Love grew out of the Los Angeles garage band The Grass Roots, changing their name in 1965 to avoid confusion with the P.F. Sloan-managed band of the same name. The band lived communally in Bela Lugosi's former LA residence The Castle, and the house forms the background to the cover of their first two album sleeves.
Love released their eponymous début album in July 1966. This was followed later the same month by the single "Seven and Seven Is/No. Fourteen", neither side of which was included on the album, and which gave the band their only U.S. Billboard top 40 hit.
Love's second album Da Capo was released in January 1967. The album is split between a more conventional first side, featuring 6 tracks (including Seven and Seven is) and a second side featuring just one near twenty-minute track, Revelation.
The band's critical reputation far exceeds the limited success they experienced: their second album to be released in 1967, Forever Changes, is consistently cited by critics as one of the most outstanding albums in the history of rock music. The album features full and complex orchestration throughout, accompanying Lee and MacLean's increasingly elaborate song writing. The album sold poorly in the U.S., reaching #154 on the Billboard charts, although it performed better in some European territories.
Although the band continued to record after Forever Changes, subsequent releases saw frequent large-scale personnel changes, and a move away from the more baroque style of that album towards traditional rock and latterly to soul and funk.
Of the later albums, 1970's False Start is notable for featuring a guest appearance by Jimi Hendrix from one of his last recording sessions.
Lee continued the band until 1975, having lost all the other members to drug problems. He formed other bands called Love (sometimes with former band mate Echols) through the 1990s.
2. Love is also an R'n'B musician based in Manchester, United Kingdom, with Zimbabwean and Malawian roots. His début singles, 'In My Tee' and '3' b/w 'Black Coffee' were released in 2018.
3. The alter ego of Japanese pop singer Ai Otsuka (大塚愛).
4. Former lead singer of disbanded CORE OF SOUL, Fukiko Nakamura's solo work's alias.
5. Love is a Japanese pop/R&B vocal duo, produced by Hiro of Exile's production agency, LDH. They debuted in 2009 with the single "First Love: Love Letter." Their song "Tada Hitotsu no Negai Sae" was certified gold by the RIAJ for 100,000 full-length cellphone downloads.
The band's name comes from the first word in their production company (LDH)'s non-acronym name (Love Dance Happiness).
The band was formed in 2008 by former Paradise Go!! Go!! member Misaki Matsumoto, and quarter Italian Stephanie. The pair met through production agency LDH, when they were given the roles of the two vocalists in a dance performance group called Real Force. When the plans for this unit fell through, the duo formed Love. Both members had been in the entertainment industry for over ten years.
The group's first activity together was releasing a cover of Zone's "Secret Base (Kimi ga Kureta Mono)" as a ringtone (as well as releasing the full version in a special CD attached to the August issue of Gekkan Exile magazine). A year later, the group released their debut single, "First Love: Love Letter," with this cover as a B-side.
The group's songs have been popular through digital markets, with all lead tracks from their singles reaching the top 5 on the RIAJ Digital Track Chart (including "Taisetsu na Kimochi" from their debut album Taisetsu na Kimochi which was not released as a physical single).
The duo have had two collaborations with Exile twice: once before their debut on the song "Love, Dream & Happiness" on Exile's compilation album Exile Ballad Best in 2008, and in 2009 Misaki recorded background vocals for Exile's song "If (I Know)" on their album Aisubeki Mirai e.
Gather Round
Love Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And then you can ring it and go fair thee well
And the leaves don't fall on my grandfather's grave
‘Cos the trees have been replaced with the city buildings
Hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm
Hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm
I'm gonna tell another story ‘bout an animal called man
Well, he struts all around with his tailor made suits
But his mind is all filled up with bullshit
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm
Join in singing and feeling this place
I'd like to be in a lifetime that you can't erase
If you don't like my story then don't buy my songs
‘Cos I wouldn't want you to listen to anything wrong
Take a while, take, take a while
Take, take, take a while, take a while
Take a while
The first two lines of "Gather Round" by Love, "I will invite you, I'll give you my bell / And then you can ring it and go fair thee well," set the tone for the entire song - one of inclusivity and community. The singer is extending an invitation to come together and participate in something greater than oneself. The image of the bell is significant as it symbolizes the act of calling others to gather, join in, and create a shared experience. The leaves don't fall on the grandfather's grave because he is now surrounded by man-made buildings rather than nature. This provides a sense of alienation, the detachment of modern life from the traditional values that bind us all together.
The song then shifts its focus to include a critique of modern society as the singer addresses the collective nature of humanity. He implores the people to gather ‘round and listen as he tells a story about an animal called man. The singer notes that despite the fine attire and polished exterior, the mind of man is filled with junk. The image is of someone who is only concerned with the external image they project to the world rather than the substance of who they are. The phrase, "if you don't like my story then don't buy my songs / ‘Cos I wouldn't want you to listen to anything wrong," is a reminder that the singer is not here to pander to anyone's preferences or to sell a product, but to create a connection through meaningful lyrics and shared understanding.
Line by Line Meaning
I will invite you, I'll give you my bell
I'm welcoming you to come along with me on this journey, and I'll give you a bell to ring in case we get separated.
And then you can ring it and go fair thee well
You can use the bell to say goodbye once our journey comes to an end.
And the leaves don't fall on my grandfather's grave
The construction of the city has replaced the trees that used to be around my grandfather's grave, so the leaves don't fall there anymore.
‘Cos the trees have been replaced with the city buildings
The natural landscape has been replaced by the man-made structures of the city.
Gather ‘round people as fast as you can
Come together quickly, everyone, because I have a story to tell.
I'm gonna tell another story ‘bout an animal called man
I'm going to share my perspective on humans and their behavior by comparing them to animals.
Well, he struts all around with his tailor made suits
Humans like to show off their material possessions, such as their expensive, custom-made clothing.
But his mind is all filled up with bullshit
Despite their outward displays of wealth and success, many humans are filled with lies, deception, and other nonsense.
Join in singing and feeling this place
Let's all come together and share in the experience of this moment and location through music and emotion.
I'd like to be in a lifetime that you can't erase
I want to create memories and experiences that will last forever and cannot be taken away.
If you don't like my story then don't buy my songs
If you don't appreciate my message or perspective, then you don't have to listen to any of my music.
‘Cos I wouldn't want you to listen to anything wrong
I don't want to mislead or deceive anyone with my music or message, so if it doesn't resonate with you, that's okay.
Take a while, take, take a while
Take your time to process and reflect on what you've heard and experienced.
Take, take, take a while, take a while, take a while
Again, take your time to truly absorb and understand the message and feelings conveyed in my music.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: ARTHUR TAYLOR LEE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind