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
Only In Your Heart
America Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And will you find different ways
And does he really mean that much to your heart
Carry, all of the weight you can find another man
And lead him directly there to the source
You've got to chart his course
[Chorus]
This thing that makes you want
Start it all again
Wake up from an elusive dream
You've got to change the scene
It's getting so hard to see the end
Break down all of the walls you can
You need a helping hand
I'm sure there's someone there just for you
He's trying to make it too
Cause it is only in your heart
This thing that makes you want
Start it all again
Only in your heart
This thing that makes you want
Start it all again
You can't disregard your friends
But life gets so hard when you reach the end
Mary, have you seen better days
The lyrics to America's song Only In Your Heart describe the struggles of a woman named Mary, who may have experienced hardships in her life, potentially due to a significant other. The lyrics suggest that Mary is considering leaving her current relationship and finding someone else who will treat her better. The line, "does he really mean that much to your heart," implies that Mary is questioning whether her current partner is truly worth staying with. The song encourages her to explore other options and not be afraid to make a change.
The chorus of the song emphasizes that the desire for change and a new beginning can only come from within oneself. The line, "this thing that makes you want, start it all again," suggests that Mary has a yearning for a new start, but that desire must come from her own heart. The song depicts Mary as a strong and independent woman who is not afraid to take control of her own life and make changes when necessary.
Line by Line Meaning
Mary, have you seen better days
Mary, have you experienced happier times in your life?
And will you find different ways
Will you discover new methods to cope with your struggles?
And does he really mean that much to your heart
Is your significant other worth the emotional investment?
Carry, all of the weight you can find another man
If your current partner is causing you emotional turmoil, find someone else who is better suited for you and let go of the past.
And lead him directly there to the source
Guide your new partner towards the root of your happiness and fulfillment.
You've got to chart his course
You need to plan for a bright future with your new partner.
Cause it is only in your heart
Your deepest desires and motivations come from within yourself.
This thing that makes you want
It is this internal spark that motivates you to pursue your goals.
Start it all again
Begin anew with a fresh outlook on life and love.
Wake up from an elusive dream
Become aware of the reality of your situation.
You've got to change the scene
Make positive changes to your environment to improve your emotional well-being.
It's getting so hard to see the end
You're struggling to envision a positive future for yourself in your current situation.
Break down all of the walls you can
Eliminate any emotional barriers that may be holding you back from finding true happiness.
You need a helping hand
Sometimes finding happiness is difficult, but it is okay to ask for help and support from others.
I'm sure there's someone there just for you
Don't give up on finding love and support, there is someone out there who is perfect for you.
He's trying to make it too
Your new partner is also pursuing happiness and fulfillment just like you.
You can't disregard your friends
It's important to maintain strong connections with your friends.
But life gets so hard when you reach the end
Sometimes life can be difficult, especially when we reach the end of a chapter in our lives.
Only in your heart
Ultimately, the key to finding happiness and fulfillment is within yourself.
This thing that makes you want
This internal spark pushes you to pursue your goals and find happiness.
Start it all again
Embark on a new journey with a fresh perspective and determination.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GERRY BECKLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind