Critically acclaimed though perceived as commercially disappointing, their debut contained tracks such as a spirited version of the Bobby Troup chestnut "The Girl Can't Help It", and it brought them a cult following. Their second album, 1970's 'Flamingo', revealed a musical approach that continued to draw upon 50s rock and roll as well as upon the more tuneful work of The Beatles and the The Rolling Stones. 'Flamingo' is also notable as well as the only album by the group to feature an apostrophe after "Flamin" (all the others are credited to "The Flamin Groovies"). It also was the first of their two albums for the label Kama Sutra.
Their next album, and last with musician Roy Loney, was the 1971 classic 'Teenage Head'. Continuing their streak of critical praise, this album appears in the famous book '1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die'. Mick Jagger praised the work as an excellent album with parallels to the Stones' work at the time which, like 'Teenage Head', revisited both 50s music and roots rock. 'Teenage Head' is also considered to be a classic in the proto-punk music canon.
Still, Roy Loney left the Flamin' Groovies, and he was replaced by singer-songwriter and guitarist Chris Wilson, who, along with Jordan, began to move the group in a more overtly power pop direction. Between 1971 and 1976, very little was heard of the band except their 1972 anti-drug song "Slow Death". In 1976, they teamed up with British producer and famous retro rock artist Dave Edmunds, and recorded an album entitled 'Shake Some Action'.
With Cyril Jordan and George Alexander the lone holdouts in the band after their line-up changes, their sound found them fully embracing melodic 60s British invasion music and putting on a suit and tie public image reminiscent of those groups. The album even breaking into the Billboard 200 chart, reaching the #142 slot, it picked-up massive critical acclaim. Title track "Shake Some Action" became somewhat of a 'signature song' for the group, and the album has been viewed as a landmark release of the Anglo-American power pop movement.
The following effort, 1978's 'Now', continued to be a good example of their self-conscious attempt to revive the sound of classic 60s rock. As Cyril Jordan told an interviewer, "The time that we were personifying had died in America years before. We were trying to put it into a capsule." The Groovies continued in the same style until somewhere early in the 80s, almost folding entirely and shifting into a sporadic, on-again/off-again existence as the American music scene changed into a more new wave and alternative rock based direction.
In retrospect, the band has been praised by critics as being "one of America's greatest, most influential, and legendary cult bands", in the words of Allmusic. Their siren song of a last album, 1993's 'Rock Juice', has also attracted attention as a great underground release. As time goes by, many punk and powerpop leaning bands have took inspiration from the Groovies.
Yes It's True
Flamin' Groovies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm really blue
Because I'm wondering all the while
If you're really true
Cause girl you know I tried and tried
Everything to see your side
But I can't forget the tears I've cried
When you got a girl who thinks she's smart
That's not so fine
Cause they're the kind who'll break your heart
And leave you crying
And lovin' them is not so nice
You better think about it twice
Or I else she'll make you pay the price
Yes, it's true
Well, she's the kind of girl
Who knows what she wants to be
She knows what she wants
And she knows how to get it from me and you
I saw the smile upon your face
I felt so sure
Although there never was a place
For me and you
'Cause girl you know I've tried and tried
Everything to see your side
But I can't forget the tears I've cried
Yes, it's true
Yes, it's true
Yes, it's true
The song "Yes It's True" by Flamin' Groovies is a heartfelt ballad about a man who is deeply in love with a woman who may not reciprocate the same feelings. The lyrics explore the singer's internal conflict between his happiness and his doubts, as he is torn between his feelings and his logic. The song begins with the line "Every time you see me smile, I'm really blue," which sets the mood of the song, blending melancholy and optimism. The singer reveals that he always wonders if the woman he loves is really true to him, despite his constant effort to see her side.
The second verse turns more cynical as the singer advises that it is not worth loving someone who thinks they are too smart and can be tricky. He suggests that she will break his heart and leave him crying. The chorus repeats the phrase "Yes, it's true," emphasizing the singer's agonizing dilemma of trying to understand the woman he loves, all while being aware of the consequences that may come from loving her.
The third verse explicates how the singer sees the woman - he acknowledges her intelligence and her ability to obtain what she wants. He knows her better than anyone else, yet she cannot see his unwavering love for her. The final verse brings back the chorus, cementing the idea that the singer cannot forget the pain he's gone through even though his love for her remains unscathed.
Overall, "Yes It's True" is a beautiful and timeless song that delves into the complexities of love and heartbreak, as well as the depth of human emotions.
Line by Line Meaning
Every time you see me smile
I may be smiling but in reality, I am feeling down
I'm really blue
I am feeling sad and depressed
Because I'm wondering all the while
I am constantly thinking about
If you're really true
If your love for me is real
Cause girl you know I tried and tried
I have put in work and effort
Everything to see your side
I have tried to understand your perspective
But I can't forget the tears I've cried
I am unable to erase the moments of sadness and heartbreak I have faced
Yes, it's true
All of my feelings and emotions are real
When you got a girl who thinks she's smart
A woman who believes she is intelligent
That's not so fine
Is not good for me
Cause they're the kind who'll break your heart
These women tend to break hearts
And leave you crying
And cause a lot of emotional pain for the person they are with
And lovin' them is not so nice
It can be difficult and challenging to love someone like that
You better think about it twice
It is important to think carefully before committing to someone like that
Or I else she'll make you pay the price
Because getting involved with her might come with emotional or other costs
Well, she's the kind of girl
She is a particular type of woman
Who knows what she wants to be
She has clear goals and aspirations
She knows what she wants
She knows what she wants in life
And she knows how to get it from me and you
And she is skilled at getting what she wants from people like us
I saw the smile upon your face
I noticed you were smiling
I felt so sure
I felt very confident
Although there never was a place
Even though there was no actual possibility
For me and you
For us to be together romantically
'Cause girl you know I've tried and tried
I have been extremely persistent in trying
Everything to see your side
To understand and empathize with you
But I can't forget the tears I've cried
I am unable to forget the experiences of heartbreak and sadness I have been through
Yes, it's true
All of my emotions and thoughts are accurate and correct
Yes, it's true
I mean every word that I have said to you
Yes, it's true
All of my feelings are real and honest
Contributed by Isabella N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Nikki Sklivas
Every time you see me smile
I'm really blue
Because I'm wondering all the while
If you're really true
Cause girl you know I tried and tried
Everything to see your side
But I can't forget the tears I've cried
Yes, it's true
When you got a girl who thinks she's smart
That's not so fine
Cause they're the kind who'll break your heart
And leave you crying
And lovin' them is not so nice
You better think about it twice
Or I else she'll make you pay the price
Yes, it's true
Well, she's the kind of girl
Who knows what she wants to be
She knows what she wants
And she knows how to get it from me and you
I saw the smile upon your face
I felt so sure
Although there never was a place
For me and you
'Cause girl you know I've tried and tried
Everything to see your side
But I can't forget the tears I've cried
Yes, it's true
Yes, it's true
Yes, it's true
Brendan Barry
Not only do the Flamin' Groovies deserve credit for creating such great music, but they also had the balls to do it at a time when this kind of music was deeply unfashionable.
Nikki Sklivas
Every time you see me smile
I'm really blue
Because I'm wondering all the while
If you're really true
Cause girl you know I tried and tried
Everything to see your side
But I can't forget the tears I've cried
Yes, it's true
When you got a girl who thinks she's smart
That's not so fine
Cause they're the kind who'll break your heart
And leave you crying
And lovin' them is not so nice
You better think about it twice
Or I else she'll make you pay the price
Yes, it's true
Well, she's the kind of girl
Who knows what she wants to be
She knows what she wants
And she knows how to get it from me and you
I saw the smile upon your face
I felt so sure
Although there never was a place
For me and you
'Cause girl you know I've tried and tried
Everything to see your side
But I can't forget the tears I've cried
Yes, it's true
Yes, it's true
Yes, it's true
Gary Maher
Sounds like an outtake from Meet the Beatles. Great stuff!
slobomotion
My pal Miriam was the president of their fan club in Ohio and NYC. I didn't get it except for this album. This is just so wonderful. Thank you so much for posting this. Uprated. Greetings from France.
lulurockt64
i love this song!
シMemfishthepie
Sounds like "all I've got to do" by the Beatles
Landlines and Percolators
Another in their long streak of #1's.
Mr.Sensitive
Ross T Ha ha
Àngel López Vila
...great BAND .
Justalittleofftopicbut
This sounds like the Flamin Groovies.