His 1972 LP The Truth was widely cited as one of the most important private press releases in all 1970s psychedelia. D.R.
Hooker's The Truth might actually be one of those obscure lost gems that's worth the customarily inordinate amount of interest such period pieces are afforded.
D.R. Hooker was a man slightly askew with his time, from the robes he wears on the cover, to the
quasi mystical lyrics, he's very much connected to the hippie era, and given that this album was
recorded in 1972, in a time post-Charles Manson, he was brave to associate so strongly with all
the imagery pertaining to cults. Musically, Hooker looks beyond the parameters of the hippie
movement, dipping into a more ambitiously studio-oriented sound than Hooker's half-troubadour,
half-prophet image on the sleeve might suggest. The noisy, fuzzy elements are particularly
effective, and surprisingly intricate in their arrangement and recording.
'Forge Your Own Chains' takes this to an extreme, expertly deploying advanced loungey jazz
figures with an onslaught of brass. This all sounds far more ambitious and accomplished than the
vast majority of private press releases that tend to emerge, and there's certainly a strong case
to be made for this record being one of those precious few curiosities from the private press
movement to feel like more than a kitsch comic aside. Well worth your investigation.
~ by ChrisGoesRock
The Sea
D.R. Hooker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Take me to the shore line
That's where I need to be
Watching the sun rise
And I'm waiting
I'm waiting
I'm waiting
And I'm waiting
I'm waiting
I'm waiting
And I'm waiting
I'm waiting
I'm waiting
I miss the days
When the sun was shining
And I had the sea
Right by my door
And Grandma used to say
Son you will be flying away
I never knew what she meant before
Until I
Packed my rucksack and took off
Ten years on and I'm still in love
With the sand that felt me grow
But now and then when I do get lost
There's this place I know I can trust
To put me back on the road
So Take me to the sea
Take me to the shore line
That's where I need to be
Underneath the moonlight
And I'm waiting
I'm waiting
I'm waiting
And I'm waiting
I'm waiting
I'm waiting
And I'm waiting
I'm waiting
I'm waiting
Take me to the sea
Take me to the shore line
That's where I need to be
Watching the sun rise
The lyrics of D.R. Hooker’s “The Sea” are reflective of the singer’s yearning for the peace and tranquility that the ocean provides. The song’s opening line, “take me to the sea” is a direct call to escape the mundane daily routine and venture towards the sea. The shore represents a safe haven to the singer, a place to find solace and refuge from the disillusionments that often occur in life. The repeated phrase “I’m waiting” could mean that the singer is waiting for the sea to heal him, to help him find his way back to a place of peace and hope.
The reminiscence of the singer’s childhood connects the lyrics to his present state. It is clear from the lyrics that the singer has experienced a lot of growth and transformation since the days of his childhood. The lines “But now and then when I do get lost, there's this place I know I can trust, to put me back on the road” suggest a continued search for a place of comfort and safety. In summary, the song's message can be interpreted as a message of hope and solace for anyone experiencing difficulties in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Take me to the sea
I desire to go to the sea
Take me to the shore line
I yearn to visit the shore line
That's where I need to be
It is essential for me to be there
Watching the sun rise
Viewing the sunrise is my aim
And I'm waiting
I am anticipating
I miss the days
I long for the times
When the sun was shining
During the sunny times
And I had the sea
And I had the ocean
Right by my door
Directly outside my home
And Grandma used to say
My grandmother used to express
Son you will be flying away
You will depart and thrive
I never knew what she meant before
I did not previously comprehend her words
Until I
Until the time that I
Packed my rucksack and took off
Packed my possessions and absconded
Ten years on and I'm still in love
Now 10 years later and my adoration has not diminished
With the sand that felt me grow
I have an affectionate connection with the sand that fostered me
But now and then when I do get lost
Occasionally when I lose my way
There's this place I know I can trust
I am aware of a location that I can rely on
To put me back on the road
To set me on the right path again
Underneath the moonlight
Observing the moonlight
Take me to the sea
I desire to go to the sea
And I'm waiting
I am anticipating
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Andre Zeferino
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@americanpercussioninstruments
My Name is Ken Lovelett and I played all of the percussion ( a much smaller version than my picture) and vibes on the album. It's good to see that people still like the music.
@nonchalant.observer
Fantastic work, Ken! How old are you now? Are you still playing? Did you contribute to any other recordings besides this album? Do you know what happened to D.R.? Is he still around?
@americanpercussioninstruments
@@nonchalant.observer L,------ yes, I'm still playing. If you go on youtube and enter ken lovelett and or american percussion Instruments you will be able to see what I'm doing. now. DR, passed several years ago. Thanks, Ken
@nonchalant.observer
@@americanpercussioninstruments Thank you, I watched some of your videos and am quite impressed (steel drum solo is my favorite so far). It seems so strange that the band which created such a masterpiece has just quietly disappeared. Can you help us to understand DR's motivation? It looks like he and other members of the band enjoyed making music and were very good at it. I can understand that DR was not interested in commercial success, but perhaps you guys could continue as an indie act, make more records and play more gigs without selling out. But it didn't happen, and for the bystander it's pretty hard to justify. The potential was enormous. Was it substance abuse, serious illness, personal drama or something similar?
@americanpercussioninstruments
@@nonchalant.observer -There was no abuse bad vibes or anything like that. Personally, I just got back from Memphis and was teaching at this music store and was introduced to DR. There he told me he was working on an album but already had a drummer so would I play percussion. I guess the rest is history.I did go on to play with George Sheck, who just finished playing with the Edgar Winter band, in a group where i played the instrument, The Bellatope" in the photo. Since then Haywood Sheck, the drummer, has passed on so it goes. Ken
@paulafay8551
@@americanpercussioninstruments Hi Ken, I too am a huge fan of this album. I'm in Liverpool and work at The Beatles' childhood homes. Music is my life. I first heard this stuff years ago and am so sad DR Hooker has left us - can you tell us when and how? Hope you are well and keep on keepin' on!
@sen5i
Totally hooked on this album thanks for uploading
@msdork61
an absolute gem - thank you!
@fabriziogiannini5070
Wow!
@FillTheGaps
@retrospecta2010 check "forge your own chains". another great song!