Kris Ife (born 16 June 1946, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, England) is an Eng… Read Full Bio ↴Kris Ife (born 16 June 1946, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, England) is an English singer and songwriter, who enjoyed modest success on the British pop scene in the 1960s and 1970s. He is best known for recording a version of "Hush", which inspired Deep Purple's hit cover of the same song.

Ife's father was based at RAF Halton near Tring. Ife moved to London and attended St. Clement Danes School in Acton, and it was whilst at school that he formed a skiffle group called the Gravediggers.

After leaving school he started a group called the Vikings with John Howell and Ray Hailey. The Vikings recorded "Space Walk", produced by Curly Clayton which was not released under their name, but turned up some years later under the name of "Gemini" and with a different producer listed, although the recording was the same.

In 1964, the Vikings manager, John Smith, amalgamated them with The Quiet 5, taking their lead vocalist Patrick Dane and bassist Richard Barnes, along with the name. Dane left some time later, before the Quiet Five had recorded anything. Despite their name there we six members, John Howell (organ/vocals), Kris Ife (guitar/vocals), Richard Barnes (bass guitar/vocals), Roger McKew (lead guitar), Ray Hailey (drums) and John "Satch" Goswell (saxophone). During their time together The Quiet Five released a handful of singles and managed to get into the Top 50 of the UK Singles Chart in 1965 with a song written by Ife, "When the Morning Sun Dries the Dew" and then again in 1966 with a cover of Simon & Garfunkel's "Homeward Bound".

The Quiet Five played at Windsor Castle at a party for Prince Charles' 18th birthday in December 1966, and subsequently they played on the 'Society Circuit', including the Royal Hunt Ball and the Venice Film Festival.

Ife left The Quiet Five in 1967 and went solo, and it was at this time that he recorded a cover of Joe South's "Hush", which later inspired Deep Purple's 1968 hit.

Ife was asked to sing a track "Imagination" for the British record producer Mark Wirtz, and was also writing songs with J. Vincent Edwards and Michael Derrick under the pseudonym of Miki Anthony. Ife put together a session band which developed into The Matchmakers, to record material for Wirtz. Wirtz also recorded and produced the Judd album, Snarling Mumma Lion, which was co-written by Ife. Ife also recorded a few obscure, early 1970s The Righteous Brothers styled singles with J. Vincent Edwards, under the name Jackson & Jones.

Most of Ife's recordings were released as Hush - Definitive Collection 1967-1973 on RPM Records, which included "Hush", the Judd album, Jackson & Jones singles and an unreleased track from his American history concept album. The Quiet Five recordings are on the CD, When the Morning Sun Dries the Dew, also on RPM Records.

He is still writing and recording music. In October 2008 he went to Philadelphia, U.S., and recorded a CD of skiffle songs with J. Vincent Edwards and Wayne S. Newton, under the name of The Beaver Street Hat Band. The resultant album, 'Beaver Street', will be released shortly.

Ife has traced the family-tree back to the 1500s, discovering that Ife is an old Suffolk word for a yew tree

Give and Take
Kris Ife Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Yes I know, know your love is gone
And you feel, you can't carry on
The burden gets heavier
And your sorrows are deeper, girl

You've got to give a little, take a little
Pay the price, make a sacrifice
Give a little, take a little

True love's a game if you give and take

Remember Romeo and Juliet
How they gave and took a lot, don't you forget
I know it's so hard to believe
But be smart and you won't have to fear

You've got to give a little, take a little
Pay the price, make a sacrifice
Give a little, take a little
True love's a game if you give and take

Yes, you'll say you haven't lost your faith
You'll get tired of this long wait

You must give if you want to get
If you do that you know you won't regret

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Kris Ife's song "Give and Take" express the struggles of dealing with the pain of lost love and the burden that comes with it. The song acknowledges that it can be hard to keep going when everything feels heavy and sorrowful, but the message is one of hope and resilience.

The chorus of the song emphasizes the importance of balance and compromise in relationships. Love is a two-way street, and both parties must be willing to give and take in order to play the game of true love. The lyrics encourage listeners to pay the price and make sacrifices for love, but to also recognize when enough is enough and it's time to move on.

The song references the story of Romeo and Juliet, who were known for giving and taking a lot in their relationship. But the reminder to be smart and not let love consume you underscores the idea that love should ultimately bring happiness, not sadness or fear. The final verse gives hope that even when faith is lost and the wait is long, giving to others is the key to regaining self-worth and avoiding regrets.

Overall, "Give and Take" is a catchy tune with a powerful message about the importance of balance and compromise in all relationships.

Line by Line Meaning

Yes I know, know your love is gone
Acknowledging that the love between the two individuals is nonexistent or over

And you feel, you can't carry on
The feeling of helplessness and inability to continue living without that love

The burden gets heavier
The weight on one's shoulders increases with each passing day

And your sorrows are deeper, girl
The sorrow felt is more profound and overwhelming as time passes

You've got to give a little, take a little
In any relationship, there must be a balance of giving and taking

Pay the price, make a sacrifice
Being in a relationship requires effort and some degree of compromise and selflessness

True love's a game if you give and take
Love is like a game that can only be won if both parties are willing to make concessions and work together

Remember Romeo and Juliet
Referencing the well-known love story where both characters made sacrifices for their love

How they gave and took a lot, don't you forget
Romeo and Juliet made many sacrifices to be with each other, which should serve as a reminder that love requires effort

I know it's so hard to believe
Acknowledges that it may be difficult to accept that love requires sacrifice and compromise

But be smart and you won't have to fear
If both parties are sensible and committed, there is no need to be afraid of giving and taking in a relationship

Yes, you'll say you haven't lost your faith
Despite the difficulties, there is still hope and belief in finding love

You'll get tired of this long wait
The process of finding love may be long and tiring

You must give if you want to get
In order to receive love, one must also give it

If you do that you know you won't regret
By giving and taking in a relationship, one can avoid any feelings of regret or resentment

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JIMMY CLIFF

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS