Elf, was a Blues-rock band founded in 1967 in Cortland, New York, United St… Read Full Bio ↴Elf, was a Blues-rock band founded in 1967 in Cortland, New York, United States by singer and bassist Ronnie James Dio (Ronnie Padavona), keyboardist Doug Thaler, drummer Gary Driscoll, and guitarists Nick Pantas and David 'Rock' Feinstein (Dio's cousin). The band was orignially called The Electric Elves, but was shortened to The Elves, and finally Elf in 1969.
In 1970 the band was involved in an automobile accident which claimed the life of Nick Pantas, whom the band decided not to replace. After recovering from his injuries, Doug Thaler quit the band, and was replaced by Micky Lee Soule. (Upon leaving in 1972, Thaler moved to New York and got a job as a booking agent — Elf was one of the bands he booked. In 1983, he became co-manager of Mötley Crüe. Present day he works at Metropolitan Talent as an artist manager, working with artists such as Art Garfunkel, Bruce Hornsby & Ratdog).
Cover of Elf's debut self-titled album was produced by Deep Purple members Roger Glover and Ian Paice, who happened to see Elf auditioning in 1972. For the next few years, the band enjoyed mild success as an opening act for Deep Purple.
Dio both sang and played the bass guitar until, in 1973, bass player Craig Gruber was asked to join. The same year saw Feinstein quit the band, to be replaced by Steve Edwards. Feinstein formed a band called The Rods, which met with a moderate amount of success, touring with groups such as Judas Priest and Iron Maiden, as well as Metallica, before finally retiring from the music industry. He would not return to the music scene until 2004, when his band, Feinstein, released the album Third Wish on the Magic Circle Music label.
In 1974, Dio was asked by Glover to sing on his solo album The Butterfly Ball and the Grasshopper's Feast. Dio's rich, soulful voice gained the attention of guitarist Ritchie Blackmore who had just left Deep Purple and was looking for musicians for his first solo album, Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow. He decided to use Elf for this album, and the band Rainbow was thus formed, with Blackmore replacing Edwards. After they finished recording the album, however, Driscoll, Gruber, and Soule were replaced by Cozy Powell, Jimmy Bain and Tony Carey, who played with Dio and Blackmore during the subsequent tour. In early 1975 percussionist Mark Nauseef joined Elf, but the group disbanded shortly afterwards

for the Slime singer's project see ELF.

First Avenue
Elf Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Crazy little mama, is your heart still meant today?
Feeling alive in some peculiar way
Baby come home
Baby come home

Pretty little woman, please come back today
It's just gotta be wrong to throw my love away
Baby come home

Baby come home
Baby come home from heartbreak city, yeah

First Avenue
First Avenue
First Avenue
I'm back from First Avenue

Hey, ma, is your heart still meant today?
Well, I'm feeling alive in some peculiar way
Baby come home
Baby come home
You just gotta come home from heartbreak city, yeah
Oh

Little woman come home
First Avenue
My baby is home
First Avenue
Gotta, gotta come
First Avenue
Ooooh-hoooo
First Avenue
I tell ya, I'm coming home
First Avenue
Oooooh
First Avenue
Help me go
First Avenue
Can't make it on my own

First Avenue
Take, take it home

Overall Meaning

The song "First Avenue" by Elf is an upbeat and energetic tune that celebrates the return home of a lover. The lyrics explore the singer's deep longing for their partner as they plead for them to come back home. The chorus, with the repetition of "Baby come home," emphasizes the urgency of the request. The use of the phrase "heartbreak city" further emphasizes the pain that the singer is feeling while their lover is away.

Throughout the song, the singer mentions "First Avenue" repeatedly. It is possible that "First Avenue" is a reference to a particular street or location that holds significance to the singer and their partner. It could also be a metaphor for a journey or a path that the singer and their partner must follow to reach each other. The repetition of the phrase "First Avenue" gives a sense of direction and purpose to the song, as if it is a rallying cry for the singer and their partner to find their way back to each other.

Overall, "First Avenue" is a love song that captures the desperation and longing that comes with separation from a loved one. The upbeat tempo and catchy chorus belie the emotional weight of the lyrics, as the singer pleads with their partner to come back home and bring an end to the heartbreak they are feeling.

Line by Line Meaning

Crazy little mama, is your heart still meant today?
Asking the woman he loves if she still loves him

Feeling alive in some peculiar way
Feeling hopeful and happy despite the current situation

Baby come home
Pleading for the woman he loves to return

Pretty little woman, please come back today
Another plea for the woman he loves to return as soon as possible

It's just gotta be wrong to throw my love away
Expressing his disbelief that she would give up on their love

Baby come home from heartbreak city, yeah
Reiterating his plea for her to come home and leave the heartbreak behind

First Avenue
Referring to a specific street or place, possibly holding sentimental value

I'm back from First Avenue
Implying that he left or was away from this special place

Little woman come home
Another plea for the woman he loves to return

My baby is home
Expressing relief and joy that she has returned

Gotta, gotta come
Urging her to come as soon as possible