Beginnings 1962—1963
The Mann-Hugg Blues Brothers (as the band were originally called) were formed in London in December 1962 by keyboard player Manfred Mann and drummer/vibes player Mike Hugg. Born out of the British blues boom then sweeping London's clubs (which also spawned such luminaries as The Rolling Stones and The Yardbirds), the band were completed by Mike Vickers on lead guitar, Dave Richmond on bass, and Paul Jones fronting as lead vocalist and harmonica player. Gigging constantly throughout late 1962 and early 1963, the band soon attracted attention for their distinctive sound propelled by Mann's keyboards, Jones' soulful vocals and an occasional horn section.
Manfred Mann's Cock-A-Hoop (1964)
The group signed to HMV Records in March 1963 after a change of name to Manfred Mann (at the suggestion of their label's producer), and debuted in July of that year with the jazzy instrumental single "Why Should We Not?", which failed to chart, as did the follow up (with vocals this time), "Cock-A-Hoop"
Early success 1964—1965
Groovin' with Manfred Mann EP (1964)
In 1964 the group were asked to provide a new theme tune for the ITV pop music TV series Ready Steady Go!. They responded with the energetic "5-4-3-2-1" which, with the help of weekly TV exposure, rose to No.5 in the UK charts. It was shortly after "5-4-3-2-1" was recorded that Richmond left the band, being replaced by Tom McGuinness - the first of many line-up changes. After a further self-penned hit ("Hubble Bubble (Toil And Trouble)") the band struck gold with "Do Wah Diddy Diddy", a cover of a minor hit earlier that year by The Exciters. The track, which showcased Jones' powerful singing, reached the top of both the UK and US charts (The Exciters version had only charted #78 in the US).
During 1965 the group continued to have hits with both self-penned and cover material, their sound increasingly moving away from the blues-based music of their early years to a highly successful pop-soul hybrid. Notably the group began to have success with interpretations of Bob Dylan songs, including "With God On Our Side" as a track on a best-selling EP.
The One In the Middle EP (1965)
They also reached No.2 in the UK with the controversial "If You Gotta Go, Go Now", which was banned or edited by a number of TV and radio stations. Prior to this latter release, Paul Jones announced his intention to quit the band for a solo career once a replacement could be found.
The Mike d'Abo years 1966—1969
Jones stayed with the band for one more year, during which time Mike Vickers was replaced by Jack Bruce of John Mayall's Bluesbreakers (long enough to play bass on the band's second UK No.1 single "Pretty Flamingo"). Jones was eventually replaced by Mike d'Abo - among those on the shortlist was Rod Stewart - and this was one of the few occasions when a band has successfully swapped lead singers and remained at the top. Jack Bruce left to form Cream and was replaced by Klaus Voorman (a longtime Beatles associate), with McGuinness moving to guitar. To complete the changes, the group switched labels to Fontana Records.
With d'Abo as vocalist, the group pursued a softer acoustic pop sound, with a tinge of Dylanesque social comment and surrealism in the lyrics. Their first Fontana Records single was in fact a Dylan cover, "Just Like A Woman", and the group went on to score their biggest hit for two years with a cover of his "Mighty Quinn".
Frustrated with the limitations and image of being seen purely as a hit singles band (their last two albums failed to chart), the group split in 1969.
1970s and on— Manfred Mann's Earth Band
Mann went on to write advertising jingles after the group's demise, but still continued to work in the group format. Initially he formed Manfred Mann Chapter Three (with Mike Hugg), an experimental jazz rock band, described by Mann as an over reaction to the hit factory of the Manfred Mann group. This was, however, short lived and by 1971 they had disbanded and Mann had formed a new group, Manfred Mann's Earth Band.
For further details, see Manfred Mann's Earth Band.
5-4-3-2-1 The Manfreds (1998)
1990s and on—The Manfreds
In the 1990s, most of the original 1960s line-up reformed as The Manfreds, minus Manfred Mann himself (hence the name), playing most of the old 1960s hits and a few jazz instrumentals, sometimes with both Paul Jones and Mike d'Abo fronting the line-up.
At the same time Jones and Tom McGuinness (McGuinness formed McGuinness Flint in 1970, but they disbanded in 1975) have been mainstays of The Blues Band (which they helped form in 1978).
The Runner
Manfred Mann Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Through the night...through the dawn,
Behind you another runner is born.
Don't look back, you've been there.
See the mist as your breath hits the air.
And it's underneath the moonlight, passing some;
Still your heart beats in the moonlight like a drum.
Through the night...through the dawn,
Behind you another runner is born.
Don't look back, you've been there.
Feel the mist as your breath hits the air.
And it's underneath the moonlight, passing some;
Still your heart beats in the moonlight like a drum.
And you will run your time, a shooting star across the sky.
And you will surely cross the line, to pass on the flame.
Sun come up...sun go down.
Hear the beat, see the sweat on the ground.
Watch your step, keep your cool,
Though you can't see what's in front of you.
And it's underneath the moonlight, passing some;
Still your heart beats in the moonlight like a drum.
And you will run your time, a shooting star across the sky.
And you will surely cross the line, to pass on the flame, pass on the flame.
Through the night...through the dawn,
Behind you another runner is born.
Don't look back, you've been there.
Feel the mist as your breath hits the air.
And it's underneath the moonlight, passing some;
Still your heart beats in the moonlight like a drum.
And you will run your time, a shooting star across the sky.
And you will surely cross the line.
And it's underneath the moonlight, passing some;
Still your heart beats in the moonlight like a drum.
And you will run your time, a shooting star across the sky.
And you will surely cross the line.
"Runner" by Manfred Mann's Earth Band is a song that the listener might find quite motivating. It is very likely about running, and the lyrics are full of poetic imagery that suggests a race, but it feels like it could be more than that - perhaps a metaphor for life. The song's protagonist is a runner who is encouraged to keep moving forward as they run through the night, through the dawn, and into the day. They are joined by other runners who emerge from the mist and behind them, the various obstacles they had to overcome begin to fade. The song seems to suggest that there is always another challenge ahead, but that it is important to keep going, to keep pushing past these difficulties and to inspire others to do the same.
As the moon and the sun rise and set, and the runner continues on their journey, there is an overriding sense that life is a constant race we are all running. We are encouraged to keep moving forward regardless of the obstacles we face and to keep running, for in doing so, we inspire those who will come after us. The song speaks about passing on the flame, which could be seen as the idea of passing on the baton in a relay race, or it could be understood more broadly as a metaphor for what we leave behind. We all contribute something to the world, and it is up to us to inspire the next generation to continue the journey and pass the torch.
Overall, "Runner" is a song about perseverance, determination, and the need to keep moving forward, no matter what obstacles arise. It is a song that inspires and motivates, and it encourages listeners to think about the legacy they will leave behind.
Line by Line Meaning
Through the night...through the dawn,
Overcoming the hurdles and continuing through the darkness until the morning.
Behind you another runner is born.
Someone else is entering the race, so keep moving forward and don't let them overtake you.
Don't look back, you've been there.
Don't dwell on the past experiences or failures, but push forward towards your goal.
Feel the mist as your breath hits the air.
Experience the cool, refreshing sensations of running in the outdoors.
And it's underneath the moonlight, passing some; Still your heart beats in the moonlight like a drum.
The scenery of the moonlit night provides motivation, and your heart is pumping fiercely with adrenaline.
And you will run your time, a shooting star across the sky.
You'll make an impact with the spark of your passion towards the goal.
And you will surely cross the line, to pass on the flame.
You will undoubtedly reach your goal, and your passion will inspire others to follow their dreams.
Sun come up...sun go down.
Time passes, but your dedication to your goal remains consistent.
Hear the beat, see the sweat on the ground.
The rhythm of your heartbeat and sweat on the ground signifies hard work and dedication towards the goal.
Watch your step, keep your cool,Though you can't see what's in front of you.
Remain level-headed and focused even when uncertainty lies ahead.
And you will run your time, a shooting star across the sky.
Your bright trajectory of passion towards your goal is akin to that of a 'shooting star.'
And you will surely cross the line.
Your perseverance and dedication guarantee that you will reach and exceed your goal.
And it's underneath the moonlight, passing some;Still your heart beats in the moonlight like a drum.
The serene night scene is often motivation to keep going and your heart is driving your 'drum-like' rhythm.
And you will run your time, a shooting star across the sky.
Once again, your run is simile to that of a shooting star- unique, unforgettable, and full of determined passion.
And you will surely cross the line.
The determination and dedication you hold will ensure success and the crossing of the finish line.
Lyrics © ST MUSIC LLC.
Written by: GIORGIO MORODOR, SHEILA FERGUSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Adrian
Canadian Sinver / Songwriter Ian Thomas wrofe this song. He lives in Stoney Creek, Canada.
@fredricardo3272
My God! Brings tears to my eyes. The greatness of the 1980s will never die.
@brakesforsnakes757
You're goddamn right!
@jeffreyp1957
Lucy has NO splainin to do here!
@leadme2thebliss21
It reminds me of the movie First Born, however I wasn't born until around 1984 so I don't remember the 80s really well at all, obviously.
@rhoadnaroahs
This song needs to be on classic rock radio! Enough Blinded By The Light for the billionth time!
@scubasteve7303
If you’re a child of the 80’s, and you’re a runner, there’s a 100% you love this song.
@jeremiahpolom2802
To me, this song I about running through the course of our lives. That's what I hear when I heard this song. It's more philosophical to me.
@christinedaus3043
One of my all-time favorites. Very powerful! Sharing it with a couple of friends who are going through a very difficult time.
@joannasiciliano6549
🎉