John Mayall is often referred to as the "Father of the British blues." His well-known band is still called John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers. They started out in the late 1950s in England, using Chicago style blues as a starting basis for their sound, which has evolved from album to album. And while at one point John Mayall was playing a fairly jazzy sound, he has always come back to the blues.
One of the interesting features of the Bluesbreakers is that members have changed on a very regular basis, and many have gone on to well deserved fame and fortune with other bands and as solo acts. Past members include: Eric Clapton, and Jack Bruce, (also of Cream), Peter Green, John McVie, Mick Fleetwood, and Mick Taylor, (who went on to a five -year stint with the Stones.) The studio album recorded with Clapton, entitled John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers, was recorded in 1966, and is widely considered to be one of the great classic blues albums on either side of the stormy Atlantic. Cream came round right after.
John Mayall stands out for several reasons - his standing up for the blues, while experimenting with different approaches, his ability to attract the best of musicians; and perhaps most notably his willingness to work with musicians who far outshine him in sheer ability. And he himself sounds very good!
From:Wikipedia
Home in a Tree
John Mayall Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I was a child, I always played in trees
That's where I built me a cabin, sheltered by the leaves
The first I had was only of sacks and wood
Then I found me a big oak and built me a house so good
I was living there and all of my friends was round
It had a water supply, electricity and cooking stove
It had books and music - a hideaway made with love
It was a peacefull feeling rocked into sleep by the breeze
All of my days living in the trees
The nostalgic lyrics of John Mayall's "Home in a Tree" describe the singer's childhood spent playing in trees and building a home for himself amongst the branches. He takes us on a journey of his humble beginnings, building with nothing but sacks and wood, to finding a stately oak tree that he could construct a more impressive dwelling in. He created a haven of sorts that turned out to be not just a place to live but a true hideaway, complete with a water supply, electricity, and cooking stove. Mayall cherished his new structure, filling it with books and music, and invited all of his friends to be a part of it. His idyllic existence was found sleeping peacefully up high above the earth, being gently rocked by the breeze.
The song expresses the notion of simplicity and the love for nature. The idea that a child can find a place of peace and solace through creating something as simple as a treehouse speaks to the simple pleasures of life. Mayall describes a life that's a far cry from the hustle and bustle and technology that we are used to in present day. He shows that true joy can be found in the things that we do for love and the things that make us feel at home.
Line by Line Meaning
When I was a child, I always played in trees
As a child, I loved spending time climbing and playing in trees.
That's where I built me a cabin, sheltered by the leaves
I constructed a small cabin in the tree, which was protected and hidden by the foliage.
The first I had was only of sacks and wood
My initial treehouse was very basic, made only from materials like sacks and wood.
Then I found me a big oak and built me a house so good
Later on, I discovered a large oak tree, and constructed a much more impressive treehouse.
It was a big construction, thirty two feet from the ground
My second treehouse was quite impressive, standing tall at a height of thirty-two feet from the ground.
I was living there and all of my friends was round
I spent a lot of time living in that treehouse, surrounded by my friends who also loved the nature of the place.
It had a water supply, electricity and cooking stove
I equipped the treehouse with modern amenities like a water supply, electricity, and cooking stove, which added to the comfort of the place.
It had books and music - a hideaway made with love
The treehouse had many of my favourite books, as well as music, and it was undoubtedly a hideaway created with passion for the concept.
It was a peacefull feeling rocked into sleep by the breeze
The peaceful surroundings in the treehouse had quite the calming effect, making it easy to drift off to sleep with the gentle breeze.
All of my days living in the trees
I spent so much of my life living in trees and enjoying the beauty of nature, which has left an indelible mark on me, and one that I still value to this day.
Contributed by Evelyn O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.