Gerry Marsden (1942-2021) formed Gerry & The Pacemakers in the late 1950s with his brother, Fred Marsden (died 2006), Les Chadwick (1943-2019) and Arthur Mack. They rivalled The Beatles early in their career, playing in the same areas of Hamburg, Germany, and Liverpool, England, and being from Liverpool, managed by Brian Epstein, and recorded by George Martin. Mack was replaced on piano by Les Maguire ()born 1941) around 1961. They are known to have rehearsed at Camell Laird shipping yard at Birkenhead.
They began recording in early 1963 with "How Do You Do It?", a Mitch Murray written song that both Adam Faith and The Beatles had turned down (in the latter case because they wanted to record their own material, specifically "Please Please Me"). The song became a number one hit, until being replaced at the top by The Beatles' third single, "From Me to You".
Gerry & the Pacemakers next two singles, Murray's "I Like It" and Rodgers and Hammerstein's "You'll Never Walk Alone", both also reached number one in the UK Singles Chart. Never before had the first three singles by a performer all reached the top spot (the feat would not be duplicated until Frankie Goes to Hollywood did it in the 1980s).
Despite this early success, Gerry & the Pacemakers never had another number one single in the U.S. Gerry Marsden began writing most of their own songs, including "It's All Right", "I'm the One", and "Ferry Cross the Mersey", as well as their first and biggest U.S. hit, "Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying". All of these represented the band's light, poppy, enjoyable sound. They also starred in a moderately successful early 1965 film called Ferry Cross the Mersey, for which Marsden wrote much of the soundtrack.
By later in 1965, though, their popularity was rapidly declining on both sides of the Atlantic. They lacked the innovation of the Beatles and did not have the rawer musical and visual edge of some of the other British Invasion groups, and they soon seemed un-hip. They disbanded in October 1966 with much of their latter recorded material never released in the UK.
Gerry Marsden became a popular cabaret and children's TV entertainer. He reformed the band in 1972 with prominent Liverpool musicians Jose McLaughlin, Billy Kinsley and Pete Clarke. In April 1973, this second version of the group became the only Merseybeat band to ever record for the John Peel Show on BBC Radio. The tracks from that show have now been included on the album Gerry & the Pacemakers Live at the BBC, released on Parlophone Records in October 2018. Subsequently, Marsden occasionally toured with various line-ups of the band on the oldies circuit. Gerry Marsden announced his retirement on 29 November 2018.
The band is probably best remembered for their version of "You'll Never Walk Alone," which has become the anthem for Liverpool Football Club in England. Liverpool's fans sing the song before every match at Anfield, their home stadium.
Ferry Cross The Mersey
Gerry & The Pacemakers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hearts torn in every way
So ferry 'cross the Mersey
'Cause this land's the place I love
And here I'll stay
People, they rush everywhere
So ferry 'cross the Mersey
And always take me there
The place I love
People around every corner
Seem to smile and say
We don't care what your name is, boy
We'll never turn you away
So I'll continue to say
Here I always will stay
So ferry 'cross the Mersey
'Cause this land's the place I love
And here I'll stay
And here I'll stay
Here I'll stay
The opening lines of Gerry & The Pacemakers' hit song "Ferry 'Cross the Mersey," finds the singer acknowledging that life goes on day after day and people's hearts are torn in every way. In the chorus, the singer implores the listener to take a ferry across the Mersey River because it's the place he loves and where he will stay. The verses describe the ordinary people rushing about with their own secret cares, but the singer finds solace in the fact that the people of this place seem to accept everyone, saying "We don't care what your name is, boy. We'll never turn you away."
It's clear that "Ferry 'Cross the Mersey" is a love song to Liverpool and its people. Gerry Marsden, the lead singer and songwriter for Gerry & The Pacemakers, grew up in Liverpool and felt a deep love for his hometown. Born during the Liverpool Blitz, Marsden's family was displaced from their home, but they ultimately returned to Liverpool after the war. This experience may have contributed to Marsden's attachment to the city, and it inspired him to write "Ferry 'Cross the Mersey."
Line by Line Meaning
Life goes on day after day
Every day passes by as usual
Hearts torn in every way
People's emotions are hurt in different ways
So ferry 'cross the Mersey
Take me over the river Mersey
'Cause this land's the place I love
This place is my beloved home
And here I'll stay
I won't leave this place
People, they rush everywhere
Everyone is in a hurry
Each with their own secret care
Everyone has their own worries and anxieties
And always take me there
I want to keep coming back
The place I love
My favorite place
People around every corner
People are everywhere
Seem to smile and say
People seem friendly
We don't care what your name is, boy
We don't judge or discriminate based on names
We'll never turn you away
We'll always welcome you
So I'll continue to say
I'll keep on expressing
Here I always will stay
I'll never leave this place
And here I'll stay
I'll remain here
Here I'll stay
This is where I belong
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Gerrard Marsden
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@michaelsurvilla8966
Great comment Jim and it's so true and I love all of those artists.
I would just like to add one, Roy
Orbison.
I was out on a date with the sister of my friends girl friend. My friend drove about 15 miles to their house and then we separated.
Later my friend picked me up in his car and told me that his girl friend told him, that she was dating his brother and she didn't want to see him anymore.
We got on the road and there was a freezing rain storm and the roads were very slippery.
Then Roy Orbison came on the radio singing the classic song
ITS OVER and with my friend driving 50mph on frozen Michigan roads, because he was heart broken, I thought that it really was OVER ! luckily we made it home only spinning out a couple of times, but not hitting anything.
I will always remember THAT NIGHT and THAT SONG.
I'm 74 now and still remember all
those good songs, but Especially
Roy Orbison's ITS OVER !
@galetanu6052
I was 14 then, 70 now...I will always love this song. Wow..
@marthamcmanus5986
me too !
@whitebird5383
Me too !
@bjoernwelter7388
Because it’s about the best place in the world son 💙💙
@violettheorgangrinder
I'm only 25 but I love this song as I remember my dad playing it
@marydonnelly8708
brilliant.
@uyvonnemartian7614
I'll always love this song. It reminds me of the 60s and people were more kind and caring.
@angelagardner5230
true
@MrAdriancooke
It's the immigrants that have ruined that
@trekkiejunk
Were they? What about racism, sexism and oppression of queer folks, like myself? I would have hated to live in the 60's. Or if i were black. Police in the south used firehouses on them back then. Also, our government forced tens of thousands to go die in an unjust war. Yeah, the 60's were awesome.