Formed in 1961, the band was active for 60 years, almost non-stop. They had 56 years of studio output, starting in 1965, which made them the world's longest surviving rock band, formed a year before The Rolling Stones, until their tragic end on 5 February 2021, when guitarist founding member George Kooymans revealed that he had been diagnosed with the neuro-muscular disease, ALS.
The band's core line-up of four was unchanged from 1970 to 2021, although extra musicians had short stints in the band in the 1970s. Golden Earring was always touring, except in 2000 (their only sabbatical year) and the final year of their existence, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
In 1961 George Kooymans (age 13) and his neighbour Rinus Gerritsen (age 15) formed The Tornado's in the Zuiderpark district of their home town of The Hague, The Netherlands. The band's first line-up mainly played The Shadows and The Ventures covers, as well as other instrumental tunes, and played its first gigs at school parties.
In 1963, as the band found out that there already was a British band called The Tornados, they decided to change their name into The Golden Ear-rings (after a Peggy Lee song). The band now performed around The Hague, soon had a devoted local following and landed a record deal with Polydor. Their début single, 1965's Please Go, immediately landed in the Dutch Top 10.
Under the Golden Earrings moniker the band eventually recorded four albums and had twelve hit singles in the Netherlands between 1965 and 1969, ten of which reached the Dutch Top 10. Several of their records were released internationally in Europe and even North America, although they failed to make an impact there.
One of the band's sixties singles became their first Dutch #1 hit: 1968's somewhat carnavalesque Dong-Dong-Diki-Digi-Dong, although that tune is now frowned upon by the band and generally regarded as inferior to other sixties Earrings gems, such as That Day (1966, the first Dutch pop single to have been recorded in the U.K., at London's Pye Studios), Sound Of The Screaming Day (1966) and the epic Just A Little Bit Of Peace In My Heart (1969).
The band's lead singer during the early Golden Earrings years was Frans Krassenburg. He was replaced by Barry Hay (ex-The Haigs) in 1967. The band's drummer for much of the 1960s was Jaap Eggermont. His successors were Sieb Warner (1969) and, in 1970, Cesar Zuiderwijk (ex-Livin' Blues), Golden Earring's definitive drummer.
The band's international career modestly started to take off in 1969, the year of their psychedelic Eight Miles High album, their first haphazard tour of the United States and also the year in which the band name was slightly changed into The Golden Earring and finally (dropping the article within a year), Golden Earring. On their early U.S. tours, their long, wild cover version of The Byrds' classic Eight Miles High impressed audiences and press alike. Golden Earring's 19-minute album version, as well as the stand-alone 1969 single, Another 45 Miles, were the first Golden Earring recordings to get some North American airplay.
The arrival of drummer, Cesar Zuiderwijk, in 1970, completed what would turn out to be the group's definitive line-up: Barry Hay (lead vocals/guitar/flute), George Kooymans (guitar/vocals), Cesar Zuiderwijk (drums) and Rinus Gerritsen (bass/harmonica/keyboards).
1970 saw a dramatic shift in Golden Earring's musical style. After the melodic, often Beatle-esque sixties beat of The Golden Earrings and a brief phase of psychedelia and hippie rock in 1968 and 1969, the single Back Home marked the birth of Golden Earring's trademark heavy, riff-based brand of hard rock with catchy hooks. Back Home hit #1 in the Dutch charts and 'broke' Golden Earring in most of Europe, notably countries such as Germany, Switzerland, Austria and France.
This marked the start of a decade of domestic and international glory. Between 1966 and 1976 seventeen consecutive Earring singles rocketed into the Dutch Top 10, while their international popularity increased, especially after their lengthy 1972 tour of Europe, supporting The Who. Buddy Joe (1972) achieved considerable chart success in the German-speaking countries of Europe, but 1973's Radar Love was their breakthrough smash hit worldwide: #13 in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, #1 in the U.S. Cashbox chart, #5 in Britain, #8 in Australia, #10 in Canada, #5 in Germany, #6 in Belgium, #1 in Spain and also #1 in (last but not least) Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), to name but a few.
Radar Love remains an enduring 'car classic' and radio anthem of global fame to this day. Between 1969 and 1985 Golden Earring completed ten major tours of North America, building a considerable North American fanbase, as well as five headlining tours of Great Britain in 1973 and 1974 alone. Golden Earring toured as 'special guests' of The Who, Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin, .38 Special, Rush and many more, whereas bands like Aerosmith, KISS, ZZ Top and Lynyrd Skynyrd opened for Golden Earring. The album that spawned Radar Love, 1973's Moontan, was certified 'Gold' by North America's RIAA in 1974 and sold millions of copies worldwide.
The band failed to achieve similar chart success in the years after Radar Love: the progressive Switch (1975) and To The Hilt (1976) charted in Billboard's album charts, but yielded no major U.S. hits. The singles were clearly not what North American audiences wanted from the 'Radar Love guys'.
Golden Earring was forgotten by many outside of The Netherland and by 1980 even Dutch audiences started to lose interest: albums such as No Promises, No Debts (1979) and Prisoner Of The Night (1980) were commercial flops, leading to the band's decision (in 1981) to record a 'final LP and then call it quits.
The lead single from 1982's 'farewell album', Cut, a Kooymans-penned tune called Twilight Zone, surprisingly became an even bigger hit in the U.S. than Radar Love: #10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Tracks, thanks to heavy MTV rotation of the Dick Maas-directed video. The song (#1 in The Netherlands) revived Golden Earring's stateside career overnight. The Cut LP was certified 'gold' in Canada, with Twilight Zone hitting #3 in the Canadian charts.
In their native Netherlands the band did manage to extend their creative and commercial peak this time: the single When The Lady Smiles and the album N.E.W.S. ('NorthEastWestSouth'), both released in 1984, repeated the success of Twilight Zone and Cut. 'Lady' peaked at #3 in Canada, but fared disappointingly in the U.S. as MTV and even radio stations banned the track because of its controversial video, once again directed by Dick Maas, in which the rape of a nun was suggested.
After 1985 things rapidly went downhill for Golden Earring internationally (they would not tour the U.S. again), but - after a creative and financial crisis that lasted throughout the second half of the 1980s - the band wrote one of their most enduring Dutch hits in 1991 (the power-ballad, Going To The Run, which fared partially well in Russia) and discovered a new gold mine in their home country a year later: acoustic concerts in theatres, the concept of MTV Unplugged.
To everybody's surprise, the band's acoustic live album, The Naked Truth, slowly became their all-time biggest selling album in The Netherlands. Its sequels, Naked II (1997) and Naked III (2005) also went platinum at least once in The Netherlands.
Golden Earring's by far most succesful album internationally remains 1973's Moontan, which sold well over 3.5 million copies outside of The Netherlands and was certified 'gold' in the U.S., Canada and the United Kingdom (and platinum in the U.S. in later years).
Golden Earring released 25 studio albums, 9 live albums and countless succesful compilations. Almost all of these records were certified gold, often platinum, in The Netherlands. More than anything else, though, the band remained a live force of legendary status in their home country and beyond. They toured throughout each year until the very end, almost exclusively in the Netherlands, although there are still occasional live appearances in Belgium and Germany. 2009 saw Golden Earring's long overdue return to the United Kingdom: their sold out shows in Ipswich and London's Shepherd's Bush Empire were their first live appearances in England since 1978.
In 2011 the band recorded their first album of new material since 2003's Millbrook U.S.A.: Tits 'n Ass - studio album #25 for the Dutch legends - was released on 11 May 2012 on Universal Music and hit #1 in the Dutch album charts one week after its release to become Golden Earring's 8th #1 album in their home country. Certified 'gold' in The Netherlands, the album was generally believed to be Golden Earring's final studio outing, but December 2015 saw the release of a five-track mini album entitled The Hague, released more than fifty years after their début single and just before the band's sold out 'Five Zero' anniversary concert at Amsterdam's Ziggo Dome in front of a 17,000-strong crowd. 2019 saw the release of a stand-alone single, Say When: Golden Earring's final studio recording.
Nobody was aware of it at the time, but the band's 16 November 2019 performance at the Rotterdam Ahoy would turn out to be their final concert. After a year of Covid-19 lockdowns, guitarist George Kooymans announced his ALS diagnosis on 5 February 2021, the disease rendering him unfit to perform. Within hours, the band admitted that carrying on without Kooymans was unthinkable. In the words of lead singer, Barry Hay: "This is the end of the line for the band. It's a death blow. We always said: we'll keep going until the first one of us goes down. I never expected it to be George."
The band's final performance was released as a live CD and DVD in April 2022, named after Barry Hay's final words at the end of countless Golden Earring shows: You Know We Love You!.
Studio albums (released as Golden Earring, unless noted otherwise)
Just Ear-rings (1965, as The Golden Earrings or The Golden Ear-rings)
Winter-Harvest (1967, as Golden Earrings, sometimes spelled as Winter Harvest)
Miracle Mirror (1968, as Golden Earrings)
On The Double (1969, as Golden Earrings)
Eight Miles High (1969, as The Golden Earring)
Golden Earring (1970, colloquially known as 'Wall Of Dolls')
Seven Tears (1971)
Together (1972)
Moontan (1973)
Switch (1975)
To The Hilt (1976)
Contraband (1976, U.S. title: Mad Love)
Grab It For A Second (1978)
No Promises... No Debts (1979, spelled as No Promises, No Debts on most online platforms)
Prisoner Of The Night (1980)
Cut (1982)
N.E.W.S. (1984)
The Hole (1986)
Keeper Of The Flame (1989)
Bloody Buccaneers (1991)
Face It (1994)
Love Sweat (1995, covers album)
Paradise In Distress (1999)
Millbrook U.S.A. (2003)
Tits 'n Ass (2012)
The Hague (EP, 2015)
Live albums
Live (1977)
2nd Live (1981)
Something Heavy Going Down (1984, includes one new studio track)
The Naked Truth (1992, acoustic)
Naked II (1997, acoustic)
Last Blast Of The Century (2000)
Naked III (2005, acoustic, incorrectly listed as Naked Truth III on some streaming platforms)
Live In Ahoy 2006 (2006, live DVD + CD set)
You Know We Love You! (2022, live DVD + CD set)
Additional information:
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Earring
Official website: https://www.golden-earring.nl
Gotta See Jane
Golden Earring Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Speedin' trough the dark night
Drivin' trough the poundin' rain
I gotta see Jane
Windshield, wiper splashin', splashin'
Callin' out her name
Just gotta see Jane
I left her arms to find my way
I wasn't alive, I could not survive
The frantic pace
The constant chase
To win the race
Turned my heart cold inside
I gotta find what I left behind
Red light, green light
Speedin' through the dark night
Drivin' through the poundin' rain
I gotta see Jane
Freeway, byway
Tearin' up the highway
Runnin' up a world insane
Just gotta see Jane
A ton of steel that isn't real
It could not feel what's in the heart of me
I was so alone in a world of stone
I missed her arms, that once held me
That made me see, I was the lonely one
But now and then I was runnin' scared
And I could feel the touch of time
Turnin' the wheel of life to yesterday
When love and happiness were mine
I gotta find that world of Jane and me
Liked it used to be
Oh, I gotta see Jane, Oh, I gotta see Jane
Her love for me I pushed aside
Walked out alone
To face a world turned cold
Although I tried I could not survive
The frantic pace
The constant chase
To win the race
It's not a part of me
I've gotta find what I left behind
Oh, I gotta see Jane, I gotta see Jane
The lyrics of Golden Earring's song "Gotta See Jane" revolve around a man's desperate yearning to reunite with his lost love, Jane. Despite the inclement weather and perilous conditions on the road, the singer is determined to reach Jane's arms once again. The song speaks to the themes of regret, loss, and the haunting memory of past love. The lyrics speak of how the singer left Jane to find himself but after he left Jane, he found himself lost and couldn't survive the world outside. Now, he wants to get back to Jane as he thinks his push for winning the race and his solitary and cold experience have not made him feel complete.
The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the singer's trajectory as he travels through the night, tearing up the highways and byways to reach his destination. The tone of the lyrics is both melancholic and nostalgic, as the singer reflects on his past choices and longs to go back to a simpler time when he was in love and happy. The lyrics give a sense of urgency and desperation, as the singer sings, "Oh, I gotta see Jane" repeatedly.
Line by Line Meaning
Red light, green light
Describing the journey through the busy streets.
Speedin' trough the dark night
Driving fast at night.
Drivin' trough the poundin' rain
Driving through heavy rain.
I gotta see Jane
The singer has an urgency to see Jane.
Windshield, wiper splashin', splashin'
Describing the sound of the windshield wipers.
Callin' out her name
The singer is calling out to Jane.
Just gotta see Jane
Reiterating the urgency to see Jane.
I left her arms to find my way
The singer left Jane to find his own path.
To find a place for me in the world outside
The singer was looking for a place for himself in the world.
I wasn't alive, I could not survive
The singer felt out of place and lost without Jane.
The frantic pace
Describing the pace of life outside of Jane's arms.
The constant chase
Describing the constant need to keep moving forward.
To win the race
Describing the need to win in life.
Turned my heart cold inside
The singer's heart became cold and numb from the constant stress.
I gotta find what I left behind
The singer realizes that he needs to find what he left behind with Jane.
Freeway, byway
Describing the continuing journey on the roads.
Tearin' up the highway
Driving fast on the highway.
Runnin' up a world insane
Describing the chaos of the world outside of Jane's arms.
A ton of steel that isn't real
Describing the emptiness of the journey without Jane.
It could not feel what's in the heart of me
The singer feels that the journey lacks emotion and meaning.
I was so alone in a world of stone
The singer feels alone and isolated in the world without Jane.
I missed her arms, that once held me
The singer missed the comfort and support of Jane's arms.
That made me see, I was the lonely one
Jane made the singer realize that he was the one who was truly lonely.
But now and then I was runnin' scared
The singer was occasionally scared and uncertain of his path.
And I could feel the touch of time
Time was passing and the singer was growing older.
Turnin' the wheel of life to yesterday
Time was bringing the singer back to the past.
When love and happiness were mine
Describing a time when the singer was happy and in love with Jane.
I gotta find that world of Jane and me
The singer wants to find the world he once shared with Jane.
Liked it used to be
The singer wants things to be the way they were.
Her love for me I pushed aside
The singer regrets pushing Jane away.
Walked out alone
The singer left Jane alone.
To face a world turned cold
The singer faced a cruel and cold world outside of Jane's arms.
Although I tried I could not survive
The singer tried to survive without Jane but couldn't do it.
It's not a part of me
The singer realizes that the world without Jane is not a part of him.
I've gotta find what I left behind
The singer knows that he needs to find what he left behind with Jane.
Oh, I gotta see Jane, I gotta see Jane
Reiterating the urgency to see Jane.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: R. DEAN TAYLOR, RONALD MILLER, RONALD N. MILLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@terrybraybrook9860
This Canadian dude was great. Lyrics....Red light, green light,
Speedin' trough the dark night,
Drivin' trough the poundin' rain
I gotta see Jane
Windshield wiper splashin',
Splashin', callin' out her name
Just gotta see Jane
I left her arms to find my way
To find a place for me in the world outside
I wasn't alive, I could not survive
The frantic pace, the constant chase
To win the race, turned my heart cold inside
I gotta find what I left behind
Red light, green light,
Speedin' through the dark night,
Drivin' through the poundin' rain,
I gotta see Jane
Freeway, byway,
Earin' up the highway,
Runnin' up a world insane
Just gotta see Jane
A town of steel that isn't real
It could not feel what's in the heart of me
I was so alone in a world of stone
I missed her arms, that once held me
That made me see, I was the lonely one
But now and then I was runnin' scared
And I could feel the touch of time
Turnin' the wheel of life to yesterday
When love and happiness were mine
I gotta find that world of Jane and me
Liked it used to be
Oh, I gotta see Jane
Her love for me I pushed aside
Walked out alone
To face a world turned cold
Although I tried I could not survive
The frantic pace, the constant chase
To win the race, it's not a part of me
I've gotta find what I left behind
Oh, I gotta see Jane, I gotta see Jane
@angelaashpole8931
Another music icon we have just lost. R.I.P R.Dean Taylor, thanks for your music
@hilo6755
I didn't know he died, what a lovely man X
@pressuredrop6173
Indiana wants me. What a song. A real tearjerker.
@dellafenton2417
@@pressuredrop6173Indiana wants me is a song I remember playing on the radio in my childhood. I've since revisited it and was blown away!! The strings are amazing
@jamessedgwick8236
Sad news
@mazzholmes2086
This reminds me of my first holiday with my boyfriend in Newquay, Cornwall in the late sixties. We would go to a pub in the town every night and this song would be on the jukebox. I’m now 72 and just about to celebrate 50 wonderful years of marriage to that same guy.
@Jase73
Wow what a beautiful story. Congratulations to you both. Love this song.
@mazzholmes2086
@@Jase73 Thank you Jason 😊
@ronniedamnitz9295
Wonderful! Congratulations! Many happy days!
@lennydickens9943
God bless RIP r dean Taylor