At least 5 groups share this name:

1. The Regents were a doo-wop voc… Read Full Bio ↴At least 5 groups share this name:

1. The Regents were a doo-wop vocal group from New York in the late 1950s and early 1960s. They are best known for writing and recording the hit "Barbara Ann" in 1961, which reached #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and #2 when later covered by the Beach Boys in 1965 on their album, Beach Boys' Party!.

2. The Regents were a UK-based punk/new wave group from the late 70's. They had a #11 hit in 1980 with the single '7 Teen'.

3. The Regents was a Barbershop Quartet.

4. Regents is a hardcore band from Baltimore, MD

5. A Finnish surf rock band. http://www.theregents.info

#1 The Regents a doo-wop vocal group from New York in the late 1950s and early 1960s, with original members:
Ernie Maresca (replaced by Don Jacobucci)
Chuck Fassert (brother of "Barbara-Ann" author Fred Fassert)
Guy Villari (born 11 August 1942, Bronx, NY; died 21 September 2017, Middletown, NY)
Sal Cuomo
Tony Gravagna

They formed in the Bronx, New York, in 1959. Group members included Guy Villari on lead; Sal Cuomo, first tenor; Chuck Fassert, second tenor; Don Jacobucci, sax player/baritone; Tony Gravagna on bass.

An earlier version of the group from 1957 was called The Monterays, and included Villari, Cuomo, Fassert and Ernie Maresca (who later had a hit with "Shout! Shout! (Knock Yourself Out)", and also wrote songs such as the Regent's "Runaround" and "The Wanderer" recorded by Dion).

The group recorded demos in Bell Sound, Associated, and Regent Sound studios. They were signed to Seville Records as The Desires, however, none of the songs they recorded were released, until the group had success three years later as The Regents. The Regents' name came from a combination of recording a demo at Regent Sound studio, and the fact that Villari smoked Regents cigarettes.

In 1958 the group recorded Villari's "A Teenager's Love". At the same recording session they waxed "Barbara-Ann" in three takes. Shortly afterwards, Tony Gravagna, was installed into the group. Unable to secure a recording contract, they disbanded about a year later.

Eddie Jacobucci revived the Regents by accident. His group, the Consorts, lacked original songs for an audition, so they recorded a version of "Barbara-Ann". The owner of Cousins Records heard the track and decided to release the original version by the Regents. The original group reunited, and Cousins released "Barbara-Ann" in March 1961. It became a No. 1 record in New York; the demand was such that Cousins leased it to Roulette/Gee for worldwide distribution, and it reached #13 in the Billboard Hot 100. Their follow-up release, "Runaround", written by Maresca, went to #28 on the pop chart and #30 R&B. They released two more records for Gee, but after a royalties dispute with the record label, the group broke up.

They reformed in 1973 with Villari the only remaining original member. The group enjoyed success in concerts group and toured across the United States. In 1988 they were selected as one of only four "oldies" groups to appear on the Grammy Awards Show. The Cadillacs, The Flamingos and The Angels were the other three.

In 1995 a new group of Regents was formed. Along with Villari, Tony Valitutto, Frank Civatillo and Tony Cacace made up the vocals, while Richard Rogers, Joel DeRuggiero and Sal DiCicco provided the instrumentation.

Over The Rainbow
The Regents Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high
There's a land that I've heard of once in a lullaby.
Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue
And the dreams that you dare to dream,
Really do come true.

Someday I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far behind me.

Where troubles melt like lemon drops,
High above the chimney tops,
That's where you'll find me.

Somewhere over the rainbow, blue birds fly
Birds fly over the rainbow
Why then, oh why can't I?
If happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow
Why, oh why can't I?

Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high
There's a land that I've heard of once in a lullaby.
Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue
And the dreams that you dare to dream,
Really do come true.

Someday I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far behind me.
Where troubles melt like lemon drops,
High above the chimney tops,
That's where you'll find me.

Somewhere over the rainbow, blue birds fly
Birds fly over the rainbow
Why then, oh why can't I?

If happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow
Why, oh why can't I?

Overall Meaning

The song "Over the Rainbow" by The Regents talks about a world that seems imaginary but is potentially real. The singer dreams of a place "somewhere over the rainbow" where there is a land that he has heard in a lullaby. The skies here are much clearer, and dreams are more powerful. The singer hopes that someday he will be able to wish upon a star and go to this place where all his troubles will be left behind, and he will be happy.

The song is about the experience of longing for something that seems impossible to achieve. The rainbow is a symbol of hope and the dreamland that the singer talks about is a symbol of escape from reality. The lyrics are simple and poetic, making it easy for listeners to connect to the sentiment of the song. Overall, the message of the song is that there is always hope and that dreams can come true if we believe in them.

Line by Line Meaning

Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high
There exists a place beyond what we currently see and know, a place situated high up in the sky, but still within our reach.

There's a land that I've heard of once in a lullaby.
There is a land that exists only in our dreams and imagination, a place of wonder and mystery that can only be accessed when we allow ourselves to be vulnerable and dream.

Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue
In this elusive, yet very much tangible place, the sky is blue and clear, signifying hope and happiness, and a promise of a better tomorrow.

And the dreams that you dare to dream, Really do come true.
When one dares to dream and pursue that dream no matter what, it is possible to bring those dreams to life, in ways one might never have thought possible.

Someday I'll wish upon a star
There exist things around us that have mystical and spiritual significance, and that by focusing our deepest desires and emotions on these things, we can bring our dreams to life.

And wake up where the clouds are far behind me.
Through our focused devotion and consistent effort, we can transcend the limitations and complications of our lives and move towards the place where we know our deepest desires reside.

Where troubles melt like lemon drops, High above the chimney tops, That's where you'll find me.
This place is one where all troubles and hardships cease to exist, like a magical land where happiness and contentment are the only currency.

Somewhere over the rainbow, blue birds fly
In this wonderful land, creatures of beauty and freedom soar high, in fulfillment of their truest and wildest dreams.

Birds fly over the rainbow
With their wings, the creatures of the airy world demonstrate the freedom one can enjoy once they are fully immersed in the good things of life.

Why then, oh why can't I?
The questioning tone of the song seeks to discover why one cannot find the same kind of freedom, while highlighting the limiting factors that hamper one's goals and dreams.

If happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow
Emphasizing that there is indeed a place of happiness and contentment beyond reach that is free of trouble, worry and disappointment.

Why, oh why can't I?
The final call to question why one cannot embrace the same freedom that others experience despite the apparent conditions of their living environments.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: E.Y. Harburg, Harold Arlen

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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