Livin' Blues (The Hague, 1967 - 1995) were a Dutch blues band who played bl… Read Full Bio ↴Livin' Blues (The Hague, 1967 - 1995) were a Dutch blues band who played blues music, their genre of fusion catagorized as blues-jazz and blues-rock. The band were contemporaneously popular and some of its surviving members continue to play, tour and record, both in the Netherlands and abroad, latterly as Livin' Blues Xperience

1. Livin' Blues nomenclature:
1967 - 1995 Livin' Blues
1986 - 1999 New Livin' Blues
2003 - 2005 Blues A Livin'
2005 - today Livin' Blues Xperience

From 1967 to 1997, a variety of musicians joined and left, with key additions including:

2. Livin' Blues 1967 members:
Niek Dijkhuis (drums)
Ruud Franssen (bass-guitar)
John LaGrand (harmonica, percussion)
Ted Oberg (bass-guitar, guitar)
Djörn Pool (vocals)
Hans Vermeulen (vocals, guitar, keyboards)

3. Livin' Blues 1968 - 1969 additions:
Nicko Christiansen (guitar, percussion, saxophone, vocals )
Jeroen van Niele (bass-guitar)
Gerard Strötbaum (bass-guitar)
Henk Smitskamp (bass-guitar)
Cesar Zuiderwijk (drums)

4. Livin' Blues 1970 - 1979 additions:
Herman van Boeyen (drums, vocals)
Ruud van Buuren (drums)
Michel Driesten (drums)
Jaap van Eik (bass-guitar)
Margriet Eshuys (vocals)
John Fredriksz (vocals)
Jacob van Heiningen (drums)
John Le Jeune (drums)
Arjen Kamminga (drums, percussion)
Kenny Lamb (drums)
Maggie MacNeal (vocals)
Ronnie Meyjes (guitar)
Andre Reijnen (bass)
Pietjan Visser (harmonica)
Jan van der Voort (bass-guitar)

5. Livin' Blues 1980 - 1989 additions:
Art Bausch (drums)
Nicko Christiansen (didgeridoo, guitar, percussion, sax, vocals)
Joop van Nimwegen (guitar)
Aad van Pijlen (bass-guitar, vocals)
Peter Vink (horns)
Fred van Vloten (drums)
Willem van de Wall (guitar)
Evert Willemstein (bass)

Catalogued discography:

6. Livin' Blues singles:
1968 Murphy Mc.Coy / My Sister Kate
1969 (You Better Watch Yourself) Sonny Boy / One Night Blues
1970 Wang Dang Doodle / Crazy Woman
1971 Black Lisa / Red Mountain River
1972 Choice / Selection
1972 L.B. boogie / Johnny W.
1973 Please Don't Leave Me / Sweet Suzanne
1973 Poinsetta Petal / Gamble on
1974 Boogie Woogie Woman / Ricochet
1977 Shylina / That Night
1989: Wang Dang Doodle / L.B. Boogie

7. Livin' Blues albums:
1969: Hell's Sessions
1970: Wang Dang Doodle
1971: Bamboozle
1972: Rockin' at the Tweedmill
1973: Ram Jam Rosey
1975: Live '75
1976: Blue Breeze
1989: Snakedance Live
1993: Early Blues Sessions (limited edition) (compilation)
1995: Out of the Blue

8. AllMusic.com Livin' Blues Biography
This Dutch blues band was formed in the Hague around 1967, becoming a regular outfit from 1969. The early line-up included Bjorn Toll (vocals), John Lagrand (harmonica), Ted Oberg (guitar), Ruud Fransen (bass) and Niek Dijkhuys (drums) but although the name remained wholesale changes soon took place, bringing in a new singer, Nicko Christiansen, and new bass and drums, Peter Kleinjan and Beer Klaasse, the latter pair being swiftly replaced by Gerard Strutbaum and Cesar Zuiderwijk, while keyboard player Henk Smitskamp was added. Other changes followed through the 70s, by which time the band’s repertoire was more inclined towards rock. Musicians involved included bass players Ruud van Buuren, Jan van der Voort, Jaap van Eijk and André Reynen, drummers John Lejeune, Herman van Boeyen, Cor van Beek, Michel Driessen, Kenny Lamb and Arjen Kamminga; the latter pair played in the band simultaneously for a spell. Smitskamp sometimes played bass, singer Johnny Frederiksz came in, as did organist Paul Vin and guitarist Ron Meyes.

Although best known in the Netherlands, Livin’ Blues also gained a following elsewhere in Europe, especially in Poland. At the start of the 80s, the band included Oberg, Christiansen, Evert Willemstein (bass) and Boris Wassenbergh (drums). Spin-off bands formed by ex-members of the Livin’ Blues included Nitehawk and the J&T Band, while most members also played with other Dutch blues and rock bands. The band recorded from 1968, cutting a few singles with its first album coming in 1969. The band appears to have drifted from the limelight after the early 80s but interest in its recorded work remained high into the new millennium.

The above (#8) is the erroneous (poorly translated) bio' previously plagiarized from AllMusic - Livin' Blues

Lonesome Road
Livin' Blues Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Look down, look down that lonesome road
Before you travel on.

Look down, look down that lonesome road
Before you travel on.
Look up, look up and greet your maker,
For Gabriel blows his horn.

Weary, totin' such a load,
Travelin' down that lonesome road,
Look down, look down that lonesome road
Before you travel on.

Weary totin', it's such a load,
Whike I'm travelin' down, travelin' down that lonesome old road,

Look down, look down that lonesome road
Before you travel on.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Livin' Blues's song Lonesome Road are filled with imagery of journeying through the ups and downs of life, with a recognition of the inevitability of death. The phrase "Look down, look down that lonesome road, before you travel on" serves as a warning to the listener to take a moment to reflect on where they are in life and where they are headed. The repetition of this phrase in the chorus emphasizes the importance of taking the time to reflect on one's life.

The lyrics encourage the listener to "Look up, look up and greet your maker, for Gabriel blows his horn," which suggests that the end of the road may be approaching. This line has significance in religious and cultural contexts. In the Christian tradition, Gabriel is the archangel who will blow his horn on Judgment Day, signaling the end of the world and the start of the afterlife. Therefore, the song references the possibility of the end of life and the importance of being prepared to meet one's maker.

The line, "Weary, totin' such a load," emphasizes the struggle of life, but also the idea of carrying weight and responsibility as we journey down the road of life. The song could be interpreted as an encouragement to keep persevering despite life's struggles and the inevitability of death. In essence, the lyrics serve as a reminder to reflect on one's life, be prepared for death, and to continue to carry the weight of life's struggles.

Line by Line Meaning

Look down, look down that lonesome road
Take a moment to reflect and consider the path you're on, which may be sad and isolated.

Before you travel on.
It's important to take the time to assess your direction before continuing onward.

Look up, look up and greet your maker,
Acknowledge the divine presence above and prepare to meet your ultimate fate.

For Gabriel blows his horn.
The archangel Gabriel, a symbol of divine judgment, signals the end of days.

Weary, totin' such a load,
Exhausted and burdened, carrying both physical and emotional weight throughout the journey.

Travelin' down that lonesome road,
Traversing through a bleak and solitary landscape.

Look down, look down that lonesome road
Reinforcing the need to reflect on the direction and effects of one's journey.

Before you travel on.
A reminder to take the necessary time for reflection before continuing down one's life path.

Weary totin', it's such a load,
Repeating the sentiment of exhaustion and hardship, the burden weighing heavily on the traveler.

Whike I'm travelin' down, travelin' down that lonesome old road,
Continuing on through the lonely path, with a sense of resignation and weariness.

Look down, look down that lonesome road
The reiteration reinforces the importance of introspection and consideration throughout the journey.