The Earth Band was, from a pop perspective, almost deliberately contrary, but combined the stylistic approach of progressive rock with Mann's keen ear for melody. Mann's interest in English 20th century classical music saw him re-create Gustav Holst's Planets Suite, garnering an unlikely UK hit with a version of the "Jupiter" movement that had lyrics added and entitled "Joybringer". Their 1973 album The Good Earth tapped into ecological concerns, a recurring theme in Mann's music in later years, and had a free gift of a piece of land in Wales with each album sold.
The membership of the Earth Band was relatively informal; Mick Rogers originally performed lead guitar and lead vocal duties before being replaced by Chris Thompson on vocals and Dave Flett on guitar. Drumming duties were fulfilled by Chris Slade, who was later to be a member of AC/DC and Asia in a long and varied career which perhaps can be summed up by his being released by AC/DC despite being, according to the rest of the band, the best musician in the band. Similarly, the technically skilled bass player Colin Pattenden, after leaving the Earth Band, became a sound consultant, running his own company designing and installing sound systems. There was much about the Earth Band that was potentially successful, but the contrariness of the band's approach and Mann's perfectionism meant that albums frequently came out with different track listings in different territories, or in alternative versions.
The breakthrough for the band in the US came when they had a No. 1 pop charts hit in early 1977 with Bruce Springsteen's "Blinded by the Light". While the Springsteen original from 1973's Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J. album has a folky, acoustic sound, the Manfred Mann's Earth Band version is driving rock, combining Mann's Moog synthesizer and organ work with Flett's guitar. Manfred can be heard singing at the end of "Blinded By The Light", in the round, with Thompson - it was this feature of the song that initially attracted him. The band took advantage of the publicity and re-released another Springsteen song, "Spirit in the Night", which had been recorded the previous year on Nightingales and Bombers, originally with Rogers on vocals although for some territories it was re-recorded with a vocal from Thompson.
Nightingales and Bombers, The Roaring Silence, and Watch are considered the highlight of the Earth Band's achievement. Watch produced another hit single in "Davy's On The Road Again", and the albums were innovative and original despite the dependence on covers of other artists' songs. Nightingales and Bombers took its title from a World War II naturalist's recording of a nightingale singing in a garden as warplanes flew overhead; the recording appears in a track on the album. Roaring Silence featured a guest appearance by jazz saxophonist Barbara Thompson, and Watch included two stand-out recordings from the bands live performances of "Davy's On The Road Again" and "Mighty Quinn".
Flett left before 1979's Angel Station to be replaced by Steve Waller, sharing the vocal duties with Thompson who was also intent on pursuing a solo career. 1980's Chance showed a move towards a more electronic approach, and produced several cuts that were hits in the UK and/or saw significant airplay in both the US and UK. The songs "Lies (All Through The 80's)", "Stranded", and "For You" (another Springsteen song) still receive significant airplay over 25 years since their release.
Mann became very active in the international anti-apartheid movement, and was banned from entering South Africa, the country in which he had been born. Instead members of the band made journeys to South Africa to record African musicians for the album Somewhere in Afrika, pre-figuring Paul Simon's Graceland. The album included a cover of The Police's "Demolition Man" and a well-received version of Bob Marley's "Redemption Song", which remains in the band's set today. American versions of the album also included Ian Thomas's "The Runner", whose music video had images of the Munich and Montreal Olympic Games, and which enjoyed much airtime in the lead-up to the Los Angeles Olympics.
Manfred Mann's Earth Band has continued recording to the present day, covering tracks by artists as varied as Paul Weller, Robert Cray, Del Amitri, and The Lovin' Spoonful. Mann has also released a solo project, Plains Music, based on Native American music, and his latest album, 2006, includes collaborations with the German rapper Thomas D and tracks featuring the music of, amongst others, the Super Furry Animals. The Earth Band remain active in live performances in Europe, with a line up that includes both Manfred Mann and Mick Rogers.
Most of the band's albums have been re-released in recent years and a 4-CD set featuring many previously unissued versions of tracks was released in August 2005. This includes material from the unreleased (and thought to be lost) Manfred Mann ChapterIII Volume 3 album and the first Earth Band album, Stepping Sideways. The fourth CD in the package includes both unreleased studio material and live performances.
Davy's on the Road Again
Manfred Mann's Earth Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Davy's on the road again
Wearin' different clothes again
Davy's turnin' handouts down
To keep his pockets clean
All his goods are sold again
His word's as a good as gold again
Please - to pity me
Jean and I we moved along
Since the day - down in the hollow
When the mind went driftin' on
And the feet were soon to follow
Davy's on the road again
Wearin' different clothes again
Davy's turnin' handouts down
To keep his pockets clean
Sayin' his goodbyes again
Wheels are in his eyes again
Sez if you seen Jean now as her
Please - to pity me
Downtown in the big town
Gonna set you back on your heels
With a mouth full of memories
And a lot of stickers for my windshield
Shut the door cut the light
Davy won't be home tonight
You can wait till the dawn rolls in
You won't see our Davy again
The lyrics of Manfred Mann's Earth Band’s song Davy's on the Road Again speak of a man named Davy who seems to be a bit of a wanderer. The song starts off saying that Davy is back on the road again, wearing different clothes than the last time he was seen. It seems that he is trying to keep his pockets clean by turning down handouts. He has sold all his goods once again, indicating that he could be living a minimalist lifestyle. But despite his nomadic ways, his word is as good as gold which could mean that he is a man of integrity and does not believe in cheating others. Davy instructs anyone who sees Jean to ask her to pity him, but does not explain who Jean is and why she should pity him.
The second verse suggests that Davy has been on the move with Jean since they were down in the hollow, which could mean that their lives were once settled, but something caused them to start wandering. Davy has his sights set on leaving again, but not before saying his goodbyes. He is ready to hit the road, with wheels in his eyes again. The song ends on a somber note, with the lyrics saying that Davy will not be coming back home tonight, and those waiting for him should wait until the dawn rolls in. The song portrays the fleeting and restless life of a man always on the go, with a shadow of regret that seems to follow him.
Line by Line Meaning
Davy's on the road again
Davy is traveling again
Wearin' different clothes again
He wears different clothes for his travels
Davy's turnin' handouts down
Davy is rejecting help from others to maintain his independence
To keep his pockets clean
He wants to keep his money earned through hard work, without any handouts
All his goods are sold again
He has sold everything he owns to fund his travels
His word's as good as gold again
He is trustworthy and reliable
Sez if you see Jean now ask her
Please - to pity me
He asks anyone who sees Jean to tell her to feel sorry for him
Jean and I we moved along
Since the day - down in the hollow
When the mind went driftin' on
And the feet were soon to follow
Davy and Jean left their hometown after getting lost in thought and then deciding to travel
Sayin' his goodbyes again
Wheels are in his eyes again
He is leaving again and feels excited about his journey
Downtown in the big town
Gonna set you back on your heels
With a mouth full of memories
And a lot of stickers for my windshield
He is going to the city to make new experiences and memories, and put stickers on his car
Shut the door cut the light
Davy won't be home tonight
You can wait till the dawn rolls in
You won't see our Davy again
He won't come back home and his friends/family will not see him again
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JOHN SIMON, ROBBIE ROBERTSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind