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.
Teenage Nervous Breakdown
Little Feat Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is bad for the the body and bad for the soul
Bad for the heart, bad for the mind,
Bad for the deaf, and bad for the blind
Makes some men crazy and then they act like fools
Makes some men crazy, and then they start to drool
Unscrupulous operators could confuse
Conditional reflex theories and changing probabilities
It's a crass and raucous crackass place
It's a plague upon the the human race
It's a terrible illness, it's a terrible case
And it's usually permanent when it takes place
It's a teenage nervous breakdown
It's a teenage nervous breakdown
In "Teenage Nervous Breakdown" by Little Feat, the lyrics discuss the controversy surrounding rock and roll music. The first stanza suggests that many believe that rock and roll is harmful to both the body and soul. It goes on to say that rock and roll can drive men crazy, causing them to act like fools and drool.
The second stanza talks about how unscrupulous operators could take advantage of the confusion and exploitation that can come with rock and roll. It mentions conditional reflex theories and changing probabilities, which suggest that this music can alter the way people behave and think. Overall, the song conveys a sense of fear and negativity towards rock and roll, painting it as a terrible illness which causes a permanent nervous breakdown.
Overall, the lyrics of "Teenage Nervous Breakdown" are a reflection of the controversy surrounding rock and roll in the 1970s. Some saw rock and roll as a dangerous influence on young people, causing them to rebel and engage in risky behaviors. This song reflects some of those fears and concerns, while also acknowledging the power and energy of this musical genre.
Line by Line Meaning
Some contend that rock and roll
There are people who argue that rock and roll
Is bad for the the body and bad for the soul
Rock and roll has negative effects on both the physical and emotional wellbeing of a person
Bad for the heart, bad for the mind,
It is harmful to both the cardiovascular and mental health of a person
Bad for the deaf, and bad for the blind
Even people who can't hear or see are negatively affected by it
Makes some men crazy and then they act like fools
It can make some people lose their sanity and act irrationally
Makes some men crazy, and then they start to drool
Rock and roll affects some people so intensely that they drool
Unscrupulous operators could confuse
Dishonest people can exploit others by using rock and roll to manipulate them
Could exploit and deceive
They can take advantage of others by using rock and roll to deceive them
Conditional reflex theories and changing probabilities
The scientific study of how rock and roll affects people's minds and behavior is complex and involves variables that can change
It's a crass and raucous crackass place
Rock and roll culture is characterized by crudeness, noise, and vulgarity
It's a plague upon the the human race
Rock and roll is a disease that affects humanity as a whole
It's a terrible illness, it's a terrible case
The negative impact of rock and roll is both severe and widespread
And it's usually permanent when it takes place
The effects of rock and roll are often long-lasting and not easily reversible
It's a teenage nervous breakdown
The intense and negative impact of rock and roll is commonly referred to as a 'teenage nervous breakdown'
It's a teenage nervous breakdown
The repetition of this line emphasizes the seriousness of the issue and underscores the need for people to be aware of the dangers of rock and roll
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: LOWELL T GEORGE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Robert Cochran
on Representing the Mambo
Heard this song right before I had to go on a buiness trip to Rio. The progression of the song up the mountainside to the dangerous favelas above the city to the isolated hidden samba clubs make this song a trip you can truly take in your mind to that place.