When the group was first formed in 1971, they were called Shacklock after their guitarist Alan Shacklock. Members included Janita Haan and Dave Hewitt, with Dave Punshon and Dick Powell later joining. The first release was their single "Elusive"; their first album, First Base, went gold in Canada. In 1973, Ed Spevock replaced Powell and Chris Holmes replaced Punshon on the second album. In 1975, Steve Gurl, keyboardist from Glenn Cornick's Wild Turkey replaced Holmes for the third album. The same year, Shacklock exited and Bernie Marsden (Wild Turkey) joined the team for the fourth album. After this, Haan and Hewitt left.
Though no original member remained, the group incorporated Ellie Hope and Ray Knott for the fifth album in 1976. Shortly before Babe Ruth disbanded, they were joined by the 17 year-old Birmingham born Simon Lambeth who made a few appearances on their last tour. Lambeth's hauntingly naïve sound on rhythm guitar, behind the lead of Marsden, promised much but sadly it was too late; Marsden moved on to bigger things and joined Whitesnake. Simon changed careers and sadly was lost to the music scene - Hope did an outstanding job on the LP, later releasing her own solo effort in the booming disco era. Unfortunately, these later efforts are harder to pin down.
A disco cover of Babe Ruth's classic "The Mexican" appeared in the late 70s, performed by the Bombers. This version inspired an electro/freestyle cover produced by John Jellybean Benitez in 1984, for which he managed to recruit Haan on vocals - the cover subsequently becoming noted for its popularity as an underground dance hit.
Between late 2005 and early 2006, Haan, Shacklock, Punshon, and Hewitt recorded new material together in Nashville, with Spevock recording his drums in London. The album was completed September 2006, and after being made available in digital form via the band's official web site, it was released on CD through Revolver Records in the first quarter of 2009.
Since You Went Away
Babe Ruth Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Before the break of day
you never gave me a warning
That you were going away
Ohh one of these mornings
There's gonna be a judgement day
Then all the things you have done me
'Cause now I feel so lonely
Thats how I feel to day
Ooh! Since you went away
How could you leave me
how could you leave me all alone
Woo! You didn't even bother
to call me on the telephone
your so hard baby
Ooh! You couldn't care for me
Ooh! Well this life it sure ain't easy
Ooh! Sweet talking back to me
Cause I feel so lonely
That's how I feel today
Ooh! Since you went away
Ooh! Since you went away
How come it's always so bad
Always thinking your so glad
Ooh! hanging on to sad
Ohh early in the morning
you'll come back one day
Right back you left me
without a thing to say
Ooh! If I can make you happy
Ooh! If I feel some thee
Ooh! So much misery
Ooh! You give me misery
Ooh!
The lyrics of Babe Ruth's song "Since You Went Away" express the feelings of loss and loneliness caused by the sudden departure of a loved one. The singer laments the fact that their partner left without any warning, and now they feel so lonely and abandoned. The chorus of the song refers to a "judgement day" when all the things that their partner has done to them will be brought back to them, suggesting a desire for revenge or justice.
The second verse of the song is directed towards the departed partner, questioning how they could have left the singer all alone without even bothering to call. The singer describes their partner as "so hard" and unable to care for them. The lines "this life it sure ain't easy" and "sweet talking back to me" suggest that the singer is trying to convince themselves that they are better off without their partner, but the loneliness and pain they feel suggest otherwise.
The bridge of the song contains the lines "how come it's always so bad, always thinking you're so glad". These lines could be interpreted as the singer reflecting on the fact that their partner seemed happy before leaving them, leaving the singer wondering how they could have been so blindsided by the departure. The final verse expresses a desire for the partner to return, with the lines "you'll come back one day, right back you left me without a thing to say" suggesting a hope for reconciliation.
Line by Line Meaning
Early in the morning
This song is recalling the early moments of the relationship
Before the break of day
Before things turned sour
you never gave me a warning
The suddenness with which you left
That you were going away
Without any explanation or regard for how it would affect me
Ohh one of these mornings
One day there will be a consequence for your actions
There's gonna be a judgement day
A day when you will be held accountable for what you have done
Then all the things you have done me
All of the hurt you have caused me
Ooh!we get them back that day
Will come back to you in the end
'Cause now I feel so lonely
The current state of loneliness and despair
Thats how I feel to day
The reality of the situation
Ooh! Since you went away
Since you left me
How could you leave me
The unanswerable question of why you left
how could you leave me all alone
Abandoned and isolated
Woo! You didn't even bother
No effort made to communicate or explain
to call me on the telephone
A simple act of consideration disregarded
your so hard baby
Cold and unfeeling
Ooh! You couldn't care for me
No attempt made to show any care or concern
Ooh! Well this life it sure ain't easy
The harsh realities of life
Ooh! Sweet talking back to me
The false promises and empty words
Cause I feel so lonely
The repetition of feelings of loneliness
That's how I feel today
No change in the current emotional state
Ooh! Since you went away
The source of the pain
How come it's always so bad
Reflecting on the constant negativity
Always thinking your so glad
The irony of appearing happy while causing so much pain
Ooh! hanging on to sad
Holding onto the sadness and despair
Ohh early in the morning
Reiteration of the earlier line
you'll come back one day
Hope that one day you will return
Right back you left me
Returning to the same place you left
without a thing to say
No explanation or acknowledgement of the past actions
Ooh! If I can make you happy
Desire to make amends and bring happiness
Ooh! If I feel some thee
If you only felt the same way
Ooh! So much misery
The overwhelming pain
Ooh! You give me misery
The source of the misery
Contributed by Max T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
1960christos
Amazing group! So so underrated..! Ahead from their time!
Ricardo Lopez
Que rolota de este gran grupo
Douglas Alexandre
Que sonzera!!
Jane Otte
Damn I loved these guys- had all their early albums that got stolen.
ayinger2
A totally ignored album and shunned in the Babe Ruth catalog. Ellie Hope and Bernie Marsden shine IMO and tunes like this can hold their own with the original line-up.
Nikeverydayevenonsunday
Thanks for the song so fresh
Ronnie Forey
Denny McLain...... it's archived. Don't ban babe Ruth...play all season. Can't beat that with a stick...
phil de Blois
awesome bernie marsden..here i go again
Lennie Lupercio
LOST IN THE HEAD VS BUCA TOP DOG UNDADOG 2 . Brought me here
Yrac Pontiferous
So…..my past self brought you here. Should literally be the same vinyl rip you heard then.