Singers Cleveland Duncan, Curtis Williams, Dexter Tisby, and Bruce Tate, all students at Fremont High in Los Angeles, CA, formed the quartet in 1954. They broke up in 1959. Cleve Duncan sang lead on "Earth Angel."
The Penguins were one of a number of doo-wop groups of the period named after birds (such as The Orioles, The Flamingos, and The Crows).
The Penguins' single "Hey Senorita" was released on Doo-Tone Records in 1955 as the intended A-side, but a radio DJ flipped the record over to the B-side, "Earth Angel", which became far more popular. Their midtempo performance was a cross between rhythm and blues and the new rock and roll played by white performers and enjoyed by teenagers.
Coming off the success of "Earth Angel," The Penguins approached Buck Ram to manage them. Ram's primary interest was managing The Platters, who at that point had no hit singles but were a profitable touring group. With The Penguins in hand, Ram was able to swing a 2-for-1 deal with Mercury Records in which the company agreed to take on The Platters as a precondition for getting The Penguins (the group that Mercury really wanted). Ironically, The Penguins would never have a second hit single under the Mercury deal, while The Platters would be the label's most successful act.
The Penguins never had another national hit, but their 1957 cover of "Pledge of Love" reached #15 on the R&B chart.
For three decades, "Earth Angel" was almost always the #2 song on oldies station WCBS-FM's annual Top 500 countdown. (Another doo-wop favorite, The Five Satins' "In the Still of the Night" was the perennial #1 pick.)
The Penguins were inducted into The Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004. In 2004, "Earth Angel" was named #151 on Rolling Stone's Top 500 Songs Of All Time. "Earth Angel" was also one of The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame's 500 Songs That Shaped Rock & Roll.
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Earth Angel (Will You Be Mine
The Penguins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Earth angel, earth angel
Will you be mine?
My darling dear
Love you all the time
I'm just a foolA fool in love with you
Earth angel, earth angel
The one I adore
Love you forever and ever more
I'm just a fool
A fool in love with you
I fell for you and I knew
The vision of your love-loveliness
I hoped and I pray that someday
I'll be the vision of your hap-happiness oh, oh, oh, OH!
Earth angel, earth angel
Please be mine
My darling dear
Love you all the time
I'm just a fool
A fool in love with you-ou-ou
I fell for you and I knew
The vision of your loveliness
I hope and pray that someday
That I'll be the vision of your happiness
oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh , oh, oh, oh
Earth angel, earth angel
Please be mine
My darling dear
Love you all the time
I'm just a fool
A fool in love with you-ou (you, you, you)
The song "Earth Angel (Will You Be Mine)" by The Penguins is a classic doo-wop ballad that was released in 1954. It's a heartfelt love song that speaks of a man who is completely enamored with his partner and wants to spend the rest of his life with her. The lyrics are simple and straightforward, but the emotional depth that they convey is truly remarkable. The melody and harmony of the song are also beautiful, and they perfectly match the sincerity of the lyrics.
The song starts with the singer expressing his love for his partner and asking her to be his. He calls her an "earth angel," which is a term of endearment that signifies his belief in her goodness and purity. He then goes on to say that he loves her all the time and that he's a "fool in love" with her. This line suggests that his love for her is all-consuming and that he's willing to do whatever it takes to be with her.
In the next verse, the singer repeats the phrase "earth angel" and says that his partner is the one he adores. He also promises to love her forever and ever, emphasizing the timelessness of his love. The final verse is a repeat of the first two, with the singer once again expressing his love for his partner and asking her to be his.
Overall, "Earth Angel (Will You Be Mine)" is a beautiful love song that captures the intense emotions that come with being in love. The lyrics are sincere and heartfelt, and they perfectly capture the essence of what it means to be a "fool in love" with someone.
Line by Line Meaning
Earth angel, earth angel
Describing the person he loves as an ethereal, heavenly creature
Will you be mine?
Asking the person he loves to commit to a relationship with him
My darling dear
Expressing fondness and affection towards the person he loves
Love you all the time
Claiming to love the person he loves continuously and permanently
I'm just a fool
Acknowledging that he is powerless in the presence of the person he loves
A fool in love with you
Admitting that he is in love with the person, despite any perceived foolishness
The one I adore
Describing the person he loves as the one he cherishes the most
Love you forever and ever more
Pledging to love the person he loves eternally
I fell for you and I knew
Admitting that he was smitten with the person from the beginning
The vision of your love-loveliness
Describing the person he loves as a beautiful vision of love
I hoped and I pray that someday
Expressing his desire for a future with the person he loves
I'll be the vision of your hap-happiness oh, oh, oh, OH!
Aspiring to be the source of the person's happiness
Please be mine
Making a plea to the person he loves to reciprocate his feelings
I'm just a fool
Reiterating that he is powerless in the presence of the person he loves
A fool in love with you-ou-ou
Acknowledging, once again, that he is in love with the person, regardless of any perceived foolishness
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jesse Lorenzo Belvin, Gaynel Hodge, Curtis Williams
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind