Significant in Quicksilver's development was the almost immediate arrest and imprisonment of Valenti for a drugs offence. He did not rejoin the band until late 1969. In 1965, the line-up was strengthened by the arrival of guitarist Gary Duncan and, replacing Sonoban, Greg Elmore.
They debuted at the end of '65 and played around the Bay Area and then the West Coast for the next two years, building up a large following, but resisting offers to record that had been taken up by such San Francisco acid-rock colleagues as Jefferson Airplane and the Grateful Dead.
Quicksilver finally signed to Capitol toward the end of 1967 and recorded their self-titled debut album in 1968. Jim Murray departed soon after their well-received appearance at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967.
The quartet of Cipollina, Duncan, Elmore and Freiberg recorded the first two albums; both were important in the development of San Francisco rock music, as the twin lead guitars of Cipollina and Duncan made them almost unique. The second collection, "Happy Trails", is now regarded as a classic. George Hunter and his Globe Propaganda company were responsible for some of the finest album covers of the 60s and Happy Trails is probably their greatest work. The live music within showed a spontaneity that the band were never able to recapture on subsequent recordings. The side-long suite of Bo Diddley's 'Who Do You Love' has some incredible dynamics and extraordinary interplay between the twin guitarists.
Duncan departed soon afterwards and was replaced by UK session pianist and ex- Steve Miller Band and Jeff Beck Group member, Nicky Hopkins. His contributions breathed some life into the disappointing "Shady Grove", notably with the frantic 'Edward, The Mad Shirt Grinder'.
"Just For Love" showed a further decline, with Valenti, now back with the band, becoming overpowering and self-indulgent. "Fresh Air" gave them a Top 50 U.S. hit in 1970. Cipollina and Hopkins departed, as did Freiberg following his arrest in 1971 for drug possession (he found a lucrative career later with Jefferson Starship). The remaining trio of Valenti, Duncan, and Elmore hired replacements and cut another couple of albums before disbanding by 1979.
Various incarnations have appeared over the years with little or no success. As recently as 1987, Gary Duncan recorded an album carrying the Quicksilver name, that also featured Freiberg on background vocals, but by then old fans were more content to purchase copies of the first two albums on compact disc.
Gary Duncan has a side project as Crawfish of Love.
Not many of Quicksilver's members are left. John Cipollina passed away, May 29, 1989, and the great Nicky Hopkins left us in September 1994, and Dino Valenti died November 16, 1994.
In 2006, Gary Duncan and David Freiberg launched a 40th-anniversary Quicksilver celebration tour as Quicksilver Messenger Service. They are still performing.
Throughout 2014 David Freiberg is touring with Jefferson Starship (40th anniversary tour) joined by Paul Kantner (original member of Jefferson Starship and Jefferson Airplane)
Who Do You Love
Quicksilver Messenger Service Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I got a cobra snake for a necktie,
I got a brand new house by the road side,
Made out of rattlesnake hide.
I got me a chimney made on top,
Made from a human skull,
Now come on, take a little walk with me,
Now who do you love?
Let me know you understand,
Who do you love? ...
Ride nine times on the midnight train
Through the fire and cold rain,
Who do you love? ...
I've got a tombstone hand in a graveyard mine,
Just twenty-two and I don't mind dying,
Who do you love? ...
The song "Who Do You Love" by Quicksilver Messenger Service portrays an image of a man who has been through a lot and is confident with what he has. The opening line about walking forty-seven miles of barbed wire depicts his struggles and challenges. The cobra snake for a necktie symbolizes his power and danger. The brand new house made out of rattlesnake hide shows his wealth and weirdness. The chimney made from a human skull is a manifestation of his rebellion and attitude.
The line "now come on, take a little walk with me, now who do you love?" suggests that he is not afraid of anyone and wants to know who his partner loves. The following lines show his daring personality as he invites Arlene to take him by the hand and ride with him on a midnight train through the fire and cold rain. The tombstone hand in a graveyard mine implies his willingness to face death and be remembered.
Overall, the lyrics of "Who Do You Love" paint a picture of a fearless and confident man who has seen and done things that most people are afraid of.
Line by Line Meaning
I walked forty-seven miles of barbed wire,
I have traveled a long distance over unimaginable hurdles and dangers to get to where I am now.
I got a cobra snake for a necktie,
I am fearless and unafraid, and even the deadliest creature on Earth cannot bring me down.
I got a brand new house by the road side,
I have achieved great success and prosperity through my hard work and resilience.
Made out of rattlesnake hide.
My achievements were built on the back of all the challenges and dangers I faced during my journey.
I got me a chimney made on top,
My accomplishments are towering and impressive, and they cannot be overlooked.
Made from a human skull,
My achievements are also a symbol of my willingness to do whatever it takes to succeed, even if it requires making tough choices.
Now come on, take a little walk with me,
Join me on my journey of success and prosperity, and witness all that I have achieved through my hard work and determination.
Now who do you love?
Who among all the people you know can match my level of success and resilience?
Come on Arlene, take me by the hand,
Let me show you all that I have achieved, and let me be the one to take you to the top as well.
Let me know you understand,
Show me that you recognize my success and my potential to be a true leader and role model.
Who do you love? ...
Who among all the people you know can match my level of determination, strength, and success?
Ride nine times on the midnight train
I have faced perilous challenges and obstacles at every turn, but I have always persevered and kept moving forward.
Through the fire and cold rain,
I have weathered all the storms and challenges that life has thrown at me, and emerged stronger than ever before.
Who do you love? ...
Who among all the people you know can match my strength, my resilience, and my ability to overcome any obstacle?
I've got a tombstone hand in a graveyard mine,
I am not afraid to confront the reality of death or to take risks to achieve my goals, no matter how dangerous or life-threatening they may be.
Just twenty-two and I don't mind dying,
I am young, but I am not afraid to die if it means achieving my dreams and my aspirations.
Who do you love? ...
Who among all the people you know can match my level of ambition, courage, and willingness to take risks to achieve my goals?
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ellas McDaniel
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Montgomery Denzer
on Fresh Air
Cool man