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.

Prentice Wood
Elf Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I wish that it were mine
Oh, feels good
Oh, feels good
In Prentice Wood, yeah

Ah
Men are coming out to play
Hit the ball around
Jump the net and change the sides again, yeah
Feeling foolish splash your name
Look what we've found
Don't you even use another friend

Ain't it looking fine
I wish that it were mine
Oh, feels good
Oh, feels good

Come with me lady, give us a smile
Try to believe that it's real

Watching all the flowers grow
Soon you'll be around
Feeling all the magic in the air
Seems the sun is only mine
Never going down
Love is in the wind it's everywhere

Ain't it lookin fine
Open up the wine
Oh, feels good
Oh, feels good
In Prntice Wood

Yeah
Oh

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Elf's song Prentice Wood are filled with vivid descriptions of nature and the beauty of the English countryside. The opening lines paint the picture of the singer watching the flowers grow and anticipating their bloom, while also observing a bird with purple wings waiting for the wind to carry it away. The next verse shifts focus to men playing ball games and feeling silly, reminding the listeners to not neglect their close friends. The chorus repeats the feeling of contentment and pleasure at being in Prentice Wood, where the singer wishes they could stay forever.

The third verse is addressed to a lady, inviting her to join and experience the happiness and joy present in the woods. The final lines return to the peaceful natural surroundings, with the singer basking in the beauty of the sunset, the love that is in the air, and the wine that is being poured. The song feels like an invitation to escape the noise and chaos of modern life and immerse oneself in the serenity and stillness of nature.

Line by Line Meaning

Watching all the flowers grow
I enjoy observing the natural beauty around me

Soon they'll be around
The flowers will soon be blooming

I love to watch the English countryside
I am fond of the scenery in the English countryside

Watch the bird with purple wings
Observe the bird that has purple wings

Doesn't make a sound
The bird is quiet and still

He's waiting for the wind to take a ride
The bird is poised and waiting for the wind to take it for a flight

Ain't it looking fine
The scenery is beautiful

I wish that it were mine
I wish I could possess this beauty

Oh, feels good
Being surrounded by nature brings me happiness

In Prentice Wood, yeah
This particular natural setting, Prentice Wood, is particularly enjoyable

Men are coming out to play
People are gathering to have fun

Hit the ball around
They are playing a game of ball

Jump the net and change the sides again, yeah
They are playing a game of netball and changing positions

Feeling foolish splash your name
They are being playful and splashing water around with their names

Look what we've found
They have discovered something wonderful

Don't you even use another friend
Value the company of the people you are with

Come with me lady, give us a smile
I am inviting a woman to join us and asking her to be happy

Try to believe that it's real
Encouraging the woman to enjoy herself and let go

Soon you'll be around
The woman will soon be joining us

Feeling all the magic in the air
The atmosphere is full of wonder and delight

Seems the sun is only mine
I feel like the beauty around me is only for me to experience

Never going down
The beauty and wonder will never fade

Love is in the wind it's everywhere
Love can be found in every aspect of nature

Open up the wine
Let's celebrate and enjoy ourselves

In Prentice Wood
This is all taking place in the lovely Prentice Wood location

Oh, feels good
Being surrounded by nature and enjoying the company of others brings me happiness

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MICKEY LEE SOULE, RONNIE DIO

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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01Black Swampy Water3:40

02Prentice Wood4:36

PT4M36S

Elf

03When She Smiles4:55

04Good Time Music4:30

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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

johnny zell

6y↑7

Watching all the flowers grow
Soon they'll be around
I love to watch the English countryside
Watch the bird with purple wings
Doesn't make a sound
He's waiting for the wind to take a ride
Ain't it looking fine
I wish that it were mine
Oh, feels good
Oh, feels good
In Prentice Wood, yeah
Ah
Men are coming out to play
Hit the ball around
Jump the net and change the sides again, yeah
Feeling foolish splash your name
Look what we've found
Don't you even use another friend
Ain't it looking fine
I wish that it were mine
Oh, feels good
Oh, feels good
Come with me lady, give us a smile
Try to believe that it's real
Watching all the flowers grow
Soon you'll be around
Feeling all the magic in the air
Seems the sun is only mine
Never going down
Love is in the wind it's everywhere
Ain't it lookin fine
Open up the wine
Oh, feels good
Oh, feels good
In Prntice Wood
Yeah
Oh