He pioneered studio tools such as multiple over-dubbing on one- and two-track machines, close miking, direct input of bass-guitars, the compressor, and effects like echo and reverb, as well as sampling. Unlike other producers, his search was for the "right sound" rather than for a catchy musical tune, and throughout his brief career he single-mindedly followed his quest to create a unique "sonic signature" for every record he produced.
At a time when many studio engineers were still wearing white coats and assiduously trying to maintain clarity and fidelity, Meek, the maverick, was producing everything on the three floors of his home studio and was never afraid to distort or manipulate the sound if it created the effect he was seeking. For the song "Johnny Remember Me" he placed the violins on the stairs, the drummer almost in the bathroom, and the brass section on a different floor entirely.
Meek was one of the first producers to grasp and fully exploit the possibilities of the modern recording studio. His innovative techniques -- physically separating instruments, treating instruments and voices with echo and reverb, processing the sound through his fabled home-made electronic devices, the combining of separately-recorded performances and segments into a painstakingly constructed composite recording -- comprised a major breakthrough in sound production. Up to that time, the standard technique for recordings, regardless of musical genre, was to record all the performers in one studio playing together in real time as the music was cut live to tape all at once. Joe Meek's recording techniques (as well as the recording techniques of Les Paul) did much to further the art of record production as we know it today.
Besides his idiosyncratic music production, many of Meek's character eccentricities continue to capture the imagination of people today. Although never properly diagnosed, it is believed today by many that Meek suffered from bipolar disorder type one (some even suggest further that he was paranoid-schizophrenic). Meek was obsessed with outer space, the occult and the idea of "the other side". He would set up tape machines in graveyards in a vain attempt to record voices from beyond the grave, in one instance capturing the meows of a cat he claimed was speaking in human tones, asking for help. In particular, he had an obsession with Buddy Holly (claiming the late American rocker had communicated with him in dreams). His professional efforts were often hindered by his paranoia (Meek was known to tear up his walls as he was convinced that Decca Records would put hidden microphones behind his wallpaper in order to steal his ideas), drug use, and attacks of sudden rage and depression.
Meek's homosexuality (illegal in the UK at the time) also put him under pressure during his career. He had been charged with "importuning for immoral purposes" in 1963 and was consequently subjected to blackmail. In January of 1967, police in Tattingstone, Suffolk, discovered a suitcase containing the mutilated body of Bernard Oliver, an alleged rent boy who had previously associated with Meek. According to some accounts, Meek became concerned that he would be involved in the murder investigation when the Metropolitan police stated that they would be interviewing all known homosexuals in the city. On February 3rd, 1967, the eighth anniversary of Buddy Holly's death, Meek killed his landlady Violet Shenton and then himself with a single barreled shotgun that he had confiscated from his protegé, former The Tornados' bassist and solo star Heinz Burt. Joe Meek was 37 at the time of his death.
What Do You Want To Make Those Eyes At Me For
Joe Meek Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If they don't mean what they say
They make me glad, they make me sad
They make me want a lot of things that I never had
You're fooling around with me now
Well you lead me on and then you run away
Well that's all right, I'll get you alone some night
So what do ya wanna make those eyes at me for
If they don't mean what they say
What do ya wanna make those eyes at me for
If they don't mean what they say
They make me glad, they make me sad
They make me want a lot of things that I never had
You're fooling around with me now
Well you lead me on and then you run away
Well that's all right, I'll get you alone some night
And baby you'll find, you're messing with dynamite
So what do ya wanna make those eyes at me for
If they don't mean what they say
If they don't mean what they say
The lyrics of Joe Meek's song "What Do You Want to Make Those Eyes at Me For" convey the confusion and frustration that comes with mixed signals from a love interest. The opening line of the song, "What do ya wanna make those eyes at me for, if they don't mean what they say," sets the tone for the rest of the lyrics. The singer is being bombarded with flirtatious glances from someone, but they are unsure if the person is genuinely interested or just toying with them.
The chorus of the song further plays on this uncertainty, as the eyes in question simultaneously make the singer happy and sad, suggesting that their emotions are being toyed with. The second verse introduces the idea that the person may be leading the singer on, only to run away later, which causes frustration and a desire for revenge. This is all summed up in the line, "And baby you'll find, you're messing with dynamite," hinting that there may be consequences for playing games with someone's heart.
Overall, the lyrics of "What Do You Want to Make Those Eyes at Me For" are relatable to anyone who has experienced the confusion of mixed signals in a relationship. The frustration and desire for clarity are universal themes that Meek expertly captured in this early rock and roll hit.
Line by Line Meaning
What do ya wanna make those eyes at me for
Why are you giving me those flirty looks
If they don't mean what they say
If those looks don't represent your true feelings
They make me glad, they make me sad
Your eyes cause me to feel a range of emotions
They make me want a lot of things that I never had
Your eyes make me desire things I've never been able to acquire
You're fooling around with me now
You're playing games with my heart and my mind
Well you lead me on and then you run away
You give me hope and then you disappoint me
That's all right, I'll get you alone some night
I'll have a chance to confront you about your actions
And baby you'll find, you're messing with dynamite
You'll realize the danger you're in if you continue leading me on
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HOWARD E JOHNSON, JAMES V. MONACO, JOSEPH MC CARTHY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind