Lowell George met Bill Payne when George was a member of Frank Zappa's Mothers of Invention. Payne had auditioned for the Mothers, but had not joined. They formed Little Feat along with former Mothers' bassist Roy Estrada and drummer Richie Hayward from George's previous band, the Factory. The name of the band came from a comment made by Mothers' drummer Jimmy Carl Black about Lowell's "little feet." The spelling of "feat" was an homage to The Beatles.
Their first two albums received nearly universal critical acclaim, and "Willin'" became a standard, subsequently popularized by its inclusion on Linda Ronstadt's album Heart Like a Wheel.
While touring in support of his solo album in June 1979, at the age of 34, George collapsed in his hotel room in Arlington, Virginia. The surviving members finished and released the Little Feat album "Down on the Farm" before disbanding.
The surviving former members of Little Feat reformed in 1987 when Paul Barrere, Sam Clayton, Kenny Gradney, Richie Hayward and Bill Payne added songwriter/vocalist Craig Fuller, formerly from the band Pure Prairie League (who also provided some rhythm guitar), and Fred Tackett on guitar, mandolin and trumpet.
With a seemingly constant tour schedule, Little Feat is easily one of the hardest-working and enduring bands in the industry today. With a history that spans more than 30 years, Little Feat is regarded by many rock music critics as a "band's band", and as one of the greatest rock bands in American rock music history. Best known for their combination of California rock and Dixie-inflected funk-boogie, they craftily blend folk, blues, rockabilly, country and jazz to create a unique style all their own, garnering a faithful grass-roots following. Simply put, Little Feat's sound transcends traditional music boundaries and they offer fans an unforgettable live performance.
Richie Hayward became the second founding member of the band to die, passing from pneumonia and other complications of lung disease on August 18, 2010.
Front Page News
Little Feat Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Rght when you think you can lay back easy
Those times are hard to come by
Sittin' still with nothin' on your mind
Memories are friends that you had
It's so clear if you need to see
I can count on you, you can count
Those clouds outside your doorway
Don't seem so dark or move so fast
If you keep on rocking long as it keeps raining
Back and forth on your porch
Just keep on rocking, keep on rocking
If I could only tell you what I feel now
It's been so long inside of me
All the years that I've been trying
To stay in touch, to stay in line
Trying just to be myself, be myself
And no one else
Front page right through to back page
Have I got news for you
You know the story; it's the truth; love's the proof
If you keep on rocking long as it keeps raining
Back and forth on your porch
Just keep on rocking; keep on rocking
Have I got news for you
Front page, back page
Have I got news for you
Front page, back page
Have I got news for you
The lyrics of "Front Page News" by Little Feat explore the difficulty of finding peace of mind in the midst of life's challenges. The song opens with an acknowledgement that just when one feels they can relax and take it easy, something always seems to come along and disrupt that sense of calm. Those carefree moments are hard to come by in life, leaving one with a sense of restlessness and unease when there is nothing to occupy their thoughts. Memories can offer some solace in these moments, a chance to reflect on the good times and recall the people who have been there to support us. The chorus encourages the listener to embrace the power of the present moment to find peace, even as the rain and the clouds threaten to disrupt one's comfort.
The second verse alludes to the struggles and pressures that the singer has faced in life, and the sense of isolation that can come with trying to stay true to oneself. Despite these challenges, the singer suggests that staying connected to others, both in terms of friendship and through the power of love, is what provides a sense of enduring meaning and purpose in life. The song concludes with a repetition of the chorus, reinforcing the idea that weathering life's storms requires embracing the present moment and staying connected to others.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't it always seem to hit you
It's a common occurrence that something happens when you're comfortable
Right when you think you can lay back easy
Just when you're finally able to relax
Those times are hard to come by
It's rare to find moments of complete peace
Sittin' still with nothin' on your mind
Sitting quietly with a clear mind
Memories are friends that you had
Memories can be like old friends
It's so clear if you need to see
If you look back at your memories, the past can seem very clear
I can count on you, you can count
We can rely on each other
You can count on me
I will always be there for you
Those clouds outside your doorway
The problems you face can seem less daunting than they appear
Don't seem so dark or move so fast
Your problems may not be as bad or as urgent as they seem
If you keep on rocking long as it keeps raining
Keep doing what you love even when times are tough
Back and forth on your porch
Enjoy the little things in life
Just keep on rocking, keep on rocking
Keep enjoying life
If I could only tell you what I feel now
I wish I could express my emotions better
It's been so long inside of me
I've kept these emotions bottled up for too long
All the years that I've been trying
I've been working hard for a long time
To stay in touch, to stay in line
To maintain relationships and stay true to myself
Trying just to be myself, be myself
Trying to be my true self and no one else
And no one else
I want to be authentic
Front page right through to back page
I have something important to share
Have I got news for you
I have some exciting news to share
You know the story; it's the truth; love's the proof
The story I have to share is true, and love can prove it
Have I got news for you
I really have something worth sharing
Front page, back page
This is big news that should be shared far and wide
Have I got news for you
Let me tell you all about it
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: WILLIAM PAYNE, LOWELL T GEORGE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@TheRealForrestGeorge
Don't it always seem to hit you?
Right when you think you can lay back easy
Those times are hard to come by
Sittin' still with nothin' on your mind.
Memories are friends that you had
It's so clear if you need to see
I can count on you, you can count, you can count on me.
Those clouds outside your doorway
Don't seem so dark or move so fast
If you keep on rocking long as it keeps raining
Back and forth on your porch
Just keep on rocking, keep on rocking.
If I could only tell you what I feel now
It's been so long inside of me
All the years that I've been trying
To stay in touch, to stay in line
Trying just to be myself, be myself and no one else.
Front page right through to back page
Have I got news for you?
You know the story, it's the truth, love's the proof
If you keep on rocking long as it keeps raining
Back and forth on your porch
Just keep on rocking, keep on rocking.
Have I got news for you?
Front page, back page
Have I got news for you?
Front page, back page
Have I got news for you?
@TheRealForrestGeorge
Don't it always seem to hit you?
Right when you think you can lay back easy
Those times are hard to come by
Sittin' still with nothin' on your mind.
Memories are friends that you had
It's so clear if you need to see
I can count on you, you can count, you can count on me.
Those clouds outside your doorway
Don't seem so dark or move so fast
If you keep on rocking long as it keeps raining
Back and forth on your porch
Just keep on rocking, keep on rocking.
If I could only tell you what I feel now
It's been so long inside of me
All the years that I've been trying
To stay in touch, to stay in line
Trying just to be myself, be myself and no one else.
Front page right through to back page
Have I got news for you?
You know the story, it's the truth, love's the proof
If you keep on rocking long as it keeps raining
Back and forth on your porch
Just keep on rocking, keep on rocking.
Have I got news for you?
Front page, back page
Have I got news for you?
Front page, back page
Have I got news for you?
@lynnyac5664
So glad I found the original album version of this song! My vinyl is all packed up and I needed to hear THIS! Not the less bluesy version I find on the streaming apps. Thank you!
@Torsten_Heinzel
Put this band into the Hall Of Fame now!
@Voyageur314
It is absolutely a crime that they aren't in the hall!! Maybe it's time to call the Rock N Roll Doctor about this?!!!! 😎✌❤🎶
@tjcolatrella943
Lowell's Vocal on this is Pure Soul!
@catherineyoung9645
I can’t believe that I can’t hear this version on Apple Music. Vastly preferable to the other one.
@steveloughin4248
I believe that I have bought every album that they made. Perfect chill music. Thanks for sharing.
@Voyageur314
How is it possible that Little Feat is not in the Rock Hall? 😎✌❤🎶
@LONGBOBCOPPER
He remains to this day my favorite vocalist
@blueeyedsoulman
What a loss. I guess God wants really bluesy singers in heaven. Thanks for the recording.