He quit Faces in 1973 and formed his own band, Ronnie Lane's Slim Chance, in 1973 to record the hit single "How Come" (UK No. 11) and "The Poacher", then the album Anymore For Anymore, showcasing his own blend of British rock music, folk, and country music.
After initial success with the singles, he commenced a tour called "the Passing Show", touring the UK as a carnival, complete with tents, barkers, etc. Viv Stanshall, from the The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band, was a short-lived ringmaster (of sorts).
Lane moved to Island Records and issued Ronnie Lane's Slim Chance and One For The Road. In late 1976, he joined a short-lived reformation of the Small Faces, but quit after two rehearsals, to be replaced by Rick Wills (who currently plays alongside the former Small Faces drummer, Kenney Jones, in the Jones Gang). However, since Lane had already signed a contract with Atlantic Records as part of the reformed Small Faces, Atlantic informed him that he owed them an album. Pete Townshend recorded an album with Lane, titled Rough Mix, which was released in 1977. Rough Mix was lauded as contender for best album of the year by many critics, but the label did not promote it, and sales were thereby lacklustre. Rough Mix not only left Lane out of debt to the label, but it cemented his credentials as an unsung hero.[citation needed]
During the recording of Rough Mix, Lane was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (his mother had also suffered, and died, from the disease). Nonetheless, he toured, wrote, and recorded (with Eric Clapton, among many others) and managed to release yet another album, See Me, which features several songs written by Lane and Clapton.
In 1983, his girlfriend, Boo Oldfield, contacted record producer Glyn Johns in the hopes of getting a concert going to help fund Action for Research into Multiple Sclerosis, a London-based organization. Johns was already arranging Clapton's Command Performance for Prince Charles, so they decided to book the Albert Hall for another couple of nights and hold a benefit. The resulting A.R.M.S. Concerts featured Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Steve Winwood, Bill Wyman, Charlie Watts, Kenney Jones, Andy Fairweather-Low, and more. With the addition of Joe Cocker and Paul Rodgers, they toured the U.S. It was during this time that Rodgers and Page started the band, The Firm.
Move to Texas
Lane moved to Texas in 1984, where the climate was more beneficial to his health, and continued playing, writing, and recording. He formed an American version of Slim Chance, which was, as always, a loose-knit conglomeration of available musicians. For much of the time, membership included Alejandro Escovedo. For close to a decade, Lane enjoyed his rock royalty status in the Austin area, and even toured Japan. Still, his health continued to decline, and his last performance was in 1992 at a Ron Wood gig. Also in the band that night was Ian McLagan. In 1994, Ronnie and his last wife, Susan, moved to the small town of Trinidad, Colorado. Jimmy Page and Rod Stewart generously continued to donate money for his medical care because there were yet no royalties from Small Faces' work. Through the efforts of Kenney Jones and Ian McLagan, the Small Faces were eventually able to secure ongoing royalty payments. By then, however, Steve Marriott had died in a house fire, and on June 4, 1997, Lane had succumbed to pneumonia.
In 2000, Paul Weller recorded "He's the Keeper", a song dedicated to Lane's memory. An album of live BBC recordings was about to be released to raise money for his care when Lane died. An album of live and in-studio recordings from Lane's Austin days was later culled, and released as Live in Austin. The place where he was born, Plaistow (in East London) named a street after him, fittingly called "Ronnie Lane", in 2001. In January, 2006, BBC Four debuted an extensive documentary about Lane, which had been in the works since 2000. They also aired vintage concerts by the Faces and Slim Chance. In October 2006 the documentary was also shown on BBC Two.
Nowhere To Run
Ronnie Lane Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Drive is slow and for this dream never ends
All my family and all my friends know there's nowhere to run
In the morning they head for the sun
Leave your shadows behind whatcha done
I have tried but I never have won
Because there's no where to run
Michael's rowing?
Where she's going?
What's she saying?
But that's right, yeah that's right
Don't starve old sailor long since been dead
Smoking his pipe and he's scratching his head
It's bad news but I heard what is said
He said there's no where to run
Michael's rowing?
Where she's going?
What's she saying?
But that's right, that's right
Make no sail for a gift of the wind
Drive is slow and for this dream never ends
All my family and all my friends know there's nowhere to run
Ronnie Lane's song "Nowhere to Run" is a melancholic yet hauntingly beautiful masterpiece. The opening lines "Make no sail for a gift of the wind, drive is slow, and for this dream never ends" express the feeling of being stuck in life, unable to move forward. The wind can symbolize opportunities or chances, but the singer is unable to benefit from them. This feeling is further reflected in the chorus "All my family and all my friends know there's nowhere to run" - nowhere to escape or find solace.
The second verse, "In the morning, they head for the sun, leave your shadows behind what you've done, I have tried but I never have won, because there's nowhere to run" seems to encompass the human struggle to escape one's past mistakes and regrets. The sun can be a hopeful symbol for a fresh start, but the shadows and memories linger, unable to be left behind, and the singer is unable to move forward. The two lines, "Michael's rowing, where she's going, what's she saying?" seem to convey a sense of confusion and questioning, perhaps implying that the singer is grappling with tough decisions that have no clear answer.
The song's closing lines, "Make no sail for a gift of the wind, drive is slow and for this dream never ends, all my family and all my friends know there's nowhere to run," bring the song full circle, reinforcing the idea that the singer is helpless in their current situation, with no clear way out.
Line by Line Meaning
Make no sail for a gift of the wind
It's pointless to try to control things that happen by chance
Drive is slow and for this dream never ends
This journey is long and we may not reach our destination
All my family and all my friends know there's nowhere to run
Everyone around me is aware that there's no escaping what's to come
In the morning they head for the sun
People are always striving for something better, even if it's just a glimmer of hope
Leave your shadows behind whatcha done
Don't dwell on the past or things you can't change
I have tried but I never have won
Personal struggles have led to little success
Because there's no where to run
The inevitability of consequences and life's challenges cannot be escaped
Michael's rowing?
A vague question about the unknown
Where she's going?
Curiosity about destination
What's she saying?
Desperate desire for answers and understanding
But that's right, yeah that's right
An acceptance of uncertainty and lack of control
Don't starve old sailor long since been dead
Don't exhaust oneself over something that's already gone and unchangeable
Smoking his pipe and he's scratching his head
A depiction of someone perplexed over something they don't quite understand
It's bad news but I heard what is said
Accepting negative circumstances despite not liking it
He said there's no where to run
An observation that there's no escaping certain outcomes
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PAUL STANLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@walterhacklaender8830
One of the most relaxed records ever done by two great artists
@johnbeckham1483
Well put as I totally concur!
@user-qm7nw7vd5s
This, and Annie are my favorite songs on the album. Also Street in the City, Pete Townsend.
@robbiejohnson2011
One of those songs that can make a grown man cry.
@pictures2777
Beautiful song.
@user-lh6ck5ko4k
Wonderful times
@Emipapa1964
::Ja,die Platte hab ich ...Klasse Teil::::
@GreatUSTreasureHunt
Ghost of old sailor
Long since been dead
Smokin his pipe
And he's scratchin his head
It's bad news
But I heard what he said
He said there's nowhere to run
@SmeeUncleJoe
great album and song but I suspect the speed is dragging on this. I listened to it thousands of times and I can hear it's just a tad slow and bassy.
@alsacrime4806
Avoiding blockage.