In early 1951, the Moonglows, mostly featuring Fuqua on lead vocals, began recording, first for Freed's Champagne record label and then for Chicago's Chance Records, achieving local success in the midwest with a bluesy sound. By mid 1954, the group had become more polished (as evidenced by their Lester-led cover of Doris Day's "Secret Love"), and signed with the bigger Chess Records label. Their first Chess record was also their first R&B hit, the Fuqua-penned "Sincerely" (1954), with a lead vocal by Lester (and covered for the pop market by The McGuire Sisters). "Sincerely" was followed by a series of original R&B hits in 1955 and 1956, including "Most of All", "In My Diary" (later recorded by The Spinners), "When I'm With You" (all led by Lester) and the uptempo "See Saw" (featuring Fuqua). 1957 saw the release of the Fuqua led "Please Send Me Someone to Love" (originally by Percy Mayfield in 1950).
Through this period, the group perfected their patented, breathy, "blow harmony," which inspired countless 1950s doo-wop groups and 1960s soul groups, and even the 1970s The Chi-Lites.
Generally, Fuqua sang lead on the uptempo and blues-based tunes, while Lester was the group's romantic lead. Occasionally, on songs like "We Go Together" (1956), they sang a duet lead. Fuqua and Lester also "Moonlighted" on the Checker Records label as the "Moonlighters", recording a local hit "Shoo-be-doo (My Lovin' Baby)" in 1955. The group appeared in Rock Rock Rock a movie produced by, and starring Alan Freed. The last recording by the original five was the hit "10 Commandments of Love" (released in early 1958). It featured Fuqua on lead, with Billy Johnson doing the spoken recitation. By 1957, Fuqua had begun to re-assert himself as lead vocalist and manager, with Lester being pushed to the background. This created a great deal of friction within the group.[citation needed]
Also in 1957, a Washington, D.C. based group known as The Marquees was struggling to make it. The members were Marvin Gaye, Reese Palmer, Chester Simmons, and James Knowland. They decided to give an impromptu audition to Fuqua, as the Moonglows had come to town for a concert. Fuqua was so impressed with them that he decided to fire the entire group and take on the Marquees as the "New Moonglows." Fuqua recorded with these four (later including fifth member Chuck Barksdale), as Harvey & The Moonglows through 1960, when the group dispersed. Gaye went on to a huge solo career.
Fuqua produced the Spinners in the early 1960s, even singing on a few of their records (but not 1961's "That's What Girls are Made For", which featured Bobby Smith imitating Harvey's style). Fuqua became a staff writer and record producer for Motown Records through the 1960s, and later road-managed Smokey Robinson. Lester returned to his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky and opened a nightclub. Barnes moved to Mississippi and retired from professional singing after an automobile accident in 1969.
Meanwhile, in 1964, Pete Graves restarted the Moonglows with Doc Green of The Drifters, George Thorpe, and Bearle Easton. This group recorded briefly for Lana Records, Times Square Records, and Crimson Records.
Yet another new Moonglows formed in 1970, featuring Lester and a Louisville group called the Aristocrats, who consisted of Lester's cousin Gary Rodgers, plus Albert Workman, Robert Ford, and Billy McPhatter (son of Clyde McPhatter). This group performed once in 1971 at a show in New York, but the Aristocrats decided to return to Louisville. Dallas, inspired by the reception his group received, reunited with Harvey Fuqua and Pete Graves, plus new members Doc Williams and Chuck Lewis, and the Moonglows were back.
They recorded an LP released on RCA Records in 1972, charting their last single, "Sincerely '72", a funky re-working of their 1954 hit.
This line-up split up after 1972, and Lester began singing with local Louisville singers again, including at times Rodgers, Ford, Robert Lee Davis, Bruce Martin, and Peter Lawford. This group recorded a mostly a cappella, live album Moonglows in 1979.
Lester died in his hometown of Louisville from cancer in 1980, and Billy McPhatter returned to the group, with Rodgers taking over most of the leads in what was now billed as "Bobby Lester's Moonglows." McPhatter was later replaced by Bobby Lester, Jr. Harvey reunited with the remainder of his 1972 Moonglows in 1983 for a Grammy performance (minus Lester, and Barksdale who had rejoined The Dells, and plus guitarist Johnson), and they toured until 1986 as Harvey & the Moonglows.
In 2000, Bobby Lester's Moonglows, consisting of Rodgers, Martin, Lawford, and Gene Kelly, appeared on the PBS special Doo Wop 50, backing up Harvey Fuqua on "Sincerely" and "10 Commandments of Love." Fuqua, now in his mid-70s, still sings occasionally, sometimes backed up by Lester's Moonglows, sometimes a 50s R&B group called the Magnificents, and sometimes by local "pick-up" groups. Fuqua also produces and manages gospel acts. Reese Palmer is a member of The Legendary Orioles, as well as leading a new version of The Marquees. Chuck Barksdale is still with the Dells. Billy Johnson died in Los Angeles in 1987, Gary Rodgers died in 2005, and Prentiss Barnes died in 2006.[1].
Harvey Fuqua passed away in 2010.
The Moonglows were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1999. They were also inducted into The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame in 2000. "Sincerely" was named one of The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame's 500 Songs That Shaped Rock & Roll.
We Go Together
The Moonglows Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Birds of the feather, two robins in spring
Let's go steady, you are my first love
Oh, oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
We like the same things, that make living sweet
Loving like movies, in the balcony seat
Let's go steady, you are my first love
So, please, listen to me
Someday we will be
Side by side, hand in hand
You'll be wearing my wedding band
We go together, like two straws in a coke
Why not come over, and you'll meet my folks
Let's go steady, you are my first love
So, please, listen to me
Someday we will be
Side by side, hand in hand
You'll be wearing my wedding band
We go together, like two straws in a coke
Why not come over, and you'll meet my folks
Let's go steady, you are my first love
You are my first love
You are my first love
The Moonglows's song We Go Together is a classic love song that captures the essence of young love in the 1950s when dating was all about being exclusive, committed, and spending time on shared interests. The song starts with the lyrics "We go together, like castles and kings. Birds of the feather, two robins in spring" which compares the couple's relationship to romantic, long-lasting, and stable things like castles and kings. The use of the metaphor "birds of the feather, two robins in spring" signifies that the couple is happy, carefree, and in love.
The lyrics "Let's go steady, you are my first love" expresses the singer's desire for a commitment from his love interest. He wants them to be exclusive and committed to each other, which was a big deal back then. The following lyrics "We like the same things, that make living sweet. Loving like movies, in the balcony seat" describe compatibility and sharing similar interests, which was highly valued in the '50s. They enjoy spending time together doing things they both love, like watching movies from balcony seats, a popular trend in that era. The line "So please listen to me, someday we will be side by side, hand in hand, You'll be wearing my wedding band" implies that the singer is confident in their future together and he sees them growing old and happy together.
The last verse "We go together, like two straws in a coke, Why not come over, and you'll meet my folks" is another metaphor for the two's relationship being inseparable, like two straws in a Coke. Inviting his girlfriend to meet his parents also shows that he is proud of their relationship and wants to declare it publicly.
Overall, the song's lyrics portray a simple but deep love story of two young people in the 1950s who are deeply in love and committed to each other.
Line by Line Meaning
We go together, like castles and kings
We complement each other perfectly, like two noble entities.
Birds of the feather, two robins in spring
We share the same characteristics and are in sync, like two birds in the season of love.
Let's go steady, you are my first love
Let's commit to each other exclusively, you are the first person I truly love.
Oh, oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
Expressing the joy of being together.
We like the same things, that make living sweet
We have similar preferences that bring happiness to our lives.
Loving like movies, in the balcony seat
Our love is like watching a romantic movie, holding hands in the balcony seat.
So, please, listen to me
I am expressing my earnest feelings, please pay heed.
Someday we will be
I believe that one day we will be together forever.
Side by side, hand in hand
We will stand together, supporting each other each step of the way.
You'll be wearing my wedding band
A promise to marry each other and be devoted partners for life.
We go together, like two straws in a coke
We fit perfectly together, like two straws in a beverage.
Why not come over, and you'll meet my folks
I want you to meet my family, and see how well we fit into each other's worlds.
You are my first love
Reiterating the importance of the love shared between the two.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: PERRY STEVENS, SHELLY HAIMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@lyndxnjoel6917
27 year old guy, checking out the Moonglows for the first time. So sincere and heartfelt. I love modern music but stuff like this is the foundation everything is built on.
We lost a lot of purity and kindness in the music.
@georgegiani8587
I was a teenager inthe 50's. NO BETTER TIME to grow up. "Lets go steady", "meet my folks'. The genesis of Rock&Roll, our own music. Dances at the Church hall, walking her home.Where has all this sweetness gone!!
@sheriorr2261
How time goes by. I married my first and only love. This song represents so many people of those long ago days of innocence and respect of our elders. If only!!!
@italiansister8069
That damn Apple commercial brought me here I like the song 🎶
@gene4170
Apple is always using these catchy songs😭
@johnwachter6975
We go together you where my first love. Took 44 years to be reunited.
@maryannskerchek9022
Never a song that the Moonglows sang will ever be forgotten. Just sing along.
@normanhopkins7406
She,s passed but this was our song..hard to listen all these years gone bye but always warms my heart...RIP Lainey.
@bookworm1818
I love the innocence of those days that is exampled in this song. I wish things were still like that.
@frederickanderson6746
This is beautiful!