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
I Need You
America Lyrics
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We used to bow our heads then, wonder why
And now you're gone, I guess I'll carry on
And make the best of what you've left to me
Left to me, left to me
I need you like the flower needs the rain
You know I need you, guess I'll start it all again
You know I need you, I need you
And every day, I'd laugh the hours away
Just knowing you were thinking of me
And then it came that I was put to blame
For every story told about me
About me, about me
I need you like the flower needs the rain
You know I need you, guess I'll start it all again
You know I need you, I need you
I need you like the winter needs the spring
You know I need you, guess I'll start it all again
You know I need you, I need you
I need you like the flower needs the rain
You know I need you, guess I'll start it all again
You know I need you, I need you
I need you like the winter needs the spring
You know I need you, guess I'll start it all again
You know I need you, I need you
The lyrics of America's "I Need You" tell the story of a lost love, with the singer reminiscing about the past and expressing a yearning for the return of their partner. The song effectively conveys the sense of loss and emptiness the singer feels after their loved one has left them. In the first verse, the singer recalls how they used to laugh, cry, and wonder about the world together, but now that their partner is gone, they're forced to carry on alone. The phrase "And make the best of what you've left to me" suggests that the singer is trying to adapt to their situation and find meaning in what their partner has left behind, but they still feel a deep need for their return.
The chorus of the song metaphorically illustrates the singer's dependence on their partner. The comparison of needing someone like a flower needs rain or winter needs spring conveys the idea that the singer can't survive or thrive without their loved one. The repetition of the chorus throughout the song emphasizes the urgency and intensity of the singer's longing.
In the second verse, the singer nostalgically remembers how their partner used to think of them and make them happy. However, the third line "And then it came that I was put to blame" suggests that something went wrong in their relationship, causing the singer to be blamed or criticized for their partner's departure, which leads to the "stories" that people tell about them.
Overall, America's "I Need You" is an emotional and heartfelt exploration of the pain of losing someone you love and the desperation to regain what's lost.
Line by Line Meaning
We used to laugh, we used to cry
We had many emotions together, from joy to sadness
We used to bow our heads then, wonder why
We used to contemplate our problems in silence
And now you're gone, I guess I'll carry on
Without you, I have no choice but to move forward
And make the best of what you've left to me
I will do my best with what you have left behind
Left to me, left to me
I am left alone to pick up the pieces
I need you like the flower needs the rain
I cannot exist without you, you are my vital source
You know I need you, guess I'll start it all again
I am willing to begin anew with you by my side
You know I need you like the winter needs the spring
You are my hope and renewal, necessary for my survival
I need you, I need you
I cannot emphasize enough how much I need you
And every day, I'd laugh the hours away
You brought so much joy to my life that each day was filled with laughter
Just knowing you were thinking of me
The thought of you thinking of me was enough to make me happy
And then it came that I was put to blame
At some point, I became the target of others' negativity
For every story told about me
Rumors and gossip about me spread like wildfire
About me, about me
Everyone was talking about me behind my back
I need you like the flower needs the rain
I am incomplete without you, you are my life essence
You know I need you, guess I'll start it all again
I am willing to begin anew with you, even if it means starting over
I need you like the winter needs the spring
You are the missing piece to my life, like the winter needs the warmth of spring
You know I need you, I need you
My reliance on you is not a secret, I openly admit that I need you
Lyrics © Roba Music Verlag GMBH, Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network, Sentric Music, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Gerry Beckley
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind