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
http://www.musicpilgrimages.com/articl/4012.php

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.
http://www.musicpilgrimages.com/articl/4002.php

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.
http://www.musicpilgrimages.com/articl/4014.php

E Too D
Small Faces Lyrics

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Sometimes I feel
Like a frustrated child
I got everything I want
And there′s nothing that I need
I can't stop my brain from running wild
Running wild, from running wild
My brain, my brain is running wild

Sometimes I′m looking somewhere
And I don't like what I see
Seems like my soul is made of paper
So I took a look outside myself
Trying to get myself together
Things have changed, now I find
I've just been messing, messing up my mind

So now my troubles are all over
And I′m pleased to find
That I was right and they were wrong

I have messed up my mind
You see those colors, hear those voices

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Small Faces' song "E Too D" touch on themes of frustration, self-reflection, and a struggle to find purpose or meaning in life. The first verse expresses a sense of restlessness despite having all the material possessions one desires. The singer feels like a "frustrated child" because they lack fulfillment despite having everything they want. Their brain is "running wild," suggesting a chaotic and uncontrolled thought process.

In the second verse, the lyrics convey dissatisfaction with one's own perception of the world. The individual looks around and doesn't like what they see, possibly implying a discontent with the superficial nature of their surroundings. The metaphor of having a soul made of paper suggests fragility and vulnerability, as if their inner self is easily influenced or damaged. To overcome this, they try to gain perspective by looking outside of themselves and attempting to bring their thoughts and emotions into harmony.

Continuing into the third verse, the lyrics indicate a shift in the singer's mindset. They assert that their troubles are now over and claim that their perspective was correct while others were wrong. However, in doing so, they admit to having "messed up" their own mind. This suggests that their previous frustrations and dissatisfaction may have been self-inflicted due to misguided perceptions or actions.

The final line of the lyrics introduces the presence of colors and voices. Although not explicitly explained, it could symbolize a newfound clarity or a heightened awareness of the world around them. These sensory experiences may represent a new understanding that the singer has discovered through self-reflection and confronting their own internal struggles.

Overall, "E Too D" explores the complex emotions of dissatisfaction, self-discovery, and the desire for a more meaningful existence. The lyrics highlight the turmoil of an individual wrestling with their own thoughts and perceptions, ultimately leading to a realization of the need for self-improvement and a shift in their understanding of the world.

Line by Line Meaning

Sometimes I feel
At certain times, I experience

Like a frustrated child
Similar to a discontented young person

I got everything I want
I possess all the things I desire

And there's nothing that I need
And there is nothing that I lack

I can't stop my brain from running wild
I am unable to control the excessive activity of my mind

Running wild, from running wild
Frenzied and unrestrained, due to its uncontrollable state

My brain, my brain is running wild
My mind, my mind is racing uncontrollably

Sometimes I'm looking somewhere
Occasionally, I gaze in a particular direction

And I don't like what I see
And I am dissatisfied with what I observe

Seems like my soul is made of paper
It appears as if my inner self is fragile and easily damaged

So I took a look outside myself
Therefore, I examined the external world