About The Song
“There Goes My Baby” is a classic R&B and doo-wop song by The Drifters, released in 1959. Known for its distinctive blend of doo-wop harmonies, orchestral arrangements, and the innovative use of a string section, the song marked a significant departure from traditional R&B sounds. “There Goes My Baby” is considered one of The Drifters’ signature tracks and a pioneering example of the evolving sound in the late 1950s.
5 Facts about The Drifters’ “There Goes My Baby” (1959):
- Innovative Production: “There Goes My Baby” is notable for its groundbreaking production, featuring a lush orchestral arrangement that included strings. This marked one of the first instances of a rock and roll or R&B song incorporating a full string section, setting a trend for future developments in popular music production.
- Lead Vocalist Change: This was the first Drifters single to feature the lead vocals of Ben E. King, who would go on to become the group’s prominent lead singer. King’s smooth and emotive vocals played a crucial role in the song’s success and contributed to The Drifters’ evolving sound.
- Chart Success: The song achieved commercial success, reaching No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 on the Billboard R&B chart. Its popularity marked a turning point for The Drifters, setting the stage for further successes in the early 1960s.
- Songwriting Credits: “There Goes My Baby” was co-written by Ben E. King along with Lover Patterson, George Treadwell, Jerry Leiber, and Mike Stoller. The collaboration between these talented songwriters resulted in a hit that showcased a fresh and sophisticated sound.
- Influence on Future Music: The innovative use of strings and the polished production in “There Goes My Baby” had a lasting impact on the evolution of popular music. The song is often cited as a precursor to the “soul” genre, influencing later artists and contributing to the broader landscape of R&B and pop music.
Video
Lyrics
… Bom-bom (do-do-do-do-do)
There she goes (do-do-do-do-do)
There she goes (do-do-do-do-do)
Bom-bom (do-do-do-do)
Bom-bom (do-do-do-do)… There goes my baby, moving on down the line
Wonder where, wonder where, wonder where she is bound?
I broke her heart and made her cry
Now I’m alone, so all alone
What can I do, what can I do?… There goes my baby (whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh)
There goes my baby (yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah)
There goes my baby (whoa-oh-oh-oh)
There she goes, yeah, there she goes… I wanna know if she loved me
Did she really love me?
Was she just playing me for a fool?
I wonder why she left me
Why did she leave me so all alone?
So all alone?
I was gonna tell her that I loved her
And that I need her
Beside my side to be my guide… I wanna know where is my – (do-do-do-do-do)
Where is my baby? (Do-do-do-do-do)
I want my baby (do-do-do-do-do)
I need my baby (do-do-do-do-do)
Yeah, whoa-oh-oh… There goes my baby
Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh
There goes my baby
