Their earliest albums were hard rock that drew heavily from the space-rock and Pink Floyd styles of the same period. The 70’s gave them the occasion to issue some masterpieces, like for example "A Tab in the Ocean (1972) "Remember the Future" (1973) and "Recycled" (1975). Each is a conceptual album that is a nice blend of melodic guitar and keyboards with a vocal story. "Journey To The Centre Of The Eye" is a mindblowing epic with lots of echoplex guitar and dual Mellotrons which is quite in tune with the Krautrock stuff going on around them, yet is definitely British. "Magic is a Child" had shorter songs and were less less satisfying.
Nektar's entire back catalogue has been re-vamped and remastered and is about to be re-issued in the USA, supported by a tour. A new Studio CD "Book of Days" is targeted for 20th March 2007 release on EMI - Caroline.
The band has recently been joined for their upcoming tour by the bass player Peter Pichl (Running Wild and other bands).
Show Me The Way
Nektar Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can't find
Peace of mind help me fair
In every way
Nothing but to fall
Change what you tried to do
Hey, it's the end
To be old but I'm told
You're too young
Don't despair
I'll really show you now
Pictures all around
Painted on the ground
Takes a long time
Please come back
If you can
Show me the way
Show me, show me the way
Show me the way
Show me, show me the way
Show me the way
Show me the way
Show me the way
Show me, show me the way
Show me the way
Not to float to here
In my mind ropes untwine
Please don't be long
Nothing but to fall
Change what you tried to do
Hey, it's the end
You may try
To be old but I'm told
You're too young
Don't despair
I'll really show you now
The lyrics of Nektar's "Show Me the Way" express an overwhelming feeling of confusion and the search for guidance. The singer is lost and cannot find peace of mind. They are desperately asking for someone to help them in every way possible. They have tried to change what they are doing but it hasn't worked out. The singer feels like they are falling and are unable to be in control of their life.
The second verse seems to be talking to someone who is feeling down and out because they are getting older. The singer is telling them not to despair and that they will show them the way. There are pictures all around, painted on the ground, which could be a metaphor for how everything seems to be a mess and there is no clear path to follow. The singer asks the person to come back if they can. The chorus repeats the plea to have someone show the way, almost like a mantra.
The third verse comes back to the singer who is still lost in their own mind. They are asking for help again with the repetition of the chorus. Ropes are untwining in their mind, which could be a metaphor for their thoughts becoming tangled and out of control. The singer wants whoever they are asking for help to not take too long.
Overall, the song is about feeling lost and asking for guidance. The lyrics are simple, repetitive, and get the point across very clearly. The song could be interpreted in different ways, from searching for spiritual guidance to just a general feeling of being lost in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Show me the way
I need guidance and direction to find my path.
I can't find
I am lost and need help to find my way.
Peace of mind help me fair
I need help finding inner peace.
In every way
I need guidance in all aspects of my life.
Nothing but to fall
I have hit rock bottom and have nothing to lose.
Change what you tried to do
It's time to try something new and change my ways.
Hey, it's the end
Things are coming to a close and it's time for a fresh start.
You may try
You may attempt to hold onto the past or old habits.
To be old but I'm told
It may seem like I'm too old or wise to change, but that's not true.
You're too young
Don't give up on changing and growing, no matter your age.
Don't despair
Stay positive and keep moving forward, even when it's tough.
I'll really show you now
I have the ability to change and become a better version of myself.
Pictures all around
Memories and experiences are constantly surrounding me.
Painted on the ground
These memories can be seen and felt strongly.
Takes a long time
It may take a while to move on from these experiences.
Please come back
It's difficult to move on alone and I need support.
If you can
If you are able, please help me move forward.
Show me, show me the way
Reiterating the need for guidance and direction.
Not to float to here
I don't want to just drift through life aimlessly.
In my mind ropes untwine
My thoughts and emotions are tangled and need to be sorted out.
Please don't be long
I need help sooner rather than later.
Contributed by Henry D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Kunchcar Whaleboy
Sherman Hemsley was known to be a huge fan of prog rock, especially Gentle Giant, Nektar and Gong.
Hemsley collaborated with Yes’s Jon Anderson on a funk-rock opera about the “spiritual qualities of the number 7” (never produced). Hemsley also did an interpretive dance to the Gentle Giant song “Proclamation” on Dinah Shore’s 70s talkshow, that was apparently somewhat confusing for her.
But the best story, I mean the best story of all time, is the one told by Gong’s Daevid Allen about his encounter with the beloved 70’s sitcom star. Here is Allen’s verbatim tale as related to Mitch Myers (and originally published in Magnet magazine):
“It was 1978 or 1979, and Sherman Hemsley kept ringing me up. I didn’t know him from a bar of soap because we didn’t have television in Spain (where I was living). He called me from Hollywood saying, ‘I’m one of your biggest fans and I’m going to fly you here and put flying teapots all up and down the Sunset Strip.’ I thought, ‘This guy is a lunatic.’ He kept it up so I said, ‘Listen, can you get us tickets to L.A. via Jamaica? I want to go there to make a reggae track and have a honeymoon with my new girlfriend.’ He said, ‘Sure! I’ll get you two tickets.’
I thought, ‘Well, even if he’s a nut case at least he’s coming up with the goodies.’ The tickets arrived and we had this great honeymoon in Jamaica. Then we caught the plane across to L.A. We had heard Sherman was a big star, but we didn’t know the details. Coming down the corridor from the plane, I see this black guy with a whole bunch of people running after him trying to get autographs. Anyway, we get into this stretch limousine with Sherman and immediately there’s a big joint being passed around. I say, ‘Sorry man, I don’t smoke.’ Sherman says, ‘You don’t smoke and you’re from Gong?’
Inside the front door of Sherman’s house was a sign saying, ‘Don’t answer the door because it might be the man.’ There were two Puerto Ricans that had a LSD laboratory in his basement, so they were really paranoid. They also had little crack/freebase depots on every floor. Then Sherman says, ‘Come on upstairs and I’ll show you the Flying Teapot room.’ Sherman was very sweet but was surrounded by these really crazy people.
We went up to the top floor and there was this big room with darkened windows and “Flying Teapot” is playing on a tape loop over and over again. There were also three really dumb-looking, very voluptuous Southern gals stoned and wobbling around naked. They were obviously there for the guys to play around with.
[My girlfriend] Maggie and I were really tired and went to our room to go to bed. The room had one mattress with an electric blanket and that was it. No bed covering, no pillow, nothing. The next day we came down and Sherman showed us a couple of [The Jeffersons] episodes.
One of our fans came and rescued us, but not before Sherman took us to see these Hollywood PR people. They said, ‘Well, Mr. Hemsley wants us to get the information we need in order to do these Flying Teapot billboards on Sunset Strip.’ I looked at them and thought they were the cheesiest, most nasty people that I had ever seen in my life and I gave them the runaround. I just wanted out of there. I liked Sherman a lot. He was a very personable, charming guy. I just had a lot of trouble with the people around him.”
Oi, if Daevid Allen thinks you’re weird, you must be a stone freak! (Like our pal, opera singer/actor Jesse Merlin. He met Daevid Allen in San Francisco and Allen said “Just look at him. He’s a perfect example of himself!” Coming from Daevid Allen, that’s the best compliment in the history of the world, isn’t it?)
CoolDL
Sherman Hemsley is dancing to this in heaven.
Karl Helm
this is the first time i listened to show me the way all the way through.
Karl Helm
i've seen george jefferson dancing to this tune on an episode in which louise gets a job. i've read about sherman hemsley listening to yes gentle giant and nectar. this song sounds like a gentle giant tune.
John F
:-)
Kunchcar Whaleboy
Sherman Hemsley was known to be a huge fan of prog rock, especially Gentle Giant, Nektar and Gong.
Hemsley collaborated with Yes’s Jon Anderson on a funk-rock opera about the “spiritual qualities of the number 7” (never produced). Hemsley also did an interpretive dance to the Gentle Giant song “Proclamation” on Dinah Shore’s 70s talkshow, that was apparently somewhat confusing for her.
But the best story, I mean the best story of all time, is the one told by Gong’s Daevid Allen about his encounter with the beloved 70’s sitcom star. Here is Allen’s verbatim tale as related to Mitch Myers (and originally published in Magnet magazine):
“It was 1978 or 1979, and Sherman Hemsley kept ringing me up. I didn’t know him from a bar of soap because we didn’t have television in Spain (where I was living). He called me from Hollywood saying, ‘I’m one of your biggest fans and I’m going to fly you here and put flying teapots all up and down the Sunset Strip.’ I thought, ‘This guy is a lunatic.’ He kept it up so I said, ‘Listen, can you get us tickets to L.A. via Jamaica? I want to go there to make a reggae track and have a honeymoon with my new girlfriend.’ He said, ‘Sure! I’ll get you two tickets.’
I thought, ‘Well, even if he’s a nut case at least he’s coming up with the goodies.’ The tickets arrived and we had this great honeymoon in Jamaica. Then we caught the plane across to L.A. We had heard Sherman was a big star, but we didn’t know the details. Coming down the corridor from the plane, I see this black guy with a whole bunch of people running after him trying to get autographs. Anyway, we get into this stretch limousine with Sherman and immediately there’s a big joint being passed around. I say, ‘Sorry man, I don’t smoke.’ Sherman says, ‘You don’t smoke and you’re from Gong?’
Inside the front door of Sherman’s house was a sign saying, ‘Don’t answer the door because it might be the man.’ There were two Puerto Ricans that had a LSD laboratory in his basement, so they were really paranoid. They also had little crack/freebase depots on every floor. Then Sherman says, ‘Come on upstairs and I’ll show you the Flying Teapot room.’ Sherman was very sweet but was surrounded by these really crazy people.
We went up to the top floor and there was this big room with darkened windows and “Flying Teapot” is playing on a tape loop over and over again. There were also three really dumb-looking, very voluptuous Southern gals stoned and wobbling around naked. They were obviously there for the guys to play around with.
[My girlfriend] Maggie and I were really tired and went to our room to go to bed. The room had one mattress with an electric blanket and that was it. No bed covering, no pillow, nothing. The next day we came down and Sherman showed us a couple of [The Jeffersons] episodes.
One of our fans came and rescued us, but not before Sherman took us to see these Hollywood PR people. They said, ‘Well, Mr. Hemsley wants us to get the information we need in order to do these Flying Teapot billboards on Sunset Strip.’ I looked at them and thought they were the cheesiest, most nasty people that I had ever seen in my life and I gave them the runaround. I just wanted out of there. I liked Sherman a lot. He was a very personable, charming guy. I just had a lot of trouble with the people around him.”
Oi, if Daevid Allen thinks you’re weird, you must be a stone freak! (Like our pal, opera singer/actor Jesse Merlin. He met Daevid Allen in San Francisco and Allen said “Just look at him. He’s a perfect example of himself!” Coming from Daevid Allen, that’s the best compliment in the history of the world, isn’t it?)
jeffthrow6892
I had NO idea Sherman Hemsley was a prog fan, that is pretty cool....
Mark Rago
Interesting
Porfle Popnecker
I remember a TV interview he and Isabel Sanford did once back in the late 70s, and he was wearing a Nektar T-shirt. I always thought it was cool that George Jefferson was a prog fan, especially Nektar whom so few people had heard of at the time.
David Caldwell
Love the buzz in the bass notes, reminds me a lot of Squires sound. My favorite song.
Jim Lucas
I bought this album via Columbia record club/fachsit club, never paid them, keeping it on the down low.... this album 8s in the top seven in my life, absolute masterpiece that no one knows about...