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.
The Loser
Hotlegs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What is this all about?
You're takin' me for a ride
Now I've found you out
You never let me have my way with you
You come on strong, when you been there long
Everything I do just works out wrong
Works out wrong, works out wrong
I'm going crazy
With my love for you
And now you're leaving me
I don't know what to do
I'm going crazy, baby
Now you've let me down
You come on strong, but it don't last long
Why in the hell is another woman like you
Walkin' like you, walkin' like you
Walkin' like you, walkin' like you
I'm a loser, I'm a fool in love
I'm a loser
What was I thinkin' of?
He's a loser, he's a fool in love
I've tried to make a decent life for you
Then all you gave me is the heel of your shoe
When all in all I'm just a fool in love
Come on strong, but it didn't last long
Everything I do just turns out wrong
Turns out wrong, turns out wrong
Turns out wrong, turns out wrong
I'm a loser, I'm a fool in love
He's a loser, he's a fool in love
I'm a loser, I'm a fool in love
He's a loser, he's a fool in love
I'm a loser, I'm a fool in love
He's a loser, he's a fool in love
I'm a loser, I'm a fool in love
He's a loser, he's a fool in love
I'm a loser, I'm a fool in love
In this song, "The Loser," the singer is feeling frustrated and confused about his romantic relationship. He questions what he's doing in this relationship, and what it's all about. He feels like he's being led on a ride by his partner, but he has now found her out. She never lets him have his way with her, and everything he does seems to just work out wrong.
The singer is going crazy with his love for this woman, but she's leaving him and he doesn't know what to do. He feels like he's a loser and a fool in love for ever falling for her in the first place. He's tried to make a decent life for her, but all she's given him is the heel of her shoe. The woman in question comes on strong, but it never lasts long, which makes the singer wonder why another woman like her is walking the way she is.
Overall, the song is about the frustration and pain that can come with being in a one-sided relationship. The singer feels like he's giving everything he has, but it's just not enough for this woman who is leading him on. Despite this, he still feels crazy in love with her and doesn't know how to deal with the impending heartbreak.
Line by Line Meaning
What am I doin' here?
I am unsure of why I am in this situation.
What is this all about?
I am unsure of the meaning or purpose behind this situation.
You're takin' me for a ride
You are manipulating and deceiving me.
Now I've found you out
I have uncovered your true intentions.
You never let me have my way with you
You do not allow me to make decisions or control the situation.
You come on strong, when you been there long
You act as if you have more power and control than you actually do.
Everything I do just works out wrong
No matter what I do or how I try, I cannot succeed in this situation.
I'm going crazy
I am losing my sanity and emotional stability.
With my love for you
My strong feelings of affection for you are causing me distress.
And now you're leaving me
You are abandoning me in this situation.
I don't know what to do
I am unsure of how to handle this situation or move forward.
Now you've let me down
You have betrayed my trust and disappointed me.
Why in the hell is another woman like you
I am questioning why someone like you, who is manipulative and hurtful, exists.
Walkin' like you, walkin' like you
Acting in a similar way to you.
I'm a loser, I'm a fool in love
I am feeling like a failure and foolish for having strong romantic feelings for you.
What was I thinkin' of?
I am questioning my own judgment and decision-making in this situation.
He's a loser, he's a fool in love
Referring to oneself as an outside observer.
I've tried to make a decent life for you
I have tried to improve our situation and create a better life for us.
Then all you gave me is the heel of your shoe
You have insulted and degraded my efforts and actions.
Turns out wrong, turns out wrong
Everything I do seems to go awry.
I'm a loser, I'm a fool in love
Repeating the refrain to emphasize one's feelings of failure and foolishness.
He's a loser, he's a fool in love
Repeating the refrain to include oneself as well as the subject of the song.
I'm a loser, I'm a fool in love
Repeating the refrain to further emphasize one's feelings of inadequacy and foolishness.
He's a loser, he's a fool in love
Repeating the refrain to continue including oneself as well as the subject of the song.
I'm a loser, I'm a fool in love
Repeating the refrain to drive home the theme of the song.
He's a loser, he's a fool in love
Repeating the refrain to continue emphasizing the theme of the song.
I'm a loser, I'm a fool in love
Repeating the refrain to emphasize the impact of the situation on the singer.
He's a loser, he's a fool in love
Repeating the refrain to include oneself as well as the subject of the song one final time.
I'm a loser, I'm a fool in love
Repeating the refrain one final time to bring the song to a close.
Contributed by Brooklyn D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.