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
Memories
John Mayall Lyrics
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Never understood what divorces were I hadn't grown that far
Loading our belongings on a little horse and cart
Mama said that she and daddy were now apart
These are the things I still remember from so long ago
Going to the seaside once a year, castles in the sand
Going to the circus crying if I saw a clown
Walking on my six foot stilts and never falling down
These are the things I still remember from so long ago
Yelling at my brother, he's in hiding, won't play in the snow
Everything I do he just won't follow, doesn't want to go
Playing in the fields pretending I'm a Buccaneer
Threw a sword, accidentally hit him in the ear
These are the things I still remember from so long ago
Playing up the garden always building huts of turf and mud
Playing in the woods when an owl attacked me, mopped away the blood
Blowing up a rubber boat and patching up the holes
Falling in the water, dripping wet and catching colds
These are the things I still remember from so long ago
The lyrics to John Mayall's "Memories" reflect upon the singer's childhood memories and experiences. The first verse talks about the singer's parents getting divorced when he was only eleven years old, and he never saw his father again. He reflects on how he didn't fully comprehend what divorce meant at the time, but he remembers the painful event. The second verse is filled with memories of happy times, such as going to the seaside, fairgrounds, and circuses with his mom. He also remembers silly moments, like walking on stilts and throwing pretend swords at his brother. The third verse has more memories of playing outside, building huts, and getting into some danger with an attacking owl and a rubber boat.
The song is a reflection of the different experiences Mayall had as a child. The lyrics are filled with nostalgia, and the song is bittersweet. He remembers both the good and bad moments of his childhood. The song is simple and straightforward, but the memories of youth that they evoke can be very powerful.
Line by Line Meaning
When I was a boy of eleven years I never saw my pa
My father was absent from my life when I was still a child
Never understood what divorces were I hadn't grown that far
I was too young to comprehend what it meant for my parents to be divorced
Loading our belongings on a little horse and cart
We had to pack up our things and move out
Mama said that she and daddy were now apart
My mother explained to me that my parents had separated and were no longer together
These are the things I still remember from so long ago
Despite the passing of time, these memories have stayed with me
Going to the seaside once a year, castles in the sand
One of my fondest childhood memories was visiting the beach to build sandcastles
Going to the fairground with my pennies counted in my hand
I cherished trips to the fair where I would save up my coins and carefully spend them on the attractions
Going to the circus crying if I saw a clown
Although I enjoyed going to the circus, clowns made me cry
Walking on my six foot stilts and never falling down
I was proud of my ability to walk on stilts without losing my footing
Yelling at my brother, he's in hiding, won't play in the snow
My brother and I used to argue when I wanted to play in the snow and he didn't
Everything I do he just won't follow, doesn't want to go
My brother didn't always want to do the same things as me
Playing in the fields pretending I'm a Buccaneer
I enjoyed playing make-believe in the fields and imagining myself as a pirate
Threw a sword, accidentally hit him in the ear
Unfortunately, I accidentally hit my brother with a toy sword while we were playing and it hurt him
Playing up the garden always building huts of turf and mud
I loved building forts and hiding places with natural materials in the garden
Playing in the woods when an owl attacked me, mopped away the blood
I was once attacked by an owl while playing in the woods, but was able to clean up the scratches on my skin
Blowing up a rubber boat and patching up the holes
I enjoyed inflating a rubber boat, but also had to learn to fix any holes that appeared
Falling in the water, dripping wet and catching colds
Sometimes I would fall into the water and get soaking wet, which would lead to catching a cold
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHN MAYALL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind