He first appeared on the local Detroit scene in 1961 fronting a three-piece band called the Decibels. After they disbanded, Seger joined the four-piece Town Criers, a four-piece band who gained a steady following covered songs like "Louie Louie".
Seger soon left to join R&B group Doug Brown & the Omens. While Brown was the primary lead vocalist for the group, Seger would take the lead on some R&B covers. It was with this group that Seger first appeared on an officially released recording, the single "TGIF" backed with "First Girl". Around this time, Seger met his longtime manager Edward "Punch" Andrews, and began writing and producing for other acts that Andrews was managing, such as the Mama Cats and the Mushrooms (with future Eagle Glenn Frey). Andrews and his business partner Leone approached Seger and Brown to write a song for The Underdogs, another local band who recently had a hit with a song called "Man in the Glass". Seger contributed a song called "East Side Story", which ultimately proved to be a failure for The Underdogs.
Seger decided to record "East Side Story" himself, and officially left the Omens (though he did retain Doug Brown as a producer). As Bob Seger and the Last Heard, Seger released his version of the song with Hideout Records in January 1966, and it became his first big Detroit hit. The single (backed with "East Side Sound", an instrumental version of "East Side Story") sold 50,000 copies, mostly in the Detroit area, and led to a contract with Cameo-Parkway Records. Though the name "The Last Heard" originally referred to the collection of Omens and Town Criers who recorded "East Side Story" with Seger, it soon became the name of Seger's permanent band, which consisted of former Town Crier Pep Perrine on drums, Carl Lagassa on guitar, and Dan Honaker on bass. Following "East Side Story," the group released four more singles: the James Brown-inspired holiday single "Sock It To Me Santa", the Bob Dylan-esque "Persecution Smith", "Vagrant Winter", and perhaps the most notable, "Heavy Music", released in 1967. "Heavy Music", which sold even more copies than "East Side Story", had potential to break out nationally when Cameo-Parkway suddenly went out of business.
Seger and Andrews began searching for a new label. In the spring of 1968, Bob Seger & the Last Heard signed with Capitol Records, turning down Motown, who offered more money, as Seger felt that Capitol was more appropriate for his style of music. Capitol subsequently changed the name of the band to The Bob Seger System, a name which they would use until 1970 when Seger began a solo career.
East Side Sound
Bob Seger & The Last Heard Lyrics
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She gazed into the eyes of love
Bathed in the dirty neon light
She begged him "Don't go out tonight
If we work out somehow maybe
We could find a way out baby"
And he laughed and said "I got to go"
And she cried "No" johnny Johnny no
His arms were warm and strong and young
"I promise I won't hurt no one
Oh baby when you gonna learn
Them folks uptown got bread to burn
When they see me flash my knife
They'll be fearin' for their life
They won't give me trouble this I know"
And she cried no oh Johnny Johnny no
Johnny Johnny Johnny no
The night passed like a thousand years
The tenement room had cooled her tears
Then came a knock upon the door
Two men she'd never seen before
"Did you know Johnny Brown, miss?
We hate to tell you this but
Has he a relative you know?"
And she cried no oh Johnny Johnny no
Johnny Johnny why'd you go?
Oh Johnny Johnny no johnny Johnny Johnny no
The lyrics of "East Side Story" by Bob Seger And The Last Heard depict a heartbreaking story of a young woman who is deeply in love with a man named Johnny. The song takes place in a gritty and dimly lit environment, symbolized by the bare light bulb and dirty neon light. The woman pleads with Johnny not to go out that night, hoping that they can find a way to escape their circumstances together. However, Johnny dismissively laughs off her concern and insists on going out. The woman's desperation is conveyed through her repeated cries of "No, Johnny, no."
Johnny is portrayed as a dangerous and reckless character, as indicated by his reference to flashing a knife and the implication that he uses it to intimidate people. He seems to believe that by instilling fear in others, he can avoid any trouble they may cause him. The woman, still deeply in love with Johnny, tries to convince herself that he won't hurt anyone, despite the warnings and misgivings of others.
As the night passes, the woman's tears begin to cool, suggesting a sense of resignation and acceptance of her fate. However, the mood abruptly changes when two unfamiliar men knock on her door. They inform her that Johnny Brown, presumably the same Johnny she loves, has met with some tragedy. The men ask if she knows any of Johnny's relatives, implying that he might have died or gotten into serious trouble. In a final cry of anguish, the woman confirms that she did not expect this outcome, tearfully repeating "Johnny, why'd you go?"
The lyrics of "East Side Story" paint a vivid picture of a tumultuous relationship overshadowed by desperation and the realities of life in a tough neighborhood. It explores themes of love, sacrifice, and the consequences of one's choices.
Line by Line Meaning
Beneath the bare light bulb above
In the dimly lit room, under the single hanging light bulb
She gazed into the eyes of love
She looked deeply into the eyes of her beloved
Bathed in the dirty neon light
Surrounded by the flickering, grimy neon lights
She begged him "Don't go out tonight
She pleaded with him to stay at home
If we work out somehow maybe
If we find a solution, perhaps
We could find a way out, baby"
We could escape from this situation, my dear
And he laughed and said "I got to go"
But he laughed and insisted that he had to leave
And she cried "No" Johnny Johnny no
And she cried out, pleading with him not to go
His arms were warm and strong and young
His embrace was comforting, strong, and full of youth
"I promise I won't hurt no one
"I promise I won't harm anyone
Oh baby when you gonna learn
Oh, darling, when will you understand
Them folks uptown got bread to burn
The wealthy people uptown have plenty of money to spend
When they see me flash my knife
When they witness me revealing my weapon
They'll be fearin' for their life
They will be terrified for their lives
They won't give me trouble, this I know"
They won't cause any problems for me, I'm sure of it
And she cried no oh Johnny Johnny no
And she cried out, desperately pleading with him not to go
Johnny Johnny Johnny no
Johnny, oh Johnny, why did you go?
The night passed like a thousand years
The night felt unbearably long
The tenement room had cooled her tears
Her tears had dried in the small, run-down room
Then came a knock upon the door
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door
Two men she'd never seen before
Two unfamiliar men stood before her
"Did you know Johnny Brown, miss?
"Were you acquainted with Johnny Brown, miss?
We hate to tell you this but
We regret to inform you that
Has he a relative you know?"
Does he have any known relatives?
And she cried no oh Johnny Johnny no
And she cried out, denying any knowledge of Johnny
Johnny Johnny why'd you go?
Johnny, oh Johnny, why did you leave?
Oh Johnny Johnny no johnny Johnny Johnny no
Oh Johnny, oh Johnny, why did you leave?
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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