They adopted their name in 1962 while performing together around Los Angeles, USA as part of a five-member group called The Paramours, which featured John Wimber (who was much later one of the founders of the Vineyard Movement) on keyboards.
Hatfield and Medley both possessed exceptional vocal talent, with range, control, and tone that helped them create a strong and distinct duet sound (and perform as soloists). Medley sang the low parts with his deep, soulful baritone, with Hatfield taking the higher register vocals with his soaring tenor. They gained their name when an African-American Marine shouted out "That was righteous, brothers" at the end of a show. John Wimber, one of the founding leaders of the Vineyard Movement, played the keyboard in the band.
Their first major hit single was "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" in 1965. Produced by Phil Spector, the record is often cited as one of the peak expressions of Spector's Wall of Sound production techniques. It was one of the most successful pop singles of its time, despite exceeding the standard length for radio play. Indeed, "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" remains the most played song in radio history, estimated to have been broadcast over 8 million times to date. A little known fact about this song was that Spector utilized Sonny and Cher as back-up singers.
They had several other Spector-produced hit singles during the 1960s, including "Ebb Tide" and "Unchained Melody" in 1965 and "(You're My) Soul and Inspiration" in 1966.
Soul and Inspiration was produced by Bill Medley for Verve Records. Phil Spector was not involved with this recording in any way, shape or form. Also, although it is credited to Phil Spector, Bill Medley produced "Unchained Melody". Medley produced the B-Side for the singles and Spector handled the production work on the A-Side. The A-Side for "Unchained Melody" was the single "Hung on You" produced by Phil Spector although it was the B-Side that ended up being the hit.
Bye Bye Love
The Righteous Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bye bye happiness
Hello loneliness
I think I'm-a gonna cry-y
Bye bye love
Bye bye sweet caress
Yeah, hello emptiness
Bye my love goodbye
There goes my baby with-a someone new
She sure looks happy, I sure am blue
You know she was my baby, till he stepped, you know the cat well he stepped right in
Goodbye to romance that might have been
Bye bye love
Bye bye happiness
Hello loneliness
I think I'm-a gonna cry-y.
Bye bye love
Bye bye happiness
Hello loneliness
I think I'm-a gonna cry-y
Bye bye love
Bye bye sweet caress
Hello emptiness
I feel like I could die
Bye my love goodbye
Bye bye love!
The Righteous Brothers' "Bye Bye Love" is a melancholic track with lyrics that deal with heartbreak and moving on from a past relationship. The repetition of the phrase "Bye bye love" reinforces the idea of saying a final goodbye to the end of the romance. The song starts with the singer expressing his pain of losing his lover and the happiness that has left him with a feeling of loneliness. He reveals that he's going to cry over the demise of the relationship.
In the second verse, the singer sees his ex-partner with someone new and observes that she seems happy, whereas he's overcome by sadness. He recollections the past when she was only his until someone else came and stole her away. He acknowledges that this marks the end of what could have been a promising romance. The repetition of "Bye bye love" throughout the entire song help to emphasise the finality and bitter-sweet nature of the break-up.
Overall, "Bye Bye Love" is a prime example of a song that captures the essence of heartbreak and the feelings it evokes in a person. Its painfully honest lyrics and melancholic melody continue to resonate with audiences to this day.
Line by Line Meaning
Bye bye love
Farewell to the feeling of love that was once present
Bye bye happiness
Goodbye to the happiness that came with love
Hello loneliness
Now feeling alone and deserted
I think I'm-a gonna cry-y.
Intense sadness causing tears to flow
Bye bye sweet caress
Parting with the gentle touch of affection
Yeah, hello emptiness
Acknowledging that there is nothing left in its place
I feel like I could die
The heartbreak is so intense, it feels unbearable
There goes my baby with-a someone new
Watching the person you love move on with someone else
She sure looks happy, I sure am blue
The mixed emotions of seeing the person you love happy with someone else, while feeling sad yourself
You know she was my baby, till he stepped, you know the cat well he stepped right in
The realization of the arrival of a third party in the relationship, ending what was once a loving bond
Goodbye to romance that might have been
The end of possibilities for a future together
Bye bye love!
A final farewell to the love that was once felt
Writer(s): Boudleaux Bryant, BOUDLEAUX BRYANT
Contributed by Chase W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.