Shocking Blue's by far biggest hit was Venus, which went to #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in February 1970. 'Venus' returned to the top of the U.S. charts in 1981 as part of the Stars on 45 Medley and was also successfully covered by artists such as Greece's Olympians (1970), Bananarama (1986), Japanese singer Yoko Nagayama (1986).
Nirvana covered the song Love Buzz for their debut album Bleach in 1989, and it was released as their first single. The British Group The Prodigy also sampled Love Buzz for their song 'Phoenix' on their 2004 album Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned.
Before 'Venus' the group had only had two minor Dutch hits in 1969: Long Lonesome Road and Send Me A Postcard. In 1970 two more hits followed: Mighty Joe and Never Marry A Railroad Man, the latter almost provoking a strike by workers on the London Underground when posters advertising the single in the Underground stations were put on display.
Shocking Blue had several more hits in The Netherlands and beyond. The group started to dissolve in 1973 when Van Leeuwen called it quits. Singer Mariska Veres left the group to start a solo-career in 1974 and Shocking Blue folded.
Mariska Veres died on December 2nd, 2006, after a short battle with cancer. She was just 59 years old.
Members
The initial line-up consisted of
Robbie van Leeuwen (guitar, sitar and backing vocals) (1967–1973)
Fred de Wilde (vocals, 1967–1968)
Klaasje van der Wal (bass guitar, 1967–1972, deceased in 2018)
Cor van der Beek (drums) (1967–1974, deceased in 1998)
Later members were
Mariska Veres (vocals, 1968–1974, deceased in 2006)
Leo van de Ketterij (nl) (guitar, 1970–1971)
Martin van Wijk (guitar, 1973–1974)
Henk Smitskamp (nl) (bass guitar, 1972–1974)
Also
Wim Voermans
Jan Pijnenburg (nl)
Michael Eschauzier
André van Geldorp (nl)
Charles Pesch
Discography
Albums
1967 Shocking Blue (Polydor) also known as Beat with Us (German title) #31 US
1969 At Home (Pink Elephant)
1970 Scorpio's Dance (Pink Elephant) also known as Sally Was A Good Old Girl (Japanese title)
1971 Third Album (AKA Shocking You, Pink Elephant)
1972 Inkpot (Pink Elephant) – The official music of Mark Six
1972 Live in Japan (Pink Elephant)
1972 Attila (Pink Elephant) also known as Rock in the Sea (Japanese title)
1972 Eve and the Apple (Same as Attila with one different track, Polydor)
1973 Ham (Pink Elephant)
1974 Dream on Dreamer (Same as Ham, but with 3 different songs and 6 alternate versions, Polydor)
1974 Good Times (Pink Elephant)
Singles
Year Title US UK AUS NED NOR GER FRA NZ BEL JPN
1967 Love is in The Air / Fix Your Hair Darling - - - - - - - - - -
1968 Lucy Brown is Back in Town / Fix Your Hair Darling - - - 21 - - - - - -
1968 Send Me a Postcard / Harley Davidson - - - 10 4 - 4 - - -
1969 Long and Lonesome Road / Fireball of Love 75 - - 17 - - 6 - - -
1969 Venus / Hot Sand 1 3 1 3 1 2 1 1 - 15
1969 Mighty Joe / Wild Wind 43 45 43 2 - 6 8 - - -
1970 Never Marry a Railroad Man / Roll Engine Roll 102 - 40 1 5 10 1 4 19
1970 Hello Darkness / Pickin' Tomatoes - - - 4 - - - - 12 -
1971 Shocking You / Waterloo - - - 10 - - 1 - 21 -
1971 Serenade / Sleepless at Midnight 110 - - - - - - - - -
1971 Blossom Lady / Is This a Dream - - - 2 - - - - 3 -
1971 Out of Sight, Out of Mind / I Like You - - - 6 6 - - - 5 -
1972 Inkpot / Give My Love to The Sunrise - - - 5 - 21 1 - 4 -
1972 Rock in the Sea / Broken Heart - - - 14 - - 3 - 21 -
1972 Eve and the Apple / When I was a Girl - - - 15 - - 1 - 18 -
1973 Let Me Carry Your Bag / I Saw You in June - - - - - - 2 - - -
1973 Oh Lord / In My Time of Dying - - - 14 - - - - 6 -
1974 This America / I Won't be Lonely Long - - - - - - - - 16 -
1974 Dream on Dreamer / Where The Pick-Nick Was - - - - - - 4 - - -
1974 Good Times / Come My Way - - - - - - - - - -
1975 Gonna Sing My Song / Get It On - - - - - - - - - -
1980 Louise / Venus - - - - - - - - - -
1986 The Jury and The Judge / I am Hanging on to Love - - - - - - - - - -
1990 Venus '90 (UK Only) - 75 - - - - - - - -
1994 Body and Soul / Angel - - - - - - - - - -
Never Married a Railroad Man
Shocking Blue Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If it's yes how did you feel at his first lies
If it's no you need this good advice
Never marry a Railroad man
He loves you every now and then
His heart is at his new train. No, no, no
Don't fall in love with a Railroad man
You're better off without him ah
Have you ever been restless in your bed
And so lonely that your eyes became wet
Let me tell you then one thing
The lyrics to Shocking Blue's song "Never Marry a Railroad Man" warn against getting involved with a man whose heart is constantly pulled away by his job as a railroad worker. The song speaks to anyone who has experienced heartache and betrayal in a relationship, advising them to be cautious of Railroad men whose affections are fleeting and ultimately unfulfilling. The singer asks whether the listener has experienced heartbreak before and warns that this type of man will only break their heart again.
The lyrics convey a sense of hopelessness and resignation to the inevitable heartbreak and pain that comes from loving a Railroad man. The line "He loves you every now and then" suggests that his love is sporadic and unreliable, and the statement "His heart is at his new train" emphasizes that his job will always come first. The singer advises against falling in love with a Railroad man altogether, suggesting that it's better to forget him if possible because it's ultimately better to be without him.
Line by Line Meaning
Have you been broken-hearted once or twice
Have you experienced heartbreak before?
If it's yes how did you feel at his first lies
If you have, then you know how painful it is to hear lies from a loved one.
If it's no you need this good advice
If you haven't experienced heartbreak, you should still listen to this advice.
Never marry a Railroad man
Railroad men are not good partners for marriage.
He loves you every now and then
Although he may show love at times, it is not consistent or reliable.
His heart is at his new train. No, no, no
His true love and devotion is to his job, not to his partner.
Don't fall in love with a Railroad man
It is a warning to not get romantically involved with railroad men.
If you do forget him if you can
If you do end up falling for one, it is best to move on and forget about him.
You're better off without him ah
It's better to be alone than to be with someone who is not fully committed to the relationship.
Have you ever been restless in your bed
Have you ever felt uncomfortable in your own bed?
And so lonely that your eyes became wet
Have you ever felt so alone that you cried?
Let me tell you then one thing
Here is some advice for you.
Lyrics © THE MUSIC GOES ROUND
Written by: ROBERT H.J. VAN LEEUWEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@patcharissachan6157
Have you been broken-hearted once or twice
If it's yes how did you feel at his first lies
If it's no you need this good advice
Never marry a Railroad man
He loves you every now and then
His heart is at his new train. No, no, no
Don't fall in love with a Railroad man
If you do forget him if you can
You're better off without him ah
Have you ever been restless in your bed
And so lonely that your eyes became wet
Let me tell you then one thing
@birdie1607
Lyrics
Have you been broken-hearted once or twice
If it's yes, how did you feel at his first lies?
If it's no, you need this good advice
… Never marry a Railroad man
He loves you every now and then
His heart is at his new train, no, no, no
Don't fall in love with a Railroad man
If you do, forget him if you can
You're better off without him, ahh
… Have you ever been restless in your bed?
And so lonely that your eyes became wet
Let me tell you then one thing
Mmm, mmm, mmm
Mmm, mmm, mmm
Mmm, mmm, mmm
No, no, no
… Never marry a Railroad man
He loves you every now and then
His heart is at his new train, no, no, no
Don't fall in love with a Railroad man
If you do, forget him if you can
You're better off without him, no, no, no
… No, no, no
No, no, no
@ceilstrakna6780
R.I.P. Mariska Veres - one of the best rock singers of the 1960s, male or female.
@NicolasArchaf
Rip😢💔🌹🥀
@NicolasArchaf
Saudades
@michaelfirman4700
Rest easy ❤️
@richardellis4292
Venes
@richardellis4292
Venus
@user-km9vl5iu1g
Какая музыка...Какое гитарное соло...Какая песня...Какая певица...Все настоящее!Шедевр!Браво!
@Madved07
Да ,хорошее. Но кажется испанцы испугались. Бля
@anca6390
одна мелодия . шокин бю . и в 10 ку ! остальное самодеятельность
@Madved07
@@anca6390 еще были несколько. Левин хорош был, только кинул их всех