Small Faces were an influential British mod/psychedelic band of the 1960s, … Read Full Bio ↴Small Faces were an influential British mod/psychedelic band of the 1960s, led by Steve Marriott and Ronnie Lane with Kenney Jones and Ian McLagan (who replaced original organist Jimmy Winston). The Small Faces were all genuine East End mods . They were signed to Decca records initially and enjoyed major success across Europe between 1965 and 1967 with classic singles like "All or Nothing" and "Sha-La-La-La-Lee" before moving to a new label.

By late 1967, the band had felt constricted financially & creatively by manager Don Arden (father of Sharon Osbourne), and were lured by Rolling Stones' publicist Andrew Loog Oldham into signing with his new Immediate label. They soon recorded more expansive psychedelic sounding material including hit pop tunes like "Lazy Sunday" which was included with their UK number one classic concept album Ogdens Nut Gone Flake and "Itchycoo Park" which was their only stateside charting single.

The demise of the Small Faces arrived on New Years Eve 1968, when Steve Marriott walked off stage at The Alexandra Palace in London. Marriott felt that despite the success of the group, he was still not being taken seriously as a musician. He went on to achieve major status in the U.S.A with Peter Frampton in Humble Pie. The others continued as the Faces, opting to drop the "Small" after one LP as new recruits Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood towered above their new band mates. Drummer Kenney Jones later joined The Who after the death of their drummer Keith Moon. As years went on, Marriott kept recording various lineups as Humble Pie but became somewhat of a caricature and casualty of rock excess. Tragically, Steve Marriott died in a house fire in 1991 and Ronnie Lane followed him in 1997 after a long battle with Multiple Sclerosis. Keyboardist Ian McLagan has continued to tour and record with his own band as well as with artists like Billy Bragg, The New Barbarians ( a group composed of Ian, Ron Wood, Keith Richards, Stanley Clarke, and Billy Cobham), and The Rolling Stones. According to announcements at the shows on the New Barbarians tour, the proceeds of the live gigs were going to pay Ronnie Lane's medical expenses associated with Ronnie's struggle with Multiple Sclerosis.

The Small Faces remain one of British rock's most important legacy acts, with their membership having links to so many other acts. Amongst the many bands they influenced were The Jam, Ramones, Oasis and X.

There are a number of locations around London linked to the Small Faces, many to be found in the East End where they grew up.

The J60 Music bar in Manor Park, an instrument shop where Steve Marriott first met Ronnie Lane
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Little Ilford park, also located in Manor Park, inspired the track Itchycoo Park, Steve and other kids in the East End used to play in this park when they grew up.
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In 1968 the Small Faces recorded a video for their track Lazy Sunday, Steve sings in his native East end accent and the video was shot in the East End using Kenney Jones parents' flat in Havering Street. The video ends with a shot of the nearby Thames.
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Don't Stop What You're Doing
Small Faces Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Don't stop what you're doing, oh no
A little bird just flew in, yeah

And he told me
That your love was strong
That you'd never been in love so long
So that's all right, yeah, that's all right, all right

I got something to tell ya, are ya listenin'?
You heart's gonna melt ya, all right

And you're feelin' just like a high-flyin' bird
That's the sweetest song you ever heard
Well, that's all right, yeah

I don't know what made you feel this way
But I hope you'll never fly away

So keep on flying away with m
(Don't stop what you're doing)
Say now take my hand
(Don't stop what you're doing)
Take me to a promised land baby
(Don't stop what you're doing)
Please, please, please, please, please
(Don't stop what you're doing)

Don't stop what you're doing

(Don't stop what you're doing)
You make me feel so fine

Overall Meaning

The song's lyrics start by urging the addressee not to stop what they are doing. The singer has been told by a little bird that the addressee's love is strong and that they have never been in love so long. The singer is happy to hear this news and tells the addressee that everything is alright. The singer then proceeds to tell the addressee that they have something to tell them and that they should listen up. The singer promises that what they have to say will melt the addressee's heart. The following lines paint a picture of the addressee feeling like a high-flying bird, experiencing the sweetest song they've ever heard. The singer tells the addressee to keep on flying away with them, and to take their hand and go to a promised land, urging them not to stop what they're doing because they make the singer feel so fine.

The lyrics of "Don't Stop What You're Doing" by Small Faces can be interpreted in various ways. It can be seen as a simple love song where the singer urges their loved one not to stop showing them love and affection. The image of a little bird delivering the news of the strength of the addressee's love could be interpreted as a metaphor for the idea that love can come from the most unexpected places. The lines "That's the sweetest song you ever heard/Well, that's all right, yeah" could be seen as an acknowledgment of the power of love to make one feel blissful. The final lines where the singer tells the addressee that they make them feel so fine add to this interpretation.

Line by Line Meaning

Don't stop what you're doing, oh no
Continue doing whatever you are doing, do not stop

A little bird just flew in, yeah
I received some good news recently

And he told me
The bird conveyed some information to me

That your love was strong
The bird said that your love is powerful

That you'd never been in love so long
The bird said that you have never been in love for such a prolonged period before

So that's all right, yeah, that's all right, all right
It's all good news, everything is fine

I got something to tell ya, are ya listenin'?
I have some important news to share, are you paying attention?

You heart's gonna melt ya, all right
The news may be emotionally overwhelming

And you're feelin' just like a high-flyin' bird
You are feeling ecstatic and exultant

That's the sweetest song you ever heard
This feeling is the most pleasurable experience you've ever had

Well, that's all right, yeah
It's all positive and good news

I don't know what made you feel this way
I'm not sure what caused you to feel this elated

But I hope you'll never fly away
I hope you will always stay in this state of bliss

So keep on flying away with m
Keep enjoying this sensation with me