The group's sound was marked by Scotty Scott's fluid, melodic voice which featured on virtually all of their hits. Scotty's sound was so distinctive and likeable that, in his heyday, he was as recognizable as such noted R&B lead singers as Ronald Isley of The Isley Brothers.[citation needed]
In 1987, they enjoyed a career resurgence when "Rock Steady" hit #1 on the R&B charts, and it became their first Top 10 success on the Hot 100, reaching #7. The Whispers also founded the Black Tie record label.
In the 1990s, The Whispers joined the Capitol Records family releasing more favorites. Expanding their creative horizons, brothers Walter and Scotty cut “My Brothers Keeper”, a critically-acclaimed duet album in 1993, scoring another R&B hit with a cover of the Intruders' "I Wanna Know Your Name." The 1995 release “Toast to the Ladies” featured a collection of love songs dedicated to women all over the world. In 1997, the group moved to Interscope Records where they featured the works of Baby face once again with their album, "Songbook, Vol. 1: The Songs of Babyface”. Both albums charted on Billboard's top 100 albums.
Marcus stopped performing with the group in 1989 due to ill health and the Whispers vowed never to replace him when he died in 2000. In the new millennium, the group still performs around the world to thousands of loyal fans. The group has not made any personnel changes and still consists of Walter Scott, Wallace Scott, Nicholas Caldwell, and Leaveil Degree. They have taken the world by storm, selling out in various casinos and hotels, music venues, and they have a tremendous following throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, and Africa. However, they still find time for charity work with youth education, cancer organizations, 100 Black Men, and Domestic violence charities.
On September 23, 2003, The Whispers’ four decades of accomplishments were acknowledged when they were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. On June 12, 2005, The San Francisco Chapter of the Grammy Awards presented the Whispers with the prestigious Governors Award, the highest honor bestowed by an Academy Chapter. They were also inducted into the Bay Area Blues Society Hall of Fame in 2006. In 2007, The Black Music Academy of America selected the Whispers to receive their “Living Legends” award.
They are one of only a few “old school” groups that can boast of having over 40 years in the industry with a worldwide fan base. The Whispers waited almost a decade to produce a new CD in 2005. This independent product, the first venture of their newly formed corporation Satin Tie Entertainment is a masterpiece entitled, “For Your Ears Only”. According to Walter, “This title was a way of saying to our fans that while we want everyone’s support, we very much want the support of our fans, who have been with us for many, many years.” It made its way up the Billboard chart immediately. In 2007, they release a DVD of their live concert entitled “The Whispers Live From Las Vegas”, the first of its kind. A CD soundtrack of the same concert was also released.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Seven Gold Albums, Two Platinum Albums, 12 Top Twenty Singles, 40 Charted Hits Since 1970, Four Decades of Pop & R & B FavoritesAmerican Music Award Nominees, Soul Train Award Nominees, Grammy Award Nominees
2003 Vocal Group Hall of Fame Inductees, 2005 S.F. Regional Grammy Governors Award
I Can Remember
The Whispers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To the Sands of Time
Needless the struggle and fright
Life's blood fills the hourglass
The well begins to run dry
Your scheming and devices
Have never been so weak
Two minutes have gone by
I can show you everything
Death is not the end
Cries of a thousand voices
Broken and bent
The winds of winter blowing colder as they come
Why
So blind
To your imminent downfall
Take
My hand I'll guide you through it all
The millions of other lives
Holding so tight
Faintly wringing out a drop of hope
You claim to love her
I see selfish desires
If you're speaking truth just let her go
She's already gone
Now
You're eye to eye
With the ravages of time
We've known for countless years
What you choose to deny
The mountains turned to dust
The cities became ash
This present has destroyed
Its future and its past
I can show you everything
Cover your eyes
Look away from the puppet's shadow
Sever the iron ties
Why
So blind
To your imminent downfall
Take
My hand
I'll guide you through it all
The Whispers' song "I Can Remember" discusses time, the inevitability of death, and the importance of letting go. The opening lines, "Bow to the Sands of Time / Needless the struggle and fright / Life's blood fills the hourglass / The well begins to run dry," evoke a sense of helplessness and a lack of control in the face of time. The lyrics continue to discuss the weakness of one's plans and two minutes quickly passing. However, the chorus assures the listener that death is not the end and they could witness everything.
The second verse shifts the focus to addressing someone's selfish desires and their inability to let go. They claim to love someone, but the singer sees through their facade and advises them to just let them go, as they are already gone. The final lines reiterate the themes of time and the destruction it brings, reminding the listener that they can be guided through it all.
Overall, the lyrics in "I Can Remember" are thought-provoking and provide a different perspective on the importance of cherishing moments and the importance of letting go.
Line by Line Meaning
Bow
Acknowledge the power of time and submit to its authority
To the Sands of Time
Recognize time as an insurmountable force
Needless the struggle and fright
No amount of resistance or fear can change the inevitability of time
Life's blood fills the hourglass
Our life force is a finite resource that is continuously draining away
The well begins to run dry
We are running out of time and opportunities
Your scheming and devices
Attempts to cheat or manipulate time are futile
Have never been so weak
Our efforts to control our fate are often powerless in the face of time
Two minutes have gone by
Time marches on, regardless of our actions or desires
The arms are at their peak
The hourglass is almost empty and our time is almost up
I can show you everything
I have knowledge or insight that can help you understand the true nature of time and mortality
Death is not the end
Our mortality is not the end of our existence or our impact on the world
Cries of a thousand voices
The pain, suffering, and struggles of countless individuals throughout history
Broken and bent
Their experiences have left them damaged and vulnerable
The winds of winter blowing colder as they come
The passage of time can bring increasing difficulty and hardship
Why
Questioning the reasons or motivations behind our actions and attitudes
So blind
Unaware, oblivious, or in denial about the effects of time and our own mortality
To your imminent downfall
The consequences of ignoring time will inevitably lead to our own demise
Take
Accept the opportunity or guidance being offered
My hand I'll guide you through it all
I am offering a helping hand to navigate the challenges and limitations of time
The millions of other lives
The vast number of people who have come before and will come after us
Holding so tight
Desperately clinging to hope and life
Faintly wringing out a drop of hope
Struggling to find even a small glimmer of optimism or possibility
You claim to love her
Asserting a feeling of love or devotion toward someone
I see selfish desires
Recognizing that our motivations may also be influenced by our own interests or needs
If you're speaking truth just let her go
If our love is sincere, we will prioritize the other person's happiness and well-being over our own desires or attachments
She's already gone
It may be too late to salvage a relationship or connection that has been neglected or damaged by time
Now
At this moment in time
You're eye to eye
Confronting directly and intimately
With the ravages of time
Witnessing the destruction and decay that time brings
We've known for countless years
Humanity has been grappling with the implications of time for centuries
What you choose to deny
Ignoring, rejecting, or avoiding the realities of time and our own mortality
The mountains turned to dust
Even the most enduring and monumental structures are subject to decay and erasure by time
The cities became ash
No matter how advanced or prosperous a society, it can be destroyed and forgotten by time
This present has destroyed
The current state of affairs has been damaged or ruined by actions taken or not taken in the past
Its future and its past
The effects of time extend in both directions, influencing both our history and our possibilities
Cover your eyes
Avoiding or denying the reality of time
Look away from the puppet's shadow
Refusing to acknowledge the forces or influences that are controlling or manipulating us
Sever the iron ties
Breaking free from the constraints or obligations that are limiting our potential or happiness
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Zacherie Charest
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind