Frank Chacksfield, born Francis Charles Chacksfield (May 9, 1914 - June 9, … Read Full Bio ↴Frank Chacksfield, born Francis Charles Chacksfield (May 9, 1914 - June 9, 1995) was a popular conductor in the "easy listening" style.

He was born in Battle, East Sussex, England and is remembered by many music lovers and record collectors for his numerous albums and appearances on radio and television during the era following the second world war.

From the 1950s onwards, Chacksfield was one of Britain's most famous orchestra leaders, and his fame spread around the world. Early in his career he was fortunate to have several big sellers in the USA, which firmly established his reputation world-wide.

During his recording career with Decca alone, it is estimated that he sold 20 million copies.

Chacksfield learned to play the piano as a boy and became the deputy organist for the local church. Though his parents discouraged his pursuit of music as a career, he persevered. In the late '30s, when he was in his mid-20s, he was leading small musical bands in Britain. During World War II, he was assigned to the British Army entertainment unit, and after the war he became a regular performer on the BBC.

In 1953, he formed an orchestra he called "The Tunesmiths" and won a contract with Parlophone Records. Within two years, he expanded the group from a traditional big band into an orchestra with strings and released a series of "mood music" albums. His sound was similar to Mantovani and Melachrino. His biggest hits, in both the UK and the US, were "Ebb Tide" and "Limelight."

Chacksfield was also responsible for the musical arrangement of the first ever British entry into the Eurovision Song Contest, "All" by Patricia Bredin in 1957. Only because BBC musical director Eric Robinson insisted on accompanying Bredin to the contest in Frankfurt, Chacksfield did not get the chance to perform as a conductor on this international stage.

In the late 1970s and early 1980s Chacksfield recorded a large number of instrumental recordings for Starborne Productions. The recordings were licensed for use by "Easy Listening" radio stations and functional music companies. The vast majority of these recordings were not made commercially available to the general public until 2007 by Starborne Productions.

Chacksfield had two giant US hits in 1953, "Ebb Tide" and "Terry's Theme from Limelight". A third single that year, "Golden Violins" appeared in the Cashbox charts (Billboard only ranked to 20 positions at that time.)

wheels
Frank Chacksfield & His Orchestra Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

What goes up must come down
Spinning Wheel got to go 'round
Talkin' 'bout your troubles
It's a cryin' sin
Ride a painted pony
Let the Spinning Wheel spin
You got no money, you got no home
Spinning Wheel all alone

Talkin' 'bout your troubles and you
You never learn
Ride a painted pony
Let the Spinning Wheel turn
Did you find your directing sign
On the straight and narrow highway
Would you mind a reflecting sign?
Just let it shine within your mind
And show you the colors that are real
Someone is waiting just for you

Spinning Wheel spinning true
Drop all you troubles by the river side

Overall Meaning

These lyrics from Frank Chacksfield & His Orchestra's song "Wheels" convey a message of life's ups and downs and the need to let go of troubles. The opening lines, "What goes up must come down, Spinning Wheel got to go 'round," suggest that life is filled with cycles and that movement and change are inevitable. The phrase "Spinning Wheel" is used metaphorically to represent the never-ending cycle of life.

The lyrics then talk about talking about troubles being a crying sin, implying that dwelling on problems and sorrows only bring more distress. The mention of a "painted pony" represents a temporary escape from these troubles, encouraging the listener to embrace a moment of joy and freedom. The repetition of "Let the Spinning Wheel spin" and "Let the Spinning Wheel turn" reinforces the idea of surrendering to the flow of life and allowing things to unfold.

The second part of the song shifts the focus to finding direction and inner reflection. The lines, "Did you find your directing sign, On the straight and narrow highway, Would you mind a reflecting sign? Just let it shine within your mind" suggest the importance of finding guidance and seeking clarity in one's life journey. The lyrics encourage the listener to let their mind be illuminated by a "reflecting sign" that reveals the true colors of life.

The song concludes with the message to "drop all your troubles by the riverside," symbolizing the need to let go and find solace in nature or a peaceful, calming environment. It implies that by releasing our troubles, we can find peace and contentment.

Overall, "Wheels" expresses the universal theme of life's ups and downs, the importance of letting go of troubles, and finding inner peace and direction.

Line by Line Meaning

What goes up must come down
Everything that rises eventually falls

Spinning Wheel got to go 'round
Life's journey is never-ending

Talkin' 'bout your troubles
Discussing your problems

It's a cryin' sin
It's unfortunate and lamentable

Ride a painted pony
Embark on an adventure

Let the Spinning Wheel spin
Allow life's course to unfold

You got no money, you got no home
Without wealth or stability

Spinning Wheel all alone
The continuous cycle persists regardless

Talkin' 'bout your troubles and you
Discussing your problems directly affecting you

You never learn
You fail to glean wisdom

Ride a painted pony
Embark on an adventure