Sons of American fathers and British mothers, their fathers being military personnel stationed at the West Ruislip USAF base in London, all three attended London Central High in Bushey, Hertfordshire in the mid-60s where they met while playing in two different bands.
They eventually got together and formed the rock band America, honoring the name of the homeland they had hardly even seen during their several travels around the world. They played their first gigs in pubs and clubs in the London area, including some highlights at the Roundhouse, where Pink Floyd had been playing at the beginning of their own career.
Their first LP was recorded at Trident and Morgan studios in London and produced by Ian "Sammy" Samwell, who was known for the hits he had written for Cliff Richard, with the assistance of Jeff Dexter.
The album was initially released in Europe with only moderate success and without the breakout hit "A Horse With No Name." Samwell helped the group to record and persuaded the Warner Brothers label to release the new song on an EP which was highly popular in the United States as well as in Europe.
America the album was re-released with "Horse", and quickly went platinum with the other favorites "I Need You," "Sandman," and "Riverside." Their second album, appropriately named Homecoming, saw the band moving back to the United States to record. The most notable song was "Ventura Highway."
The group's fourth album Holiday had them with George Martin (former producer for The Beatles), who worked with them through Silent Letter in 1979 with much success. The next album, Hearts, featured "Sister Golden Hair" and "Daisy Jane."
Peek left the group after recording Harbor in 1977. The remaining duo produced many more albums and had one more significant radio hit, "You Can Do Magic," reaching #8 on the pop charts in 1982. Their last top-40 hit was "The Border," which went to #33 on the pop charts (and #4 on the adult contemporary charts) the next year.
America continued with consistent live work and sporadic recordings following their departure from Capitol Records in the mid-80s.
In 1982 America provided the soundtrack for the magical anime film The Last Unicorn. Although officially produced by an American company, the film is an important transitional work in the development of Japanese anime, since most of its animation was subcontracted to the Japanese company Topcraft. The music was composed by Jimmy Webb, though performed by America, and the title song was covered many times later on. The tone is wistful and the themes are of loss.
Beckley released a solo set - "Van Go Gan" - in 1999.
Later, in his post-America career, Peek became a born-again Christian and released some highly-successful Contemporary Christian albums. His autobiography "An American Band" chronicles America's most successful period and his own spiritual journey.
Members include:
Gerry Beckley (1970-present) - lead and backing vocals, keyboards, guitars, bass, harmonica
Dewey Bunnell (1970-present) - lead and backing vocals, guitars
Dan Peek (1970-1977) - lead and backing vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards, harmonica
Cornwall Blank
America Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've been on top of the world
Somebody should come and see me
Somebody should give me the word
'Cause I don't know how many more
I don't know how many more
I don't know how many more to see
Sometimes the free thoughts clash
Sometimes I see through the grass
Sometime the light begins to dim
Somebody should come and be me
Somebody should come and free me
'Cause I don't know how many more (many more)
I don't know how many more (many more)
I don't know how many more to see
Oh darlin', darlin', I always want to see you
Oh darlin', darlin', I always want to see you
I cannot learn much more life
I cannot see much more
Somebody should stop the new sight
Somebody should close the door
'Cause I don't know how many more (many more)
I don't know how many more (many more)
I don't know how many more to see
Wrapped in a blanket, lyin' in the snow
Feelin' like the men felt a long time ago
Goin' to find me a home, goin' to build it with my hands
Can't you see there's food to be grown
Got to dig up, dig up the land
The lyrics of America's song Cornwall Blank depict a sense of confusion, isolation, and longing for connection. The first verse describes the singer's experiences of being in different states of being- both up and down. They call out for someone to 'see them' and to give them some guidance or direction in their life, as they feel lost and unsure of their next move. The repetition of "I don't know how many more to see" highlights their desperation for assistance, and perhaps a desire for someone to understand them on a deeper level.
The second verse further emphasizes the singer's struggles, mentioning conflicting thoughts and emotions that they experience. They plead for someone to take their place, to experience what they are feeling and to potentially offer a new perspective or solution to their problems. The lines "Oh darlin', darlin', I always want to see you" could be interpreted as a yearning for love or companionship, as they continue to feel lonely in their journey.
In the final verse, the singer expresses a sense of weariness and exhaustion with life. They suggest that they have reached a point where they cannot handle any more challenges or new experiences. They call for someone to "close the door", to provide them with some refuge or relief from the constant demands of the world. The final lines of the song depict the singer embracing a simpler life, one that involves building a home and growing food.
Overall, Cornwall Blank explores themes of loneliness, uncertainty, and the search for meaning and purpose in life. The repetitive use of phrases highlights the singer's frustration and desperation for someone to hear them and to help them navigate their struggles.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been down to the water
I have been to the ocean
I've been on top of the world
I have felt great success
Somebody should come and see me
I am feeling lonely and would like company
Somebody should give me the word
I am waiting for someone to give me direction
'Cause I don't know how many more
I am uncertain about the future
Sometimes the free thoughts clash
My thoughts and ideas sometimes conflict
Sometimes I see through the grass
I see things others do not
Sometime the light begins to dim
Things can sometimes seem hopeless
Somebody should come and be me
I would like someone to replace me
Somebody should come and free me
I feel trapped and would like to be liberated
Oh darlin', darlin', I always want to see you
I have a deep love for someone and wish to see them always
I cannot learn much more life
I feel as though I have reached the limit of what I can learn
I cannot see much more
I am struggling to see the point in things
Somebody should stop the new sight
I want someone to put an end to the changes I am seeing
Somebody should close the door
I hope to block out unwanted influences
Wrapped in a blanket, lyin' in the snow
I am feeling cold and vulnerable
Feelin' like the men felt a long time ago
I feel akin to people from a different era
Goin' to find me a home, goin' to build it with my hands
I am determined to create a home for myself
Can't you see there's food to be grown
I see potential for growth and development
Got to dig up, dig up the land
I need to put in hard work and effort to achieve my goals
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DEWEY BUNNELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind