Their manager was Simon Napier-Bell, who devised white stage outfits and an outrageous stage act which included fighting each other and Bolan whipping the stage with a chain. Their 1967 single "Desdemona" was banned by the BBC for the 'controversial' lyric, "Lift up your skirt and fly".
Bolan was with the band for about four months. His main roles were to be the band's composer and play electric guitar (until then, he only played acoustic guitar). His singing voice is sometimes lead in "unofficial" recordings only (demos, BBC radio sessions). After he left, Townson switched to guitar and former roadie Chris Colville took over on drums.
John's Children recorded another single, "Go Go Girl", a Bolan composition he later recorded with Tyrannosaurus Rex as "Mustang Ford". John's Children also performed Bolan's "Mustang Ford" version of the song. The band released one more single, "It's Been a Long Time" (issued as an Andy Ellison solo single) and then embarked on a "disastrous" tour of Germany. Their last performance was at the Star-Club in Hamburg, Germany (substituting for the Bee Gees), after which they split up in 1968. Ellison went on to make several solo singles. before resurfacing in Jet in 1974, along with drummer Chris Townson. Jet metamorphosed into Radio Stars in the mid-Seventies.
Smashed Blocked
John's Children Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Help me now before it's too late
Try to bring me back
Everythings spinning
My eyes are tired
I'm losing my way
Where are you, where am I?
Everything's spinning
I'm dizzy from wanting you
My eyes are getting tired
Smashed smashed smashed
You break my life in two
Blocked blocked blocked
My way of getting through
My mind is slowly spinning round
Where is the love I thought I’d found?
You think I need you but you are so wrong
Because living with you is like living alone
You don’t care
You never try
You just don’t know that sometimes I cry
You always argue and think that you're right
And the things that you say are so full of spite
You critisize
You say I lie
You just don’t know that some times I cry
Smashed smashed smashed
You break my life in two
Blocked blocked blocked
My way of getting through
My mind is slowly spinning round
Where is the love I thought I’d found
The lyrics of John's Children's song "Smashed! Blocked" are a desperate cry for help, the plea of someone whose life is being shattered by love. The first verse captures the disorientation and confusion of being lost in love, while the chorus likens the experience to being smashed and blocked, as if a train had collided with a brick wall. The second verse is more introspective, exploring the singer's feelings of frustration and anger at the object of their affection. The repetition of the line "You just don't know that sometimes I cry" reveals the singer's vulnerability and the weight of their pain, while the final verse poses a poignant question: "Where is the love I thought I'd found?"
The lyrics of "Smashed! Blocked" speak to the universal experience of being overwhelmed by love, of feeling lost and alone in the midst of intense feelings. The song's vivid imagery and raw emotion make it a powerful anthem for anyone who has ever been "smashed and blocked" by love.
Line by Line Meaning
Please! I'm losing my mind
I'm begging you for help because I'm going insane
Help me now before it's too late
My situation is urgent and I need assistance immediately
Try to bring me back
I need someone to guide me back to reality
Everythings spinning
I feel disoriented and dizzy
My eyes are tired
I'm exhausted from trying to make sense of things
I'm losing my way
I feel lost and uncertain
Where are you, where am I?
I'm confused about my surroundings and where to turn for help
Everything's spinning
I feel physically and mentally unsteady
I must have have some of you
I'm addicted to you and can't break free
I'm dizzy from wanting you
My desire for you is overwhelming and disorienting
My eyes are getting tired
I'm becoming fatigued from longing for you
Smashed smashed smashed
You've shattered my life into pieces
You break my life in two
Your actions have torn apart my world
Blocked blocked blocked
You're obstructing my attempts to move on
My way of getting through
You're a barrier to my progress and healing
My mind is slowly spinning round
I'm in a mental spiral that I can't escape
Where is the love I thought I’d found?
I feel let down and disillusioned by what I thought was a genuine connection
You think I need you but you are so wrong
You're mistaken if you believe I'm dependent on you
Because living with you is like living alone
You're emotionally unavailable and offer me no support or companionship
You don’t care
You're indifferent to my feelings and wellbeing
You never try
You put no effort into making our relationship work
You just don’t know that sometimes I cry
You're unaware of the pain you're causing me
You always argue and think that you're right
You're confrontational and overly self-assured
And the things that you say are so full of spite
Your words are hurtful and hateful
You critisize
You're constantly finding fault with me
You say I lie
You accuse me of being dishonest without reason
You just don’t know that some times I cry
You're oblivious to my emotional turmoil
Contributed by Grayson O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Boldorion1958
In November, 1966, this song got a lot of airplay on "Boss Radio" KHJ, Southern California's 50,000-watt rock blaster at 930 kilocycles, which was my favorite radio station at the time.
@modgod1
It was mostly recorded in L.A.
@larrybaker5316
i grew up in so. calif. and listening to 93 KHJ !.with emperor bob hudson, robert w morgan "morgan in the mornin': great radio station and disc jockeys...but sure don't remember this guy, we were inundated with the "british invasion"..other stations kfwb krla, but khj rocked
@Bill-jc1fy
My family moved to LA in June of 66 and I remember KHJ so well and this record too
@simonprodhan1926
the great andy ellison, also a brilliant frontman in 77 punk outfit radio stars
@charlesrlassiter
Way too far out, heavy. This is great music. The backing "echo" vocals superb. I love it. Thank you for sharing this monumental music!!!!
@primalscream8000
Andy Ellison did a great interview on the ugly things podcast a few weeks back
@rhodeer
Perfection in every way
🤍🪽
@philiprobinson256
There are a couple of clips with Bolan in the band, There was supposed to be a promo video of Desdemona shot in early 1967 which hasnt been seen since and some silent poor quality footage from one of the bands last gig at the 14 Hour Technicolour Dream at Alexandra Palace in mid 1967.
@djdude8866
Reached #101 on the Billboard charts.