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 - ...)
Kingsize Jones
Eric Burdon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When you and I jumped into bed
I was not forced to kneel and pray
To worship at the temple between your legs
Look at me now... I gotta Kingsize Jones
Look at me now... I gotta Kingsize Jones
I'm so far from the shinin' light
I left you baby twenty times before
Now I'm back scratchin' at your back door
Look watcha done to the man don'tcha realize
Ooh child got my nose open wide
Look at me now... I gotta Kingsize Jones
Look at me now... I gotta Kingsize Jones
I'm so far from the shinin' light
I wandered far... what shall I do
I'm so far from my God...
...So close to you...
Lord have mercy on my soul
Your tongue in my mouth makes my blood run cold
Lord have mercy on me please
I'm infected with this ol' heart disease
Look at me now... I gotta Kingsize Jones
Look at me now... I gotta Kingsize Jones
I'm so far from the shinin' light
I wandered far... what shall I do
I'm so far from my God...
...So close to you
Look at me now... I gotta Kingsize Jones
Look at me now... I gotta Kingsize Jones
The lyrics of "Kingsize Jones" by Eric Burdon speak of a relationship based on lust and desire rather than love or commitment. The first stanza talks about the singer getting into bed with someone without any external force or pressure but purely out of mutual attraction. The line "worship at the temple between your legs" suggests that the other person's sexuality has a dominating presence in their relationship. The chorus "I gotta Kingsize Jones" refers to the singer's genitalia, which he now believes is worthy of the title "kingsize" after experiencing sexual gratification with this person.
The second stanza reveals that this relationship had been tumultuous and messy before, with the singer leaving and returning several times. However, he now seems to be completely under the other person's spell and feels entranced by their physicality. The line "got my nose open wide" suggests that the singer is addicted to the other person's scent or their pheromones. The last stanza speaks of an internal struggle between emotions and physical desire. The singer wants to stay close to this person despite the fact that it takes him away from his spirituality, further reinforcing the idea that this relationship is solely based on lust.
Line by Line Meaning
Nobody ever held a gun to my head
I was never forced or coerced into being with you.
When you and I jumped into bed
When we first got together.
I was not forced to kneel and pray
I didn't worship you like a deity like some do.
To worship at the temple between your legs
I didn't think sex with you was the be-all and end-all of our relationship.
Look at me now... I gotta Kingsize Jones
Despite my past mistakes, I now have gained power and influence.
I'm so far from the shinin' light
I'm far from perfection, spiritual or otherwise.
I left you baby twenty times before
I've left and come back to this relationship many times.
Now I'm back scratchin' at your back door
Now I'm back, wanting to be with you again.
Look watcha done to the man don'tcha realize
You've had a profound impact on me, whether you realize it or not.
Ooh child got my nose open wide
You have me hooked on you, I can't resist you.
I wandered far... what shall I do
I've strayed from my path in life, and now I'm looking for guidance.
I'm so far from my God...
I feel distant from divinity or spirituality.
...So close to you...
But, paradoxically, I feel incredibly close to you.
Lord have mercy on my soul
I hope for forgiveness and salvation.
Your tongue in my mouth makes my blood run cold
Your affection evokes intense emotions in me.
Lord have mercy on me please
I'm asking for help, support, and kindness.
I'm infected with this ol' heart disease
I'm suffering from heartbreak or emotional pain.
Contributed by Evelyn W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.