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.
Lonely too Long
The Young Rascals Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've Been Lonely Too Long,
In the past it's come and gone,
I feel like I can't go on
Without Love.
I've Been Lonely Too Long,
(He's been lonely too long.)
I've Been Lonely Too Long.
As I look back,
I can see Me lost and searching.
Now I find that I can choose,
I'm Free. Oh, Yeah!
So funny I just have to laugh,
All My troubles been torn in half.
I've Been Lonely Too Long,
(He's been lonely too long.)
I've Been Lonely Too Long.
(He's Been Lonely.).
In the past it's come and gone,
I feel like I can't go on
Without Love.
(Lonely), Lonely Too Long
I've Been Lonely Too Long.
(He's Been Lonely.).
Just see Me now
Makes it worth The Time I've waited.
She was all I need
To make Me see, Oh, Yeah!
I keep hopin' with all My Mind,
Everything gonna turn out right.
I've Been Lonely Too Long,
(He's been lonely too long.)
I've Been Lonely Too Long.
(He's Been Lonely.).
(MUSIC)
Now look at Me
Gliding through This World of beauty
Everything I do brings ecstasy,
Oh, Yeah!
No wonder I could die
I feel like I'm 'bout ten miles high!
I've Been Lonely Too Long,
(He's been lonely too long.)
I've Been Lonely Too Long.
(He's Been Lonely.).
Found Myself Somebody.
(He's Been Lonely)
Don't have to be alone no more.
(He's Been Lonely, He's Been Lonely.)
Don't have to alone no more, No more.
(He's Been Lonely, He's Been Lonely.).
The Young Rascals' "Lonely Too Long" talks about the feeling of loneliness that the singer has been experiencing for a long time. Through the song's lyrics, he expresses his hopelessness and how he feels like he cannot go on without love. In the past, the singer has tried to find love but has come up short. As he looks back, he sees himself lost and searching for something he couldn't find. However, he finds solace in the fact that he now can choose to be free. This brings joy to him, and he laughs at how all his troubles have been lifted.
The singer believes that he has found the perfect person who he has been waiting for a long time. The thought of her makes everything he has gone through worth it. With hope and determination, he believes that everything will eventually turn out right. The chorus repeats that he has been lonely for too long, emphasizing the pain of feeling alone. However, towards the end of the song, the chorus shifts its tone to reflect the singer's newfound happiness. He has finally found someone to end his loneliness, and he rejoices by proclaiming that he doesn't have to be alone anymore.
Line by Line Meaning
I've Been Lonely Too Long,
He's been lonely for an extended period of time.
I've Been Lonely Too Long,
He's been lonely for an extended period of time.
In the past it's come and gone,
He's experienced loneliness before and it eventually went away.
I feel like I can't go on
He feels like he can't keep living this way.
Without Love.
He needs love in his life to feel fulfilled.
As I look back,
Reflecting on his past experiences.
I can see Me lost and searching.
He sees himself as lost and searching for something.
Now I find that I can choose,
He has the ability to make choices now.
I'm Free. Oh, Yeah!
He feels free now that he has choices.
So funny I just have to laugh,
He finds the situation amusing.
All My troubles been torn in half.
His troubles have significantly decreased.
Just see Me now
He wants others to see how he's changed.
Makes it worth The Time I've waited.
It was worth the wait to find love.
She was all I need
He found someone who fulfilled him.
To make Me see, Oh, Yeah!
She helped him see things differently.
I keep hopin' with all My Mind,
He's holding onto hope that everything will get better.
Everything gonna turn out right.
He believes things will work out in the end.
Lonely, Lonely Too Long
He's been lonely for far too long.
Now look at Me
He wants others to see how he's changed.
Gliding through This World of beauty
He feels like he's living in a beautiful world.
Everything I do brings ecstasy,
He's found happiness in everything he does.
No wonder I could die
He's so happy he could die.
I feel like I'm 'bout ten miles high!
He's on top of the world.
Found Myself Somebody.
He's found someone to share his life with.
Don't have to be alone no more.
He's no longer alone now that he's found love.
Don't have to alone no more, No more.
He's emphasizing that he's not alone anymore.
Writer(s): Felix Cavaliere, Edward Brigati
Contributed by Lincoln D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
HawkEye18
Music had Soul once,
ah line from another song by B.J. Thomas (RIP)
"For now, the tenderness,
has been replaced, by something less,
And it's hard to find,
what we left behind"
"What Ever Happened To Old Fashioned Love"
Brother Bill
One of the Greatest Bands of the 60's. If you can't dig this, well then you have a hole in your soul.
Robert Lassiter
I concur with this sentiment!
Cheryl Petrosino
I also concur! All their songs were big hits! Great memories!
Daniel
Agree
Nancy Jones
I like hearing this been awhile ❤❤❤
Phil Lyddon
Dino Danelli... simply one of the very best drummers of all time!
Angelo F
Absolutely agree. Couldn’t take your eyes off of him, either. He was a mesmerizing performer! The Rascals were the best band of that era. Wonderful songs and SO much talent! RIH sweet, beautiful Dino Danelli AKA Robert Daniel. I will love you forever ❤
Dave Sigmon
My favorite Rascals song. I nominate Dino as the most underrated drummer in sixties rock. He drove the band's music with his jazz sensibilities and never overplayed. I bet he will be cooking up that groove with Charlie Watts in the Rock and Roll Heaven Band. RIP Dino and thank you.
Davan Mani
Accuse Ginger Baker of plagiarism.
Barb Johnson
The Rascals were one of the groups I loved in the 60s. ❤ Positivity, love, and joy define all their music. We need all of that today. There's a commercial playing that reminded me of that song. 🎵 So glad it brought me here in 2023. DID YOU KNOW THEY'RE TOURING??