Pop Folk Music

Doo wop and pop music of the 1950s have roots in both urban and rural sounds — including rhythm and blues, barbershop, gospel, big band, rock, and rockabilly. And this song shows the folk music trend that was working in the background during the doo wop era.  Jimmie Rodgers had success with his version of “Kisses Sweeter Than Wine” in 1957. It was #3 on the U.S. Chart, #6 on the Country Chart, and #8 on the U.S. R&B Chart. The song was originally recorded and made popular by Pete Seeger and the folk group The Weavers in 1951.

The authorship of “Kisses Sweeter Than Wine” remains a hodge-podge. Seeger credits an Irish folk song to which Lead Belly added rhythm and blues chords. The Weavers rewrote the lyrics to change the story from one about a farmer and a dead cow into a love song about a man looking over the life he’s had with his sweetheart.

Rodgers was born James Frederick Rodgers in Camas, WA (and is not related to the Jimmie Rodgers, who is considered to be the Father of Country Music). Rodgers’ mother taught him to play the piano and guitar. He joined a band while serving in the U.S. Air Force in Korea. He was also one of the contestants on Arthur Godfrey’s talent show, which helped his career and led to him getting his music recorded.

Here are the lyrics to“Kisses Sweeter Than Wine” by Jimmie Rodgers:

“I got to thinkin’ it over how much I had missed
So I got me a girl and I kissed her and then, and then
Oh, lordy, well I kissed ‘er again

CHORUS
Because she had kisses sweeter than wine
She had, mmm, mmm, kisses sweeter than wine
(Sweeter than wine)

Well I asked her to marry and to be my sweet wife
I told her we’d be so happy for the rest of our life
I begged and I pleaded like a natural man
And then, whoops oh lordy, well she gave me her hand

CHORUS

Well we worked very hard both me and my wife
Workin’ hand-in-hand to have a good life
We had corn in the field and wheat in the bin
And then, whoops oh lord, I was the father of twins

CHORUS

Well our children they numbered just about four
And they all had a sweetheart a’knockin’ on the door
They all got married and they wouldn’t hesitate
I was, whoops oh lord, the grandfather of eight

CHORUS

Well now that I’m old and I’m a’ready to go
I get to thinkin’ what happened a long time ago
Had a lot of kids, a lot of trouble and pain
But then, whoops oh lordy, well I’d do it all again

Because she had kisses sweeter than wine
She had, mmm…kisses…sweeter…than…wine”

Rodgers was born James Frederick Rodgers in Camas, Washington” (and is not related to the Jimmie Rodgers, who is considered to be the Father of Country Music). Rodgers’ mother taught him to play the piano and guitar. He joined a band while serving in the U.S. Air Force in Korea. He was also one of the contestants on Arthur Godfrey’s talent show, which helped his career and led to him getting his music recorded.

For More Golden Oldies Music

The Daily Doo Wop Rec Room has daily featured doo wop, rock and roll, R&B, or rockabilly songs that were hits during the first era of rock and roll (that is, from about 1952 until the British invasion in 1964). After a song is featured, it then goes into the juke box. You are welcome to listen to any of the 40+ selections there. Every weekend, there is a Golden Oldies Juke Box Saturday NIght, and the juke box is full of song requests from the 1950s and 1960s.

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