* 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.
Ramblin' On My Mind
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I got rambling all on my mind.
I got rambling,
I got rambling all on my mind.
I hates to leave my baby,
But she treats me so unkind.
I got mean things,
I got mean things,
I got mean things all on my mind.
I hates to leave my baby,
But she treats me so unkind.
I'm going down to the station,
Catch the fastest train I see.
I'm going down to the station,
Catch the fastest train I see.
I got the blues 'bout miss so-and-so
And her son's got the blues about me.
I got rambling,
I got rambling all on my mind.
I got rambling,
I got rambling all on my mind.
I hates to leave my baby,
But she treats me so unkind.
The lyrics of John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers's song "Ramblin' On My Mind" depict the emotional turmoil and restlessness of the singer who is dealing with a failed relationship. The lines, "I got rambling, I got rambling all on my mind" signify the constant urge to move on and leave everything behind. The singer is burdened with thoughts of his lover, who has treated him harshly, and the lyrics, "I hates to leave my baby, but she treats me so unkind," explain the pain and hesitance he feels in leaving her.
The feelings of resentment and bitterness towards his lover are also evident through the lines, "I got mean things, I got mean things all on my mind." The singer, overwhelmed with emotions, decides to leave town by taking the next available train, "I'm going down to the station, Catch the fastest train I see."
Throughout the song, the singer is struggling with his own emotions and the pain of his broken relationship. The song suggests that despite the hurt and sorrow, he is determined to move on and leave the past behind.
Line by Line Meaning
I got rambling,
I have the urge to wander and travel.
I got rambling all on my mind.
The thought of traveling constantly occupies my thoughts.
I hates to leave my baby,
I don't want to leave my significant other behind.
But she treats me so unkind.
However, my partner mistreats and hurts me.
I got mean things,
I have negative thoughts and feelings.
I got mean things all on my mind.
These negative thoughts and feelings are overwhelming my mind.
I'm going down to the station,
I am heading towards the train station.
Catch the fastest train I see.
I am catching the fastest available train to move away from my problems.
I got the blues 'bout miss so-and-so
I feel sad and gloomy about a woman named 'so-and-so.'
And her son's got the blues about me.
The woman's son is feeling sad about me leaving.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Elmore James
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind