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.
Kicks
Paul Revere & The Raiders Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On that magic carpet ride last night
But when you wake up in the mornin'
The world still gets you uptight
Well, there's nothin' that you ain't tried
To fill the emptiness inside
When you come back down, girl
Still ain't feelin' right
And don't it seem like
Kicks just keep gettin' harder to find
And all your kicks ain't bringin' you peace of mind
Before you find out it's too late, girl
You better get straight
No, but not with kicks, you just need help, girl
Well you think you're gonna find yourself
A little piece of paradise
But it ain't happened yet, so girl, you better think twice
Don't you see no matter what you do
You'll never run away from you
And if you keep on runnin' you'll have to pay the price
And don't it seem like
Kicks just keep gettin' harder to find
And all your kicks ain't bringin' you peace of mind
Before you find out it's too late, girl
You better get straight
No, you don't need kicks
To help you face the world each day
That road goes nowhere
I'm gonna help you find yourself another way
Kicks just keep gettin' harder to find
And all your kicks ain't bringin' you peace of mind
Before you find out it's too late, girl
You better get straight
Don't it seem like
Kicks just keep gettin' harder to find
And all your kicks ain't bringin' you peace of mind
Before you find out it's too late, girl
You better get straight
The song "Kicks" by Paul Revere & The Raiders is one of the most popular protest songs of the 1960s. The lyrics speak to the theme of disillusionment and emptiness that many young people felt during this time, particularly as they struggled to find their place in society. The song laments the fact that material possessions and fleeting pleasures, such as drugs and partying, are not enough to provide true happiness and peace of mind. Instead, the song encourages listeners to focus on personal growth and self-discovery.
The first verse of the song describes a magic carpet ride, a metaphor for the highs of drug use, that ultimately leads to disappointment and dissatisfaction. The lyrics suggest that the singer has tried everything to fill the emptiness inside, but nothing has worked. Despite this, the chorus states that "kicks just keep gettin' harder to find," suggesting that the singer is addicted to the temporary relief that drugs and other vices provide.
The second verse of the song warns against falling for the illusion of paradise and encourages the singer to face their problems head on. The lyrics also make clear that running away from oneself is futile, and that true happiness can only be found through self-understanding and personal growth. The final verse of the song delivers the message that "kicks" (i.e. superficial pleasures) are not a real solution to the problems of life and encourages the singer to seek out a different path.
Overall, "Kicks" is a powerful and insightful song that speaks to the struggles of many young people during the 1960s. Its message of personal growth and self-discovery is as relevant today as it was when the song was first released.
Line by Line Meaning
Girl, you thought you found the answer
You thought you found what you were looking for
On that magic carpet ride last night
During a fun and exciting time
But when you wake up in the mornin'
After the excitement fades away
The world still gets you uptight
You still feel stressed and worried
Well, there's nothin' that you ain't tried
You've tried everything
To fill the emptiness inside
To get rid of the feeling of emptiness in your life
When you come back down, girl
When reality hits
Still ain't feelin' right
You still don't feel satisfied
And don't it seem like
It feels like
Kicks just keep gettin' harder to find
It's becoming more difficult to find things that make you happy
And all your kicks ain't bringin' you peace of mind
All the things you thought would make you happy aren't fulfilling you
Before you find out it's too late, girl
Before it's too late to make a change
You better get straight
You need to get your life together
No, but not with kicks, you just need help, girl
You need help to find true happiness, not just material things
Well you think you're gonna find yourself
You think you'll discover who you are
A little piece of paradise
In a perfect place or situation
But it ain't happened yet, so girl, you better think twice
It hasn't worked out yet, so you should reconsider your approach
Don't you see no matter what you do
You can't escape from yourself
You'll never run away from you
You can't escape from your own thoughts and feelings
And if you keep on runnin' you'll have to pay the price
Avoiding your problems will have consequences
No, you don't need kicks
Material things won't solve your problems
To help you face the world each day
To get through your daily life
That road goes nowhere
Materialistic pursuits won't bring lasting happiness
I'm gonna help you find yourself another way
I'll help you find true happiness and fulfillment
Don't it seem like
Doesn't it feel like
Kicks just keep gettin' harder to find
It's becoming more difficult to find true happiness
And all your kicks ain't bringin' you peace of mind
Material things aren't making you truly happy
Before you find out it's too late, girl
Before it's too late to make a change
You better get straight
You need to get your life together
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BARRY MANN, CYNTHIA WEIL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@gangstaspongebob3622
Girl, you thought you found the answer on that magic carpet ride last night
But when you wake up in the mornin' the world still gets you uptight
Well, there's nothin' that you ain't tried To fill the emptiness inside
But when you come back down, girl
Still ain't feelin' right
Kicks just keep gettin' harder to find
(Oh, you don't need kicks, girl)
And all your kicks ain't bringin' you peace of mind
(You just need help, girl)
Before you find out it's too late, girl
You better get straight
No, but not with kicks
You just need help, girl
Well you think you're gonna find yourself a little piece of paradise
But it ain't happened yet, so girl, you better think twice
Don't you see no matter what you do
You'll never run away from you
And if you keep on runnin'
You'll have to pay the price
Kicks just keep gettin' harder to find
(Oh, you don't need kicks, girl)
And all your kicks ain't bringin' you peace of mind
(You just need help, girl)
Before you find out it's too late, girl
You better get straight
No, you don't need kicks
To help you face the world each day
That road goes nowhere
I'm gonna help you find yourself another way
Kicks just keep gettin' harder to find
(Oh, you don't need kicks, girl)
And all your kicks ain't bringin' you peace of mind
(You just need help, girl)
Before you find out it's too late, girl
You better get straight
Kicks just keep gettin' harder to find
(Oh, you don't need kicks, girl)
And all your kicks ain't bringin' you peace of mind
(You just need help, girl)
Before you find out it's too late, girl
You better get straight
@smokinjz
Girl, you thought you found the answer on that magic carpet ride last night
But when you wake up in the mornin' the world still gets you uptight
Well, here's nothin' that you ain't tried To fill the emptiness inside
But when you come back down, girl
Still ain't feelin' right
(And don't it seem like)
Kicks just keep gettin' harder to find
(Oh, you don't need kicks, girl)
And all your kicks ain't bringin' you peace of mind
(You just need help, girl)
Before you find out it's too late, girl
You better get straight
No, but not with kicks
You just need help, girl
Well you think you're gonna find yourself a little piece of paradise
But it ain't happened yet, so girl, you better think twice
Don't you see no matter what you do
You'll never run away from you
And if you keep on runnin'
You'll have to pay the price
(And don't it seem like)
Kicks just keep gettin' harder to find
(Oh, you don't need kicks, girl)
And all your kicks ain't bringin' you peace of mind
(You just need help, girl)
Before you find out it's too late, girl
You better get straight
No, you don't need kicks
To help you face the world each day
That road goes nowhere
I'm gonna help you find yourself another way
(And don't it seem like)
Kicks just keep gettin' harder to find
(Oh, you don't need kicks, girl)
And all your kicks ain't bringin' you peace of mind
(You just need help, girl)
Before you find out it's too late, girl
You better get straight
(And don't it seem like)
Kicks just keep gettin' harder to find
(Oh, you don't need kicks, girl)
And all your kicks ain't bringin' you peace of mind
(You just need help, girl)
Before you find out it's too late, girl
You better get straight
@litmus7325
Thank you, Mafia 3!
@LaVeteristo-qf9ht
Same bruv
@straightfuckingwater389
Me while zooming away from the cops and launching me and my car into the ocean
@marcusmarcus1349
A perfect song to play with while traveling through New Bordeaux with my samson drifter
@MAGOouUunico44
Eu não sabia q tava no máfia 3,aql jogo na rádio é incrível
@boomcar61
Sitting in the car for a bit because you want to hear the song.
@laurieschneider5278
Mark Lindsay's voice was so GOOD! 🔥
@Goober66
Plus that, the music video is awesome
@stockvaluedotcom
One of the great, underrated songs of the 60's.
@howie9751
Underrated by whom?