Blind Guardian is a German power metal band formed in 1984 in Krefeld, West… Read Full Bio ↴Blind Guardian is a German power metal band formed in 1984 in Krefeld, West Germany. They are often credited as one of the seminal and most influential bands in the power metal and speed metal subgenres. Nine musicians have been a part of the band's lineup in its history, which currently consists of singer Hansi Kürsch, guitarists André Olbrich and Marcus Siepen, and, since 2005, drummer Frederik Ehmke.

Blind Guardian is a part of the German heavy metal scene that emerged in the mid-1980s. The band was formed in 1984 as Lucifer's Heritage by Kürsch (then also bassist), Olbrich, other guitarist Markus Dörk, and drummer Thomas Stauch. Dörk and Stauch both left the following year and were replaced by Christof Theißen and Hans-Peter Frey, respectively, who left as well before the end of the year. In 1987, Siepen joined, and Stauch returned; under this lineup, which lasted 18 years (the longest in the band's history), the band changed their name to Blind Guardian and released their first album, Battalions of Fear, in 1988. They have since released ten more studio albums, including an orchestral album that was released under the name Blind Guardian Twilight Orchestra.

Over the releases, Blind Guardian established themselves as a notably successful band and as pioneers of the power metal movement. In 1996, Kürsch stopped acting as the band's bassist to focus on vocals. Various session members replaced him, mainly Oliver Holzwarth. However, in 2005, Stauch left the band, disapproving of Blind Guardian's transition into a more complex progressive sound with a heavy use of backing vocals, and was replaced by Ehmke.

Most of Blind Guardian's albums were well received by fans and critics alike: Somewhere Far Beyond (1992), Imaginations from the Other Side (1995), and Nightfall in Middle-Earth (1998), are especially seen as influential works. The music is mostly composed by Kürsch and Olbrich together, and the lyrics, written by Kürsch, are mostly inspired by the fiction of fantasy authors such as J. R. R. Tolkien, Michael Moorcock, Stephen King, George R. R. Martin, and Robert Jordan, as well as traditional legends and epics. Over the years, a theme has developed which personifies the band members as traveling storytellers, leading fans to refer to the band affectionately as "The Bards." Blind Guardian has been referred to in one article as one of power metal "big four" bands, along with Helloween, Sabaton, and DragonForce.

Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blind_Guardian

Discography
Battalions of Fear (1988)
Follow the Blind (1989)
Tales from the Twilight World (1990)
Somewhere Far Beyond (1992)
Imaginations from the Other Side (1995)
Nightfall in Middle-Earth (1998)
A Night at the Opera (2002)
A Twist in the Myth (2006)
At the Edge of Time (2010)
Beyond the Red Mirror (2015)
Legacy of the Dark Lands (2019)
The God Machine (2022)

Barbara Ann/ Long Tall Sally
Blind Guardian Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ba ba ba ba Barbara Ann
Ba ba ba ba Barbara Ann
Ba ba ba ba Barbara Ann
You've got me rockin' and a-rollin'
Rockin' and a-reelin'
Barbara Ann
Went to a dance
Looking for romance

Saw Barbara Ann
So I thought I'd take a chance
Barbara Ann, take my hand

You've got me rockin' and a-rollin'
Rockin' and a reelin'
Barbara Ann
Tried Betty Sue
Tried Betty Lou
Tried Mary Sue
But I knew it wouldn't do
Barbara Ann, take my hand
You've got me rockin' and a-rolling

Rockin' and a-reeling
Barbara Ann

Overall Meaning

Blind Guardian's song "Barbara Ann/Long Tall Sally" is a cover of two popular rock and roll hits that were originally recorded by The Beach Boys and Little Richard, respectively. The opening lines, "Ba ba ba ba Barbara Ann," are a reference to The Beach Boys' hit "Barbara Ann," which was released in 1965. The song is about a guy who meets a girl named Barbara Ann at a dance and is immediately smitten with her. He asks her to dance and she agrees, and the two of them spend the rest of the night rocking and rolling together.

The chorus of the song, "You've got me rockin' and a-rollin', rockin' and a-reelin', Barbara Ann," expresses the excitement and energy that the singer feels when he's with Barbara Ann. He goes on to sing about how he's tried to find love with other girls, but he always comes back to Barbara Ann. The song is a celebration of teenage romance and the joy of dancing to rock and roll music.

Overall, Blind Guardian's rendition of "Barbara Ann/Long Tall Sally" is a fun and lighthearted tribute to two iconic rock and roll songs that continue to be popular decades after their original release.

Line by Line Meaning

Ba ba ba ba Barbara Ann
Repeatedly calling out Barbara Ann's name to show admiration and excitement

You've got me rockin' and a-rollin'
Barbara Ann has stirred up strong emotions within the singer causing him to feel energetic and lively

Rockin' and a-reelin' Barbara Ann
Barbara Ann's presence has caused the singer to lose balance and become disoriented, both physically and emotionally

Went to a dance
The artist went to a social event with the intention of meeting new people and potentially finding love

Looking for romance
The artist is actively seeking a romantic partner and hopes to find one at the dance

Saw Barbara Ann
The singer noticed Barbara Ann's presence and is immediately captivated by her beauty and charm

So I thought I'd take a chance
The singer takes a risk to approach Barbara Ann, hoping that she will be receptive to his advances

Barbara Ann, take my hand
The artist asks Barbara Ann to join him on the dance floor, indicating his interest in her

Tried Betty Sue
The artist attempted to start a romantic relationship with Betty Sue, but it did not work out

Tried Betty Lou
The artist attempted to start a romantic relationship with Betty Lou, but it did not work out

Tried Mary Sue
The singer attempted to start a romantic relationship with Mary Sue, but it did not work out

But I knew it wouldn't do
The artist knew that dating Betty Sue, Betty Lou or Mary Sue would not satisfy him like being with Barbara Ann

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: FRED FASSERT

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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