The group consisted of Les Emmerson, Brian Rading, Ted Gerow, Mike Belanger and Rick Belanger. Originally recording and touring as The Staccatos, they chose the title of their second album (1969) as the new name for the band.
In 1969, the band recorded "Moonshine (Friend of Mine)" for an unsuccessful movie The Moonshine War starring Alan Alda. "Signs" was originally released in 1970 as the B-side to the unsuccessful single "Hello Melinda Goodbye". Re-released in 1971 on the A-side, "Signs" reached number 3 on the Billboard charts. Their second single, "Absolutely Right", reached number 26. Other Canadian hits included "Moneyback Guarantee" and "I'm A Stranger Here".
The group disbanded in 1975 to pursue solo careers. Since 1986, they have continued to reunite for several concerts a year.
This group was known for its strong harmonic vocals—all five members could sing lead vocals—its solid rhythm and classic rock keyboards/guitar sound.
The band would inspire the group Tesla to record a live album in 1990, Five Man Acoustical Jam, which included a cover of "Signs".
History
Ted Gerow (keyboards) Brian Rading (bass) Rick 'Bell' Belanger (drums) Les Emmerson (vocals, guitar) Mike 'Bell' Belanger (2nd drums)
The Staccatos had emerged from the Ottawa scene in the mid-'60's with financial backing from journalist Sandy Gardiner. He helped launch their first release to gain any prominence called "Moved To California". They began to receive more notice with gigs in Toronto's Yorkville Village after the release of "Half Past Midnight" (1967) which became a national hit.
Around this time they hooked up with Coca-Cola Company to share half an LP recorded at Hallmark Studios with The Guess Who called 'A Wild Pair' on Jack Richardson's Nimbus 9 Records. The album was a big seller prompting the band's U.S. label to release "Half Past Midnight" along with a commitment to record new material in L.A. Though they received a lot of hype in California from the record label, the group was seen as being 'too Beach Boy sounding' and The Staccatos records failed.
Taking a cue from their own 1968 2nd album, they soon changed their name to The Five Man Electrical Band in 1969 and commuted back and forth to Los Angeles recording sides for Capitol Records. The first single from this batch was "It Never Rains On Maple Lane".
When their deal with Capitol ended they signed to MGM Records who released "Moonshine (Friend Of Mine)" from the movie 'Moonshine War'. The record did little as did its follow-up "Hello Melinda Goodbye" which featured a b-side called "Signs" which garnered some interest on LA radio. MGM flipped the record over and re-issued it but nothing happened.
In 1971 Five Man Electrical band signed with a little label owned by writer Jimmy Webb and producer Dallas Smith called Lion Records. They re-issued "Signs" from the band's first full album Goodbyes & Butterflies (shortly after changing some cover art) and the single went to No.3 in the U.S. and No.4 in Canada selling more than 2 million copies worldwide.
Later in 1971 they released "Absolutely Right" which went to No.3 in Canada and Top-20 in the U.S. By 1973 they were exhausted and called it quits, though Emmerson continued recording as Five Man Electrical Band until 1975. After this, he remained in California and started a faltering label called Perfect Records. Following this he returned to Ottawa, resumed a solo career (with a brief stint in The Cooper Brothers).
Credit: Wikipedia.org
Sign
Five Man Electrical Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So I tucked my hair up under my hat and I went in to ask him why
He said, "You look like a fine, upstanding, young man, I think you'll do"
So I took off my hat, I said, "Imagine that, huh, me workin' for you?"
Whoa
Sign, sign, everywhere a sign
Blockin' out the scenery, breakin' my mind
And the sign said anybody caught trespassin' would be shot on sight
So I jumped on the fence and a yelled at the house
"Hey, what gives you the right?"
"To put up a fence to keep me out or to keep mother nature in"
"If God was here he'd tell you to your face, man, you're some kind of sinner"
Sign, sign, everywhere a sign
Blockin' out the scenery, breakin' my mind
Do this, don't do that, can't you read the sign?
Now, hey you, mister, can't you read?
You've got to have a shirt and tie to get a seat
You can't even watch, no, you can't eat
You ain't supposed to be here
The sign said you got to have a membership card to get inside, ugh
And the sign said, "Everybody welcome, come in, kneel down and pray"
But when they passed around the plate at the end of it all
I didn't have a penny to pay
So I got me a pen and a paper, and I made up my own little sign
I said, "Thank you, Lord, for thinkin' 'bout me, I'm alive and doin' fine"
Woo
Sign, sign, everywhere a sign
Blockin' out the scenery, breakin' my mind
Do this, don't do that, can't you read the sign?
Sign, sign, everywhere a sign
Sign
Sign, sign
The song "Signs" by Five Man Electrical Band is a protest song against the authoritarianism and conformity embedded in different institutions and establishments of society. The opening lyrics sets the mood, where the singer encounters a sign that says, "Long haired freaky people need not apply". The words demonstrate the discrimination against people with different appearances or lifestyles. The singer obliges, and hides his long hair under his hat, but he later questions the employer's judgment, and sarcastically replies, "imagine that, huh, me workin' for you?" This line portrays the hypocrisy of the employer. They establish strict rules without valuing individuality, and then hire people like the singer, who they previously discriminated against.
The second verse adds more messages where the signs represent the strict laws that control the behavior of the individuals. The line, "everywhere a sign, blockin' out the scenery, breakin' my mind," indicates the overbearing nature of the signs, which strip off the free will of people. Further, the line "do this, don't do that, can't you read the sign?" brings up the question of whether following the signs is always the right solution. Sometimes, people need to question those who make the rules, and challenge the powers that be.
In conclusion, "Signs" by Five Man Electrical Band is a critical song that highlights the need to promote individuality and to resist the authoritarian nature of society's institutions. The song inspires people to question established rules, to value individual differences, and to strive for a society that promotes diversity and freedom.
Line by Line Meaning
And the sign said, 'Long-haired freaky people need not apply'
The sign at the entrance told people with unconventional appearances to stay away.
So I tucked my hair up under my hat and I went in to ask him why
The singer disguised himself and approached the person in charge to inquire about the sign.
He said, 'You look like a fine, upstanding, young man, I think you'll do'
The person in charge judged the singer's character rather than his appearance.
So I took off my hat, I said, 'Imagine that, huh, me workin' for you?'
The artist revealed himself, surprised that he could work for someone who discriminates.
And the sign said anybody caught trespassin' would be shot on sight
The sign warned that entering without permission could result in deadly force.
So I jumped on the fence and a yelled at the house 'Hey, what gives you the right?'
The singer challenged the property owner's authority by climbing the fence and shouting at the house.
'To put up a fence to keep me out or to keep mother nature in'/ 'If God was here he'd tell you to your face, man, you're some kind of sinner'
The singer questioned the propriety of the fence, believing it was hypocritical and against divine law.
Now, hey you, mister, can't you read?
The artist criticized a gatekeeper looking for specific attire, believing it was unreasonable.
'The sign said you got to have a membership card to get inside, ugh'
The sign mandated having a membership card to enter, which was a problem for the artist.
And the sign said, 'Everybody welcome, come in, kneel down and pray'
The sign gave an invitation for everybody to join in worship.
But when they passed around the plate at the end of it all/ I didn't have a penny to pay
The singer, unable to give a monetary offering, felt excluded despite the sign's welcome.
So I got me a pen and a paper, and I made up my own little sign/ I said, 'Thank you, Lord, for thinkin' 'bout me, I'm alive and doin' fine'
The artist created their own sign expressing gratitude for being alive and satisfied with their life.
Sign, sign, everywhere a sign/ Blockin' out the scenery, breakin' my mind/ Do this, don't do that, can't you read the sign?
The chorus bemoans the overwhelming number of signs and their impact on mental well-being, as well as the constant commands they give.
Sign
The final repetition of the word 'sign' serves as an outro to the song.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Les Emmerson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@24WESJULY
The Five Man Electrical Band (originally known as The Staccatos from 1963–68) is a Canadian rock group from Ottawa. They had many hits in Canada, including the top 10 entries "Half Past Midnight" (1967) (as The Staccatos), "Absolutely Right" (1971) and "I'm a Stranger Here" (1972). Internationally, they are best known for their 1971 hit single "Signs".[1] The Staccatos made their debut as a recording act in 1965, with their early singles being written by the team of Craig and Emmerson. After releasing a non-charting single on a small independent label, the group signed to Capitol Records of Canada, and their second single, "Small Town Girl", made it into the Canadian top 20. Several follow-ups also cracked the top 40, and The Staccatos were rising stars in their native country.
Rebirth as Five Man Electrical Band (1969-75)
The group's new single "It Never Rains On Maple Lane" with B side "Private Train" was a mild success in Canada; the A-side appeared at #67 on the charts, but after two weeks on the charts the single was flipped over and B-side "Private Train" made it into the top 40, peaking at #37. Their album, meanwhile, contained a mixture of new material and older recordings originally released as by The Staccatos (including "Half Past Midnight") and was similarly successful in Canada. Follow-up singles failed to chart. At the end of 1969, the band ended their relationship with Capitol and signed with MGM Records.
The band's first two singles on MGM (released in 1970) both charted in the mid-50s in Canada. The group's 1970 album Good-byes and Butterflies created a minor controversy with a front cover picture that featured a marijuana plant; the album was withdrawn and subsequently reissued with a new cover.
In 1971, the band had their first international success when their label reissued the second MGM single "Hello Melinda, Goodbye/Signs", originally recorded in Los Angeles, with the sides reversed.[2] Disc jockeys and the public immediately took to "Signs" (written by Les Emmerson); it reached #4 in Canada, #3 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and went to #1 in Australia for nearly two months. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc by the R.I.A.A. in August 1971.[3]
In the next few years a number of charting singles were release: "Absolutely Right", "Money Back Guarantee", "Werewolf", "I’m A Stranger Here" and several others, all written by Emmerson. Outside of Canada, most of these were minor hits, but the band continued with a steady flow of releases and concert dates. In 1972, the band issued Coming Of Age, their third album as Five Man Electrical Band. Emmerson, who was more interested in recording in the studio than in playing live, also established a parallel solo career in 1972.
Mike Bell, now going by his birth name of Michael Belanger, left the group partway through the recording of their 1973 album Sweet Paradise, and bassist Brian Rading left just as the album was being finished. The album produced several hit singles, including "I'm A Stranger Here", their highest-ever charting hit in Canada. Emmerson, Gerow and Rick Belanger attempted to keep things going with new players for a time, producing singles in 1974 and '75, with minimal chart success outside of Canada.
Rick Belanger left the group in 1974, leaving Emmerson and Gerow as the only remaining permanent members of the ostensibly "Five Man" band. Shortly thereafter, when 1975's "Johnny Get A Gun" peaked at a lowly #69 in Canada, Emmerson and Gerow decided to disband the Five Man Electrical Band. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_Man_Electrical_Band
@carlcioffi
That song never gets old and it definitely applies today.
@thisisahardworldtofigureout
And today, 3 years later...almost more than ever
@susanthompson1506
You should have been there! Great learning.
@jeffreybarkin3177
@@susanthompson1506
"There" ???
WHERE is "There"?
Curious...
ABSOLUTELY!!!!
❤
@jaytotheell
i've heard this song 5 billion times and learned the lyrics long ago, but everytime it comes on the radio i still blast it and sing it loudly!! it's the best damn song!! and so very true!
@johniorio7951
You still a membership card to listen to get inside.
@janfromnycsavesmoney8723
Yesss
@mayormc
OMG, can't believe I found this. In 1971, 6 years old, I remember in elementary school we would sing this in music class. Really brings back memories. I miss the world of paper (as I sit here at a computer).
@cjmacq-vg8um
i know what you mean. since this song was released sign pollution has INCREASED 1000 fold. things are worse than ever. extremism and fanaticism are now mainstream on both sides.
i miss the world of sanity, common sense and logic. the last 30 years humanity has become completely unhinged. everything is backwards, upside down and inside out. delusion is called reality and reality is called HATE! you can't tell anyone the truth anymore because it might offend them or might hurt their feelings.
and much of the problem is caused by this fascist, corporate, police-state monstrosity called the internet. where it used to take years or even decades for a lie to travel around the world it now takes mere seconds. no one's given the time or opportunity to fully absorb or analyze the utter absurdities their being forced to believe.
@cardinalsfan8182
I absolutely love this gem from 1971–even now in 2023 it’s still relevant!!