Hunter began his musical career on the bass guitar. An early foray into music was as an entrant in a talent competition at one of Butlin's holiday camps, performing "Blue Moon" as part of a skiffle group with Colen York and Colin Broome.
Hunter memorialized how he left his family in a later song, "23A Swan Hill," the address of his teenage home in Shrewsbury above a police station where his father was the Station Sergeant. He notes in concert that "my Dad was real mean" and did not approve of his son's artistic direction, in contrast to his "grand dad", referenced in "Cleveland Rocks", as "he was a rocker and I am, too".
So Hunter took off for Butlin's and "never looked back". Bandmates York and Broome came from Northampton, and were in a band called The Apex, which Hunter soon joined to play rhythm guitar. In 1963, while living in Northampton, he formed his own band, Hurricane Henry and the Shriekers. With Tony Marriott and guitarist Julian Coulter, the Shriekers worked steadily in Northampton, and by 1965 had picked up Freddie 'Fingers' Lee as a pianist and frontman. In a 2004 DVD interview Hunter volunteers Lee and their gigs in Hamburg as a major turning point, when he first began to "actually think maybe I could do this instead of working in factories".
In 1966 Hunter moved to London, where he joined The Scenery with guitarist Miller Anderson, drummer Dave Dufort, and keyboard player Dante Smith. By 1967 Smith and Dufort had left the band while John Vernon Smith joined on drums. The Scenery recorded some material with Bill Farley at Regent Sound, which was released without the band's knowledge in France and Japan. In early 1968, The Scenery had run its course and Miller Anderson joined Dave Dufort in Paper Blitz Tissue.
Also in 1968 Hunter remained in the band to back up Freddie Lee in the At Last The 1958 Rock and Roll Show, along with drummer Pete Philips and guitarist Chris Mayfield. The group got a regular booking at The Angel in Edmonton, and drew interest from both Chrysalis and NEMS but the group was never signed by them. Mayfield was soon replaced by the ever traveling Miller Anderson, and the group released a single on CBS called "I Can't Drive." As the short-lived rock and roll revival began to wane, At Last the 1958 Rock and Roll Show changed its name to Charlie Woolfe and released a final single, "Dance, Dance, Dance".
Hunter played sporadically in various other bands throughout the 1960s, including The New Yardbirds, and backed Billy Fury, The Young Idea and David McWilliams. He also worked as a journalist and staff songwriter for the firm Francis, Day & Hunter (no relation). Other jobs he took during these years included road-digging for a local council, and reporting for a local newspaper.
By 1969 Hunter was married and had two children, but was still hoping for a return to making music full time. That year he auditioned for and joined yet another band, Silence. Silence soon renamed themselves after a novel by Willard Manus, published in 1966: Mott The Hoople. By this time Hunter had taken to wearing the sunglasses that have long since become his trademark (photos of him without his "shades" are rare). The band was a live smash in England although their early U.S. tours on the coasts were slow in building a following. Whilst a critical success and despite being renowned for being an excellent live act, Mott the Hoople did not achieve sustained commercial success. After a dreary 1972 concert in a "gas cylinder" in Switzerland, they announced their disbandment.
David Bowie, a longtime fan of the band, was upset and offered them a song he had just written. As Ian recalls in a 2004 DVD interview, "He offered us 'Suffragette City', which I didn't think was good enough. And then he sat down on the floor, Regent Street it was in a publisher's office and plays 'All The Young Dudes' on an acoustic guitar." It shot to No. 3 in the UK singles chart and Mott had new life.
Mott the Hoople then had considerable commercial success with the albums All the Young Dudes (1972, produced by Bowie); Mott (1973) and The Hoople (1974). The band began to score financially with songs such as "Roll Away The Stone," "Golden Age Of Rock ´N´ Roll," "Honaloochie Boogie," "All The Way From Memphis," "Saturday Gigs," and especially "All The Young Dudes." When in 1973 original lead guitarist Mick Ralphs left to form Bad Company, Hunter began to play guitar until a replacement could be found but at the same time he was increasingly pressured to write hits for the band. Luther Grosvenor took over as lead guitarist, Grosvenor, aka Ariel Bender, was briefly replaced by Mick Ronson after the release of a live album following The Hoople. However, Hunter left the band in December 1974. The remaining members carried on under the names Mott and British Lions. Hunter has written a memoir, Diary of a Rock'n'Roll Star, detailing a U.S. tour with Mott the Hoople.
In March 1975 Ian Hunter joined forces with Mick Ronson, formerly the leading member of David Bowie's backing band The Spiders from Mars and a member of Mott the Hoople for a brief time. Hunter's first single from his eponymous solo album was the UK Top 40 hit "Once Bitten Twice Shy". Hunter's best selling solo album was You're Never Alone With A Schizophrenic. It was released in 1979 with Ronson and several members from Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band. Two songs from You're Never Alone with a Schizophrenic became successes for other artists. "Cleveland Rocks" was covered by the Presidents of the United States of America, whose version was used as the theme song for The Drew Carey Show. Also, "Ships" became a No. 9 pop hit in the USA in late 1979 for Barry Manilow.
During his solo career Hunter frequently worked with Ronson until the latter's death in 1993, but he has also had musical connections with many other artists, including Queen, Mick Jones (The Clash), Clarence Clemons of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, Jaco Pastorius, Dennis Elliot (Foreigner), and David Bowie.
His album, Rant (2001), received wide critical acclaim and he won Classic Rock Magazine Songwriter's Award in October 2005.
In 2007 his latest album "Shrunken Heads" was released and it clearly shows that Ian Hunter is still very much alive.
Somethin's Goin' On
Ian Hunter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'N' everybody knows somethin's goin' on
Fasten your seat belts - say goodbye to your mothers
'Cause everybody knows somethin's goin' on
Nuclear missiles - cover to cover
Everybody knows somethin's goin' on
The world is a subway - all the leaders are muggers
'N' everybody knows somethin's goin' on
Roll up to the party - welcome to the show
We'll make you live in fear - then we'll make you disappear
Somethin's goin' on 'n' everybody knows
What you got - what you got
Everybody knows somethin's goin' on
Most people got nothin' - a few got the lot
'N' everybody knows - it's still goin' on
Well I say
Roll up to the circus - welcome to death row
Just do what we say - then we'll blow you all away
Somethin's goin' on 'n' everybody knows
What about hunger... are they just another number?
We're all an endangered species
'N' everybody knows - it's still goin' on
Well I say
Welcome to Thanksgiving - what we reap is what we sow
We'll watch you die in vain from the safety of our plane
Somethin's goin' on 'n' everybody knows
The lyrics of Ian Hunter's song, "Somethin's Goin' On," appear to be a commentary on the state of the world in the late 20th century. The song addresses a range of social and political issues, including war, nuclear weapons, inequality, and hunger. The line, "fasten your seat belts - say goodbye to your mothers," suggests a sense of impending danger or catastrophe, and the repeated refrain that "everybody knows somethin's goin' on" implies that these problems are widely recognized but little is being done to address them.
The use of metaphors also adds layers of meaning to the lyrics. The world is described as a subway, with leaders who are muggers, suggesting that people in power are exploiting the masses. The circus and death row references symbolize the absurdity and finality of life. The line "what we reap is what we sow" carries biblical allusions to the Old Testament book of Galatians.
Hunter's lyrics ultimately suggest a sense of hopelessness and futility in the face of these problems. The final line, "We'll watch you die in vain from the safety of our plane," implies a detachment from the violence and suffering experienced by others. The lyrics present a view of the world as largely indifferent to the plight of the less fortunate, a sentiment that remains relevant in contemporary times.
Line by Line Meaning
The spirit of war is all around us
Violence and conflict are pervasive in our society.
'N' everybody knows somethin's goin' on
It's common knowledge that something is happening.
Fasten your seat belts - say goodbye to your mothers
Prepare for the worst and say goodbye to your loved ones.
'Cause everybody knows somethin's goin' on
This sense of impending doom is widespread.
Nuclear missiles - cover to cover
Weapons of mass destruction are everywhere.
The world is a subway - all the leaders are muggers
The powerful are stealing from the weak, and the world is a dystopian place.
'N' everybody knows somethin's goin' on
This troubling reality is universally acknowledged.
Roll up to the party - welcome to the show
Come see the chaos and destruction we've created.
We'll make you live in fear - then we'll make you disappear
We will subjugate and eliminate those who oppose us.
Somethin's goin' on 'n' everybody knows
The crisis is unfolding and everyone is aware of it.
What you got - what you got
What do you have to lose?
Everybody knows somethin's goin' on
Everyone is cognizant of the current state of affairs.
Most people got nothin' - a few got the lot
There is a significant wealth gap between the haves and have-nots.
'N' everybody knows - it's still goin' on
This imbalance persists despite its obvious injustice.
Roll up to the circus - welcome to death row
Come observe this spectacle of doom and despair.
Just do what we say - then we'll blow you all away
We will only tolerate those who submit to our authority.
Somethin's goin' on 'n' everybody knows
This oppressive environment is inescapable.
What about hunger... are they just another number?
Are we indifferent to the suffering of those who go hungry?
We're all an endangered species
The future of humanity is uncertain and at risk.
'N' everybody knows - it's still goin' on
This existential threat remains despite our awareness.
Welcome to Thanksgiving - what we reap is what we sow
We will consume and revel in our abundance, even if means others go without.
We'll watch you die in vain from the safety of our plane
We will sit idly by and watch others suffer and die, as long as we remain secure.
Somethin's goin' on 'n' everybody knows
This grotesque reality is impossible to ignore.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: IAN HUNTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
GreenerHill
One of the best songs from the '83 album (am too lazy to type the title!). Good commentary on the Cold War.
gropdal
bad turntable ?