Graham Wardrop (Lead Guitar / Vocals)
Garry McAlpine… Read Full Bio ↴Line-Up:
Graham Wardrop (Lead Guitar / Vocals)
Garry McAlpine (Percussion / Vocals)
Peter Edmonds (Drums)
Peter Fraser (Bass Guitar / Vocals)
Kevin Foster (Keyboards)
Lutha was formed in Dunedin, New Zealand in 1970. They established themselves very quickly in Dunedin, as all five members had previously played in top local bands such as Throb and Pussyfoot. They were insistent on remaining a Dunedin based band even after attracting considerable national interest.
They signed to HMV in 1972 and produced two albums during that year. They were the self-titled Lutha and Earth.
Lutha released four singles during 1972 and the beginning of 1973, all coming from their two albums. They were "Then I Saw Her Face"/"Mountain Side", "Stop The Music Is Over"/"My Turn To Cry", "Earth"/"I Really Only Want To Be With You" and "Here And Now (My Friend)"/"Waterfall".
Their first North Island gigs didn't come until late 1972. Had they moved to one of the larger centres, Lutha could have proved to be even more popular, but when they did shift, it was only to Christchurch and by that stage, 1973, it was too late.
In November 1972, EMI promoted a concert at the James Hay Theatre in Christchurch. Lutha performed there along with Blerta, Quincy Conserve and Desna Sisarich. The event was recorded and released early in 1973 as an album called "Live". Lutha contributed three tracks to the album.
Earth
Lutha Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The snow capped mountains and the deepest [?] lakes
The trees that grew so tall
And tried to touch the sky
They just stood there
And they lived until they died
Yes we've got to make it, turn again
So we've got to make it, turn again
You'll see-hee
Then the race began
And like the river flows,
Start it's morning clean
Then began to grow,
In the rapids we have lost our human pride,
And there's no place now
There's nowhere where we can hide
Yes we've got to make it, turn again
Yes we've got to make it, turn again
So we've got to make it, turn again
You'll see-hee
Yes the evening started darkness
Starts to show,
We'll kill our only home
The only place we know,
And the time has come
You know we've got to fight,
Are we condemned to live
And [?want each other light?]
Yes we've got to make it, turn again
Yes we've got to make it, turn again
So we've got to make it, turn again
You'll see-hee
Yes we've got to make it, turn again
Yes we've got to make it, turn again
So we've got to make it, turn again
You'll see-hee
Yes we've got to make it, turn again
Yes we've got to make it, turn again
So we've got to make it, turn again
You'll see-hee
The song "Earth" by Lutha reflects on the current state of the planet and the effect that humans have had on it. The song begins with a description of Earth's natural beauty - the snow-capped mountains, deep lakes, and towering trees that are so majestic. However, it soon becomes clear that humanity has not treated this beauty with the respect it deserves. Instead of preserving the natural world, we have polluted it and destroyed it through our own greed and arrogance.
The lyrics also suggest a call to action. As humans, we have the power to make a change and turn things around. But it will take effort and dedication to undo the damage that has been done. The song contains a sense of urgency, as the time to act is now. The consequences of further inaction could be dire, and we may lose the only home we have.
Overall, "Earth" is a powerful reminder of our responsibility to care for the planet and the consequences of neglecting this duty.
Line by Line Meaning
Earth was everything your god could wish to make
The planet was created to be a perfect world, with magnificent natural features and a vibrant ecosystem.
The snow capped mountains and the deepest [?] lakes
The planet's natural wonders were stunning, including majestic mountains capped with snow and deep, serene lakes.
The trees that grew so tall
The trees on Earth were incredibly tall and appeared as if they were trying to touch the sky.
And tried to touch the sky
The trees were so tall that they seemed to be reaching up towards the sky.
They just stood there
Despite their grandeur, the trees simply stood and grew, providing habitat for other organisms.
And they lived until they died
The trees lived long and fruitful lives before eventually dying, like all living things.
Then the race began
Humanity emerged on Earth, and a competition for resources and power began.
And like the river flows,
The human population grew and swelled like a river, with no regard for the surrounding environment.
Start it's morning clean
At first, humanity's impact on the Earth was small and seemingly harmless.
Then began to grow,
As time passed, humanity grew in size and power, contributing to environmental degradation.
In the rapids we have lost our human pride,
The human race has become arrogant and begun to disregard the natural world and its importance.
And there's no place now
There is no longer anywhere on Earth that remains untouched by human impact and pollution.
There's nowhere where we can hide
We cannot escape the consequences of our actions, and the environmental impacts cannot be undone.
Yes the evening started darkness
The future of the planet looks bleak and uncertain, as humans continue to damage and exploit it.
Starts to show,
The negative impacts of human activity on the planet are becoming increasingly apparent.
We'll kill our only home
Humans are destroying the planet we depend on for survival, posing a threat to our own existence.
The only place we know,
Earth is the only planet we know of that can support life, emphasizing the importance of preserving it.
And the time has come
The situation has reached a critical point, and immediate action is necessary to protect the planet and its inhabitants.
You know we've got to fight,
We must take action to combat the damage already done and prevent future harm to the planet and its ecosystems.
Are we condemned to live
Without taking action, humanity may be resigned to a future of environmental degradation and disaster.
And [?want each other light?]
The original lyrics for this line are unclear, so the meaning is uncertain.
Yes we've got to make it, turn again
We must work to reverse the damage already done and protect the planet for future generations.
You'll see-hee
Only through collective action and cooperation can we hope to save the planet and create a sustainable future.
Contributed by Violet V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.