They had three major hits in the UK singles chart, all of them bubblegum pop classics: "Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep" (Number 1), "Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum" (Number 2) and "Soley Soley" (Number 5), all in 1971. But in other European countries, their success continued well into 1972 and 1973, with songs like "Sacramento", "Samson and Delilah", "Bottom's Up" and "The Talk of All the USA".
Their enigmatic percussionist / lead vocalist was Sally Carr (born Sarah Cecilia Young on 28 March 1945, in Muirhead, Lanarkshire) (ex Part Four, Los Caracas), the rest of the band were, drummer Ken Andrews (born Kenneth Andrew Ballentyne, 28 August 1946, in Bearsden, Glasgow, Strathclyde) (ex Part Four, Los Caracas); guitarist / flutist Ian Campbell-Lewis (born Ian McCreadie, 15 July 1947, in Partick, Glasgow, Strathclyde) (ex Part Four, Los Caracas); bassist / vocalist Eric Campbell-Lewis (born Eric McCreadle, 17 June 1949, in Partick, Glasgow, Strathclyde) (ex Part Four, Los Caracas).
Louise
Middle Of The Road Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On the Baltic Sea
With my little ship, Louise
Though there's nothing there
There's nothin' like wanderin' without a care
There's only the wind and the water, the smell of the ocean air
Keeps me there
I'd be ocean bound
Where only the seagulls follow me around
I'd never be able to get into trouble unless I'm found
Ship aground
When I go to sea
I dreamin' that my imagination free
And fly away into the sky
And a ceiling of happiness, happiness
And I'm sure to be
On the Baltic Sea
With my little ship, Louise
I'd be ocean bound
Where only the seagulls follow me around
I'd never be able to get into trouble unless I'm found
Ship aground
When I go to sea
I dreamin' that my imagination free
And fly away into the sky
And a ceiling of happiness, happiness
We'd be here to dream
I'm goin' out slowly on a moonlight beam
And people that taking good care of me, helping me on my way
Let me stay
And I'm sure to be
On the Baltic Sea
With my little ship, Louise
The first verse of "Louise" by Middle of the Road, paints a picture of the singer dreaming of being on the Baltic Sea with their little ship, Louise. The sea is a vast expanse of water, but to the singer, there isn't anything there. Despite this, they say there’s nothin' like wanderin' without a care because the sea has the power to bring a sense of peace to those who traverse it. The winds and the smell of the ocean air evoke a strong sense of calm and serenity that the singer wishes to embrace.
In the second verse, the singer talks about how he'd never be able to get into trouble unless he's found ship aground on the Baltic Sea with only the seagulls for company. Being on the sea is like stepping into a vast open space, where there are no complications or stressful situations. The lyrics also suggest that sailing on the Baltic Sea allows the imagination to take flight, as the singer dreams of flying away into the sky with his little ship, Louise. The final verse sees the singer dreaming of going out slowly on a moonlight beam, where people take good care of him and help him on his way. Once again, he's sure that he'll be on The Baltic Sea with his little ship, Louise.
Line by Line Meaning
I would like to be
The singer desires to be on the Baltic Sea.
On the Baltic Sea
The singer wishes to be on the Baltic Sea specifically.
With my little ship, Louise
The singer wants to be on the Baltic Sea with their small boat, named Louise.
Though there's nothing there
Despite there being nothing on the Baltic Sea, the artist still wants to be there.
There's nothin' like wanderin' without a care
The artist enjoys the freedom and carelessness of wandering aimlessly on the sea.
There's only the wind and the water, the smell of the ocean air
The singer appreciates the simplistic and natural aspects of the sea.
Keeps me there
The singer is content to stay on the Baltic Sea due to its natural allure.
I'd be ocean bound
The artist would be traveling out into the ocean.
Where only the seagulls follow me around
The artist would be completely alone except for the presence of seagulls.
I'd never be able to get into trouble unless I'm found
The artist would avoid trouble unless they were discovered on a deserted ship.
Ship aground
The singer would be stranded if their ship were to become stuck on the ground beneath the water.
When I go to sea
The artist habitually goes out to sea.
I dreamin' that my imagination free
The singer legally lets their mind wander creatively while out at sea.
And fly away into the sky
The singer's imagination takes them different places, free from the confines of the sea.
And a ceiling of happiness, happiness
The singer experiences joy and contentment while exploring their imagination out on the sea.
We'd be here to dream
The artist and their boat are out at sea for the purpose of accomplishing their dreams.
I'm goin' out slowly on a moonlight beam
The artist is moving leisurely out to sea with the guidance of the moon.
And people that taking good care of me, helping me on my way
The singer may come across other people while out to sea that could assist them in their journey.
Let me stay
The singer wishes to remain on the sea.
And I'm sure to be
The artist has faith they will be able to fulfill their desire to be on the Baltic Sea.
On the Baltic Sea
The artist is specifically eager to be on the Baltic Sea.
With my little ship, Louise
The artist wants to explore the Baltic Sea with their boat named Louise.
Writer(s): Harold Stott, Mario Capuano, Giosy Capuano
Contributed by Cameron C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
David van Iwaarden
on Union Silver
Beautifull song. Is Union Silver a coalmine?