Cuby + Blizzards – also known as Cuby & the Blizzards were a Dutch blues gr… Read Full Bio ↴Cuby + Blizzards – also known as Cuby & the Blizzards were a Dutch blues group, founded in 1964 by vocalist Harry Muskee, and guitarist Eelco Gelling. During the 1960s, the band's mixture of sound, drawing upon a variety of genres which included blues and rock and roll, gave them a pioneering sound which was completely different from any other Dutch band in the same time period, using the name Peter & the Blizzards. The spelling of the name varies, with 'Cuby' also written as 'QB' and the ampersand (&) also written as 'and' or '+' and the 'and' sometimes left out. The spelling 'Cuby + Blizzards' was used on the first albums.

The band's first single, a blues-based track bearing similarities to The Pretty Things output, was "Stumble and Fall" in 1965. From the start, they were a big hit in the Netherlands. In 1967 they toured with Van Morrison (after he had left Them), recorded an album, ' Praise the Blues ' with U.S. blues musician Eddie Boyd and scored a hit with "Window of my Eyes". That year, John Mayall stayed at their farm and the next year they regularly played with the 'king of British blues' Alexis Korner, who is featured on their album Live in Düsseldorf (1968).

The line-up of the band changed regularly, but founders Harry Muskee and Eelco Gelling remained at the core of the band until 1976. Herman Brood was the pianist from early 1967 until mid-1968 (which kickstarted his career) and again in 1976. Also in 1976, Gelling left to join Golden Earring. Muskee then decided to drop the name C+B and to form the Harry Muskee Band. This band recorded one album before Muskee decided to leave the music business. In 1980 he formed the Muskee Gang with a line-up of Herman Deinum (bass guitar) and Hans la Faille (drums), who had both joined C+B in 1969, together with saxophonist Rudy van Dijk, Paul Smeenk (guitar) and Jeff Reynolds (trumpet).

In 1996 Cuby + Blizzards re-formed without Eelco Gelling, who was replaced by Erwin Java on guitar. In 2004 they went on a theatre tour to honor John Lee Hooker. C+B came to an end when Harry Muskee died of cancer on 26 September 2011.

The band received an Edison award for their debut album Desolation. The song "Window of my Eyes" (a Top 10 hit in The Netherlands in 1968), was featured over the ending credits for the 2010 film The American.

Line-ups

Early line-up
Harry "Cuby" Muskee, vocals
Eelco Gelling, guitar
Hans Kinds, guitar (replaced by Herman Brood, piano)
Willy Middel, bass (replaced by Jaap van Eijk)
Dick Beekman, drums (replaced by Hans Waterman)

Late sixties line-up
Harry Muskee, vocals
Eelco Gelling, guitar
Herman Deinum, bass guitar
Hans la Faille, drums
Helmig van der Vegt, piano

1983 – line-up
Harry Muskee, vocals
Rudy Van Dijk, tenor sax
Paul Smeenk, guitar
Herman Deinum, bass
Hans Lafaille, drums
Jeff Reynolds, trumpet

Reunion line-up 1996-2011
Harry Muskee, vocals
Erwin Java, guitar
Herman Deinum, bass guitar
Hans la Faille, drums
Helmig van der Vegt, piano

Hobo Blues
Cuby & The Blizzards Lyrics

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When I first started to hobo
I'm taking a freight train to be my friend
You know all ready
And you got no loot
You got to get somewhere fast
You got to hobo you got to hitch hike
You got to do anything
So I went to the station that night

And when they were not looking
I got myself a freight train

When I first started to hobo
I'm taking a freight train to be my friend
When I first started to hobo
I'm taking a freight train to be my friend
A hobo a long way from home
The sun is coming up

When I first started to hobo
I'm taking a freight train to be my friend
When I first started to hobo
I'm taking a freight train to be my friend
A hobo a long way from home
That sun is coming up you know

Lord have mercy
Help me on my way
Have mercy
Help me on my way
Help me where I'm going now
Freight train be my friend

I got myself a freight train
And my dear old mother
My dear old mother she'd followed me down to the yard
She said my son is gone

My poor son is gone
In that big wide world somewhere

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Hobo Blues" by Cuby & the Blizzards tell the story of a restless wanderer who has decided to leave home and travel by freight train. He has no money to speak of, so he must resort to hitchhiking and hopping trains to get where he needs to go. The singer describes the sense of urgency he feels, knowing that he must move quickly to reach his destination. He sneaks onto a train station and jumps on a freight train when no one is looking. The repetition of the phrase, "When I first started to hobo, I'm taking a freight train to be my friend," emphasizes his newfound reliance on the train as a means of transportation and support.

The second verse continues to describe the hobo's journey, as he awakens to see the sun rising in the sky. The final verse asks for divine intervention and protection as the hobo sets out on his journey. The chorus repeats the same phrase as before, underscoring the central importance of the freight train in the hobo's life.

Interestingly, "Hobo Blues" was written by the American blues musician John Lee Hooker, who was well known for his distinctive guitar style and guttural vocals. Cuby & the Blizzards were a Dutch rock band that formed in 1964, and they frequently covered blues songs by American artists. The band members were heavily influenced by American blues and rock 'n' roll, and they helped to popularize these genres in the Netherlands. "Hobo Blues" is one of their most beloved songs, and it remains a classic example of their distinctive blend of blues, rock, and psychedelic music.

Hobo BluesCuby & The Blizzards Lyrics

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Hobo Blues
Cuby & The Blizzards Lyrics