They scored their number 1 hit with A Little Help From My Friends / Measure Of A Man and realised they made it when thousands of fans came to their signing sessions all over the UK.
Unfortunately their second single, The Sun Has Come Your Way only reached number 19 in the UK Top 40.
Soon after that they were asked to co-present Top of the Pops Saturday (TOTP Saturday) with Fearne Cotton. In September 2005 TOTP Saturday became Top of the Pops Reloaded (TOTP Reloaded). In March 2006 the last episode was filmed.
Next on the lads' agenda was a brand new interactive show called Level Up, every weekday on CBBC2.
Since finishing Level Up, the lads have moved on to presenting a brand new Saturday morning show for kids call "TMI", which stands for "Too Much Information".
These Days
Sam and Mark Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Eight hours a day at that iron she'd stand
'bout every thirty minutes somebody said
Man, it's hot in here
She tied up her hair but she wouldn't cut it off
'cause Robbie lee likes it better when it's lone
And at night they'd meet at the cold spot
And drink some beer
One of these days, I'm getting out of here
Yeah one of these days, 'cause I'm too good for this place
Now I don't mean that like it sounds
But I'm not gonna be held down
Things are gonna change
One of these days
One Friday she said, that's it, I'm quittin'
We all thought that she was just kidding'
When we came back from lunch she didn't
And that was it
Somebody said they'd seen her downtown
Bags all packed steppin' on a greyhound
Robbie lee watchin' his world come down around him
I can't count the times I heard her say
One of these days, I'm getting out of here
Yeah one of these days, 'cause I'm too good for this place
Now I don't mean that like it sounds
But I'm not gonna be held down
Things are gonna change
One of these days
That girl wasn't nobody's fool
Bet she's workin' somewhere cool
And I'm startin' to think
One of these days, I'm getting out of here
Yeah one of these days, 'cause I'm too good for this place
Now I don't mean that like it sounds
But I'm not gonna be held down
Things are gonna change
One of these days
Yeah one of these days
Yeah, one of these days
The song "These Days" by Sam and Mark reflects on the changes and mistakes that people make in their lives. They recognize that these days never stay the same and one day they might wake up to find that the world has left them behind. Despite this, they promise to try and do better, to avoid making the same mistakes again. The song presents a sense of vulnerability as the lyrics capture the fear of being left behind and the determination to keep trying.
The chorus repeats the phrase "These days will never stay the same" which is a reminder that change is inevitable. The use of language such as "sailing with a tailwind" and "tearing down the walls" suggests that the song is about breaking free from the chains that hold us back and taking charge of our lives. The use of the phrase "I promise that I'll try" at the end of the song emphasizes the commitment to change and growth.
Line by Line Meaning
These days
The present time, currently
We make the same mistakes
We repeat the same errors and flaws
Cos these days
Because these current times
Will never stay the same
Are constantly changing
One day I know I'll find
In the future, I'm aware I will discover
That the world has gone and left me
The universe has moved on and forgotten about me
Behind
I'm in the past or stuck in old ways
But I'll try
I will make an effort
You say you wanted everything
You explained you desired it all
So you learn the ropes
You learned the necessary skills and knowledge
For your higher hopes
To achieve your ambitious goals
And they tell you how it must have been
Others explain how it should have been
To grow up like you
To mature under identical circumstances as yourself
Like they always do
As they commonly do
Ohhh, I'm sailing with a tail wind
I'm progressing easily and quickly
Tearing down the walls
Removing barriers and obstacles
And I go too far, I've fucked it all
I push myself too much and ruined everything
Well you say you wanted everything
You previously stated that you desired it all
But the times have changed
But the present is different from the past
While we weren't listening
While we were unaware or inattentive
I promise that I'll try
I thoroughly vow I'll make an attempt
Wanted everything with you
I wanted to achieve everything together with you
And I try, I try, I try
I persistently make a significant effort
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JEFFREY DAVID STEVENS, TIM NICHOLS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Montana Frank
Thanks for putting this together. It's been years since I've seen a Lariat Sam cartoon. Brings back fond childhood memories. The Mark of Zero is a very entertaining cartoon.
J. Calvin Smith
"The Mark of Zero", based on this episode, was one of my catch phrases as a little kid in the early 1960s.
Bob H
I actually remember this episode! Fond childhood memories. Thanks for posting.
Glorified Truth
Thanks for posting. I was beginning to think Lariat Sam was a figment of my imagination.
altfactor
"Robert Keeshan Associates" was, of course, the company that produced "Captain Kangaroo" and was named after it's major owner, who also played Captain Kangaroo. Although filmed in color, the "Lariat Sam" cartoons weren't broadcast in color until the late Fall of 1965, when CBS began colorcasting "Kangaroo".
5610winston
Sam bears a strong resemblance to Will Hutchens in "Sugarfoot".
Ben Carroll
So do I. I actually had it on video and sounds like Dayton Allen voiced Tippy Toes in the style of Richard Haydn.
Dave Weber
I remember watching this cartoon many years ago as a kid.
Cleav
Guy Sharwood
Loved Lariat Sam.
Crazybar777
I have two more episodes which I have split and am ready to upload imminently. Expect them soon :-)