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 - ...)
Once Upon A Time
Eric Burdon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I was in love with a lady she treated me so cool
I was driving an Chevy '72
It had four on the floor, 120 it would do
And I remember Marvin Gaye singing
Let's get it on
There was a war baby somewhere across the sea
But I remember Martin Luther King
Lord he was the man baby that gave us all a dream
And I remember Marvin Gaye singing
Let's get it on
Lord he made me so strong
I remember Marvin Gaye singing
Let's get it on
We used to have sweet music in the park
Way up in Monterrey they sang througout the dark
And you used to wear girl that gypsy dress
When you stroll on by all the boys they want a chance
And I remember Marvin Gaye singing
Let's get it on
He made my love so strong
I remember Otis Redding
Sitting on the dock of the bay
Oh lord he went away
I remember Sam Cooke singing
Bring it on home to me
From your love I can be free
I remember Elvis Presley and the blues suede shoes
Lord they give me the blues
I remember Marvin Gaye singing
Let's get it on
In Eric Burdon's song Once Upon A Time, the singer reminisces about his past experiences of love, opposition to war, and the music that influenced his life. He starts off talking about his high school days, where he was in love with a woman who treated him well. He mentions driving a car, a Chevy '72, which had four gears and could go up to 120 mph. He then remembers Marvin Gaye's song Let's Get It On, which, in his own words, made him feel strong.
Then, he brings up the war across the sea and how he did not want to fight in it because his girlfriend was all he needed. He mentions Martin Luther King Jr., who he considers the man who gave them all a dream. He mentions Marvin Gaye again and how he helped him feel brave.
Finally, he ends the song talking about his memories of music he heard and musicians who influenced him. He mentions sweet music in the park up in Monterrey and how his past lover used to wear a gypsy dress that made boys want her even more. He also remembers Otis Redding, Sam Cooke, Elvis Presley, and Marvin Gaye again.
The song has a nostalgic feel to it, and the memories mentioned invoke a sense of bittersweet longing. Eric Burdon's voice complements the lyrics, and his memories of music icons create a sense of unity bridging different eras that influence our musical tastes till today.
Line by Line Meaning
Once upon a time when I was in high school
In my past, during my high school days
I was in love with a lady she treated me so cool
I had a cool lady love who treated me well
I was driving an Chevy '72
I drove a 1972 Chevy car
It had four on the floor, 120 it would do
My car had a four-speed manual transmission and could reach speeds up to 120 miles per hour
And I remember Marvin Gaye singing Let's get it on
I recall listening to Marvin Gaye's song 'Let's get it on'
There was a war baby somewhere across the sea
A war was happening overseas
I didn't want to go to fight girl 'cause you were all loving me
I didn't want to go to war because I had your love
But I remember Martin Luther King
I remember the great Martin Luther King
Lord he was the man baby that gave us all a dream
He is the man who inspired us with the dream of equality
And I remember Marvin Gaye singing Let's get it on
I remember listening to Marvin Gaye's song 'Let's get it on'
Lord he made me so strong
Marvin Gaye's music gave me strength
We used to have sweet music in the park
We enjoyed listening to music at the park
Way up in Monterrey they sang througout the dark
In Monterrey, they sang beautiful songs all night long
And you used to wear girl that gypsy dress
You used to wear a beautiful gypsy dress, girl
When you stroll on by all the boys they want a chance
When you passed by, all the boys wanted to get a chance with you
And I remember Marvin Gaye singing Let's get it on
I remember listening to Marvin Gaye's song 'Let's get it on'
He made my love so strong
Marvin Gaye's music strengthened my love
I remember Otis Redding
I remember the great Otis Redding
Sitting on the dock of the bay
Sitting on the dock of the bay
Oh lord he went away
He passed away, oh Lord
I remember Sam Cooke singing Bring it on home to me
I remember listening to Sam Cooke's song 'Bring it on home to me'
From your love I can be free
Through Sam Cooke's music, I can find freedom from my love
I remember Elvis Presley and the blues suede shoes
I remember Elvis Presley and his blue suede shoes
Lord they give me the blues
Those shoes make me feel blue
I remember Marvin Gaye singing Let's get it on
I remember listening to Marvin Gaye's song 'Let's get it on'
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Robert Bradley
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Aldo Juan Antonio Ruiz- Seguino
Eric burdon !!! Great voice !!!
Rubens
This man is a great artist!
RedPantherMuso
Brilliant Burdon track - amazing how little this has been viewed.
Jamie
nice song bro
Greg C
If you like this check out "Soul of a Man" and Till Your River Runs Dry" LPS.
BigGlokk
Nice plants you got there kid, damn i wish i grew that good LOL
Thijs Wieringa
LIKE FROM HOLLAND!
TameThing
LIKE FROM CANADA!
Frenkie
+tamething1 Ofc eric burdon is the best,
frans kazan
@BigGlokk What do you mean?