Founder Al Kooper conceived Blood, Sweat and Tears as an experiment in expanding the size and scope of the rock band with touches of jazz , blues , classical , and folk music. When Kooper was forced out of the band soon after its eclectic debut, Child Is Father to the Man, BS&T became increasingly identified as a "jazz-rock" group, although its music was essentially easy-listening rhythm and blues or rock with the addition of brass.
Kooper formed BS&T after leaving the Blues Project in 1967. The nucleus of the original band was Steve Katz, also of the Blues Project; Jim Fielder, who had played with the Mothers of Invention and Buffalo Springfield; and Bobby Colomby, who had drummed behind folksingers Odetta and Eric Andersen. The horn players were recruited from New York jazz and studio bands. Child Is Father featured songs by Harry Nilsson, Tim Buckley, Randy Newman, Gerry Goffin, and Carole King, along with Kooper originals and arrangements by Fred Lipsius for brass, strings, and studio effects. The band nearly broke up when Kooper, Randy Brecker, and Jerry Weiss left (Brecker to join The Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra). Regrouping under Katz and Colomby, and fronted by David Clayton-Thomas (who had sung with a Canadian blues band, The Bossmen), BS&T entered a period of immense popularity. Blood, Sweat & Tears featured arrangements of music by French composer Erik Satie and jazz singer Billie Holiday, as well as by Laura Nyro, Steve Winwood, and others. It was the #1 album for seven weeks in 1969, sold over 3 million copies, and spawned three gold singles: “You’ve Made Me So Very Happy,” “Spinning Wheel,” and “And When I Die,” each of which hit #2.
In 1970 the U.S. State Department sent the band on a goodwill tour of Yugoslavia, Romania, and Poland. Blood, Sweat & Tears 3 duplicated the Blood, Sweat & Tears mix of styles and was almost as popular. The album went to #1, and two singles, “Hi-De-Ho” and “Lucretia MacEvil,” hit the Top 30. But interest in the group began to wane, and 4, which contained almost all original material, barely made the Top 10. In 1971 “Go Down Gamblin’” was its last hit. By the time Clayton-Thomas left for a solo career in 1972, BS&T’s place on the charts had been filled by similarly styled bands such as Chicago, Chase, and Ides of March. Katz left the next year, first to join the short-lived American Flyer and then to an A&R position at Mercury Records.
BS&T became regulars in Las Vegas, with ever-changing personnel recruited largely from big bands like Maynard Ferguson’s, Woody Herman’s, and Doc Severinsen’s. Vocalist Jerry LaCroix appeared between his tenures with Edgar Winter’s White Trash and Rare Earth, while guitarist Mike Stern later played with Miles Davis’ early-’80s band. Clayton-Thomas’ return in 1974 briefly boosted BS&T’s popularity, but Columbia dropped the group, and Colomby, the last original member, left in 1976. He continued to influence BS&T as producer of Brand New Day and, with Clayton-Thomas, as co-owner of the band’s name and catalogue. He then moved on to a career in A&R for several labels, as well as TV reporting. Since 1975 the live act has been billed as Blood, Sweat and Tears Featuring David Clayton-Thomas. [from The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll (Simon & Schuster, 2001)
http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/bloodsweatandtears/biography
In late 2005, the band returned to touring. The year 2007 witnessed the band's first world tour in a decade. From 2008 through 2010, Steve Katz returned to appear at BS&T's shows as a special guest.
From 2013 till 2018, Blood Sweat and Tears was fronted by Bo Bice, who was the runner-up against Carrie Underwood in the fourth season of American Idol.
In 2018, the group decided to replace Bice with former Tower of Power singer Tom Bowes, who had previously done a brief stint with BS&T back in July through November 2012.
In 2019 Keith Paluso, from the reality TV show The Voice, was chosen as BS&T's new singer.
Meagan's Gypsy Eyes
Blood Sweat & Tears Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The lyres surround me
Purple drops of rain
The sun shone around me
Death that clouds her life
Will be forever
[Thee?] Is loved
Yet cannot love, not never
And her's completely
Taught her how to run
Though not discreetly
Meagan's not as old
As she'd like to think she's young
Sophisitcated dreams
Are as plastic as the songs
She has sung
Likes to think she's hung up on herself
And aren't you lucky?
Meagan's Gypsy eyes
The lyres surround me
Purple drops of rain
The sun shone 'round me
The lyrics to Meagan's Gypsy Eyes by Blood, Sweat & Tears are open to interpretation, but they suggest that the song is about a woman named Meagan who is struggling with the death of someone close to her. The reference to "purple drops of rain" suggests that Meagan is experiencing sorrow and grief, while "the sun shone around me" implies that she is finding some moments of happiness and hope in the midst of her pain. The line "death that clouds her life will be forever" reinforces the idea that Meagan is deeply affected by the loss of this person.
The lyrics also suggest that Meagan is a complex person with conflicting emotions. She is described as someone who is "loved" but "cannot love, not never." The reference to "mystic thoughts of love" suggests that she is searching for something that she can't quite define or attain. Her attempts to find fulfillment in love are seen as imperfect or incomplete, as she has "sophisticated dreams" that are "plastic as the songs she has sung." This could suggest that Meagan is trying to create an image of herself that isn't entirely true.
Overall, the lyrics to Meagan's Gypsy Eyes are intriguing and somewhat enigmatic. They seem to suggest that the song is about a woman who is struggling with loss and trying to find a sense of purpose or meaning in her life. The mentions of "lyres" and "purple drops of rain" evoke a mystical, otherworldly atmosphere that adds to the song's emotional impact.
Line by Line Meaning
Meagan's Gypsy eyes
The singer is describing the eyes of someone named Meagan who may be a gypsy or who possesses the free-spirited nature often associated with the gypsy lifestyle.
The lyres surround me
The singer is surrounded by the sound of musical instruments called lyres, which are typically associated with ancient Greece and Rome, implying a mystical or historic feeling.
Purple drops of rain
The singer describes a rare and unusual occurrence, where drops of rain are colored purple. This creates an atmosphere of mystery and magic and suggests that anything is possible within the context of the song.
The sun shone around me
The artist describes a moment where they were surrounded by sunlight, creating a feeling of warmth and comfort that contrasted the previous line of purple rain.
Death that clouds her life, Will be forever
Meagan has experienced a significant loss, possibly the death of someone close, which will always remain a part of her life, continuing to impact her every day.
[Thee?] Is loved, Yet cannot love, not never
Meagan is unable to reciprocate love, despite being loved by someone else. The singer may be referring to themselves, a friend, or to someone else entirely.
Mystic thoughts of love, And her's completely
Meagan has a deep and profound understanding of love and is entirely given over to it. This suggests she may be someone who loves deeply and without reservation.
Taught her how to run, Though not discreetly
An unnamed person or situation has taught Meagan how to flee or escape difficult circumstances. However, she does not do this discreetly or with subtlety, suggesting that she is impulsive or dramatic when she feels threatened.
Meagan's not as old, As she'd like to think she's young
Meagan may feel like she is older than she really is and desires to be seen as more experienced or worldly than her age would suggest. However, the artist knows that she is still young and has much to learn.
Sophisticated dreams, Are as plastic as the songs she has sung
Meagan's dreams and aspirations may be sophisticated or complex, but they lack substance or depth. The songs she sings may be beautiful, but they are also artificial and insincere.
Likes to think she's hung up on herself, And aren't you lucky?
The singer suggests that Meagan may have a strong sense of self-regard, which may be unattractive to some people. However, the singer implies that being able to experience Meagan's gypsy eyes and the otherworldly atmosphere of the song is worth it despite this flaw.
Meagan's Gypsy eyes, The lyres surround me, Purple drops of rain, The sun shone 'round me
The artist repeats the opening verse to bring the song full circle and to create a sense of completeness or resolution. The imagery evoked by the lyrics reinforces the mystery and magic of the song.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: STEVEN KATZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind