Growing up, he was taught music by his mother but had difficulties in what was a dysfunctional family. He left home in his early teens. He idolized the music of John Lee Hooker and began playing guitar and singing, and by the time he was 21 had his own band, The Shays. David Clayton-Thomas & The Shays recorded for Roman Records of Toronto. Clayton-Thomas released two albums on the record label, "A Go Go" (with The Shays) and "Like It Is" (with The Bossmen).
In February 1966, he joined a new band, The Bossmen, fronted by the child prodigy, pianist Tony Collacott, who had played with Sarah Vaughan at New York's Carnegie Hall at the age of 14. The group recorded a lone single, the jazz-rock song "Brainwashed," which was a Canadian hit record in June 1966 and gave an indication of his future work.
The band broke up soon afterward and he traveled to New York. In October 1967, he joined forces with former members of the Toronto R&B outfit, Jon and Lee & The Checkmates and renamed them his new backing band, The Phoenix. The group started a residency at a New York nightclub, Steve Paul's The Scene, but he was soon deported for working illegally in the States.
In February 1968, Clayton-Thomas formed a new band in Toronto, the David Clayton-Thomas Combine with former Bossmen guitarist Jack Mowbrey, ex-Phoenix bass player Peter Hodgson, and drummer Pat Little from Luke & The Apostles. The group recorded the original version of his hit "Spinning Wheel" but the band broke up a few months later when Clayton-Thomas was offered a more attractive offer from Bobby Colomby, the drummer with Blood, Sweat & Tears.
Under the stage name David Clayton-Thomas, he is best known as a vocalist with the band Blood, Sweat & Tears, whose first album with him as lead singer in 1969 produced three gold singles and three Grammy Awards including the Grammy Award for Album of the Year. The album included his own composition "Spinning Wheel" which became a hit on both sides of the Atlantic.
In 2002, the album was honored with a Grammy Hall of Fame Award. Clayton-Thomas left the band twice, but he was still touring with a reconstituted Blood, Sweat & Tears through 2004.
Clayton-Thomas was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1996. In January, 2006, the song "Spinning Wheel" was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame.
He also won the last Festival Internacional da CanĆ§Ć£o in 1972, in Rio de Janeiro, with the song Nobody Calls Me Prophet. He lived in New York City for more than 30 years, but returned to Toronto in 2004, where he once again has made a name of himself as a solo artist, releasing several DVDs (including one featuring a live performance).
Spinning Wheel
David Clayton-Thomas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Spinning Wheel got to go 'round
Talkin' 'bout your troubles
It's a cryin' sin
Ride a painted pony
Let the Spinning Wheel spin
You got no money, you got no home
Spinning Wheel all alone
You never learn
Ride a painted pony
Let the Spinning Wheel turn
Did you find your directing sign
On the straight and narrow highway
Would you mind a reflecting sign?
Just let it shine within your mind
And show you the colors that are real
Someone is waiting just for you
Spinning Wheel spinning true
Drop all you troubles by the river side
The lyrics of David Clayton-Thomas's song, Spinning Wheel, convey a simple yet powerful message about the cyclical nature of life. The refrain, "What goes up must come down" serves as a reminder that, no matter how high one may ascend, at some point, they will inevitably fall. And like the spinning wheel, life keeps moving and progressing, whether one is ready for it or not.
Thomas then urges the listener to abandon their worries and ride the painted pony of life, allowing the spinning wheel to do what it does best. He acknowledges that life can be harsh, but dwelling on one's troubles never helps. Instead, he advises surrendering oneself to the cycle and letting the spinning wheel turn.
In the bridge, Thomas suggests that finding one's "directing sign" can help navigate the ups and downs of life. He speaks of a "reflecting sign" that shines within one's mind and shows "the colors that are real." This sign serves as a beacon, guiding one towards their destiny and helping them navigate the spinning wheel of life.
Line by Line Meaning
What goes up must come down
Everything that rises will eventually fall.
Spinning Wheel got to go 'round
Life is constantly moving and changing.
Talkin' 'bout your troubles
Focusing on your problems and worries.
It's a cryin' sin
Feeling sorry for yourself only makes things worse.
Ride a painted pony
Embrace life and all its experiences.
Let the Spinning Wheel spin
Allow yourself to be carried by the flow of life.
You got no money, you got no home
Feeling lost and uncertain about the future.
Spinning Wheel all alone
Navigating life's ups and downs by yourself.
You never learn
You keep making the same mistakes.
Did you find your directing sign
Have you discovered your purpose in life?
On the straight and narrow highway
Living a morally upright life.
Would you mind a reflecting sign?
Do you welcome self-reflection and introspection?
Just let it shine within your mind
Clear your mind and be open to guidance.
And show you the colors that are real
Help you find what is truly meaningful and valuable in life.
Someone is waiting just for you
There is someone who will accept and appreciate you for who you are.
Spinning Wheel spinning true
Life keeps moving forward, embracing change.
Drop all your troubles by the river side
Let go of your worries and embrace the beauty of the present moment.
Lyrics Ā© BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: David Clayton-Thomas
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@walruslennon9782
What goes up must come down
Spinnin' wheel, got to go round
Talkin' 'bout your troubles, it's a cryin' sin
Ride a painted pony, let the spinnin' wheel spin
You got no money, you got no home
Spinnin' wheel, all alone
Talkin' 'bout your troubles and you, you never learn
Ride a painted pony, let the spinnin' wheel turn
Did you find the directing sign
On the straight and narrow highway
Would you mind a reflecting sign
Just let it shine within your mind
And show you the colors that are real
Someone's waitin' just for you
Spinnin' wheel, spinnin' true
Drop all your troubles by the riverside
Catch a painted pony on the spinnin' wheel ride
Someone's waitin' just for you
Spinnin' wheel, spinnin' true
Drop all your troubles by the riverside
Ride a painted pony, let the spinnin' wheel fly
That wasn't so good
@dorothyjohnson8051
69 year old black woman! Loving it. That brass section is on point. I used to listen to Blood Sweat and Tears back inthe day love them. And still do. So much meaning for right now. These days we are living in be encourage. Love Peace And Soul. Out!!!!!
@rippi37
Hello Dorothy......63 year old here ..loving it too. Peace love health and happiness to you and yours !! xxx
@ddziegler44
77 year old white guy. We are now continuing what we started in the 60ās and we will get there. Dan
@rippi37
@@ddziegler44 Absolutely !!!! xxx
@dorothyjohnson8051
Hi nice to meet you! Have a amazing day. Peace
@mastic5519
Still sounds great.
@robertdegrandis5180
I was 11 years old when this song came out. I'm 63 now, I survived colon cancer and Covid 19. When I will be gone, this song will still be carrying on and on and on. Great song, God knows how I miss the 60s and the 70s.
@tallenpelegrin7026
I was 10 when I got introduced to B,S&T, and I've never abandoned them since then.
@Youffy23
I know best the 80's and the 90's (born 1976) but clearly = I am with you about the 70's... 99% of my DVD's are 70's movies, and goes the same on music.... A good evening is one evening I can feel the 70's !
@ZeroGravity60
Congrats on beating colon cancer. I've been stage 4 cancer for just over 3-years but am feeling good for the most part. [I might beat it.] What would we do without YouTube, every hit from the past is at our fingertips. Peace brother.