In 1974 Capitol released the album "Sun Secrets" which reached #51 on the US Pop Albums and featured the singles "The Real Me" and "Don't let me be Misunderstood". In 1975 they released the studio album "Stop" which also reached the US album charts.
In January 1975, Rice was replaced by Greg Brown and John "Rabbit" Bundrick was added on keyboards for a USA tour. They also had a gig at the famous Roxy Theatre in Los Angeles. This appeareance released in 1997 on "Live at the Roxy".
The Man
Eric Burdon Band Lyrics
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I'ts flashing red, His plastic head,
Make a move and you're dead,
I'm gonna fill your mind with lead.
Pass your papers on the ground,
and you better be cool,
Never drive with a roach in the car,
'cause I ain't no fool.
It's The man! It's The Man!
He'll keep you waiting, if you've got a date,
So you better relax 'cause you're gonna be late.
Flashin'! Trashin'! Crashin'! It's The Man! It's The Man!
So we play the game, And it's always the same,
I've got the power of the name,
I'm gonna drive you insane.
Pull over to the right 'couse
you're gonna be wrong,
No matter what you got to say,
you better save it for a song.
Dedicated to The Man,
I say, dedicated to The Man,
It's The Man!
(Stirling/Mitthauer/Ryan)
The lyrics to the Eric Burdon Band's song "The Man" seem to be a reference to the authority figures that have power over us in society. It starts off with a warning - "It's flashing red, His plastic head, Make a move and you're dead, I'm gonna fill your mind with lead." - which implies that the singer is under surveillance by someone in a position of power. They go on to warn about the consequences of not obeying these authority figures - "Pass your papers on the ground, and you better be cool, Never drive with a roach in the car, 'cause I ain't no fool." - showing their fear of getting caught breaking the rules.
The chorus repeats the phrase "It's The Man!" over and over, which is a term that was commonly used in the 60s and 70s to refer to the government or any other authority figure that was seen as oppressive or controlling. The song seems to be a warning against the idea of blindly following authority without questioning it - "He'll keep you waiting, if you've got a date, So you better relax 'cause you're gonna be late." - and encourages listeners to resist that power and not give in to it - "Flashin'! Trashin'! Crashin'! It's The Man! It's The Man!" Overall, the song seems to be a call to action against those in power who abuse their authority and infringe on our personal freedoms.
Line by Line Meaning
I'ts flashing red, His plastic head,
The authority figure's demeanor is alarming and intimidating.
Make a move and you're dead,
The consequences of defying the authority figure are dire.
I'm gonna fill your mind with lead.
The authority figure will try to intimidate and control using weapons and violent methods.
Pass your papers on the ground,
The authority figure wants complete submission and is exerting dominance.
and you better be cool,
The authority figure expects obedience and compliance from the listener.
Never drive with a roach in the car,
The authority figure expects the listener to comply with laws and regulations, even if they don't agree with them.
'cause I ain't no fool.
The authority figure is in control and expects the listener to know their place and respect their power.
It's The man! It's The Man!
The figure being described is an intimidating authority figure who dominates and controls others.
He'll keep you waiting, if you've got a date,
The authority figure has the power to disrupt people's schedules and keep them waiting.
So you better relax 'cause you're gonna be late.
The listener should not resist or question the authority figure, but instead submit and accept any delays.
Flashin'! Trashin'! Crashin'! It's The Man! It's The Man!
The authority figure is violent and destructive in their methods and behavior, and is to be feared and obeyed.
So we play the game, And it's always the same,
The authority figure has absolute power, and their subjects must comply and play along.
I've got the power of the name,
The authority figure's power comes from their position and title.
I'm gonna drive you insane.
The authority figure will use their power to control and manipulate others, causing them harm and suffering.
Pull over to the right 'couse you're gonna be wrong,
The authority figure expects the listener to comply with all instructions, even if they are not logical or reasonable.
No matter what you got to say,
The authority figure will not listen to others or engage in discussion or debate.
you better save it for a song.
The listener should keep their dissent or disagreement to themselves, and express it only in a private, harmless way.
Dedicated to The Man,
The song is written as a statement of rebellion against the authority figure described.
I say, dedicated to The Man,
The song is a defiant message aimed at the authority figure, expressing dissent and resistance.
It's The Man!
The authority figure being described is a symbol of oppression, control, and violence.
Contributed by Kaelyn E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.