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
Moon Song
America Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm taken back to firelight
A drunken dreamer's plan to stay just as I am
Amidst the dancing paradise
A case of beer, a smile, a motorcycle child
I feel the glow surround me
And you, and you, and you, and you, and you
Summer troubles and books in bundles
Orange funnels and snowy tunnels
And you, and you, and you, and you, and you
The song Moon Song by America seems to be about a person's experience with being intoxicated and feeling a sense of nostalgia and happiness from their past memories. The first line of the song, "The moon begins to rise upon my fallen eyes" sets the tone for the rest of the lyrics. The moon is often associated with a sense of calmness and reflection, which can also be reflected in the lyrics.
The next few lines "I'm taken back to firelight, A drunken dreamer's plan to stay just as I am, Amidst the dancing paradise" seem to suggest that the person is thinking back to a time where they were surrounded by warmth and happiness. Perhaps the firelight is referring to sitting around a bonfire with friends while drinking, and the dancing paradise may be referring to a party atmosphere where everyone was joyful and carefree.
The chorus of the song, "Orange funnels and snowy tunnels, Summer troubles and books in bundles, And you, and you, and you, and you, and you" is a bit more abstract. The funnels and tunnels could be referring to different experiences that the person has had, both good and bad. The line "Summer troubles and books in bundles" perhaps suggests that there were challenging times, but also moments of peace or relaxation where they could sit down and read a book. The ending part of the chorus, "And you, and you, and you, and you, and you" is a bit vague, but could be interpreted as the person remembering different people who were important to them during these moments of reflection.
Line by Line Meaning
The moon begins to rise upon my fallen eyes
The singer notices the moon rising as they feel tired or defeated.
I'm taken back to firelight
The singer is reminded of a past warm and cozy experience by the moonlight.
A drunken dreamer's plan to stay just as I am
The singer wants to maintain their current state, even if it's unrealistic, like a drunk dream.
Amidst the dancing paradise
The artist is experiencing a joyful and lively moment.
A case of beer, a smile, a motorcycle child
The artist has simple pleasures like beer, happiness, and a playful spirit.
I feel the glow surround me
The singer is enveloped by a warm, happy feeling.
And you, and you, and you, and you, and you
The singer acknowledges the presence and impact of several people.
Orange funnels and snowy tunnels
The artist recalls different experiences tied to vivid memories of colors, shapes, and scenery.
Summer troubles and books in bundles
The artist reflects on past life events such as summer struggles and reading habits.
Orange funnels and snowy tunnels
The artist repeats the same line to emphasize how significant these memories are.
And you, and you, and you, and you, and you
The presence and influence of important individuals continue to be acknowledged in the singer's memories.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DEWEY BUNNELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind