Brinsley Schwarz was popular in the U.K. and many European territories, touring Great Britian in 1972 as an opening act for Paul McCartney & Wings. The band also tried playing the UK's regional pub & hall circuit with artists Dave Edmunds, Atomic Rooster, Ducks DeLuxe, and the Grateful Dead, even headlining the first Glastonbury festival. In addition to Schwarz and Nick Lowe on bass & vocals, the band featured American Billy Rankin on drums, and Bob Andrews on Hammond B-3 organ, with additional guitarist Ian Gomm added in 1970.
Brinsley Schwarz signed a contract with manager Dave Robinson, who developed a plan to earn the group some wide scale publicity. They first played America on a fiasco laden press junket opening for Van Morrison at the Fillmore East in New York City in 1970 but were not well rested or well received. The group never toured the states again. Before breaking up in 1975, they released a total of 12 albums and 21 singles for United Artists. The band also notably were the first group to play live in 1973 on the BBC's 'Old Grey Whistle Test' programme and had a cameo in the film 'Stardust' with David Essex.
In 1970, Brinsley Schwarz released Despite It All, which had a definite country sound to it, and later added Ian Gomm to the band. Their wild performances soon garnered the band a large fanbase on the London pub rock scene, at venues such as 'The Tally Ho' in Kentish Town. Along with other bands like Eggs Over Easy, Brinsley Schwarz was soon dubbed "pub rock" by rock journalists. They sounded, at times, very much like The Band, with Schwarz's guitar work influenced greatly by Robbie Robertson's.
1972's ironic take on country rock, Nervous on the Road, received excellent reviews but did not reach the charts; neither did a series of singles or Please Don't Ever Change (1973). They continued recording for a time, but broke up in 1975.
Schwarz and Andrews joined Graham Parker & the Rumour, later Andrews moved to New Orleans and now plays in Dos Jefes Uptown Cigar Bar and has a web page www.neworleanspiano.com.
Rankin joined Terraplane and then Big Jim Sullivan's Tiger.
Lowe and Gomm both began solo careers, achieving moderate mainstream success, including Lowe's (1980) single "Cruel to Be Kind", originally Brinsley Schwarz's composition, and Gomm's 1979 hit "Hold On."
Lowe went on to greater acclaim than any other member, starting off as Stiff's in house producer he recorded the debut discs of Elvis Costello, The Damned & The Pogues, recorded several albums with Rockpile and had some late 70s solo hit singles. Lowe married Johnny Cash's step daughter Carlene Carter Cash for a spell in the 80's, and later made a million from the inclusion of Curtis Stigers' cover version of "(What's So Funny About) Peace Love & Understanding" on the multi-platinum soundtrack to Whitney Houston's film "The Bodyguard".
Gomm, once described in a 1971 NME issue as "the best guitarist in Britain" attempted a solo career, and later became a Welsh studio owner & record producer who worked with The Stranglers and Alexis Korner.
The original version of Elvis Costello's hit "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding," written by Lowe, was released by the band in 1974 on their album The New Favourites of Brinsley Schwarz and also featured on the multi million selling soundtrack of the movie The Bodyguard, where it was performed by Curtis Stigers.
Brinsley Schwarz Discography:
Brinsley Schwarz (April 1970)
Despite It All (December 1970)
Silver Pistol (October 1971)
Nervous on the Road (September 1972)
Please Don't Ever Change (October 1973)
The New Favourites of Brinsley Schwarz (July 1974)
The Last Album (June 1975)
Rarities (July 2000)
Peace Love And Understanding
Brinsley Schwarz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This wicked world
Searchin' for light in the darkness of insanity.
I ask myself
Is all hope lost?
Is there only pain and hatred, and misery?
There's one thing I wanna know:
What's so funny 'bout peace love and understanding? Oh
What's so funny 'bout peace love and understanding?
And as I walked on
Through troubled times
My spirit gets so downhearted sometimes
So where are the strong
And who are the trusted?
And where is the harmony?
Sweet harmony.
'Cause each time I feel it slippin' away, just makes me wanna cry.
What's so funny 'bout peace love and understanding? Oh
What's so funny 'bout peace love and understanding?
So where are the strong?
And who are the trusted?
And where is the harmony?
Sweet harmony.
'Cause each time I feel it slippin' away, just makes me wanna cry.
What's so funny 'bout peace love and understanding? Oh
What's so funny 'bout peace love and understanding? Oh
What's so funny 'bout peace love and understanding
The lyrics of Brinsley Schwarz's song "Peace Love and Understanding" speak of the struggle to find hope in a world that appears to be filled with darkness, hatred, and misery. The singer walks through this wicked world, searching for light in the darkness of insanity. He wonders whether all hope is lost and whether there is only pain and hatred to be found. The overwhelming sense of despair and hopelessness makes him question what is so funny about peace, love, and understanding.
As he continues on his journey through troubled times, the singer becomes increasingly downhearted. He longs for the presence of those who are strong and trusted, and for a world that is filled with harmony. However, each time he feels as though this hope is slipping away, he finds himself on the brink of tears. The recurring refrain of "What's so funny 'bout peace, love, and understanding?" suggests that the answer to this question should be painfully obvious, and yet it remains elusive.
The song highlights the human desire for peace, love, and understanding in a world that often seems to offer little of these qualities. The lyrics suggest that despite the difficulties and struggles of life, these basic human needs remain fundamental, and that laughter at their expense is misplaced and inappropriate.
Line by Line Meaning
As I walk through
As I journey through life
This wicked world
The world that is filled with evil
Searchin' for light in the darkness of insanity.
Seeking hope in the midst of chaos.
I ask myself
I wonder to myself
Is all hope lost?
Is there no chance for optimism?
Is there only pain and hatred, and misery?
Is there only suffering and animosity?
And each time I feel like this inside,
Each time I feel distraught like this
There's one thing I wanna know:
I have one question on my mind:
What's so funny 'bout peace love and understanding? Oh
Why is it amusing to talk about unity and empathy?
And as I walked on
Continuing on my journey
Through troubled times
Experiencing difficulties
My spirit gets so downhearted sometimes
I feel disheartened every now and then
So where are the strong
Where are the resilient ones
And who are the trusted?
Who can I rely on?
And where is the harmony?
Where is the peace?
Sweet harmony.
Beautiful peace.
'Cause each time I feel it slippin' away, just makes me wanna cry.
Every time I sense it waning, it makes me want to weep.
What's so funny 'bout peace love and understanding? Oh
Why is it amusing to talk about unity and empathy?
So where are the strong?
Where are the unwavering ones?
And who are the trusted?
Who can be counted on?
And where is the harmony?
Where is the peace?
Sweet harmony.
Beautiful peace.
'Cause each time I feel it slippin' away, just makes me wanna cry.
Every time I sense it waning, it makes me want to weep.
What's so funny 'bout peace love and understanding? Oh
Why is it amusing to talk about unity and empathy?
What's so funny 'bout peace love and understanding?
Why can't we all just get along?
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Nicholas Lowe
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Where'sMeJoompah!
What wonderful footage of real life, looks like South London...and the song is absolutely fantastic and positive. Brinsley Schwarz & Nick Lowe get the big thumbs up ;-)
losttango
It's all shot on the Old Kent Road. (As the clapperboard says at the beginning 😉).
Knickertwist Copperby
@losttango I recognised The World Turned Upside Down pub.. The Old Kent Road is a shit hole now.
losttango
@Knickertwist Copperby The Old Kent Road has always been a shithole. It's the cheapest square on the Monopoly board for a reason.
Ronnie Shaw
Old Kent Road
David Lee
London in the good days
Goblin Bollocks
Didn't even know the Elvis Costello version wasn't the original until just now. Think I prefer this sound. Great tune and great video.
SLoWBoX
I agree! Thank you.
Matt_Dylan
written by Nick Lowe but you likely know that by now
Wee Jimmy
Same here! Only discovered that today. Agree it’s better