The group was formed in late 1966 in San Francisco. Frontman and rhythm guitarist Alexander "Skip" Spence (the original drummer for the Jefferson Airplane), lead guitarist Jerry Miller and drummer Don Stevenson (both formerly of the Frantics), rhythm guitarist (and son of actress Loretta Young) Peter Lewis (of the Cornells), and bassist Bob Mosley all wrote songs for their debut album Moby Grape (1967). In a marketing stunt, Columbia Records immediately released five singles at once, and the band was perceived as being over-hyped. Nonetheless, the record was critically acclaimed, and fairly successful commercially, with The Move covering its sardonic ode to hippiedom, "Hey Grandma". Spence's "Omaha" reached the lower rungs of the American singles charts in 1967, and Miller-Stevenson's "8:05" became a country rock standard (covered by The Grateful Dead, Robert Plant, Guy Burlage, and others). Moby Grape has today achieved the status of a highly respected rock album.
In addition to the marketing backlash, band members found themselves in legal trouble for charges (later dropped) of consorting with underage females, and the band's relationship with their manager rapidly deteriorated. The second album, Wow, was a critical and commercial failure. During its recording, Spence came to the studio with an axe, intending to kill Stevenson; he was committed, and after being released from Bellevue Hospital traveled to Nashville to record his only solo album, Oar. The band released three more albums: Moby Grape '69, Truly Fine Citizen, and 20 Granite Creek. In 1972 bob mosley released his only solo album, after which he left the group. The remainder soldiered on for two decades, recording and performing to a small but devoted audience.
Moby Grape was an example of a talented band who, through a combination of mismanagement and inexperience, never fully realized their potential. Along with the Flamin' Groovies, they were somewhat of an anomaly in the San Francisco rock scene; their concision and their strong roots in country music and early rock and roll seemed to work against them. In addition, perhaps because they were so versatile, their image was somewhat nebulous; as writer Robert Christgau put it, "All they really lacked was a boss, and what could be more American than that?"
Omaha
Moby Grape Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Listen, my friends!
Listen, my friends!
You thought never but
I'm yours forever
Won't leave you ever
What's gone down behind
No more rain
From where we came
Get under the covers, yeah!
All of your lovin'
Beneath and above ya
Bein' in love!
The lyrics to Moby Grape's song "Omaha" may appear simple at first glance. However, upon closer inspection, one can identify a few interpretations of the meaning behind the words. The repeated phrase "Listen, my friends!" serves as a call to attention, drawing the listener into the story the band is about to tell. The lyrics "You thought never but, I'm yours forever. Won't leave you ever" could be a declaration of love from the singer to a significant other, expressing unconditional support and promises of loyalty.
The following lines are more difficult to interpret. "What's gone down behind, no more rain, from where we came" suggests that the singer is attempting to leave the past behind and move forward into a brighter future. The chorus, with its emphasis on being "under the covers" and "all of your lovin'," seems to reinforce this theme of healing and starting anew. The repeated call to "Listen, my friends!" at the beginning of each verse implies that the singer is attempting to share this message of hope and connection with others, urging them to join in and embrace love.
Interestingly, the song's title "Omaha" has no obvious connection to the lyrics themselves. However, the band has stated in interviews that they chose the name because it sounded "cool" and had a unique ring to it. Despite this random choice, "Omaha" has become one of Moby Grape's most iconic songs and is still played frequently on classic rock radio stations today.
Line by Line Meaning
Listen, my friends!
Pay attention, my companions!
Listen, my friends!
Take note, my comrades!
Listen, my friends!
Hear me out, my allies!
You thought never but
You never considered but
I'm yours forever
I belong to you perpetually
Won't leave you ever
I will not depart from you, ever
Now my friends
At this moment, my companions
What's gone down behind
What has happened in the past
No more rain
No more sorrow or trouble
From where we came
From our origins
Get under the covers, yeah!
Let's get comfortable, yeah!
All of your lovin'
All of your love and affection
Beneath and above ya
Beneath and above you
Bein' in love!
Being in love!
Lyrics © ALEXANDER LEE SPENCE MUSIC
Written by: ALEX SPENCE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@TacomaPaul
Jerry Miller lives just a few blocks from me. In mid-80s I played rythym guitar for him .... all of a sudden after 2 weeks it hit me.... "Holy CRAP ! You're Jerry Miller !"..... He just laughed and said, "Shut up and drink your beer". Have known him for over 20 years now.... just a great guy.
@chriscodrington5464
nice to hear and to his credit...I heard the band as a 15 year old preppie sneakin down to Washington Square Park '67 ...remember teenybopper girls singin Hey Grandma in the West 4th Street subway! Omaha stills lights me up...(by crackie!)
@TacomaPaul
Stephen Stills (with Jerry Miller)... they didn't due on The Monkees.
THEN... Stephen Stills played on 6th Ave ! With Jerry Miller. Then... I took to a limousine. Then CSN. All good ! ;-)
@TacomaPaul
Stephen Stills on 6th. Avenue... ! Then I played on harmonics... "For What It's Worth". Then at the limousine I took in Stephen Stills and Jerry Miller, and me !
@BoxesOfFoxes
Did he live in tacoma? That's my hometown and still living here lol
@valerieharris2395
Please tell him I love the song Omaha
@Bioniking
Apart from the debut, nothing went right for these guys. They still had strokes of genius in later albums, but musically, Moby Grape is everything I want in a rock band. I'm 23, and I only say that to show that the Grapes legacy does live on!
@Thomas-qr3zv
The psychedelic era in rock was a great trends with such bands as Hendrix , Cream and Moby Grape of course great music
@Mytube777
Oar is my favorite album still. Diamonds in the rough but diamonds
@fatmunch6318
@@Mytube777 oar was just skip tho wasn’t it?