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 - ...)
It's My Life
Eric Burdon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All the good things have been taken
But girl there are ways to make certain things pay
Though I'm dressed in these rags, I'll wear sable someday
Hear what I say
I'm gonna ride the serpent
No more time spent sweatin' rent
I'm breakin' loose, it ain't no use
Holdin' me down, stick around
But baby (baby)
Remember (remember)
It's my life and I'll do what I want
It's my mind and I'll think what I want
Show me I'm wrong, hurt me sometime
But some day I'll treat you real fine
There'll be women and their fortunes
Who just want to mother orphans
Are you gonna cry, when I'm squeezin' the rye
Takin' all I can get, no regrets
When I, openly lie
And leave only money
Believe me honey, that money
Can you believe, I ain't no saint
No complaints
So girl go out
Hand it out
And baby (baby)
Remember (remember)
It's my life and I'll do what I want
It's my mind and I'll think what I want
Show me I'm wrong, hurt me sometime
But some day I'll treat you real fine
(It's my life and I'll do what I want) don't push me
(It's my mind and I'll think what I want) it's my life
(It's my life and I'll do what I want) and I can do what I want
(It's my mind and I'll think what I want) you can't tell me
(It's my life and I'll do what I want)
The lyrics to Eric Burdon's "It's My Life" represent a defiant declaration of individualism and self-expression in the face of societal norms. The song begins with a recognition of the difficulty of achieving success in the world, particularly for those who don't have the same opportunities as others. However, the singer insists that there are ways to make things pay and that they will wear sable someday, despite their current circumstances.
The chorus of "It's My Life" is the most memorable part of the song, as it repeats the lines "It's my life and I'll do what I want" and "It's my mind and I'll think what I want." These lines emphasize the theme of individual freedom and the idea that no one else has the right to control one's thoughts or actions. The singer acknowledges that they may make mistakes or hurt others along the way, but they will ultimately treat their loved ones well in the end.
Line by Line Meaning
It's a hard world to get a break in
The world is tough and it's difficult to succeed
All the good things have been taken
The opportunities for great success are scarce
But girl there are ways to make certain things pay
There are still ways to make a living even in a tough world
Though I'm dressed in these rags, I'll wear sable someday
I may be poor now, but I will be rich someday
Hear what I say
Listen to me carefully
I'm gonna ride the serpent
I will take risks and live on the edge
No more time spent sweatin' rent
I will no longer struggle to pay rent
Hear my command
Listen to me and do as I say
I'm breakin' loose, it ain't no use
I am breaking free from constraints and nothing can stop me
Holdin' me down, stick around
Those who try to hold me back should stick around and see my success
But baby (baby)
O my dear (dear) one
Remember (remember)
Don't forget what I'm about to say
It's my life and I'll do what I want
I have the freedom and right to live my life the way I choose
It's my mind and I'll think what I want
I have the right to think and have my own opinions
Show me I'm wrong, hurt me sometime
I am willing to learn from my mistakes even if it hurts me
But some day I'll treat you real fine
I will treat you well someday
There'll be women and their fortunes
There will be women who are wealthy
Who just want to mother orphans
Some of those women only want to adopt orphans
Are you gonna cry, when I'm squeezin' the rye
Will you be upset if I choose to drink and have a good time?
Takin' all I can get, no regrets
I will take everything that's available to me without any regrets
When I, openly lie
I am not afraid to lie if it helps me achieve success
And leave only money
I may be ruthless and only leave money behind
Believe me honey, that money
Trust me, that money is worth it
Can you believe, I ain't no saint
It may be hard to believe, but I am not a saint
No complaints
I have nothing to complain about
So girl go out
Go ahead and live your own life
Hand it out
Give it everything you've got
(It's my life and I'll do what I want) don't push me
Don't try to control me
(It's my mind and I'll think what I want) it's my life
I have the freedom to think and live as I choose
(It's my life and I'll do what I want) and I can do what I want
I can make my own choices and live with the consequences
(It's my mind and I'll think what I want) you can't tell me
Nobody can force me to think differently
(It's my life and I'll do what I want)
I am in charge of my own life
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Carl D'Errico, Roger Atkins
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@JackF99
The great song itself had some pretty creepy lyrics.
"There'll be women and their fortunes
Who just want to mother orphans
Are you gonna cry
When I'm squeezing them dry?
Taking all I can get
No regrets
When I openly lie, ha
And live on their money
Believe me, honey
That money
Can you believe?
I ain't no saint
@jeffrolambert9087
Eric's voice was a gift and he put all his heart and soul behind it
@interbi5642
what year this video was recorded
@j.masonmedia5172
@@interbi5642quote me if I’m wrong maybes 1964
@kentinmn
@@j.masonmedia5172 This episode of NBC's "Hullabaloo", October 11, 1965.
@doreekaplan2589
He still does
@debraweaver6308
@@j.masonmedia5172 Yes, Mason. It is either 1964..or 1965.
@fredgomo
One of the best original blues rock band. Their music with the incomparable Eric Burdon still stands up. Great band.
@ld3511
💯
@timothydrumm5690
This guy is one of the ALL TIME greatest SOLO singers - the soulful drama in this voice is - off the charts!
@daveberry342
Like Franky Valli, Van Morrisson, Sam Cooke, Steve Perry, and of course, Lou Gramm.