1) Manchester-based … Read Full Bio ↴There are at least 2 bands with the name Proud Mary
1) Manchester-based blues rock band
2) Classic swiss psychedelic pop/soul group
1) “I remember early spring, I remember everything…”
And early Spring 2001 it was when Proud Mary first appeared on the scene. With their roots lying in Manchester and named after a Creedance Clearwater Revival song, Proud Mary’s first single “Very Best Friend” was just a small taste of the infectious songs that the band had to offer. Limited to just 500 copies on one sided 7” vinyl it was later followed by another limited single in the form of “All Good Things”.
The two limited singles were just a taster of the band’s glorious debut album “The Same Old Blues” which was produced by Noel Gallagher in just 10 ten days and released on Gallagher’s very own Sour Mash records in the summer of 2001. To date, Proud Mary have been the only band to be signed to Gallagher’s label and this in turn brought an immediate backlash from some areas of the press who weren’t willing to listen to the music itself and bracketed the band as Oasis-cast offs. But these were simply the people who hadn’t taken the time to listen to the album itself and appreciate just what a masterpiece of a record it was.
Records these days are too often described as timeless but this debut offering was one which was truly that. The influences of Dylan, The Rolling Stones and The Faces were there to be heard yet at the same time the band had managed to create a rock’n’roll record that touched the heart and fed the soul of the current generation. Singer Greg Griffin’s vocals left you with hairs standing on the back of your neck and Paul Newsome’s song writing was so touching and personal that you almost felt part of the songs themselves. It was so easy to feel a true connection with what was a genuine rock’n’roll band playing songs about their lives and their dreams.
The album was well received and as a result the band went on to secure support slots with none other than Oasis, Neil Young, The Stereophonics, Paul Weller and Ocean Colour Scene. This not only introduced many new fans to the music of Proud Mary but it helped to shape the band into the formation that it is today.
Three years down the line and a lot has changed in the world of Proud Mary. Members have been and gone but what still remains is the powerful nucleus of Paul and Greg. The personal may have changed but the passion to play and make music is stronger than ever and new influences have emerged to make new record “Love and Light” which is a lot stronger, tighter and experimental than the debut album.
Shades of old are there to be heard along with more recent influences including The Verve, The Beta Band and My Morning Jacket. What stands out the most is the passion and appreciation for the older influences which merge perfectly with the new sounds to create a record with a warm and glowing feeling. The tracks mix soul, blues, gospel and of course good old rock’n’roll.
The current line up is stronger than ever and the new album is out through Redemption Records. Although at one stage the future of Proud Mary may have seen murky, it is beyond a doubt that the future has never been clearer. The new band have a new album with a whole new sound and they are just waiting to fill the lives, hearts and souls of many, many people with what is a truly great album.
By Ruff 2004
Give a little love
Proud Mary Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Everytime I Think I've Had Enough Of You
I Take You Back Again
Not Because I Need A Friend
Just Because I Can't Pretend
Like The Others Do
You Think You're Really Serious
Clever And Mysterious
Talking Like A Fool
V2
Every Day There's Someone Else
Who Wants To Get With Me
I'm Telling You
If You Know What's Good For You
Treat Me Like You Used To Do
Love Me Like Before
B Sec
'Cos All I Can Do Is Watch And Wonder
Where The Boy I Know Has Gone
You Say That You Want Me Well It's
Time To Tell Your Friends Where They Belong
Chorus
You Can Find It In Your Heart
Give A Little Love
Have A Little Faith
In The Two Of Us
You Can Find It In Your Soul
Give A Little Love
Have A Little Faith
In The Two Of Us
'Cos All I Can Do Is Watch And Wonder
Where The Boy I Know Has Gone
V3
Little Boy I Don't Want Anything To Do With You
Get On Your Knees
I'm The One You Have To Please
Not The Ones You Want To Be
I Don't Think You're Cool
B Sec
'Cos Soon You Can Only Watch And Wonder
Where The Girl You Knew Has Gone
You Say That You Want Me Well It's
Time To Tell Your Friends Where They Belong
Chorus
'Cos Soon You Can Only Watch And Wonder
Bridge
And Do You Really Wanna Lose A Friend
You Gotta Understand Or It Has To End
'Cos I Don't Wanna Wait For You Anymore
Can't Take It Anymore
Chorus
The song "Give a Little Love" by Proud Mary is about a relationship where one person is struggling to trust the other. The lyrics suggest that the person singing has been hurt in the past and has difficulty accepting their partner's love. The first verse describes the singer's feelings towards their partner - they take them back every time they feel like giving up because they cannot pretend like others do. The second verse suggests that the singer is desired by many, but they ask their partner to treat them like they used to and love them like before. The bridge warns the partner that they can't afford to lose a friend and they must understand or the relationship will end.
The chorus encourages the partner to give a little love and have a little faith in the two of them. It highlights the importance of trust and having faith in a relationship to make it work. The final verse warns the partner that they need to put in effort to please the singer and not try to be someone they're not. It ends with the same warning as the bridge - that the partner will watch and wonder where the singer has gone if they don't make an effort.
Overall, "Give a Little Love" is a song about the importance of trust, effort, and understanding in a relationship. It is about being true to oneself and not trying to be someone else in order to impress others.
Line by Line Meaning
Everytime I Think I've Had Enough Of You
Whenever I feel like I can no longer tolerate your behavior
I Take You Back Again
I forgive you and give you another chance
Not Because I Need A Friend
I am not doing this because I am in need of a friend
Just Because I Can't Pretend
I am doing this because I am not skilled at faking emotions
Like The Others Do
I am not like other people who can pretend easily
You Think You're Really Serious
You seem to believe that you are very important and sincere
Clever And Mysterious
You think you are smart and puzzling
Talking Like You're Dangerous
You speak as if you are a hazardous person
Talking Like A Fool
You are speaking like someone who does not understand the consequences of their actions
Every Day There's Someone Else
Every day there is another person interested in me
Who Wants To Get With Me
Who wants to be in a relationship with me
I'm Telling You
I want to make it clear
If You Know What's Good For You
If you are smart
Treat Me Like You Used To Do
Treat me the way you treated me before
Love Me Like Before
Love me the same way you did in the past
'Cos All I Can Do Is Watch And Wonder
Because all I can do is observe and question
Where The Boy I Know Has Gone
Where the boy I used to know has disappeared to
You Say That You Want Me Well It's
You claim to want me, but now is the time for you to show it
Time To Tell Your Friends Where They Belong
It's an occasion to inform your friends about your true intentions
You Can Find It In Your Heart
You have the capacity to love me
Give A Little Love
Show me some affection
Have A Little Faith
Believe in us
In The Two Of Us
In our relationship
You Can Find It In Your Soul
You can find love in your innermost being
'Cos Soon You Can Only Watch And Wonder
Because soon you will only be able to watch and speculate
Where The Girl You Knew Has Gone
Where the girl you used to know has vanished to
Little Boy I Don't Want Anything To Do With You
I am not interested in having any kind of relationship with you, young man
Get On Your Knees
Kneel down before me
I'm The One You Have To Please
I am the one you need to make happy
Not The Ones You Want To Be
Not the people you are trying to impress
I Don't Think You're Cool
I don't find you impressive or desirable
And Do You Really Wanna Lose A Friend
And do you genuinely want to lose a friend
You Gotta Understand Or It Has To End
You must comprehend, or our relationship will end
'Cos I Don't Wanna Wait For You Anymore
Because I am tired of waiting for you
Can't Take It Anymore
I am no longer able to endure this situation anymore
Contributed by Max A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.