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.
Miss You
Manfred Mann's Earth Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why's my face familiar
You might ask yourself if you really care
But you want to know everybody here
And I'm only twenty feet away and I miss you
Yes I do
How did I get this close again
The way I've been these troubled days
And now I'm only just three words away and I miss you
Yes I do
Yes I miss you now
More than ever
Body and soul
How we stick together
When you're not around
I'm going out of my mind
Seems to happen all the time
And I miss you now
More than ever
Body and soul
How we stick together
When you're not around
I'm going out of my mind
Seems to happen all the time
I miss you
Why's my face familiar
You might ask yourself if you really care
But you want to know everybody here
And I'm only twenty feet away and I miss you
Yes I do
The lyrics of Manfred Mann's Earth Band's song "Miss You" are reflective of the longing and yearning for someone who is not present. The song starts with a question directed towards the singer's face, as if someone is familiar with them, but they are not sure why they care. The lyrics imply that the person listening might want to know everyone present and the singer is only twenty feet away, but they miss them.
The lyrics then progress to the singer explaining how they got so close to the person they miss again. They have friends who have never seen the singer in such troubled times. They are only three words away from the person, and yet they miss them more than ever. The chorus repeats this sentiment, stating that the singer misses the other person, body and soul. They ponder how they stick together when the other person is around, and when they're not, the singer is out of their mind. The song ends with the same question as the start, why's my face familiar, and the conclusion that the singer misses the other person.
Overall, the song is about the pain of missing someone. The singer is close to the person they miss, but distance and other factors keep them apart. The song's lyrics are relatable as anyone who has experienced separation from a loved one can understand the longing and yearning that the singer expresses.
Line by Line Meaning
Why's my face familiar
I am recognizing people around me, but I am looking for you specifically.
You might ask yourself if you really care
You might question if my absence matters to you, but I want you to know that it matters to me.
But you want to know everybody here
You are interested in getting to know everyone in this place, but I am the one you should really be focusing on.
And I'm only twenty feet away and I miss you
Despite our close proximity, I am missing you intensely and it's affecting me.
How did I get this close again
I can't believe I ended up this close to you yet again, yet it only makes me feel more distant from you.
I've got friends who'll say that they've never seen
Even though I have people around me, they do not truly see the inner turmoil that I am facing without you.
The way I've been these troubled days
I am struggling and have been for some time, but it's only been exacerbated by my separation from you.
And now I'm only just three words away and I miss you
Although only three words away from you, 'I miss you', seems to be the only thing I can think of to express how I feel.
Yes I miss you now
I am feeling your absence acutely at this moment.
More than ever
My longing for you is stronger now than it ever has been before.
Body and soul
My whole being, mind, and spirit misses you completely.
How we stick together
The bond between us is unbreakable and undeniable.
When you're not around
Your absence is all-consuming and crushing for me.
I'm going out of my mind
I am struggling to maintain my composure while missing you so terribly.
Seems to happen all the time
This feeling of being lost without you is a recurring, relentless experience.
I miss you
It all boils down to this simple fact: I am missing you greatly.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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