* Eric Clapton (April–August 1965, November 1965–July 1966) and Jack Bruce, who both left to form Cream,
* Peter Green, who had replaced Clapton, played until August 1967, when he departed with Mick Fleetwood and then also enticed Bluesbreaker John McVie a few weeks later to form Fleetwood Mac
* Mick Taylor (August 1967–July 1969) who later joined The Rolling Stones, and reunion tours in 1982–83 and 2004,
* Harvey Mandel, Walter Trout, Larry Taylor (later in Canned Heat),
* Don "Sugarcane" Harris, Randy Resnick, Aynsley Dunbar, Dick Heckstall-Smith, Andy Fraser (Free), Chris Mercer, Henry Lowther, Johnny Almond and Jon Mark (later of Mark-Almond).
The Bluesbreakers were formed in January 1963 and became an ever-evolving lineup of more than 100 different combinations of musicians performing under that name. Eric Clapton joined in 1965 just a few months after the release of their first album. Clapton brought the blues influences to the forefront of the group, as he had left The Yardbirds in order to play the blues.
The group lost their record contract with Decca that year, which also saw the release of a single called "I'm Your Witchdoctor" (produced by Jimmy Page), followed by a return to Decca in 1966. The album Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton (also known as The Beano Album because Clapton is shown on the cover photo reading a copy of the comic) was released later that year; it reached the Top Ten in the UK.
Clapton and Jack Bruce left the group that year to form Cream. Clapton was replaced by Peter Green for A Hard Road, after which he left to form Fleetwood Mac. Finally, in 1969, the third Bluesbreaker-guitarist departed when Mick Taylor joined the Rolling Stones.
By the time the 1960s were over, the Bluesbreakers had finally achieved some success in the United States.
With some interruptions, the Bluesbreakers have continued to tour and release albums (over 50 to date), though they never achieved the critical or popular acclaim of their earlier material. In 2003, Eric Clapton, Mick Taylor and Chris Barber reunited with the band for John Mayall's 70th Birthday Concert in Liverpool — the concert was later released on CD and DVD. In 2004, their line up included Buddy Whittington, Joe Yuele, Hank Van Sickle and Tom Canning, and the band toured the UK with Mick Taylor as a guest musician.
In November 2008 Mayall announced on his website he was disbanding the Bluesbreakers to cut back on his heavy workload and give himself freedom to work with other musicians.
Another Man
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Another man done gone.
Another man done gone, another man done gone, another man done gone.
On the country farm.
He's on the country farm, on the country farm, he's on the country farm.
Another man done gone.
I don't know his name.
Didn't know his name, I didn't know his name, I didn't know his name.
The lyrics to "Another Man" by John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers speak to the tragedy of losing someone. The repetitive lines of "Another man done gone" emphasize the sense of loss and how it is a common occurrence. This theme of loss and grief is further emphasized by the line "I don't know his name" which conveys the idea that the singer may not have had a personal connection to the man who has passed but the loss is still deeply felt. The mention of the country farm conjures up images of simpler times, but also speaks to the idea that death is a part of life, even for those living in rural areas.
The repetition of "Another man done gone" is reminiscent of the call-and-response style of traditional blues music, which often spoke to the struggles and hardships of everyday life. John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers were known for their revival of the blues genre and their use of guitar and harmonica in their music. "Another Man" is a classic example of their sound and style.
Interesting facts about "Another Man" by John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers:
Line by Line Meaning
Another man done gone.
A man has died or left.
Another man done gone.
Repeating that a man has died or left for emphasis.
Another man done gone, another man done gone, another man done gone.
Further emphasizing the loss of multiple men.
He's on the country farm.
The man who passed away or left was on a farm in the countryside.
On the country farm, on the country farm, he's on the country farm.
Repeating that the man was specifically on a farm in the countryside.
Another man done gone.
Reiterating that a man has died or left.
Another man done gone, another man done gone, another man done gone.
Continuing to emphasize the loss of multiple men.
I don't know his name.
The singer did not know the name of the man who passed away or left.
Didn't know his name, I didn't know his name, I didn't know his name.
Repeating that the singer had no knowledge of the man's name.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHN MAYALL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind