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.
Roadrunner
Eric Burdon & The Animals Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm a roadrunner baby,
Can't keep up with me, oh, oh
I'm a roadrunning mad,
You can't keep up with me, yeah
Come on and lets have a race
And baby, baby you will see
Yeah, Yeah, take my hand baby
I want to prove to you,
That I'm a roadrunning man, yeah
I want to tell you something
I'm the fastest in the land
Oh, Come one take my hand baby, yeah
Now listen to me baby
Oh Oh, why don't you move up a bit slowly
Let this man by, let me by
I want to give my love to you
To put some dirt in your eye
Oh, Oh baby, come over baby
Can't keep up with me, oh, oh
I'm a roadrunning man,
You can't keep up with me, ah
Come on and let's have a race,
And baby, baby, baby, baby.
Oh, oh yeah, come on baby
Yes, I'm a roadrunning man,
Can't keep up with me
Yeah, come on and lets have a race
And baby, baby you will see
Oh, I'll say it one more time now
Oh, oh, bye bye baby
I've got to put you down
Oh yeah, I've got to put you down
I'll see you baby
I'll see you somewhere hanging around, oh
The lyrics to the song "Roadrunner" by Eric Burdon & The Animals are about how the singer is a roadrunner and how nobody can keep up with him. He challenges someone to a race repeatedly throughout the song, asserting his dominance and speed. The chorus repeats the line "I'm a roadrunning man, you can't keep up with me" multiple times to emphasize his speed and power. The final lines of the song suggest that the singer has to leave the person he is addressing, but he will see them again soon.
The song is a classic example of a rock and roll tune from the 1960s, with a heavy focus on rhythm and blues influences. The lyrics are simple but effective, with a catchy chorus that is easy to sing along with. The repeated use of "baby" as an endearment is also typical of rock and roll music from this era.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah, baby, come one baby, Oh, oh
Addressing someone to invite them on a race
I'm a roadrunner baby,
Comparing oneself to a roadrunner, which is fast at running
Can't keep up with me, oh, oh
Boasting about one's speed, implying that the other person won't be able to keep up
I'm a roadrunning mad,
Re-emphasizing that one is fast like a roadrunner, to a greater degree
You can't keep up with me, yeah
Challenging the other person again by saying they won't be able to keep up
Come on and lets have a race
Encouraging the other person to accept the challenge to race
And baby, baby you will see
Asserting the confidence in one's speed and implying that the other person will experience this firsthand
Oh, take my hand baby
Offering to guide the other person to start the race
Yeah, Yeah, take my hand baby
Reiterating the offer to guide the other person to start the race
I want to prove to you,
Expressing the motivation behind the challenge to race
That I'm a roadrunning man, yeah
Reiterating the comparison to a roadrunner and asserting one's male gender
I want to tell you something
Adding emphasis to the desire to prove oneself
I'm the fastest in the land
Claiming to be the fastest man around
Now listen to me baby
Addressing the other person to give them some advice
Oh Oh, why don't you move up a bit slowly
Suggesting that the other person should take a step back to give some space
Let this man by, let me by
Asking the other person to move aside to let oneself pass
I want to give my love to you
Using the metaphor of the race to express one's affection for the other person
To put some dirt in your eye
Suggesting that the other person will be left behind by the dirt as one speeds past, keeping with the racing metaphor
Oh, Oh baby, come over baby
Calling the other person again to start the race
Can't keep up with me, oh, oh
Reiterating the confidence and superiority in one's speed
You can't keep up with me, ah
Reiterating the challenge and the belief that the other person won't be able to keep up
Come on and let's have a race,
Encouraging the other person to start the race
And baby, baby, baby, baby.
Using repetition to add emphasis to the race challenge
Oh, oh yeah, come on baby
Continuing to call the other person to start the race
Yes, I'm a roadrunning man,
Repeating the comparison to a roadrunner and asserting one's gender again
Can't keep up with me
Asserting one's superiority in speed again
And baby, baby you will see
Repeating the confidence that the other person will realize one's superior speed
Oh, I'll say it one more time now
Drawing attention to the repetition of the challenge and confidence
Oh, oh, bye bye baby
Using the metaphor of parting as the race ends
I've got to put you down
Using another metaphor to convey that one has won the race
Oh yeah, I've got to put you down
Confirming the winning of the race with repetition
I'll see you baby
Acknowledging the other person and suggesting that they will meet again
I'll see you somewhere hanging around, oh
Adding ambiguity to the nature of the next encounter
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Ellas McDaniel
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
José Benito Martínez Jr.
One of the best pure Rock N Roll voices of all time! Greetings from Hollywood California.
Sally Dickinson
Great memories of their music. Talented musicians, and Eric puts his heart and soul into his singing😍
oldrvr
I listen, or watch Eric Burdon’s music daily. I like all of the groups that he’s ever sang with. I’ve been a fan since I was 20, and I’m only 2 years younger than Eric , so that’s a VERY long time.
Gary Tomes
Such a great song! Well done here by the Animals!!
Lloyd Smith
Eric Burdon a true rock n roll legend
esther mendoza
Tremenda banda
Jeff Bogue
Eric burden had such an awesome voice... It's a bummer that a lot of those bands got ripped off by management... Michael Jeffries was their manager And he screwed over Jimi Hendrix big time too
howard bianchi
Hendrix was always a fool. Easy too exploit. Everyone tried to help. Eric. Gonger, Jack etc. Very overated musically. EB has always gotten respect and has had commercial success as well.
Martina Manecke
Guess you're no fool? But what is a man to be called if he's that arrogant?
ABSDEFRD
I love this version so much the animals are amazing