The wispy innocence of the Poni-Tails' harmony ha… Read Full Bio ↴The Poni-Tails
The wispy innocence of the Poni-Tails' harmony has been heard on oldies radio for over thirty years thanks to one timely hit "Born Too Late." A record about an older boy, "Born Too Late" is a rock and roll classic, a "girl group goldie," and round the world favorite.
The trio of Toni Cistone (lead vocals), LaVerne Novak (high harmony), and Karen Topinka (low harmony) were students at Brush High School in Lynhurst, Ohio near Cleveland, when they started singing together in 1956. They performed at school functions and benefits, and it was at one of these shows that they were spotted by an attorney, John Jewitt, who gave them an introduction to music publisher Tom Illius. Illius liked the soft style of the trio and their original song "Que La Bozena." Illius took them to the local Point Records, who issued their first single "Your Wild Heart" in January, 1957. Unfortunately, even innocence white girls were subjected to being covered. "Your Wild Heart" became a hit for Mercury artist Joy lane (#20) while the Version by the Poni-Tails, named for the hairstyle they wore at the time, became an instant collectible.
With Illius managing the group they had one more single with Marc Records "Can I Be Sure".
Tony and LaVerne auditioned for a replacement for Karen when her father made her leave the group. They came up with former Regina High student Patti McCabe.
Illius got ABC Records' Don Costa , later to produce/arrange for Paul Anka, Frankie Avalon, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra and found DCP Records; interested in the group. ABC released "It's Just My Luck To Be 15" by the end of 1957. It quickly disappeared.
With a similar theme "Born Too Late" made the Poni-Tails part of rock and roll history. It reached number seven on Billboard's Top 100 and number five in England. The group might have remained anonymous if ABC had had its way as they were promoting the other side "Come On Joey, Dance With Me". It was only after several Cleveland deejays pushed "Born Too Late," the other side, that the record took off.
The model of what parents of the 50s considered to be "the safe look" appearances on Dick Clark's American Bandstand by the Poni-Tails further fostered that image.
For the next two years the Poni-Tails attempted to recapture the magic of "Born Too Late". Despite its suggestive title "Seven Minutes To Heaven," their next single, only reached number 87 in December, 1958. Their last record to chart was "I'll Be Seeing You," a rockaballad that went down well at record hops as a "ladies choice" number, in late fall of 1959. "Who, When, and Why" was their last record in 1960.
ABC still wanted to renew their contract for another five years in 1960, but the Poni-Tails decided to call it a career and settle into family life.
"The three years were fun, but I just wanted to get out of the record business and get back to normal living." (Toni Cistone)
In 1991 LaVerne (Novak) Glivic was working for a real estate agent in Menor, Ohio, and had five grandchildren. Toni (Cistone) Costabile was working at a high school in Shaker Heights, Ohio. Patti (McCabe) Barnes died of cancer in January, 1989. Tom Illius went on to become a top executive with the William Morris Agency in Los Angeles.
Seven Minutes in Heaven
The Poni-Tails Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Give me up 'til eleven,
Remember who you met,
When you were in your dreams.
(chorus)
Papa, come on,
And be a trouper, trouper,
Papa, come on,
Don't be a party pooper,
Oh, won't you say it's alright then..
To lower the lights 'cause
I want seven minutes in heaven
Give me up 'til eleven,
Remember who you met,
When you were in your dreams!
(repeat chorus)
Seven minutes ain't much,
No, no,
And I love him so much,
Yeah, yeah,
Seven minutes ain't much,
No, no,
And I love him so much,
Yeah, yeah
The Poni-Tails's song "Seven Minutes in Heaven" is light-hearted and fun, invoking the excitement and thrill of young love. The singer is pleading with her father to let her have "seven minutes in heaven" with her crush, implying that they will use this time to kiss or explore their feelings for each other. The lyrics play on the concept of the party game 'Seven Minutes in Heaven,' where two people go into a closet and spend seven minutes alone together. The singer asks for her father's permission to "lower the lights" - a reference to the game's traditional rules of darkness and privacy - and acknowledges that this period of time is short, but still meaningful.
Beyond the playful tone of the song, these lyrics also reflect the social norms of the time, where young women were expected to seek permission and approval from their parents when it came to dating or kissing. While this may seem outdated or restrictive today, it was once considered the norm and adds context to the urgency and excitement conveyed in the song
Line by Line Meaning
I want seven minutes in heaven
The singer desires a short intimate moment with someone they have feelings for.
Give me up 'til eleven,
The singer wants to spend time with the person until 11 pm.
Remember who you met,
The singer wants the other person to take note of their presence and get to know them.
When you were in your dreams.
The artist wants to be memorable and unique in the other person's mind.
Papa, come on,
The artist is addressing an authority figure or an older man for approval.
And be a trouper, trouper,
The singer is urging the authority figure to be understanding and cooperative.
Papa, come on,
The singer is still addressing an authority figure for permission.
Don't be a party pooper,
The artist is asking the authority figure to not ruin the fun.
Oh, won't you say it's alright then..
The artist is imploring the authority figure to give permission for what they want.
To lower the lights 'cause
The artist wants the atmosphere to be just right.
I want seven minutes in heaven
The singer wants an opportunity for intimacy with the other person.
Give me up 'til eleven,
The artist wants to spend time with the person until 11 pm.
Remember who you met,
The singer wants the other person to take note of their presence and get to know them.
When you were in your dreams!
The singer wants to make a lasting impression on the other person.
Seven minutes ain't much,
The singer acknowledges that the time they are asking for is short.
No, no,
The artist is disagreeing with the idea that the time is too short.
And I love him so much,
The artist is expressing strong romantic feelings for the other person.
Yeah, yeah,
The singer is emphasizing their love.
Seven minutes ain't much,
The singer acknowledges that the time they are asking for is short.
No, no,
The artist is disagreeing with the idea that the time is too short.
And I love him so much,
The artist is expressing strong romantic feelings for the other person.
Yeah, yeah
The artist is emphasizing their love.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: KELLER, SHERMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ronald Herrera
I want... seven minutes in heaven...
Give me up 'til eleven,
With the boy ... of my dreams
'Cause it seems like !!
I need... seven minutes in heaven...
Mama, Papa, please give in
Mama, papa don't be mean
Or I'll scream .....
Please don't be a party pooper, pooper ...
Please, on, please don't be a snooper, snooper
Can't we have a little fun tonight ... uuh .. uuh .. uuh ..
All we've been really missin', missin'
Is some huggin and some kissin', kissin'
Ohhh, won't you give us the right
To lower the light, 'cause ....
We need... seven minutes in heaven
Give us up 'til eleven ..
Remember how you felt
When you were in your teens ...
Please don't be a party pooper, pooper .....
Please, on, please don't be a snooper, snooper ...
Can't we have a little fun tonight uh ... uuh ... uuh ..
All we've been really missin', missin'
Is some huggin and some kissin', kissin'
Ohhh, won't you give us the right
To lower the light, 'cause
We need... seven minutes in heaven
Give us up 'til eleven
Remember how you felt
When you were in your teens ....
Seven minutes ain't much,
(No, no)
And I love him so much,
(Yeah, yeah)
Seven minutes ain't much
(No, no)
And I love him so much ..
huntrrams
Birds Don’t Sing by TV Girl sampled this 😱🥰 Nice Song!!
Rolando E. Díaz Olivo, M.D.
"Born too late" was one of a kind. With "Seven minutes in Heaven", the Poni-Tails elevated this feat to the nth power. And it was up to Heaven where these girls took us with this tune; love at first hearing, indeed.
How could such a beautiful and well crafted song make it only to the 85th position?
I surmise this girl's trio was rather "born too early" for the public to understand and grasp the beauty of their musical accomplishments. Time is paying them their dues.
Thanks, TheLimePopsicle.
Richard Cheek
We played Seven Minutes in Heaven when I was in 6th grade and junior high. In our version the boy and girl would go into another room with the lights out and stay for seven minutes. What they did was up to them, and was never supposed to be talked about. I know some kids played in a closet. We even played one time in the coat room at the back of our classroom. None of my seven minute trips ever went too far.
Michael Furia
ah, the innocent '50's.
frdjr252
This record did quite well in Buffalo on WKBW, reaching #6 on Dec. 19, 1958. WKBW had just launched as a top 40 station about six months earlier on July 4. KB's nighttime signal blanketed the entire Eastern Seaboard.
Nils Skudaarkaat
This, young people of the 21st Century ............, is MUSIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mike T.
They dont know what good vocals and lyrics are!
LIL SHAT
boomer
Joel Bernardes
Extraordinária interpretação. Linda música. Afinadíssimas. Pena que tenha conhedido
antes
Angel Ruvalcaba
a mis 37 años amo está agrupación y toda la música de los 50s 60 s gracias a mí hermosa madre .