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 - ...)
Roadhouse Blues
Eric Burdon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah, keep your eyes on the road, your hands upon the wheel
Keep your eyes on the road, your hands upon the wheel
Yeah, we're goin' to the Roadhouse
We're gonna have a real
Good time
Yeah, back at the Roadhouse they got some bungalows
And that's for the people
Who like to go down slow
Let it roll, baby, roll
Let it roll, baby, roll
Let it roll, baby, roll
Let it roll, all night long
Do it, honey, do it
You gotta roll, roll, roll
You gotta thrill my soul, all right
Roll, roll, roll, roll
Thrill my soul
You gotta beep a gunk a chucha
Honk konk konk
You gotta each you puna
Each ya bop a luba
Each yall bump a kechonk
Ease sum konk
Ya, ride
Ashen lady, Ashen lady
Give up your vows, give up your vows
Save our city, save our city
Right now
Well, I woke up this morning, I got myself a beer
Well, I woke up this morning, and I got myself a beer
The future's uncertain, and the end is always near
Let it roll, baby, roll
Let it roll, baby, roll
Let it roll, baby, roll
Let it roll, all night long
Eric Burdon's "Roadhouse Blues" is a song about hitting the road with your friends and escaping your everyday life. The opening lyrics act as a warning to keep your eyes on the road and your hands upon the wheel, which could be interpreted as advice for navigating life itself. The Roadhouse is the destination and the place where they will have a good time. The Roadhouse is a place to unwind and let go after a long day working, and the first verse is promising a good time.
The second verse mentions bungalows that are apparently available at the Roadhouse for those who like to go down slow. This could refer to something sexual, which is another way of letting go and having a good time. The chorus repeats the refrain "Let it roll, baby, roll," encouraging a carefree attitude and the need to live life to the fullest. The song includes a shift in tempo when the vocals change to a spoken word section that is somewhat incomprehensible but arguably adds to the carefree vibe of the song.
The final verse is a reflection on life itself and the struggle between living in the moment and the uncertainty of the future. This verse is reminiscent of the opening line in the song and implies that the moment that one is living in is all they can be sure of. The song ends with a repeat of the chorus.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah
The song's starting.
Keep your eyes on the road, your hands upon the wheel
Stay focused while driving and keep your hands on the wheel to avoid a potential accident.
Yeah, we're goin' to the Roadhouse
We're gonna have a real
Good time
We're heading to the Roadhouse to have fun.
Yeah, back at the Roadhouse they got some bungalows
And that's for the people
Who like to go down slow
There are bungalows at the Roadhouse for individuals who enjoy taking their time with things.
Let it roll, baby, roll
Let it roll, baby, roll
Let it roll, baby, roll
Let it roll, all night long
Keep things going all night long without interruption for a good time.
Do it, honey, do it
Encouragement to keep doing it.
You gotta roll, roll, roll
You gotta thrill my soul, all right
Roll, roll, roll, roll
Thrill my soul
You gotta beep a gunk a chucha
Honk konk konk
You gotta each you puna
Each ya bop a luba
Each yall bump a kechonk
Ease sum konk
Ya, ride
The performer commands the person to roll and thrill the soul, which is achieved by making fun sounds like honking, doing a dance, and creating some noise by bumping and easing.
Ashen lady, Ashen lady
Give up your vows, give up your vows
Save our city, save our city
Right now
The performer is commanding an ashen lady to give up their vows and save the city immediately.
Well, I woke up this morning, I got myself a beer
The future's uncertain, and the end is always near
The performer woke up to drink and reminds us that no one can predict the future, and we never know when the end might come.
Let it roll, baby, roll
Let it roll, baby, roll
Let it roll, baby, roll
Let it roll, all night long
Encouragement to keep things going all night long for a good time.
Contributed by Camilla G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Gideon Dingle
I saw Eric Burdon about 2 years ago at a free concert at the Santa Monica Pier in SM California.He’s 1 of my favorite and 1 of the best rock and roll singers.😷😀🎸
AL UR PAL
Yeah That was the Highlight of Concerts at the Pier, so glad I live across the street. Eric Burdon's got Soul in his songs and Life. "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood"
Sun Search
He must be about 80, right? Has he lost anything?
Gideon Dingle
I think he lost his sunglasses once, but he found them later.😆
Sandra Santos
Que voz ,um vocalista único ,não tem igual ,os instrumentistas espetacular,Amoooo desejo muito sucesso a todos fiquem com Deus.♥️♥️♥️
Mary Hopes
Eric💚 is Definately the best singer/performer that ever walked this earth in my humble opinion!
karen Kelly
I personally think that eric burdon will always be one of the greatest that came out of the 60s and that his music will still be playing for decades to come.
Sheri Peters
karen Kelly ERIC BURDON WHTE GREATEST WHITE MAN BLUES SINGER EVER PERIOD✌️
JJ Flash
karen Kelly ... Definitely yes! I’ve been following him since when I was young lol
Mary Hopes
@Sheri Peters Eric💜 The greatest blues singer ever! No matter, black or white! What does color have to do with it? Eric💜 was never prejudice about color.