Stewart had earlier enjoyed success as a member of the 1960s pop band The Mindbenders and had delivered the vocals for that band's best-known track, "A Groovy Kind of Love". The Mindbenders disbanded in 1969 and Stewart teamed with fellow Mindbender and aspiring songwriter Gouldman to become part-owners of a Stockport recording studio which in 1969 was renamed Strawberry Studios (after the Beatles hit "Strawberry Fields Forever"). The pair, along with Godley and Creme, longtime friends of Gouldman, gained work writing and performing bubblegum songs under a variety of band names for US producers writer-producers Jerry Kasenetz and Jeff Katz of Super K Productions.
German cover of "Neanderthal Man"
German cover of "Neanderthal Man"
"Neanderthal Man" was created by the trio of Stewart, Godley and Creme as they dabbled with recording equipment at Strawberry Studios, perfecting drum layering. The song consisted primarily of the chant "I'm a Neanderthal man/You're a Neanderthal girl/Let's make Neanderthal love/In this Neanderthal world", backed by Stewart's and Creme's acoustic guitars and a lumbering drum rhythm provided by Godley. The song was released as a single under the moniker Hotlegs (a name chosen in honour of a secretary at the studio[1])and reached No.2 in the UK Singles Chart in July 1970 and No. 22 in the US, ultimately selling two million copies worldwide.
The band recorded a follow-up album, Thinks: School Stinks, for Philips before branding themselves as Doctor Father in August 1970 for a new version of "Umbopo" on Pye Records.
Italian cover of "Neanderthal Man"
Italian cover of "Neanderthal Man"
The song was one they had originally recorded for Kasenetz and Katz for release under the name Crazy Elephant. Doctor Father's version failed to attract airplay or sales. Reverting to Hotlegs, the trio cut two more singles, "How Many Times" (1970) and "Lady Sadie" (September 1971), both of which failed to chart.
Thinks: School Stinks was repackaged for US release as Songs by the Philips label and again in Britain in 1975 as You Didn't Like It Because You Didn't Think Of It with two additional songs. The title song of the British repackaged album had originally been the B-side of "Neanderthal Man"; part of it had also been reworked to become "Fresh Air For My Mama" on the 1973 debut album by 10cc.
In 1972 Hotlegs was relaunched as 10cc.
Neanderthal Man
Hotlegs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're a neanderthal girl
Let's make neanderthal love
In this neanderthal world
I'm a neanderthal man
You're a neanderthal girl
Let's make neanderthal love
I'm a neanderthal man
You're a neanderthal girl
Let's make neanderthal love
In this neanderthal world
I'm a neanderthal man
You're a neanderthal girl
Let's make neanderthal love
In this neanderthal world
The lyrics to Hotlegs' "Neanderthal Man" are fairly straightforward and repetitive, with the singer and subject of the song both identified as "neanderthal." The idea of being a neanderthal is often associated with being primitive or uncivilized, but the song takes this concept and turns it into a playful and lighthearted celebration of physical attraction and desire. The repetition of the chorus emphasizes the primal nature of the relationship being described, with the explicit suggestion that it is not meant to be hidden or denied but enjoyed openly and without shame.
Although the lyrics may seem simplistic on the surface, they also touch on some deeper themes related to human evolution and the ways in which we are often driven by basic instincts despite our supposed sophistication and intelligence. By identifying as neanderthals, the song suggests that we are all fundamentally connected to our primitive roots, and that there is something liberating and exhilarating in giving in to our most basic desires and impulses.
Overall, "Neanderthal Man" can be read as both a playful celebration of physical attraction and a deeper exploration of the ways in which our primal instincts continue to shape our lives and behavior despite centuries of societal and technological progress.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm a neanderthal man
I am a primitive and uncivilized man who belongs to the extinct human species called the Neanderthals.
You're a neanderthal girl
You are a woman who is just as primitive and uncivilized as I am, belonging to the same extinct human species.
Let's make neanderthal love
Let's engage in sexual intercourse that is wild, unrefined and untamed, just like the Neanderthals would have done.
In this neanderthal world
In this imaginary world that we've created, where we don't have to conform to society's standards and can embrace our primal instincts.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MAC DAVIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@musiccollector
Bought this 45 in 1970. Classic!
@PeterCamberwick
Why? :)
@musiccollector
@@PeterCamberwick I am still trying to figure that out. It is not among my favorites.
@DavidRFerguson61
A lot of people thought this was John Lennon post-Beatles. It is reminiscent of "Give Peace a Chance."
@stuartjarman4930
Memories of the troop singing this (to the accompaniment of clinking Carlsberg cans) on Norther Ireland training in 1976!
@manfred1823
Ich träume von meiner Jugendund es treibt mit Tränen in die Augen 😅
@peterkonig3236
Ein Super Song ! Da war ich 13 und mit 16 habe ich mir die Scheibe geholt !
@berndgruner8510
❤❤❤❤Danke nochmal für den Song 😂😂😂❤❤
@descamm9313
Reminds me of a great week I had with my family in Blackpool. Every whare we went this great song was playing. Great reminder of a great time.. 👍🏻
@philipnorris6542
You can't spell.