, lol. Good family times.
@willglo
Sounds like you have/had a great dad!... I hope so!
@cowcat33
Yup sounds like my dad... ending with a deep blue mooon
@nathrussell5893
Yep my dad too
@oleggorky906
I love how they turned this longing and yearning ballad into something so uptempo. Definitely a classic version. I’m not saying that it’s the absolute best version, but it’s certainly right up there among them.
@desertpirate9413
This is a beautiful rendition of the song. The harmonizing is incredible.
@boltactionalaska8834
Exactly, they still make alot of songs today sound mediocre.👍👍
@selvyngilbert9032
Yes - certainly!!!
@splinterbyrd
They're hopelessly out of tune, but that makes it even better