At the age of 14 (1957) Danko booked himself as an opening act for ronnie hawkins, & his band The Hawks. Hawkins asked Danko to join his band as a rythym guitarist, though later he would have Danko learn the bass, and by 1960 was Hawkins' bassist.
Around 1963 The Hawks broke away from Hawkins and the members (including Danko) would go on to continue as the Levon Helm Sextet (later renamed to The Canadian Squires and Levon and the Hawks).
In 1965, Bob Dylan recruited Levon and the Hawks to accompany him on his 1965/66 wold tour. However, Levon Helm chose not to tour with Dylan and was replaced on the tour by drummer Mickey Jones. In 1968, Danko and The Hawks, who had moved to Woodstock, where they began to be referred to as simply "the band," began recording with Dylan in the basement of a big pink house that Danko had rented (and which would soon become famous on its on as "Big Pink"). With Levon Helm back in the fold, they also released their first demo, allowing them to secure a record deal with Capitol Records. Working over the next few months, the five-piece band recorded what would become their debut album, Music From Big Pink. At this time, the group more or less officially changed their name from The Hawks to The Band, this time with a capital "B." Shortly after the album was released, Danko was seriously injured in a car crash, breaking his neck and back in nine places. Though he was laid up in traction for many weeks, he recovered and worked with The Band until 1976, when the group did their final concert at San Francisco's Winterland. The film of the concert, directed by Martin Scorsese, was released as "The Last Waltz" in 1978.
Danko would go on to record solo work on Arista Records, releasing his first solo work in 1977 (his self-titled debut). In the early 1990s, Danko teamed with Jonas Fjeld and Eric Andersen and three albums were released, Danko/Fjeld/Andersen in 1991, Ridin' on the Blinds in 1994, and One More Shot in 2001. Danko released a live album in 1997 (Rick Danko in Concert), and, in 1999, he released Live on Breeze Hill, which featured a new studio version of his much-loved song, "Sip the Wine" (the original version was on his first studio album) and was already working on material for his next work called Times Like These. On December 10, 1999, Danko's heart gave out and he passed away in his sleep. Times Like These was released posthumously the following year.
Brainwash
Rick Danko Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Brainwash.when there ain′t no other way
Crossed ideas and twisted fear
Chosen channels of a million tears
Strains the mind, night after night
And the price ain't really right
Rub ya and scrub ya until you′re raw
Snake oils on the boil
And the master pitch is in a coil
Give it up with your hands in the air
No way you're ever goin nowhere
Brainwash.pick yourself up off the ground
Brainwash.saddle up on the merry-go-round
There once was a colt and they called it Morris
And it could not stop the flying horse
Thoroughbred on the wings of reason
Past the sky.the masterpiece of freedom
Brainwash ...
The song "Brainwash" by Rick Danko discusses the idea of being brainwashed and its high cost. The lyrics suggest that when there is no other way out, you become susceptible to having your mind controlled by others. The lines, "Crossed ideas and twisted fear / Chosen channels of a million tears / Strains the mind, night after night / And the price ain't really right" express the negative effects that come with having one's mind manipulated.
Danko also mentions the methods used in brainwashing, such as rubbing and scrubbing until you're raw, using snake oils, and the master pitch being in a coil. The idea of brainwashing being a merry-go-round is suggested in the lines "Brainwash.pick yourself up off the ground / Brainwash.saddle up on the merry-go-round". It seems as though the person being brainwashed is stuck in a cycle with no escape.
The final lines of the song, "There once was a colt and they called it Morris / And it could not stop the flying horse / Thoroughbred on the wings of reason / Past the sky.the masterpiece of freedom / Brainwash ..." suggest that even though brainwashing may seem to bring order and control, it will never have complete power over one's thoughts and emotions. The colt represents the free will and independence of the individual, unwilling to be shackled by the brainwashing process.
Line by Line Meaning
Brainwash.what a price to pay
The consequences of being brainwashed are severe and not worth the cost.
Brainwash.when there ain't no other way
People resort to brainwashing when they feel they have no other options.
Crossed ideas and twisted fear
Brainwashing involves manipulating pre-existing fears and beliefs to create a new narrative.
Chosen channels of a million tears
Brainwashing relies on emotionally charged messaging to influence behavior.
Strains the mind, night after night
The repetition of brainwashing tactics over a prolonged period can have a significant impact on someone's mental health.
And the price ain't really right
The negative effects of brainwashing are not adequately weighed against any supposed benefits.
Brainwash.on the road to a cosmic spark
Brainwashing offers a promise of enlightenment or spiritual awakening.
Rub ya and scrub ya until you're raw
Brainwashing can involve physical as well as psychological abuse.
Snake oils on the boil
Brainwashing often involves offering false promises or products to those being brainwashed.
And the master pitch is in a coil
Those who are brainwashing others have a well-crafted message that they are slowly delivering over time.
Give it up with your hands in the air
Brainwashing can cause people to feel a sense of hopelessness or powerlessness.
No way you're ever goin nowhere
Those who have been brainwashed may feel trapped and unable to escape.
Brainwash.pick yourself up off the ground
Breaking free from brainwashing requires effort and determination to overcome the mental and emotional impact.
Brainwash.saddle up on the merry-go-round
Those who are brainwashed are caught in a cycle of repetitive behavior and messaging.
There once was a colt and they called it Morris
This line provides context but doesn't directly add to the meaning of the song.
And it could not stop the flying horse
This line provides context but doesn't directly add to the meaning of the song.
Thoroughbred on the wings of reason
This line provides context but doesn't directly add to the meaning of the song.
Past the sky.the masterpiece of freedom
This line provides context but doesn't directly add to the meaning of the song.
Brainwash...
This line serves as a refrain or chorus, reinforcing the idea that brainwashing is at the heart of the song's message.
Writer(s): R. Danko, E. Grogan
Contributed by Lincoln S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@ruizmam
Brutal work, great songs like New Mexicoe, Sip the wine. A pity Rick maintain low profile next years, he was fantastic singer and player.
@sistawoman1
Love the guitar break in this. Haven't heard this in years, still sounds good.
@lastrada52
Lead guitar here Diane was by former Beach Boy -- Blondie Chaplin.
He later became a full-fledged Band member when they re-established themselves the second time. Chaplin has played with The Rolling Stones, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, The Byrds, Brian Wilson & Jeff Beck. Quite a resume.
@robertsloan9284
Yeah blondie played on a rolling stones tour doing backing vocals, when i saw him with the stones at first i thought blondie was a middle aged black woman because he looks pretty shot out. Great musician though.
@StuON22
Perfect song for the majority of society today
@pearlz51
the real deal, a genuine musician and fat bass player. miss this music.
@TheAreliuz
RICK DANKÓ ANYTIME!
@laserlithuanian
great song!!!
@busenitzsucks
The guitar kicks ass on this track
@robertsloan9284
Rick Danko