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 - ...)
White House
Eric Burdon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Contrasting against the sky
Tumbled down black shacks over the tracks
Children so hungry they could cry
The chrome, the steel, the metal dream
Leaving the teepee to rot
The escapist young mind, left behind
You better get straight
Better, better get straight
I feel you better get straight right now
Better get straight, babe
They're crying out for love all the time
But they fail to see the neighbors eyes
The TV is on, 6 o clock news
And channels in full colored lies
The company meets, the president speaks
He's young but his bones creak
Young girl dresses for the high school dance
And the guy next door is dying for a beat
Get straight, you better
Yes, you better get straight, babe
Did you hear what I said?
I said to you, that you, you better get straight
They put a bible in a drawer of the motel room
And it's crying out to be read
But it stays right there, collecting dust
No one understands what's being said
Lovers make love in country boxes
What will tomorrow bring?
They've been told that it's wrong
But they don't give a damn
Soon another life it will bring
You better get straight, babe
Yeah, you better get straight, baby
The lyrics of Eric Burdon's "White House" reflect on American society during the 1960s. The song begins with the contrast between the white houses in neat little rows that symbolize the American Dream and the poverty-stricken black shacks over the tracks where children suffer from hunger. The singer points out that the chrome, steel, and metal dream have led Americans to neglect their cultural and historical heritage, leaving the teepee to rot. The young generation, however, is looking for ways to escape the harsh reality, saving dimes for community pot, hoping for a better future.
In the next verse, the singer shifts to the theme of love and isolation. Despite being hungry for love, people fail to see their neighbors' eyes, and instead, they isolate themselves in front of the TV's full-colored lies. The president's promises and the company's meetings are meaningless to those who struggle to make ends meet. While young lovebirds are getting ready for the high school dance, the guy next door is dying for a beat. The song suggests that people need to get straight and confront reality to make a difference.
The final verse criticizes the hypocrisy of society's moral values. While people put a bible in the drawer of the motel room, it remains untouched and dusty, indicating that nobody understands its message. Meanwhile, lovers make love in country boxes, knowing that they are being judged for their actions. The song ends with a call for people to get straight and face the challenges of their time.
Overall, "White House" is a commentary on the social, economic, and political problems that the United States was facing during the 1960s. It calls people to challenge their perspectives and work towards a better future.
Line by Line Meaning
White houses in neat little rows
The houses seem orderly and perfect from afar
Contrasting against the sky
The houses stand out against the peaceful sky
Tumbled down black shacks over the tracks
Poor people live in rundown shacks near the train tracks
Children so hungry they could cry
Kids are starving and desperate for food
The chrome, the steel, the metal dream
The industrial revolution has created a new, mechanized world
Leaving the teepee to rot
The traditional way of life for Native Americans is disappearing
The escapist young mind, left behind
The youth who can't adapt to the new world are struggling
Saving dimes for community pot
People are trying to pool their money to survive
You better get straight
You need to change your ways
Better, better get straight
It's urgent and important to make changes
I feel you better get straight right now
Time is running out for you to make changes
They're crying out for love all the time
People need love and connection
But they fail to see the neighbors eyes
People are disconnected and don't truly see each other
The TV is on, 6 o clock news
People are distracted by the media
And channels in full colored lies
The media is deceptive and dishonest
The company meets, the president speaks
The powerful people are making decisions and giving speeches
He's young but his bones creak
Even the powerful are getting older and weaker
Young girl dresses for the high school dance
The young are focused on fun and socializing
And the guy next door is dying for a beat
Others are struggling and need help
They put a bible in a drawer of the motel room
Religion is present but ignored
And it's crying out to be read
The Bible is a source of guidance and comfort
But it stays right there, collecting dust
The Bible is ignored and forgotten
No one understands what's being said
The Bible is not understood or appreciated
Lovers make love in country boxes
People are intimate and romantic
What will tomorrow bring?
The future is uncertain
They've been told that it's wrong
Society condemns some behavior
But they don't give a damn
People are not following the rules
Soon another life it will bring
New life will be created despite society's disapproval
Yeah, you better get straight, baby
It's important to take action and make changes
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ERIC VICTOR BURDON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Duality Of Man
I'm a huge fan of Rock & Pop music from the 1960's to the mid 2000's, and this is easily one of the greatest songs ever made. Long live Eric Burdon!
westy40
A classic song that isn't well known. One of many great songs by the under appreciated Eric Burdon
Neil Phelan
One of my all time favorite performed by one of my all time favorite groups.
biff van arsdale
I agree with McDago100, Eric & the Animals do not get the credit they deserve. They were beyond Awesome!
EarlofSuave308
I just picked this album up on vinyl, and have been playing it constantly. What a gem, and I love this song in particular.
Howard Ury
I love this song. The Animals rock! 🇬🇧🎸🎸🎸
Gilbert Ramos
Great tune, a hidden gem. That piano riff is quite the ear worm, bass and drums are grooving, the great Vic Briggs (I assume) ripping that guitar solo, and, of course, Sir Eric with his classic vocal delivery.
SnakeyK
Eric Burdon and the Animals do not get the credit they deserve. They were awesome.
Tanya S
Totally under-rated.
Tanya S
Does anyone have a theory as to why? Is it because their bad boy image was too much for those times?