In 1967, lead singer Eric Burdon planned to make a solo career, but then he thought about "New Animals". He took Barry Jenkins (from The Nashville Teens and the last "Animals" line-up, drums), John Weider (later member of Family, violin, guitar), Danny McCulloch (bass) and Vic Briggs alias Antion (from The Echoes and The Steampacket, guitar, piano, vibes) and recorded the single When I Was Young which charted in USA #15 and in Australia #2.
For the gig at the Monterey Pop Festival they were officially named "Eric Burdon & The Animals" and they performed their next single San Franciscan Nights (USA #9, UK #7, Australia #4, Germany #17, Netherlands #6 and Canada #14).
After releasing the first album, Winds of Change, they recorded in 1968 three other albums.
After the second album, The Twain Shall Meet, which featured the hits Monterey and Sky Pilot, Zoot Money (piano, vocals) joined the band for the third album, Every One Of Us, which included the hit single White Houses.
In July 1968, the fourth and last album of the band, Love Is, was recorded. For this album, Vic Briggs and Danny McCulloch were fired and guitarist Andy Summers joined the band. John Weider went on bass.
For this album the songs Ring of Fire and River Deep Mountain High were recorded and released worldwide in 1969.
After Eric Burdon jammed with Jimi Hendrix, Buddy Miles and Lee Oskar at the Newport Festival, he formed the Latino/Funk/Soul/Gospel band Eric Burdon & War which had international success in 1970 and 1971 before they disbanded and Burdon began a solo career.
Danny McCulloch released a solo album, Wings of a Man, 1969, with Vic Briggs as producer. He also released a Animals reunion album in 1993.
John Weider in 1970 went to the band Family and released his first solo album in 1976 and the following in 1987, 1988 and 1990.
Vic Briggs changed his religion and now records under the name Antion. He also released a 64-minute track.
Barry Jenkins manages a guitar shop in California.
Zoot Money went on a solo career and released many albums through the years.
Andy Summers joined the successfull 70s and 80s band The Police and also released a few solo albums.
Monterey
Eric Burdon & The Animals Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Some of them came and played
Others gave flowers away, yes they did
Down in Monterey
Down in Monterey
Young gods smiled upon the crowd
Their music being born of love
Religion was being born
Down in Monterey
The Byrds and the Airplane did fly
Oh, Ravi Shankar's music made me cry
The Who exploded into fire and light
Hugh Masekela's music was black as night
The Grateful Dead blew everybody's mind
Jimi Hendrix, baby, believe me
Set the world on fire, yeah
His Majesty, Prince Jones
Smiled as he moved among the crowd
Ten thousand electric guitars
Were groovin' real loud, yeah
You want to find the truth in life?
Don't pass music by
And you know I would not lie, no, I would not lie,
No, I would not lie
Down in Monterey
All right!
Three days of understanding
Of moving with one another
Even the cops grooved with us
Do you believe me, yeah?
Down in Monterey, down in Monterey
Down in Monterey, down in Monterey
I think that maybe I'm dreaming
Monterey, Monterey
Down in Monterey
Did you hear what I say?
Down in Monterey
The song "Monterey" by Eric Burdon & The Animals is an ode to one of the most iconic moments in music history, the Monterey Pop Festival of 1967. The lyrics describe the atmosphere and the performances at the festival. It starts with "The people came and listened/Some of them came and played/Others gave flowers away", depicting the sense of community that prevailed at the festival. The second stanza talks about the "Young gods", referring to the musicians who played, and how their music was born out of love. The stanza ends with the line "Religion was being born" indicating the spiritual significance of the music played at the festival.
The third stanza names some of the most prominent performers at the festival, including The Byrds, The Airplane, Ravi Shankar, The Who, Hugh Masekela, Jimi Hendrix, and The Grateful Dead. The final stanza emphasizes the unifying power of music and how the festival brought people from different backgrounds and even the cops together. The line "And you know I would not lie" suggests that the songwriter is speaking from personal experience.
Overall, "Monterey" is a love letter to the spirit of the Monterey Pop Festival, a seminal moment in the history of music.
Line by Line Meaning
The people came and listened
People attended the concert and listened to the performers
Some of them came and played
Some attendees participated in the performances
Others gave flowers away, yes they did
Some attendees gave away flowers, likely as a show of appreciation for the performers
Down in Monterey
Referencing the location of the concert, Monterey, California
Young gods smiled upon the crowd
The performers were well received and regarded as talented and divine
Their music being born of love
The performers played music they were passionate about and that resonated with the crowd
Children danced night and day
Attendees danced and partied throughout the day and into the night
Religion was being born
The music represented something bigger than itself, with attendees perhaps viewing it as a spiritual experience
The Byrds and the Airplane did fly
The bands The Byrds and Jefferson Airplane performed at the concert
Oh, Ravi Shankar's music made me cry
The Indian musician Ravi Shankar's performance was particularly moving and emotional
The Who exploded into fire and light
The rock band The Who performed with high energy and intensity
Hugh Masekela's music was black as night
The South African jazz musician Hugh Masekela's music was soulful and inspired
The Grateful Dead blew everybody's mind
The band The Grateful Dead delivered a memorable and impressive performance
Jimi Hendrix, baby, believe me
Set the world on fire, yeah
The famous guitarist Jimi Hendrix's performance was legendary and awe-inspiring
His Majesty, Prince Jones
Smiled as he moved among the crowd
A reference to a royal figure enjoying the concert alongside other attendees
Ten thousand electric guitars
Were groovin' real loud, yeah
The music and atmosphere were electric and intense
You want to find the truth in life?
Don't pass music by
And you know I would not lie, no, I would not lie,
No, I would not lie
The importance and honesty of music is emphasized, suggesting it can reveal truths about life
Three days of understanding
Of moving with one another
The concert fostered a sense of communication and unity among attendees
Even the cops grooved with us
Do you believe me, yeah?
Even police officers attending the concert got caught up in the excitement and vibe of the event
Down in Monterey
Did you hear what I say?
Repeating the reference to Monterey, and asking if the listener is hearing about the amazing concert
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Barry Jenkins, Danny Mcculloch, Eric Victor Burdon, Johnny Weider, Vic Briggs
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@WeirdBrandi
I really wish I was a young person during this time. It looks like you guys had so much fun. All I listen is to 60s music like this, I was born in the wrong era. The 60s def seemed extremely magical. I’m extremely sad I missed it, I was born in 1989.
@marca9144
How do you know you weren't there? You have reincarnated from that time and now you long to go back to that time. All you have to do is reach out with your right arm in front of you, close your eyes and it will come pouring back into you. Do it you have nothing to lose and do it when you are moved by the music.
@328ti
I'm still stuck the late 60s. :) Life was simpler.
@WeirdBrandi
Marc A that would be cool to think about!!!! I have lot of cool 60’s stories from my parents, but they were little kids the 60’s, so not old enough to have partied at these cool 60’s concerts haha. Their young adult years were the late 70s to the 80’s, which I also am obsessed with, haha. The 60’s were def magical for sure though.
@WeirdBrandi
Steven Schlossman what a great place to be stuck in!!!!
@bobvasquez1257
Grew in the 60's and lived 60 miles away and wanted to go there but never made it! History was made there before WOODSTOCK. Wish I could go back!
@carlospadilla9487
I’m 72,still listening to Eric Burdon & The Animals!
@PRYNCESSJO
73 here💕🎶😎
@Rich915
@Josephine Joy Manno
74 here...! Big Animals fan :-)
@shorelineboy
Rich915 72 here and still listening 😎