Big John
The Shirelles were an influential American girl group in the early 1960s, a… Read Full Bio ↴The Shirelles were an influential American girl group in the early 1960s, and they were the very first girl group to have a number one single on the Billboard Hot 100. The members of the quartet were Shirley Owens (who was the lead singer for the most part), Doris Coley, Beverly Lee, and Addie "Micki" Harris. The quartet formed in New Jersey in 1958, and went on to release a string of hits including "Baby It's You", "Mama Said", and the #1 Pop hits "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" and "Soldier Boy". Their "Sha La La" became an international hit when covered by the British group Manfred Mann, and "Boys" was covered by [artsit]the Beatles (Ringo Starr singing lead).The Beatles also covered "Baby It's You" on their "Please Please Me" album. Although they had no more charting hits after 1967, the Shirelles continued recording for a small but devoted audience well into the 1970s and continued to tour and perform into the early 1980s. In 1968, Coley left the group to remarry and raise her family, and the group continued as a trio. In 1975, she returned only to replace Owens who departed to begin a solo career. On June 10, 1982, after a live concert in Atlanta, Harris succumbed to a heart attack (age 42); she was replaced by Louie Bethune. Shortly, the group went into semi-retirement, though they did accept an invitation to record backup vocals for Dionne Warwick in the late 1980s. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996. On February 4, 2000, Coley lost a battle with breast cancer (age 58). The group was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2002.

Big John
The Shirelles Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

(Big John, Big John)

Big John, won't you come on home?
Ain't you gonna marry me?
My folks all want to know
When the wedding's gonna be
They're makin' plans, shakin' hands
Been waitin' so long
There's somethin' goin' wrong

Big John, if you don't come home
I'm gonna have to leave this place
My folks know you've jilted me
I'm ashamed to show my face
They're makin' plans, shakin' hands
Been waitin' so long
There's somethin' goin' wrong

They all told me 'bout the things you do
If what they told me is true
They all said that I'd soon find out
I'm wastin' my kisses on you

There's somethin' goin' wrong

They all told me 'bout the things you do
If what they told me is true
They all said that I'd soon find out
I'm wastin' my kisses on you

Big John, if you don't come home
I'm gonna have to leave this place
My folks know you've jilted me
I'm ashamed to show my face
They're makin' plans, shakin' hands
Been waitin' so long
There's somethin' goin' wrong

(Big John)
Been waitin' so long
(Big John)
There's somethin' goin' wrong
(Big John)

Overall Meaning

The Shirelles' song "Big John" is a tale of a jilted lover desperately waiting for her man to come home and marry her. The lyrics depict a sense of urgency and confusion on the singer's part as she is about to leave her hometown due to her lover's infidelity. She pleads with Big John to come back home and marry her. Her desperation is evident in the line, "There's something going on wrong." She fears that if Big John does not return, she will have no choice but to leave her town and never return.


The singer's unease is only exacerbated by the rumors she has heard about Big John's infidelity. The lines, "They all told me 'bout the things you do, if what they told me is true, they all said that I'd soon find out, I'm wasting my kisses on you," suggest that the singer is unsure if she should continue to waste her love and affection on someone who may not be faithful to her.


Overall, the song conveys a sense of heartbreak and desperation as the singer waits for her lover to return home and make things right between them.


Line by Line Meaning

Big John, won't you come on home?
Please come home, I want to marry you.


Ain't you gonna marry me?
Don't you want to marry me?


My folks all want to know
My parents want to know.


When the wedding's gonna be
When are we getting married?


They're makin' plans, shakin' hands
They are making preparations for the wedding.


Been waitin' so long
We have been waiting for this for a long time.


There's somethin' goin' wrong
Something is not happening as it should.


Big John, if you don't come home
If you don't come home, I will have to leave this place.


I'm gonna have to leave this place
If you don't come home, I will have to leave.


My folks know you've jilted me
My parents know you have left me.


I'm ashamed to show my face
I am embarrassed to be seen in public.


They all told me 'bout the things you do
People have been saying negative things about you.


If what they told me is true
If the rumors are true.


They all said that I'd soon find out
People assured me that I would eventually see for myself.


I'm wastin' my kisses on you
I'm giving you my love and affection, but it's not reciprocated.


Been waitin' so long
I've been waiting patiently for you to come back.


There's somethin' goin' wrong
Things are not as they should be.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: AMIEL SOMMERS, JOHN PATTON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@sauquoit13456

On this day in 1961 {November 20th} "Big John " by The Shirelles peaked at #2 {for 1 week} on Billboard's Hot R&B Sides Singles* chart, for the week it was at #2, the #1 record for that week was "Please Mr. Postman" by The Marvelettes...
"Big John" reached #21 on Billboard's Top 100 chart...
Between 1960 and 1967 the Passaic, New Jersey group had twelve records on the Hot R&B Sides chart, seven made the Top 10 with their four biggest hits all peaking at #2, "Will You Love Me Tomorrow {1960}, "Dedicated To The One I Love" {1961}, "Mama Said" {1961}, and the above "Big John"...
Besides their four #2 records, their other three Top 10 records were "Baby It's you" {#3 in1961}, "Soldier Boy" {#3 in 1962}, and "Foolish Little Girl" {#9 in 1963}...
Shirley Alston Reeves, born Shirley Owens, lead singer and the group's namesake, celebrated her 80th birthday five months ago on June 10th, 2021...
* And from the 'For What It's Worth' department, the remainder of the Hot R&B Sides' Top 10 on November 20th, 1961:
At #3. "Hit The Road Jack" by Ray Charles
#4. "Ya Ya" by Lee Dorsey
#5. "I'm Tore Down" by Freddy King
#6. "Operation Heartbreak" by Aretha Franklin
#7. "In The Dark" by 'Little' Junior Parker
#8. "Runaround Sue" by Dion
#9. "Gypsy Woman" by The Impressions
#10. "Bristol Stomps" by The Dovells
NOTE: Also at the time, "Big Bad John" by Jimmy Dean was in it's fourth of five weeks at at #1 on Billboard's Top 100 chart...



All comments from YouTube:

@mrob75

"Big John" the fall of '61...Shirley Alston....Almost 80 years old now....Such a talent!

@robbalv6750

Wow! What a gorgeous girl and such a beautiful voice. Wish I was around then.

@lost_highway_guy

As far as I'm concerned, the shirelles are the best all female group ever!
Very cool, to see them preform.

@gregc8670

You might want to check your spelling of the group's name.

@Soundofsilence-j4d

​@@gregc8670the heavens dont care about spelling so why should you. ❤

@yedon68

Love Shirleys' voice...I saw them perform at a small club in Santa Ana, Ca. back in '68...

@paulwatson2961

Love the simplicity of these gals, very attractive

@johnboy9318

Yes there was no other sound like Shirley Alston & The Shirelles and they were from my hometown proud to say

@fransdielis2532

John Boy Which town?

@tammyowens2720

Frans Dielis John boys town is Liverpool

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