Felix Cavaliere (keyboard, vocals), Gene Cornish (guitar), Dino Danelli (drums) and Eddie Brigati (vocals) formed the band in New York City. Three-quarters of the group - Felix, Gene, and Eddie - had previously been members of Joey Dee and the Starliters. Eddie's brother, David Brigati, another former Starliter, arranged the vocal harmonies and sang backgrounds on many of the group's recordings (informally earning the designation as the Fifth Rascal). When Atlantic Records signed them, they discovered that they already had another obscure group named the Rascals on the payroll. They decided to rename the group the Young Rascals.
Their first minor hit was "I Ain't Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore" (1965), followed by the #1 single "Good Lovin'" (1966, originally by the Olympics). Soon the band began to mature as songwriters and released other hit songs written themselves, including the hit "Groovin'" (1967), "It's Wonderful", "How Can I Be Sure" (which got to #1 in the UK when covered by David Cassidy), and "A Beautiful Morning" (1968).
Their best-remembered song was "People Got to Be Free" (1968), a passionate plea for racial tolerance. Unusual for their time, the Rascals refused to tour on segregrated bills. After "People Got to Be Free", the Rascals never regained their former fame or had as large a hit.
In 1970, Eddie Brigati left the group, followed by Cornish in 1971. The last album with them as active members was Search & Nearness, which featured Eddie singing lead on the Cornish-penned You Don't Know and their cover of The Box Tops hit The Letter. The only single release from the album was the spiritually-themed Glory, Glory(#57 in the US), with backing vocals by The Sweet Inspirations. Cavaliere and Danelli released two more albums as The Rascals, Peaceful World and The Island Of Real, using other musicians and singers. They disbanded in 1972.
Cavaliere released several solo albums throughout the 1970s. Brigati, with his brother David, released "Lost in the Wilderness" in 1976. Cornish and Danelli worked together in other groups, including Bulldog and Fotomaker. In 1982, Cavaliere and Danelli joined Steve Van Zandt in Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul.
The (Young) Rascals were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997.
In the Midnight Hour
The Young Rascals Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That's when my love comes tumblin' down
I'm gonna wait till the midnight hour
When there's nobody else around
I'm gonna take you girl and hold you
And do all the things I told you
In the midnight hour
I'm gonna hold you in my arms
And see that twinkle in your eyes
I'm gonna wait, wait till the midnight hour
That's when my love, begin to shine
You're the only girl that I know
Really love me so
In the midnight hour
I'm gonna wait till the midnight hour baby
That's when my love come tumblin' down
I'm gonna wait till the midnight hour my love
When there's no one else around
only you and I, just you an I
I'm gonna hold you in my arms
In the midnight hour
In the midnight hour
Nobody around us, nobody bother us
No
Just you and I
Got to wait till the midnight hour
That's when my love come tumblin' down
Gonna wait, wait till the midnight hour baby
When there's nobody, nobody around
Just you an I
Nobody around, just you and I, baby
And I'm gonna hold you, hold you, hold you, hold you
Squeeze you, squeeze you, I need you, love you baby
The Young Rascals's song "In the Midnight Hour" is a classic soul song about waiting until the late hours of the night for a moment to be alone with the one you love. The lyrics describe the singer's desire to hold, embrace, and love their significant other in the middle of the night when no one else is around. The central theme of the song is about the intensity of the love the singer and their lover share, and how they want to express it without inhibition. The upbeat tempo of the song and its soulful rhythm help bring to life the urgency of the desire to be together, and the passion in the singer's voice communicates the depth of their emotions.
The song's repeated use of the phrase "In the midnight hour" serves as both a reminder of why the singer is waiting, and a refrain that anchors the song's structure. The use of this phrase is significant, as it creates a sense of anticipation and expectation, drawing the listener into the singer's emotional state. The lyrics demonstrate the intensity of the love between the two people, and the language used serves as an invitation into their private world. The singer's repeated emphasis on "just you and I" highlights the exclusivity of the relationship, as if they are the only two people in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm gonna wait till the midnight hour
I will wait until it's late at night
That's when my love comes tumblin' down
That's when my feelings become too strong to resist
When there's nobody else around
When there's no one to interrupt us
I'm gonna take you girl and hold you
I will embrace you tightly
And do all the things I told you
And fulfill all the promises I made
And see that twinkle in your eyes
And see the joy and excitement in your gaze
That's when my love, begin to shine
That's when my passion becomes evident
You're the only girl that I know
You are the only woman I truly care about
Really love me so
Love me as deeply as I love you
When there's no one else around
When there's no one to disturb us
Nobody around us, nobody bother us
No one is near to interfere with us
Got to wait till the midnight hour
I must wait until it's late at night
Just you an I
Only you and I
And I'm gonna hold you, hold you, hold you, hold you
And I will embrace you tightly
Squeeze you, squeeze you, I need you, love you baby
I will hold you close because I love and need you
Lyrics © WARNER CHAPPELL MUSIC INC, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Spirit Music Group, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: WILSON PICKETT, STEVE CROPPER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@philiptucci2458
Magnificent Masterpiece from the legendary Rascals, very proud fan of Felix, Eddie, Dino and Gene for 55 years, top of the line solid gold standard of excellence, one of the finest recordings of all time
@brianboucher4248
With due respect to Wilson Pickett as well. I saw him live at a small rock club in Providence, RI in the 1980's... an AMAZING night.
@philiptucci2458
Yes both were great on this song, love both versions
@brianboucher4248
@@philiptucci2458 I saw the Rascals live at Keaney Gymnasium at the U of Rhode Island in February of 1969. The concert set an all-time attendance record there that will never be broken. (Because exceeding a certain maximum number of fans is strictly prohibited now)
@philiptucci2458
@@brianboucher4248you must have had a good time Brian, I have also been a fan since the mid 60s, great band, the guys are all Italian like me
@GrtSatan
Felix had soul in every fiber of his being and this great performance is a perfect example.
@kennethvosper285
GrtSatan still has!
@philiptucci2458
Felix was amazing, a true master musician
@demh7823
"The Big Chill" may have made me aware of this song, but Wilson Pickett and the Rascals gave birth to it.
@ashorcat
Best version of Midnight Hour out of all. Two fabulous Hammond B3 solos by Felix Cavaliere-amazing!