The band, initially located in Boise, Idaho, started as an instrumental rock outfit led by organist Paul Revere Dick (January 7, 1938 – October 4, 2014) (named in honor of the Revolutionary War hero), who in his early twenties already owned several restaurants in Portland, Oregon. Singer Mark Lindsay (March 9, 1942), joined in 1958. Originally called The Downbeats, their name was changed to Paul Revere & The Raiders in 1960 on the eve of their first record release for Gardena Records. The band scored their first Pacific Northwest regional hit in 1961 with "Like Long Hair", an instrumental. Revere was drafted, became a conscientious objector and worked at a mental institution for a year and half of deferred service. After reforming the band, they attracted national attention again with a cover of "Louie Louie", which was picked up by Columbia Records although beaten in the charts by The Kingsmen's version.
Known for their live high energy rock n' roll performances they consistently toured the Northwest - hitting the no-alcohol teen venues where the testosterone levels were as high as the high school beer buzzes that fueled the rowdy crowds of sweating dancers out for the transcendence of the music, or maybe just to get laid. The highlight of their gigs in the early 60's was the 6 foot high cardboard mock up of a can of Crisco that came on during the song "Crisco Party", which was about the delights of getting naked, smearing yourself and your teenage honey all over in Crisco and doing the diry boogie all night long. Never has an organ (Paul Revere's that is!) wailed so in tune with with the zeitgeist. Mark Lindsay was always out in front, on stage and into the crowds, but it was Paul Revere who lead the crowd involvement, bouncing the big Crisco barrel off the stage and into the dancehalls and dance floors of the teenage wastelands - before the Vietnam war changed the vibes and the audiences began to sit and listen to the lyrics and innocent horniness teenage was replaced by the searching for meaning in the midst of a war that threatened to kill them.
They would maintain a huge level of popularity in the mid-1960s beginning with "Just Like Me" (1965), which marked the beginning of a string of garage rock classics. The Raiders, under the guidance of producer Terry Melcher, increasingly emulated the sounds of British Invasion bands such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and The Animals albeit with an American R&B feel.
The band appeared regularly on national television, especially on Dick Clark's Where the Action Is, Happening '68, and It's Happening, the latter two of which were co-hosted by Paul Revere and Mark Lindsay. Here they were presented as the American response to the British Invasion. The group wore American Revolutionary War soldier uniforms and performed slapstick comedy and synchronized dance steps while the ponytailed Lindsay lip synched to their music. This farcical, cartoonish image obscured the proto-hard rock sound that their music often took.
Their hits from the mid-60's included "Kicks" (Billboard Pop Chart #4), "Him or Me - What's It Gonna Be?" (#7), "Good Thing" (#5), "Hungry" (#5), and "Great Airplane Strike" (#20). Of these, "Kicks" became their best-known song, an anti-drug message written by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil that was especially akin to The Animals.
In mid-1967, with three gold albums to their credit, they were Columbia Records' top-selling rock band; their Greatest Hits album was one of two releases selected by Clive Davis to try out a higher list price for albums expected to be particularly popular, along with Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits.
Changing tastes in the late 1960s rendered the group unfashionable, but they still continued to have hits through the rest of the decade, "I Had A Dream" (1967 - #20), "Too Much Talk" (1968 - #18, and an illustration of their tendency towards Beatles imitations), and "Mr. Sun, Mr. Moon" (1969 - #18). Tensions between Lindsay and Revere increased during this time; Lindsay wanted to go more in the direction of hard rock acts like Led Zeppelin or the James Gang, while Revere sought a bubblegum pop direction. Lindsay's vision for the Raiders was represented on songs such as "Let Me" (1969 - #20 - Gold Single), "Powder Blue Mercedes Queen" (1972 - #54) and "Just Seventeen" (1970 - #70) and the 1970 album Collage. By the time of the release of Collage the band's name was officially shortened to The Raiders. "Freeborn Man", written by Lindsay and bassist Keith Allison, has since gone on to be a Country Rock standard, covered by The Outlaws, Junior Brown, and Glen Campbell amongst many others.
Ironically, their single release "Indian Reservation" (1971 - #1 - Platinum single) would be their biggest hit of all, after about a year and a half or so of no hits.
In 1972 The Raiders made one last attempt at a pop album with Country Wine but Columbia was sinking money into other acts, such as Mott The Hoople and Aerosmith, and Country Wine and The Raiders sank in the resulting quagmire.
Lindsay left the band in 1975 to continue his solo career as a country star of sorts, landing a hit single with Kenny Young's "Arizona". Country music was also the choice of short-lived member Freddy Weller, who had more success in this market. Revere continued to put together Raiders lineups with some success, but Lindsay had clearly been the star of the band.
The punk rock and New Wave eras would see a wave of interest in the Raiders' music; "I'm Not Your Stepping Stone" was covered by The Sex Pistols and Liverpool band The Farm (although The Monkees' cover version was more well known than the Raiders' original), and later "Just Like Me" would be covered by The Circle Jerks (as well as by more mainstream figures like Joan Jett and Pat Benatar). "Hungry" was also covered by Sammy Hagar. The Paisley Underground, garage rock revival, and grunge movements would all acknowledge the Raiders' influence.
Revere has continued to play shows on the oldies circuit and in Las Vegas with various Raiders. Lindsay is musically semi-retired and lives in Hawaii, but occasionally plays. Other members of the band constantly changed; bassist Keith Allison, who played in the Raiders from 1968 to 1975, is probably the best known of them, and has since gone into acting, and has appeared in the film Gods and Generals.
In 1997 the group's classic Midnight Ride lineup - Mark Lindsay, guitarist Drake Levin, bassist Phil "Fang" Volk, and drummer Mike "Smitty" Smith - reunited in full costume (though without Revere himself) for a one-off 30th anniversary performance in Portland. Smith died four years later.
Mark Lindsay performed as part of the "Happy Together" tour with the Turtles, Mickey Dolenz, the Grass Roots and the Buckinghams in 2010. The tour was well received in the US.
Lindsay was invited on stage by Mitch Ryder at the "Hippiefest" tour in Fort Lauderdale, FL, on July 31, 2010 and performed "Kicks" to a wildly appreciative audience at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts.
Hungry
Paul Revere & The Raiders Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well now there's something that you dig you can't figure out
Well you wanna know what moves my soul
And what ticks inside of my brain
But I've got this need I just can't control
And now it's, it's drivin' me insane
I can't take it! Ow!
Hungry through and through
Hungry for that sweet life, baby
With a real fine girl like you
I can almost taste it, baby
And it's sweet as wine
There's a custom-tailored world that I gotta own someday
With a special place up high we can stay alone, you and me
And, girl, I'm, I'm gonna have it all someday if you'll
Just hang on to my hand
And if I break some rules along the way, girl
You, you gotta understand
It's my way of gettin' what I want now, 'cause I'm hungry
Hungry for those good things, baby
Hungry through and through
I'm hungry for that sweet life, baby
With a real fine girl like you
I can almost taste it now
And it's sweet as wine
I ain't gonna waste it now
Now it's finally mine
I'm gonna live each minute, fill the hours and days
'Til I've had my fill
Girl, I'll be rollin' in it, yeah
Yes, you know I will, yes I will, ow!
Hungry for those good things, baby
Hungry through and through
I'm hungry for that sweet life, baby
With a real fine girl like you (I'm so hungry)
Hungry for those good things, baby (I gotta have the good life)
Hungry through and through (I want the world now)
I'm hungry for that sweet life, baby
With a real fine girl like you (a real fine girl like you)
Hungry for those good things, baby (I'm so hungry, you gotta hold my hand)
Hungry through and through (I can help you make it now)
Hungry for that sweet life, baby (oh, I'll be a big, big man)
With a real fine girl like you
The song "Hungry" by Paul Revere and The Raiders is a classic rock song that speaks about the desire of the singer to have the good things in life, such as love, success, and fortune. The singer addresses a woman, who wants to know more about him and what drives him. The singer is open about his need for success and for the finer things in life. He talks about his desire to have a special place where he can be alone with his lover.
The lyrics of the song also show the singer's willingness to do whatever it takes to achieve his goals. He is hungry for success and is ready to break rules and go against the norm to get what he wants. Although he acknowledges that breaking the rules may not be the right thing to do, he believes that it is the only way he can achieve his dreams. He believes that living life to the fullest is the way to go and that he will do everything he can to savor every moment.
Overall, "Hungry" is a song about the desire for the good things in life, and the willingness to do whatever it takes to achieve those things.
Line by Line Meaning
Girl, you got this need to know what I'm all about
You want to know everything about me.
Well now there's something that you dig you can't figure out
But there's still some things you can't understand about me.
Well you wanna know what moves my soul
Specifically, you want to know what I'm passionate about.
And what ticks inside of my brain
You want to understand how my mind works.
But I've got this need I just can't control
But I have an unquenchable desire.
And now it's, it's drivin' me insane
And it's consuming me with madness.
Because I'm hungry for those good things, baby
Because I desire the finer things in life.
Hungry through and through
And that desire burns deep within me.
Hungry for that sweet life, baby
I want the good life with someone special like you.
With a real fine girl like you
I want to spend my life with someone as amazing as you.
There's a custom-tailored world that I gotta own someday
I have a specific vision of the life I want to lead.
With a special place up high we can stay alone, you and me
And I plan to share that life with you, in the most intimate way possible.
And, girl, I'm, I'm gonna have it all someday if you'll
And I am confident that I will achieve my vision, as long as you're with me.
Just hang on to my hand
Just stay by my side.
And if I break some rules along the way, girl
And even if I have to do things that others might not agree with,
You, you gotta understand
I need you to understand and support me in order to achieve my goals.
It's my way of gettin' what I want now, 'cause I'm hungry
Because my hunger for the good life is what drives me to do what I must.
I ain't gonna waste it now
I won't let any opportunity pass me by now that I have a clear vision of what I want.
Now it's finally mine
I can finally achieve my dreams and live the life I always wanted.
I'm gonna live each minute, fill the hours and days
I am determined to make the most of every moment, every day.
Til I've had my fill
Until I have achieved everything that I've set out to do.
Girl, I'll be rollin' in it, yeah
And when I do, I'll be living a life of luxury.
Yes, you know I will, yes I will, ow!
And I am confident that I will succeed.
I'm so hungry
I'm driven by an insatiable desire.
I gotta have the good life
I crave the finer things in life.
I want the world now
I want to achieve everything I set my mind to.
Oh, I'll be a big, big man
And when I do, I'll be someone important and successful.
I can help you make it now
And I want to share my success with you.
You gotta hold my hand
But in order for us to achieve this life together, I need you to be with me every step of the way.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@BBINGHAM032352
I still own my double LP gatefold Paul Revere & The Raiders album in excellent condition that I bought from Columbia House Record Club during the year 1970! Paul Revere & The Raiders Featuring Mark Lindsay – Two All-Time Great Selling LP's/One Great Package
Label:
Columbia – GP 12, Columbia – CS 9395, Columbia – CS 9521
Format:
2 × Vinyl, LP, Compilation
Country:
US
Released:
1969 Here's the Discogs link to view 7 excellent pictures of this awesome album. https://www.discogs.com/Paul-Revere-The-Raiders-Featuring-Mark-Lindsay-Two-All-Time-Great-Selling-LPsOne-Great-Package/release/4165812
@BBINGHAM032352
I still own my double LP gatefold Paul Revere & The Raiders album in excellent condition that I bought from Columbia House Record Club during the year 1970! Paul Revere & The Raiders Featuring Mark Lindsay – Two All-Time Great Selling LP's/One Great Package
Label:
Columbia – GP 12, Columbia – CS 9395, Columbia – CS 9521
Format:
2 × Vinyl, LP, Compilation
Country:
US
Released:
1969 Here's the Discogs link to view 7 excellent pictures of this awesome album. https://www.discogs.com/Paul-Revere-The-Raiders-Featuring-Mark-Lindsay-Two-All-Time-Great-Selling-LPsOne-Great-Package/release/4165812
@BBINGHAM032352
I still own my double LP gatefold Paul Revere & The Raiders album in excellent condition that I bought from Columbia House Record Club during the year 1970! Paul Revere & The Raiders Featuring Mark Lindsay – Two All-Time Great Selling LP's/One Great Package
Label:
Columbia – GP 12, Columbia – CS 9395, Columbia – CS 9521
Format:
2 × Vinyl, LP, Compilation
Country:
US
Released:
1969 Here's the Discogs link to view 7 excellent pictures of this awesome album. https://www.discogs.com/Paul-Revere-The-Raiders-Featuring-Mark-Lindsay-Two-All-Time-Great-Selling-LPsOne-Great-Package/release/4165812
@smokinjz
Girl you got this need to know what I'm all about
There's something that you dig you can't figure out
Well, you wanna know what moves my soul
And what ticks inside of my brain
But I've got this need I just can't control, and it's
A-drivin' me insane
I can't take it! Owww!
Because I'm hungry for those good things, baby
Hungry through and through
Well I'm hungry for that sweet life, baby
With a real fine girl like you
I can almost taste it
It's sweet as wine
There's a custom-tailored world that I wanna own someday
With a special place up high where we can stay alone you and me
Girl, I'm gonna have it all someday if you'll
Just hang on to my hand
If I break some rules along the way, girl, you
Gotta understand
It's my way of gettin' what I want now, 'cause I'm hungry
Because I'm hungry for those good things, baby
Hungry through and through
Well I'm hungry for that sweet life, baby
With a real fine girl like you
I can almost taste it now
Oh, it's sweet as wine
Ain't gonna waste it now
When it's finally mine
Gonna live each minute, fill the hours and days
'Til I've had my fill
Aw, girl, I'll be rollin' in it
Yes, yes, you know I will, yes I will, owww!
('cause I'm)
Because I'm hungry for those good things, baby
Hungry through and through
Well I'm hungry for that sweet life, baby
With a real fine girl like you
Because I'm hungry for those good things, baby
Hungry through and through
Well I'm hungry for that sweet life, baby
With a real fine girl like you
@danielgoertz2664
These guys were actually pretty heavy for their day. that's what I've always like about them. Great band
@donaldfewell8908
They had good, hip production too!
@oza8578
That fuzz guitar tone is just kick ass! But yeah, they did have a great production team behind them. Great music from a magical time so long ago.
@michaelcincotta3844
Yeah, they were really on top of their sound quality back then and they had a great, catchy band name to boot .
@kevinkelley3657
I was born in 1972, my oldest sister waas born in 1958. This song was indeed considered "heavy" in its day.
@spacecat7247
Heavy and they had some serious grit. The American answer to the stones.
@Fred.pSonic
This song would rock in any era! Great vocal, fantastic snarly fuzz guitar, tight rhythm section--an underrated classic.
@dvtco.2545
Made in the USA!
@nyterpfan
100% spot on!! This tune has badass swag!!!
@MissAstorDancer
Absolutely! They almost "out-garage-rocked" The Animals!