Of Romani descent, Laine and was educated at Yardley Grammar School in Birmingham. His first solo performance was at the age of twelve. Having taken up the guitar as a boy, under the influence of jazz legend Django Reinhardt, Laine began his career as a professional musician fronting Denny And The Diplomats, the members of which included future The Move and Electric Light Orchestra drummer Bev Bevan.
In 1964, Laine abandoned Denny And The Diplomats to join The Moody Blues, singing their first big hit, "Go Now. His tenure with the band was short-lived, however, and after a number of comparative failures, Laine quit the band in late 1966. (The last record issued by The Moody Blues that featured Laine was Life's Not Life / He Can Win in 1967).
After leaving The Moody Blues, he formed Denny Laine's Electric String Band, which featured Denny (guitar, vocals), Trevor Burton (guitar, another former member of The Move) and Viv Prince (drums), also featuring electrified strings in a format not dissimilar to what Electric Light Orchestra would later attempt. They made two singles, Say You Don't Mind / Ask The People (Apr 1967, Deram) and "Too Much In Love / Catherine's Wheel (Jan 1968, Deram); and, in June 1967, they shared a bill with The Jimi Hendrix Experience and Procol Harum at the Saville Theatre in London. However, national attention was not to be, and the pioneering Electric String Band broke up. Laine and Burton then went on to the band Balls from 1969 until the band's breakup in 1971, with both also taking time to play in Ginger Baker's Air Force in 1970.
With Wings, which Laine was a member of from its original inception in 1971, Laine enjoyed his greatest success (even beating The Moody Blues' release of "Go Now"), helping McCartney write such big hits as Mull of Kintyre. Along with Paul's late wife, Linda McCartney, Laine helped form the nucleus of the band, providing lead and rhythm guitars, keyboards, bass guitar, as well as backing vocals and sometimes lead vocals.
In 1972 Colin Blunstone of The Zombies did have some success as a solo artist with one of Danny's song Say You Don't Mind.
In January 1980, Wings planned a tour of Japan. However, upon arrival at the airport, McCartney was arrested for marijuana possession. The tour was cancelled, and Laine's relationship with McCartney has never recovered. In 1980, he released the song Japanese Tears, a visible attack on McCartney, much like John Lennon's "How Do You Sleep?" in 1971.
After leaving Wings, Laine signed with Scratch Records and released a new album, Anyone Can Fly in 1982. He also worked on McCartney's albums Tug of War and Pipes of Peace and he co-wrote one more song with McCartney, "Rainclouds" (issued as the B-side of the No. 1 single "Ebony and Ivory").
Laine continued to release solo albums through the 1980s, such as Hometown Girls, Wings on My Feet, Lonely Road and Master Suite. In 1996, he released two albums, Reborn; and an album of reworkings of Wings songs, entitled Wings at the Sound of Denny Laine.
From 1997 to 2002, he toured with the rock supergroup World Classic Rockers. He then toured with the Denny Laine Band, and teamed up with other bands on occasion.
Laine's final solo release was the 2008 album The Blue Musician. He also wrote a musical, Arctic Song.
In 2018 he performed with the 9-piece band Turkuaz doing the music of Wings.
Look At Me
Denny Laine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What's goona happen to you
When you've broken too many peoples hearts
and can't find anyone new?
Say, Say, look at me and tell me
'Bout that twinkle in your eye
Is that twinkle in your eye meant for me
Look at me from now on
know the love we share
Look at me from now on
Let me know you care
Hey, Hey, look at me and tell me
What gonna happen to you
When you've spoken sweet words of love to me
and I want to marry you?
The lyrics to Denny Laine's song Look At Me are a reflection on love and its complexities. The song speaks to the idea that love can be both wonderful and difficult at the same time. The first verse asks the listener to consider what will happen when they have broken too many hearts and cannot find anyone new. The second verse goes on to explore the idea of being uncertain about whether or not the love shown to them is genuine, wondering if the twinkle in their eye is meant for them or someone else.
The chorus of the song brings a sense of hope, with the singer asking to be looked at from now on and for the love they share to be acknowledged. The final verse expresses a desire to marry, but also hints at some hesitation or uncertainty, questioning what will happen when sweet words have been spoken and the commitment of marriage is on the table.
Overall, the lyrics of Look At Me are an honest and introspective look at the emotions and challenges that come with falling in love. The song speaks to the inherent complexity of human relationships and the importance of genuine connection and trust.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey, hey, Look at me and tell me
Directing attention and questioning to the listener about their future.
What's goona happen to you
Asking what will come to the listener's future.
When you've broken too many peoples hearts
Referring to the listener's past actions that caused heartbreak to other people.
and can't find anyone new?
Implying that the listener might end up alone due to their actions towards others.
Say, Say, look at me and tell me
Repeating the questioning of the listener's intentions.
'Bout that twinkle in your eye
Indicating curiosity about a certain expression in the listener's gaze.
Is that twinkle in your eye meant for me
Asking whether the affections of the listener are directed towards the singer.
or meant for some other guy?
Questioning whether the listener's attention is on someone else.
Look at me from now on
Requesting that the listener focuses their attention on the artist from this moment onwards.
know the love we share
Expressing a desire for mutual love between the artist and listener.
Let me know you care
Asking the listener to show affection and concern for the singer.
When you've spoken sweet words of love to me
Referring to the listener's past romantic gestures towards the artist.
and I want to marry you?
Indicating the singer's desire for a serious, long-term commitment from the listener.
Contributed by Emma H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Philo Brandon
Dig this version , one of the best tracks , just Denny singing in a fragile Buddy-setto .