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 - ...)
Sky Pilot
Eric Burdon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The smell of gun grease
and the bayonets they shine
He's there to help them all that he can
To make them feel wanted he's a good holy man
Sky pilot,
Sky pilot,
How high can you fly?
He smiles at the young soldiers
Tells them it's all right
He knows of their fear in the forthcoming fight
Soon there'll be blood and many will die
Mothers and fathers back home they will cry
Sky pilot,
Sky pilot,
How high can you fly?
You'll never, never, never reach the sky.
He mumbles a prayer and it ends with a smile
The order is given
They move down the line
But he'll stay behind and he'll meditate
But it won't stop the bleeding or ease the hate
As the young men move out into the battle zone
He feels good, with God you're never alone
He feels tired and he lays on his bed
Hopes the men will find courage
in the words that he said
Sky pilot,
Sky pilot,
How high can you fly?
You'll never, never, never reach the sky.
You're soldiers of God, you must understand
The fate of your country is in your young hands
May God give you strength
Do your job real well
If it all was worth it
Only time it will tell
In the morning they return
With tears in their eyes
The stench of death drifts up to the skies
A soldier so ill looks at the sky pilot
Remembers the words
"Thou shalt not kill."
Sky pilot,
Sky pilot,
How high can you fly?
You'll never, never, never reach the sky.
The song "Sky Pilot" by Eric Burdon & The Animals is a protest song about the Vietnam War. The song portrays a chaplain who blesses and provides moral support to soldiers before they enter the battlefield. The chaplain is described as a "good holy man" who tries to alleviate the soldier's fears and make them feel wanted. However, the song suggests that the chaplain's prayers and comforting words cannot stop the violence and hatred that occur in the warzone.
The lyrics depict the moment before the soldiers enter the battlefield, and the chaplain gives them a blessing. He acknowledges the soldier's fear and the forthcoming death and tells them that it's alright. He mumbles a prayer that ends with a smile, and as the order is given, the soldiers move into the battle zone. The chaplain stays behind, hoping that the soldiers will find courage in the words that he said, but ultimately he knows that his blessings and comforting words won't stop the bleeding or ease the hate.
The song ends with a soldier who looks up at the sky and remembers the chaplain's words, "Thou shalt not kill." The song expresses the futility and tragedy of war, reflecting the anti-war sentiment of the era.
Line by Line Meaning
He blesses the boys as they stand in line
The priest offers his blessings to the young soldiers as they line up, preparing for battle.
The smell of gun grease
and the bayonets they shine
The scent of gun oil permeates the air while the sharp glint of bayonets catches the eye.
He's there to help them all that he can
To make them feel wanted he's a good holy man
The priest provides support and comfort to the soldiers and tries to make them feel valued and appreciated.
Sky pilot,
Sky pilot,
How high can you fly?
You'll never, never, never reach the sky.
The repeated lyrics imply that the priest's high aspirations for the soldiers - to be successful in battle, to find meaning in their sacrifice - may never be attainable.
He smiles at the young soldiers
Tells them it's all right
He knows of their fear in the forthcoming fight
Soon there'll be blood and many will die
Mothers and fathers back home they will cry
Despite comforting the soldiers, the priest is aware of how brutal and deadly the upcoming battle will be and knows the many families that will be affected by it.
He mumbles a prayer and it ends with a smile
The order is given
They move down the line
But he'll stay behind and he'll meditate
But it won't stop the bleeding or ease the hate
The priest quietly prays for the soldiers' safety as they prepare to go into battle but he remains behind, recognizing that his meditations alone won't prevent the loss of life and hatred of war.
As the young men move out into the battle zone
He feels good, with God you're never alone
He feels tired and he lays on his bed
Hopes the men will find courage in the words that he said
As the soldiers depart, the priest takes solace in his faith, knowing that he and the soldiers are in God's care. He hopes his words have given the soldiers strength to face the challenges ahead.
You're soldiers of God, you must understand
The fate of your country is in your young hands
May God give you strength
Do your job real well
If it all was worth it
Only time it will tell
The priest invokes the belief that the soldiers are fighting for a higher cause, that God is on their side, and that the fate of their country's success is in their hands. He further implores them to perform their duty to the best of their ability, although reflecting on the consequences and the war's worth may only come to light as time passes.
In the morning they return
With tears in their eyes
The stench of death drifts up to the skies
A soldier so ill looks at the sky pilot
Remembers the words
"Thou shalt not kill."
The soldiers return bearing the sadness and loss of the battle. The priest flashes through a soldier's mind, reminding him of the purity of life and the moral duty to protect it when the stench of death surrounds him.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BARRIE ERNEST JENKINS, BARRY JENKINS, DANNY MCCULLOCH, ERIC VICTOR BURDON, JOHNNY WEIDER, VIC BRIGGS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@felipegarcialicona
Muy raro raro
El grupo se llama burdon y los animales
Y dire algo que muchos muchisimos no saben
Los que siempre han conspirado atraves de la guerra
La milicia soldados de guerra
Son llamados animales perros al servicio de la élite
Descancen en paz aquellos que sirvieron a la elite.
Se tenia que decir
La verdad
Esto lo saben pocos y ahora lo saben muchos
@user-xt1zt2cu4f
My husband and I take care of my Dad, who's 87 yrs.old. He was in the navy during Vietnam.He worked on helicopters, etc... He was with the Seawolves! They flew missions that nobody else would. Not even the Seals.They were fearless warriors! And I am so very proud of him & them.I look back to that time, and know that he & the Seawolves were and are HEROES!!!! Thank you All for your service! Blessed Be.
.
@drivinsouth651
Why was he there, what did he do there? Why did he do it? What did North, South East or West Viet Nam ever do to us? When did Viet Nam attack or kill us? I understand our predicament, but I don`t think you do. War, killing and murder are nothing to be proud of unless they`re Nazis or other fascist pigs! I apologize, but I felt you needed an education. Peace & love, darling!
@adriansedillo3426
I was a door gunner in Viet Nam(66-68).When I got back to the world,the first time I heard this song I broke down and cried especially at the sound of battle.
@lindabisignani7325
I have never been military but I understand how this song must have effected you. It does me also. God Bless You
@carolking6772
Thanks. Helicopter pilots and gunners paid lots. glad you came home.
@steveturner7911
In 1964 everyone was saying that they liked the Stones or Beatles except me and my crew. BURDEN'S LENGTHY list of memorable hits continues from Palm SPrings these days.
@DaBear1950
69-70 Welcome home brother
@madeleinebaier5347
Thank you for your service, from a grateful American.
@traceybader4302
My Dad is a Vietnam Vet and growing up this song was one he often played over and over on record.
When CD’s became a thing he bought one that had this song on it, and then played it over and over.
I still to this day get chills hearing this and watching Dad go thru whatever he was struggling with due to his tours in Nam.
Thank you Dad for giving up your boyhood to become a man. I just wish we all could’ve met the man you were intended to be.
@nugsymalone1247
You will one day :)