The founding members of the band were drummer Jim Fox, bassist Tom Kriss, guitarist Ronnie Silverman, keyboardist Phil Giallombardo, and guitarist Glen Schwartz. In 1968 Joe Walsh replaced Schwartz when Schwartz left the band to join Pacific Gas & Electric. The band then released its debut album Yer' Album. In July of 1970, the band released its second album James Gang Rides Again which included the hit single "Funk #49." By this time, Dale Peters had replaced Kriss on bass. The band opened for The Who during a tour of Britain. After two more albums, Thirds, with the single "Walk Away,", and the live album James Gang Live in Concert, Walsh left the band to perform solo and later join the Eagles.
Vocalist Roy Kenner and guitarist Domenic Troiano then joined the band. Troiano left to join Guess Who and was replaced by Tommy Bolin. Bolin left in 1974 to replace Ritchie Blackmore in Deep Purple. After two albums, "Bang" and "Miami", Bolin was replaced by vocalist Bubba Keith and guitarist Richard Shack, who made "Newborn" (which featured a cover of the Elvis Presley song "Heartbreak Hotel"). The band broke up following a final recording, "Jesse Come Home" (which referred to the band's namesake, the outlaw Jesse James), which was made with the collaboration of early member Phil Giallombardo. Fox was the only remaining member of the original quintet when they disbanded early in 1977.
The "classic" lineup of the band (Walsh, Peters, Fox) reunited to perform at an election rally for Bill Clinton in 1996, appearances on The Drew Carey Show in the 1998-99 season, and at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in February 2001, drawing fans from all over the globe.
As of May 2004, Glenn Schwartz was playing guitar and singing Thursday nights at "Major Hooples" in the Flats, Cleveland.
In summer 2006 the Walsh/Peters/Fox lineup of the group toured the United States. In August 2006, the trio appeared performing live on The Howard Stern radio show on Sirius satellite radio.
Collage
James Gang Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
* Lovesweat
Blue for the blue - I feel when I'm feelin' down
On the ground - feelin' down that could be most anyday
Green for the eyes - take a look around
When the sun goes down - and the sun goes down
In the strangest way -
Find a song to sing that is everything
That I meant to say - meant to say -
Pray for the mice that are blind like the world
Never see the good that is done to the bad
It's too late to see
Two of us make it easier, to read the signs
Memorize the lines - you play with me
One for the road - I'll be on my way
Come another day - when the things we say
Find a way to be - way to be -
Solo:
Autumn calls for a change of year
Bringin' winter near us - greens are brown
And disquise a sign -
Wintertime is a razorblade - that the devil made
It's a price we pay for the summertime
Springdays come it's hard to know
Where the rain comes from - where the children go -
It's a nursery rhyme - nursery rhyme
The song "Collage" by James Gang is a beautiful piece filled with abstract yet meaningful lyrics that might seem confusing at first, but slowly unravel to reveal a deeper underlying message. The song opens with the lines "Blue for the blue - I feel when I'm feeling down, on the ground - feeling down that could be most any day." These lyrics set a melancholic tone for the song, indicating that the singer is going through a tough phase in life, and the blue color reflects his mood. He then goes on to say that Green is for the eyes, which means he takes a look around when he is feeling low, maybe trying to find solace in nature or something positive around him.
The lyrics then move on to the color red, which indicates that he wants to stop and take a step back in his life. He is searching for a song to sing that conveys everything he wants to say but cannot express. The next set of lines "Pray for the mice that are blind like the world, Never see the good that is done to the bad, It's too late to see," is a powerful reflection of society's ways. The singer is praying for those who cannot see the good because they are so bogged down by the bad. He feels that it is beyond their control now, and they will never be able to see things differently.
The second verse is just as enigmatic, but the underlying message stresses change and the cyclical nature of life. The weather changes from autumn to winter, and as the greens turn brown, we gear up for the rains. Wintertime is like a sharp razor blade, and it is something that we all must endure as a price we pay for the summertime. The final lines in the song ask us to keep moving forward, regardless of what comes our way. The singer says that Spring will come, and we should keep going and do our best to take on each day with a positive outlook.
Line by Line Meaning
Blue for the blue - I feel when I'm feelin' down
I associate the color blue with how I feel when I'm down
On the ground - feelin' down that could be most anyday
I often feel down and defeated, and it's hard to pick myself up
Green for the eyes - take a look around
Green reminds me to open my eyes and be aware of my surroundings
When the sun goes down - and the sun goes down
I feel a sense of sadness when the day ends and darkness comes
In the strangest way -
It's hard to describe, but there's something about the way things happen that is strange
Red for the light - gotta stop this thing
Red represents the need to stop and take a break when things get overwhelming
Find a song to sing that is everything
Music has the power to express everything I feel but can't put into words
That I meant to say - meant to say -
There are things I wanted to express but didn't get a chance to say
Pray for the mice that are blind like the world
I feel sympathy for those who are unable to see the beauty in the world
Never see the good that is done to the bad
Some people are too blinded by negativity to recognize acts of kindness
It's too late to see
Once opportunities have passed, it's too late to appreciate their value
Two of us make it easier, to read the signs
Life is easier when you have someone to share it with and help you interpret its signals
Memorize the lines - you play with me
Let's enjoy each other's company and create lasting memories
One for the road - I'll be on my way
It's time to leave and move on to the next phase of life
Come another day - when the things we say
We'll meet again and pick up where we left off
Find a way to be - way to be -
We need to find a way to keep going and stay true to ourselves
Autumn calls for a change of year
As the leaves fall, it's time for a new start and a fresh perspective
Bringin' winter near us - greens are brown
The approaching winter brings a sense of emptiness and a lack of vitality
And disquise a sign -
The changing colors of nature are deceptive and can hide important signals
Wintertime is a razorblade - that the devil made
Winter can be harsh and unforgiving, like a weapon forged by the devil
It's a price we pay for the summertime
The beauty of summer comes at a cost, which we pay in the form of winter's hardship
Springdays come it's hard to know
Spring brings uncertainty and the promise of change
Where the rain comes from - where the children go -
Rain and growth are a mystery, just like the changing paths of childhood
It's a nursery rhyme - nursery rhyme
Life can be as simple and mysterious as a children's song
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOSEPH F. WALSH, PATRICK CULLIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@tropicwave1
Collage
James Gang
Album: Yer' Album
Blue for the blue I feel when I'm feelin down on the ground
Feelin' down
That could be most any day
Green for the eyes, take look around
When the sun goes down and the sun goes down
In the strangest way
Red for the light, got to stop this thing
Find a song to sing that is everything
That I meant to say
Meant to say
Three for the mice that are blind like the world
Never see the good that is done, just the bad
It's too late to see
Two of us make it easier to read the signs
Memorize the lines
Will you play with me?
One for the road, I'll be on my way
Come another day, when the things we say
Find a way to be
Way to be
Autumn calls for a change of year, bringing winter near us
Green to brown and the sky's a sign
Wintertime is a razor blade that the devil made
It's the price we pay for the summertime
Spring days come, it's hard to know
Where the rain comes from, where the children go
It's a nursery rhyme
Nursery rhyme
Written by: JOSEPH F. WALSH, PATRICK CULLIE
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
@12Spiffy
Blue for the blue I feel
When I'm feelin down on the ground feelin' down
That could be most any day
Green for the eyes, take a look around
When the sun goes down
And the the sun goes down In the strangest way
Red for the light, got to stop this thing
Find a song to sing that is everything that I meant to say
Meant to say
Three for the mice that are blind like the world
Never see the good that is done, just the bad
It's too late to see
Two of us make it easier
To read the signs, memorize the lines
Will you play with me?
One for the road, I'll be on my way
Come another day, when the things we say find a way to be
Way to be
Autumn calls for a change of year
Bringing winter near us, green to brown
And the sky's a sign
Wintertime is a razor blade
That the devil made, it's the price we pay
For the summertime
Spring days come, it's hard to know
Where the rain comes from, where the children go
It's a nursery rhyme
Nursery rhyme
@veronikab1390
Blue for the blue I feel when I'm feeling down
In the ground, feeling down
That could be most any day
Green for the eyes, take a look around
When the sun goes down
And the sun goes down in the strangest way
Red for the light, gotta stop this thing
Find a song to sing that is everything
That I meant to say
I meant to say
Green for the lives that are dry like the world
Never see the good that's done the bad
It's too late to see
Two of us make it easier
To read the signs, memorize the lines
Won't you stay with me?
One for the road, I'll be on my way
Come another day when the things we say
Find a way to be
A way to be
Autumn calls for a change of year
Bringing winter near, oh I scream "The ground
And the skies are fine"
Wintertime is a razor blade
That the devil made, it's the price we pay
For the summertime
Spring days come and it's hard to know
Where the rain comes from, where the children go
It's a nursery rhyme
A nursery rhyme
@karmatakoda
The lyrics of this song have haunted me for 40 years Wintertime is a razor blade that the devil made It's the price we pay for the summertime (I live in Canada eh) . . FINALLY . . I've found it! GREAT Classic !
@1967DIF
And i´m in Sweden... Brrr...
@ekimmel3711
I burnt a copy of this and sent to my wife of 33 years she couldn't comprehend .
@go4thnmultiply551
Then what's your thinking on The ashes the rain and I ❓Made me think mate ✌UK
@johnwalker5206
💯👏🙌✌
@brucelong6092
Yup, one of my favorite songs of all time. I'm a total James Gang addict.
@MrZinser1
I remember hearing this for the first time in 1971 by a band in Columbus and I thought, WOW, what a great song!! Here I M 50 years later still loving this great music! James Gang rocks!! Much better than any other band Joe Walsh became a part of! James Gang forever!! OHIO!! Rock on! Steve. Peace!!!
@mattfisher8568
Quite possibly my favorite song of all time. That is a HUGE statement!
@Jaketacular420
This song is so amazing, I can't stop listening to it. Honestly, ususally with any other good song ill listen to it a few times and get sick of it for awhile. But not this one, it never gets old. The James Gang still rides...
@brandonshafer1220
Jake Barney they still ride