Burdon left also this band and run back to stardome in the mid-70s with The Eric Burdon Band producing heavy rocking songs. He went on forming short-living groups such as Eric Burdon's Fire Dept. in 1980, another Eric Burdon Band in 1981, especially for a motion picture-starring role in Comeback for which he made the soundtrack and a reunion band with The Animals in 1983 to get back to the Mainstream Charts. The 1980s saw Burdon in genres such as heavy metal, new wave, pop, reggae, disco, blues, rock and roll, punk, funk and rap. He also published his album "I Used To Be An Animal" as well as his autobiography with the same title. He went on touring in stadiums as well as in small clubs around the world.
In 1990 he formed the Eric Burdon & Robby Krieger Band who toured mainly in America. They recorded some demo tapes, but never released them. In 1991 he toured the world again as Eric Burdon & Brian Auger Band. They released a double-live album, "Access All Areas" in 1993, showing versions of Burdon's old hits in new musical outfits, once again as a blues, metal, reggae and fusion performer.
In 1994 they got disbanded, Burdon got introduced into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, where he performed 1995 with Bon Jovi and created a new group of high-professional musicians, Eric Burdon's i Band. They disbanded in 1998 and he formed Eric Burdon & The New Animals. In 2003 they changed their name in Eric Burdon & The Animals, after some band changes. In 2004 the long awaited studio-album "My Secret Life" was released and brought him back into the mainstream charts and in late 2005 the live album "Athens Traffic Live" was released.
Burdon formed a new band-line-up, also touring as Eric Burdon & The Animals. In January 2006 he released "Soul of a Man", with good critics worldwide. He wanted to create an album who is dedicated to the blues and rnb. Since then he toured the world without a break, always looking for new material, performing with other famous musicians.
Recently, Burdon wrote a screenplay called "Twisted Oliver" and is working on a new studio album. He turned down tours with War and Linkin Park in the last year, but it seems that the new year is bringing many surprises.
Many of his bands also used elements of speed metal, thrash metal, grindcore and death metal.
He's definitely one of the most important people in music history, while recording the first #1 hit with a length more than four minutes, "House of the Rising Sun", the most popular anti-vietnam song "We Gotta Get out of this Place", the first song recorded in stereo, "Sky Pilot" and the first latin rap in pop music, "Spill the Wine". His self-written rock song "Year of the Guru" (1968) proves that he created the first rap rock-song. His political environment can be seen in his multi-racial project with the band War from late 1969 to early 1971. In 2008 he reunited with the band at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
Without his experimental vocals, hip hop, rap, heavy metal, rock, pop and rnb would have a completely different face.
His singing style and music also influenced artists such as Joe Cocker, The Doors, Deep Purple, The Brute Chorus, Ted Nugent, Janis Joplin, The Sonics, Steppenwolf, Chester Bennington, Bruce Springsteen, The Black Crowes, Tom Petty, The White Stripes, Ryan Adams, John Mellencamp, The Compulsive Gamblers, The Vines, Julian Thome, The Hives, MC5 and many more.
In November 2008 the magazine Rolling Stone ranked him #57 on their list of the Best Singers of all Times.
Formations:
The Animals & Sonny Boy Williamson (December 30, 1963)
The Animals (1964 - September 1966, 1976, 1983/84)
Eric Burdon & The Animals (1967 - 1968)
Eric Burdon & War (1969 - 1971)
Eric Burdon & Jimmy Witherspoon (1971)
The Eric Burdon Band (1973 - 1975)
Eric Burdon's Fire Department (1980)
Eric Burdon, Robbie Krieger & Friends (1990)
Eric Burdon & Brian Auger Band (1991 - 1993)
Eric Burdon's I Band (1995 - 1998)
Eric Burdon & The New Animals (1999 - 2002)
Eric Burdon (1976 - ...)
Going Back To Memphis
Eric Burdon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Everybody wants to take, nobody like giving
I wish I was in Memphis back home there with my Mama
The only clothes I got left that ain't rags is my pajamas
No brotherly love, no help, no danger
Just a great big town full of cold hearted strangers
I went hungry in New York and Chicago was no better
Son, come back to Memphis and live here with your Mama
You can walk down Beale Street, honey, wearing your pajamas
You know home folks here, we let do just what you want to
And I born you and raised you right here on the corner
I'm going to leave here in the morning and walk down to the station
I've got just enough money to pay my transportation
I'm going back to Memphis, back home with my Mama
If I have to ride that bus barefooted in pajamas
Back home in Memphis, no moaning and groaning
I know everything will be all right in the morning
In Eric Burdon's "Going Back to Memphis," the lyrics depict a struggling narrator who is trying to make a living in a big town but encountering nothing but hardship. The lyrics express the challenges of living in a cold-hearted town where people are reluctant to help others. The singer reminisces about his home in Memphis and his mother who is inviting him to come back home to avoid the struggles in the big city. The lyrics mention a lack of brotherly love and help and that everybody seems to be out for themselves. It is clear that the singer is in desperate need of a change and wants to return to the safety and comfort of home, where he feels he can be himself and be surrounded by people who care for him.
The lyrics also show the contrast between the big city and the home. In the big city, the singer is struggling to make ends meet and has very little in terms of possessions, while in Memphis, he has a sense of belonging and safety. The lyrics show that sometimes, despite the challenges and obstacles in our lives, all we need is to go back to our roots, where we can feel safe and surrounded by love.
Overall, "Going Back to Memphis" is a powerful representation of the struggle to find one’s place in the world and the yearning to return home to safety, love, and acceptance.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been struggling up here, child, trying to make a living
I've been facing difficulties in this place while trying to earn my livelihood
Everybody wants to take, nobody like giving
People only want to receive but don't want to give
I wish I was in Memphis back home there with my Mama
I desire to go back to Memphis, where I belong with my mother
The only clothes I got left that ain't rags is my pajamas
I have no decent clothes left except for my pajamas
No brotherly love, no help, no danger
I am not receiving any brotherly love, help or protection in this place
Just a great big town full of cold hearted strangers
The town is full of unsympathetic strangers
I went hungry in New York and Chicago was no better
I faced hunger in New York and Chicago wasn't any better
But today, my dear mother wrote and told me in her letter
My mother wrote to me today with some important news
Son, come back to Memphis and live here with your Mama
My mother wants me to return to Memphis and live with her
You can walk down Beale Street, honey, wearing your pajamas
You can feel comfortable in Memphis, and walk around Beale Street even in your pajamas
You know home folks here, we let do just what you want to
In Memphis, you have the freedom to do what you want as long as it's amongst home folks
And I born you and raised you right here on the corner
I gave birth to you and raised you here on this corner in Memphis
I'm going to leave here in the morning and walk down to the station
I am leaving this place tomorrow morning and heading towards the station
I've got just enough money to pay my transportation
I have enough money only to pay for my transportation
I'm going back to Memphis, back home with my Mama
I am returning to Memphis and heading back to my mother
If I have to ride that bus barefooted in pajamas
I don't mind riding the bus wearing my pajamas and without shoes
Back home in Memphis, no moaning and groaning
In Memphis, I won't have to complain or cry anymore
I know everything will be all right in the morning
I believe that things will be alright in the morning once I reach Memphis
Contributed by Camilla E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Mari Radnai
Nice song, thanks!
NANA LAKOS
I'm in love with this voice! !!!!
Flor Pinheiro
Durmo e acordo ouvindo essas músicas. Amo essa voz.
Ayla Köknar Kinalikaya
i love Eric..
Verdandistorm
First realy beautiful day. Going outside and listen to eric burdon and the war. One of the best feelings ever :)
Mary Hopes
So Very Lovely dear Eric!
Sandra Blum
Beautiful<3
Jason Everson
Brilliant song.
Javier Fueyo
También pienso que es un GIGANTE.... APASALOBIEN.
Ayla Köknar Kinalikaya
i like so much this song..i love Eric..