They incorporated the sounds of string ensembles, vocoders and dub echos into rock songs, thereby creating a very sophisticated studio version of rock. The musical content of ELO songs often went far beyond usual chord structures, mixing pop songwriting with classical romanticism and synthesized sounds. The band claim that their music "picks up where The Beatles' 1967 song I Am the Walrus left off."
Formed in 1970 by Roy Wood, Jeff Lynne and Bev Bevan (the remaining members of the 1960s rock group The Move). The band used cellos, violin, horns and woodwinds to give their music a classical sound. This was an idea Roy Wood initially had while with The Move, to take rock music in a new direction. In 1970 when Carl Wayne left the The Move, Jeff Lynne, front man with fellow Brum band Idle Race, responded to Wood's second invitation to join the line-up, with the lure of starting the new band. To help finance the fledgling project, two more Move albums were released during the recording of their eponymous first album in 1971 which produced the UK hit 10538 Overture. In the US this album was released with the mistaken title of No Answer, due to a mix-up with an uncompleted telephone call to the American label and subsequent secretarial message.
However, tensions soon surfaced between Roy Wood and Jeff Lynne. With most of the media attention focused on Roy Wood, differences in musical direction, and a disastrous first live outing, it was no surprise when the band went through the first of its many line-up changes as Wood took Hugh McDowell and Bill Hunt with him to form Wizzard. Despite the music press's predictions that the band would fold without Wood, Jeff Lynne stepped up to lead the band, with Bevan remaining on drums, bassist Richard Tandy switching to moog synthesizer, Michael d'Albuquerque on bass, Mike Edwards, Colin Walker (cello) and Wilfred Gibson replacing Steve Woolam on violin. They released ELO 2 in 1973, from which came their first U.S. chart hit, a hugely elaborate version of the Chuck Berry classic Roll Over Beethoven. After their second album, violinist Gibson was dismissed and replaced by Mik Kaminski. They also released On The Third Day in 1973, with Mike Edwards playing all the cello parts due to Colin Walker leaving the band. Later that same year saw the return of Hugh McDowell, who had jumped ship the year previous, to replace cellist Colin Walker.
In 1974 Lynne hired a thirty-piece orchestra, choir and Louis Clark, then began work on the next LP Eldorado, A Symphony, a concept album about dreams, scoring their first U.S. Top Ten hit with Can't Get It Out Of My Head in 1975. Eldorado would become ELO's first gold album.
After the release of Eldorado, bassist and vocalist Kelly Groucutt and cellist Melvyn Gale joined, replacing de Albuquerque and Edwards respectively.
The band split in 1983. In 1985, Lynne, Tandy and Bevan reunited and recorded the album "Balance of Power". This reunion was short lived and the band split once more in 1986. Bev Bevan and Louis Clark, with the consent of Lynne, toured and recorded as ELO Part II from 1988 until Bevan's retirement in 1999. In 2000, Lynne and Tandy reformed Electric Light Orchestra and released a new record, "Zoom". "Zoom" proved to be a commercial failure, and the duo split once more in 2001.
In 2014, following support from BBC Radio 2 DJ Chris Evans, Lynne and Tandy reunited as a part of BBC Radio 2's "Festival in a Day" to perform under the new billing, "Jeff Lynne's ELO", a name Lynne devised as a response to ELO tributes, imitation bands, and offshoots who used ELO to promote their own tours.
In February 2015, Jeff Lynne's ELO performed at the Grammy Awards with Ed Sheeran, and in September of that year they announced a new album would be released under Columbia Records. Jeff Lynne's ELO - Alone in the Universe was released on November 13, 2015, and was ELO’s first album of new material in almost 15 years.
The second album under Jeff Lynne’s ELO, Jeff Lynne's ELO - From Out of Nowhere, was released on November 1, 2019.
There is more than one artist with the name "ELO". The vast majority of scrobbles to "Electric Light Orchestra" are for the rock band from England.
ELO, is a South Korean singer, who debuted with the album, 8 Femmes, on August 26, 2016.
Diary of Horace Wimp
Electric Light Orchestra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He'd say he was sorry, he'd have to hurry out to the bus.
Tuesday: Horace was so sad,he'd never had a girl that he
could care for, and if he was late once more,he'd be out.
Don't be afraid,just knock on the door,
Well he just stood there mumblin' and fumblin'.
Horace Wimp,this is your life,
Go out and find yourself a wife.
Make a stand and be a man,
And you will have a great life plan.
Wednesday: Horace met a girl,she was small and she
was very pretty, he thought he was in love,he was afraid.
Thursday: Asks her for a date,the cafe down the street
tomorrow evening,his head was reeling,
when she said. Yes O.K.
Don't be afraid,just knock on the door,
Well he just stood there mumblin' and fumblin'.
Then a voice from above said--
Horace Wimp, this is your life,
Go out and find yourself a wife.
Make a stand and be a man,
And you will have a great life plan.
Friday: Horace,this is it,he asks the girl if maybe they
could marry,when she says, Gladly-- Horace cries.
Sunday: Everybody's at the church,when Horace
rushes in and says, Now here come my wife,
for the rest of my life--and she did.
Don't be afraid,just knock on the door,
Well he just stood there mumblin' and fumblin'.
Then a voice from above said--
Horace Wimp,this is your wife,
Go out and find yourself a life.
Make a stand and be a man,
And you will have a great life plan.
The Diary of Horace Wimp by Electric Light Orchestra tells the story of a man named Horace who leads a mundane life, always running late and struggling to find love. However, one day a voice from above speaks to him, urging him to take charge of his life and find a wife. Horace follows the advice and meets a girl whom he falls in love with, but is terrified to ask her out. The voice from above persists and encourages him to take a chance. Horace finally gains the courage to ask her out and they fall in love, ultimately leading to their marriage.
The song's theme revolves around taking risks and seizing opportunities while it also highlights the importance of taking charge of one's life rather than just coasting by. It is an uplifting song that encourages listeners to act on their dreams and has a positive message about finding love.
Line by Line Meaning
Monday: Late again, today, he'd be in trouble though
Horace is habitually late and today is no exception. He is worried he might get into trouble because of his tardiness.
He'd say he was sorry, he'd have to hurry out to the bus.
Horace knows he needs to apologize for being late and hurry to catch the bus.
Tuesday: Horace was so sad, he'd never had a girl that he could care for, and if he was late once more, he'd be out.
Horace is sad because he doesn't have a girl he loves. Also, if he is late again, he might get kicked out.
Don't be afraid, just knock on the door,
Horace is being encouraged to be confident and go for what he wants.
Well he just stood there mumblin' and fumblin'.
Despite the encouragement, Horace is still nervous and apprehensive.
Then a voice from above said--
A divine or supernatural force seems to be guiding Horace.
Horace Wimp, this is your life, Go out and find yourself a wife.
Horace is being urged to find a wife and start a family.
Make a stand and be a man, And you will have a great life plan.
If Horace takes charge of his life and makes confident decisions, he will find happiness and fulfillment.
Wednesday: Horace met a girl, she was small and she was very pretty, he thought he was in love, he was afraid.
Horace meets a girl he finds attractive and thinks he might be in love, but he is scared and unsure about what to do.
Thursday: Asks her for a date, the cafe down the street tomorrow evening, his head was reeling, when she said. Yes O.K.
Horace gets up the courage to ask the girl out and she says yes, making him feel overjoyed.
Friday: Horace, this is it, he asks the girl if maybe they could marry, when she says, Gladly-- Horace cries.
Horace proposes to the girl and she agrees, making him cry tears of joy.
Sunday: Everybody's at the church, when Horace rushes in and says, Now here come my wife, for the rest of my life-- and she did.
Horace gets married and announces his bride to everyone, feeling happy that he has found the person he wants to spend the rest of his life with.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JEFF LYNNE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jedizombiekiller9065
0:28
"Horace was so sad."
Horace: wow-wow-woooooow
mmba-da-da-doodaa mba-da-de-skede-de-do-de-de-do-de-de-do-do-de-
de-do-de-daaa-de-da-doska ska-se-de-da-do-de-de-doh-dooo scoobudee-ba-pa-paa
skeebududadee-debadedo-de-deo
dodudeeha
schlabadadadeedoske- de-de-de-de-de-de-de-de-de-de-de-dee-dee-deee-
deeee-
deeesh
@tobiasboston5663
That was an eventful week for Horace
@takasaki3109
El estilo de música clásica es pegajoso en la canción, es pegadizo y alegre :)
@tubarbapica..susana.7862
This song reached top ten on UK.
@DepecheFan1
This makes my life...
@keniac14
did not know that - cool - great song. Discovery got me into ELO. Still have the original LP from 1979.
@ZeGuyFly
Horace doesn't live in a universe that has Saturdays either apparently
@Lucy-zv4xc
Horace was so terrible at love that a higher power had to intervene
@danielsahurie3237
Noice joke mate
@yodog1455
Pretty freaking funny that joke was
@mudkiperplays3172
poor guy