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 - ...)
When I Was Young
Eric Burdon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My father was a soldier then
And times were very hard
When I was young
I smoked my first cigarette at ten
And for girls, I had a bad yen
And I had quite a ball
When I was young, it was more important
Pain more painful
Laughter much louder
Yeah, when I was young
When I was young
I met my first love at thirteen
She was brown and I was pretty green
And I learned quite a lot when I was young
When I was young
When I was young
Pain more painful
Laughter much louder
Yeah, when I was young
When I was young
My faith was so much stronger then
I believed in fellow man
And I was so much older then
When I was young
When I was young
When I was young
The first verse of Eric Burdon & The Animals’ When I Was Young takes us back to a time when the world felt colder, and life was harder. The singer’s father was a soldier, and times were tough all around. This stanza sets the song’s nostalgic tone and paints a picture of a time far removed from the present.
The second verse is a reminiscence of childhood rebellion. The singer tried smoking for the first time at the tender age of ten and had a “bad yen” for girls. This verse is a tribute to youthful exuberance and the simple pleasures of life. What was once fun and exhilarating in youth, often loses its luster as one grows older.
The chorus acts as a refrain, emphasizing the song’s central message. The pain was more painful and the laughter was louder when the singer was young. Life was simpler and more straightforward, and the singer remembers those days with a kind of wistful longing.
The final verse highlights another aspect of youth – unfaltering faith. The singer believed in his fellow man when he was young, and his faith was much stronger then. The final repetition of the line "when I was young" is a poignant reminder that time moves on and what once was, is no more. Ultimately, When I Was Young reminds us that though the world may have been colder and harder, youth is a time of unbridled joy and energy that is often romanticized in adulthood.
Line by Line Meaning
The rooms were so much colder then
Back then, rooms felt much colder due to a lack of modern insulation and heating technologies.
My father was a soldier then
When I was young, my father was serving in the military and was away from home for long periods of time.
And times were very hard
The societal and economic conditions of the time were difficult to navigate.
When I was young
I am reflecting on my youth and the experiences that shaped me.
I smoked my first cigarette at ten
At the young age of ten, I began smoking cigarettes, which had negative effects on my health.
And for girls, I had a bad yen
I had a strong desire for girls at a young age, which led to experiences that shaped my views on relationships and intimacy.
And I had quite a ball
I had a lot of fun in my youth, which helped me develop my personality and sense of humor.
When I was young, it was more important
During my youth, certain things held greater significance, such as learning and growing, that may not hold the same importance as I've gotten older.
Pain more painful
Emotional and physical pain felt more intense during my youth due to a lack of experience and coping mechanisms.
Laughter much louder
Joyful moments held more weight, and laughter was a more frequent occurrence during my youth.
Yeah, when I was young
Once again, I am reflecting on my youth and the experiences that shape my perspective today.
I met my first love at thirteen
During my early teenage years, I experienced my first romantic relationship that taught me important lessons about love and heartbreak.
She was brown and I was pretty green
My first love was more experienced than I was, and I learned a lot from her during our relationship.
And I learned quite a lot when I was young
My youth was a period of significant learning and growth that helped shape my identity and worldview.
My faith was so much stronger then
During my youth, my belief system was stronger and more idealistic, as I had not yet experienced the challenges and disappointments of adulthood.
I believed in fellow man
During my youth, I held more faith in humanity and the idea that people inherently have good within them.
And I was so much older then
Despite feeling young during this period of reflection, I realize that I am now much older and have gained a lot of life experience.
When I was young
Once again, I am reflecting on my youth and the experiences that have led me to where I am today.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Barrie Enest Jenkins, Victor Briggs, John Weider, Eric Victor Burdon, Danny McCulloch
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@WarriorsSon
Amazing.
Eric Burdon.
Talking about his father in WW2 flying planes.
Me thinking out my father fighting in Vietnam in the 60's
Me Watching this now.
We keep learning.
We keep making mistakes.
And every generation think theirs is the best.
@magusmagic4
♫♥JANUARY 29 - Remembering Eric Burdon & The Animals bass player DANNY McCULLOCH, singer, songwriter and ace bass player who left us January 29, 2015.
Rest In Peace, dear Danny.🌹
@shannonfox3351
Still listening to Eric Burdon and the Animals in 2024❤
@sharonmullins1957
me too!
@LindaSafley-xz2sb
Really real down to Earth thanks Animals
@waderoten5584
I'm 67 I've heard em all, and I've come to the conclusion that the Animals are the best.
@waderoten5584
In my younger days I like most people thought the Beatles were the best. And as good as they were , I didn't appreciate how good the Animals were.
@waderoten5584
@Eric Burdon Curious, Mr. Burdon, what did the Animals and the Beatles think of each other?
@waderoten5584
Eric Burdone@41 Can not get enough of your amazing voice. Don't know why in my younger days , I didn't appreciate the Animals more. Oh well, never too old to learn.
@javierdejesusponce2632
Youre wrong
Bad Bunny is the Best singer of all time
Jajajajajajaja
F.u.c.k that shit
THE ANIMALS. forever
@johnkuthe1
I am 63 and love it!