Puerling's Singers Unlimited arrangements earned him the reputation as one of the best vocal writers in the world. Members of the renowned jazz-gospel vocal group Take 6 often gives credit to Puerling and the Singers Unlimted as innovators in the a cappella world, claiming that they "went to school" on Puerling's arrangements.
On Green Dolphin Street
The Singers Unlimited Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A man, a maid, a kiss, and then goodbye
Romance was the theme
And we were the players
I never think of this without a sigh
Lover, one lovely day
Love came, planning to stay
The setting for nights beyond forgetting
And through these moments apart memories live in my heart
When I recall the love I found on
I could kiss the ground on Green Dolphin Street
Lover, one lovely day
Love came, planning to stay
Green Dolphin Street supplied the setting
The setting for nights beyond forgetting
And through these moments apart memories live in my heart
When I recall the love I found on
On Green Dolphin Street
The Singers Unlimited's classic tune, "On Green Dolphin Street," brings with it a dreamy, wistful quality that makes it impossible not to get lost in its romantic lyrics. The opening lines set the scene and tone, establishing that what we are hearing is something that has already taken place - the memory of a love story that still lingers on. The imagery of a man and a maid sharing a kiss and saying goodbye set the stage for the main theme of the song - the bittersweet memory of a love affair that was all too brief.
The chorus of the song, "Green Dolphin Street supplied the setting, the setting for nights beyond forgetting," further emphasizes the significance of the place where the love affair took place. The phrase "nights beyond forgetting" suggests that this was no ordinary romance - it was something that was so special and intense that it continues to live on in the memories of the two lovers even now. When the singer recalls the love they found on Green Dolphin Street, it's almost as though they can feel the pavement beneath their feet and smell the sea air - such is the vividness of their memories.
Overall, "On Green Dolphin Street" is a song about the power of memory and how it can keep alive the most precious moments of our lives even after they are gone. It speaks to the universal human experience of love and the joy and pain that come with it.
Line by Line Meaning
It seems like a dream, yet I know it happened
Although it feels like a far-off memory, I know that it actually occurred
A man, a maid, a kiss, and then goodbye
The encounter involved a man and a woman who shared a kiss, but ultimately parted ways
Romance was the theme
The overarching motif of the encounter was one of romance and emotional intimacy
And we were the players
The man and woman involved were the central actors or participants in the romantic encounter
I never think of this without a sigh
Whenever I recall this encounter, I can't help but feel a sense of wistfulness or longing
Lover, one lovely day
A reference to the man involved in the romantic encounter
Love came, planning to stay
The man was in love and anticipated a long-term relationship
Green Dolphin Street supplied the setting
The romantic encounter took place on Green Dolphin Street
The setting for nights beyond forgetting
Green Dolphin Street served as the backdrop for endlessly memorable evenings
And through these moments apart memories live in my heart
Even though the man and woman have gone their separate ways, the memories of their time together persist in the man's heart
When I recall the love I found on
When the man remembers the romantic encounter he had on Green Dolphin Street
I could kiss the ground on Green Dolphin Street
The man's intense love and nostalgia for the romantic encounter on Green Dolphin Street is expressed through a hyperbolic desire to kiss the ground itself
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Tratore, O/B/O CAPASSO, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: BRONISLAW KAPER, NED WASHINGTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
George Billock
In my opinion, the best close-harmony group ever. My fiancée, a great and distinguished lyric soprano, spent a year singing with them (mainly jingles) before going on the opera stage, and learned sight-reading inside out.
Bruno Gebarski
Thomas Puerling's magical arranging pen has a lot to do with this tapestry of chords and melodies that only Unlimited Singers have ever had: no one comes even close...
Brian K
I can't understand why so many people don't "get" this kind of music, to me it's the greatest treat for my ears, up there with the likes of Carpenters and the "standards" of the 20th Century. I guess marketing was needed for groups like this to break through, but thanks to the Internet, gems like Singers Unlimited are slowly being rediscovered.
5202 redwood
People with a musical gift appreciate this kind of sound. The rest are swayed by clever marketing designed to make......money..,..,.... That's why benign tunes are making it to the top these days. The videos that accompany the music look like something from hell, to the likes of musical people with good taste. Maybe good taste will return one day to the mainstream media, but I'm not holding my breath. We may have to wait a long time.
slapmyfunkybass
i have a feeling if all music was like this the world would be a nicer place
spectre56j
Fantastic sound from a solid group of real singers!
Jim Griffin
Bass player is a killer.....
baldrad1
Agree--a treat for the ears. It's frequently most appreciated by those who've been involved in this or a related genre. I never appreciated close harmony until I sang barbershop and understood the objective--the precision.. I wasn't really interested in barbershop until I tried it, then learned to enjoy it just for its own sake. Had the priviledge then to hear some world-class groups like the Upside Downeys; came to appreciate it, and all group singing of every type, as a result.
Mark Ford
Beautiful harmonies and that guitar solo is sublime.
Jim Griffin
Been diggin' Dennis since the 60's.... Bass cat is awesome.