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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Donkey Rides A Penny a Glass
Small Faces Lyrics
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I liked my uncle Joe
What a lovely man
Well I love things
I do my best
I eat sleep laugh and cry just like the rest
What becomes of me
Is meant to be
Summer's here and I'll be hiding my time away
Looking for someone who'll tell me the time of day
And he'll make your wish for true come
Unexpected attacks on your nose
Can be treated by touching your toes
Donkey rïdes a penny a glass
The lyrics to "Donkey Rides A Penny A Glass" by Small Faces describe the singer's contentment with living a simple and carefree life. The first two lines express a fondness for spending time in a caravan and for the singer's uncle Joe. The following lines express a general love of life and a desire to live it to the fullest. The singer acknowledges that whatever happens to them in life is meant to be, and so they choose to go with the flow and enjoy themselves naturally.
The second verse describes the singer's desire to spend their summer idly, looking for someone to talk to and pass the time with. The next line is somewhat nonsensical, suggesting an unexpected attack on one's nose that can be treated by touching one's toes. This seemingly absurd suggestion adds to the carefree and lighthearted tone of the song. Finally, the chorus repeats the title phrase, "donkey rides a penny a glass," which suggests a similarly simple and uncomplicated pleasure in life.
Overall, the lyrics to "Donkey Rides A Penny A Glass" celebrate simple pleasures and carefree living, while acknowledging the unpredictability of life.
Line by Line Meaning
I like wasting my days in a caravan
I enjoy using my time aimlessly and being carefree by living in a caravan
I liked my uncle Joe
What a lovely man
I have a fond memory of my uncle Joe and consider him to be a kind person
Well I love things
I do my best
I eat sleep laugh and cry just like the rest
I have a passion for various things and try to do my best in all aspects of life, experiencing emotions just like everyone else
What becomes of me
Is meant to be
So I'll just groove along quite naturally yeah
I believe my destiny is pre-determined, therefore I will live my life in a natural, spontaneous way
Summer's here and I'll be hiding my time away
Looking for someone who'll tell me the time of day
With the arrival of summer, I will pass my time recluse and searching for someone who will engage in conversation with me
And he'll make your wish for true come
The person I am searching for may make my wishes come true
Unexpected attacks on your nose
Can be treated by touching your toes
A sudden surprise which may cause discomfort can be relieved by touching your toes
Donkey rïdes a penny a glass
This phrase has no direct meaning or relation to the other lyrics in the song; it remains ambiguous.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: IAN MCLAGAN, RONNIE LANE, STEVE MARRIOTT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind