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
I
Small Faces Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It seems so hazy and slow
(Shoop-shoop-doo-weddy-weddy)
Long before the long before we know
(Shanga-langa-langa-dulang)
Times were so high they were low
I'm only writing the rhyme
Please pass me my glass of wine
I feel much better
I feel much better
I feel much
(Shoop-shoop-doo-weddy-weddy)
(Shoop-shoop-doo-weddy-weddy)
Please feel at home to come and go
(Shanga-langa-langa-dulang)
Easy and lazy and slow
(Shoop-shoop-doo-weddy-weddy)
Smiling so nicely to know
(Shanga-langa-langa-dulang)
Winds of good fortune must blow your way
These things won't come in a day
These things are coming to stay
There's really not much to say
I feel much better
I feel much better
I feel much
(Shoop-shoop-doo-weddy-weddy)
(Shoop-shoop-doo-weddy-weddy)
(Shoop-shoop-doo-weddy-weddy) slowly
(Shoop-shoop-doo-weddy-weddy) slowly feeling
(Shoop-shoop-doo-weddy-weddy) slowly feeling
(Shoop-shoop-doo-weddy-weddy) slowly feeling
Oh yeah, come on, now, ooh
The Small Faces’ song “I Feel Much Better” is a reflection on the simple pleasures in life that can bring joy and contentment. The lyrics convey a sense of relaxation and ease, as the singer describes a languid, carefree existence that is at once escapist and indulgent. The lines “Easy and lazy we go, it seems so hazy and slow” set the tone for the rest of the song, as the singer revels in the fact that he has nothing to do and nowhere to be. He implores the listener to “please feel at home to come and go” and paints a picture of a lifestyle that is both idyllic and unattainable for most of us.
The lyrics also contain a sense of nostalgia, as the singer reflects on a time “long before we know” when life was simpler and times were “so high they were low.” The phrase “winds of good fortune” suggest that the singer is hoping for a change in his luck, and the repetition of the line “I feel much better” suggests that he has found some measure of happiness and contentment in his current circumstances. Overall, the song is a celebration of the small joys in life and the beauty of simplicity.
Line by Line Meaning
Easy and lazy we go
We are moving without any worry or trouble
It seems so hazy and slow
Things are unclear and moving slowly
(Shoop-shoop-doo-weddy-weddy)
Vocables to fill the melody
Long before the long before we know
Things started well before our awareness of them.
(Shanga-langa-langa-dulang)
More vocables to fill the melody
Times were so high they were low
Things changed so quickly - what was once high is now low
I'm only writing the rhyme
I am merely putting together words that rhyme
Don't find me taking my time
I am not wasting any time
Please pass me my glass of wine
Please give me my drink to enjoy
I feel much better
I am feeling great!
(Shoop-shoop-doo-weddy-weddy)
More vocables to fill the melody
Please feel at home to come and go
You are welcome to visit or leave as you please
Easy and lazy and slow
Things are still moving without any worry or trouble
Smiling so nicely to know
It's good to see you happy
(Shanga-langa-langa-dulang)
More vocables to fill the melody
Winds of good fortune must blow your way
Good luck will come your way
These things won't come in a day
Good things take time
These things are coming to stay
Good things will last
There's really not much to say
There's nothing more to explain
I feel much better
I am still feeling great!
(Shoop-shoop-doo-weddy-weddy)
More vocables to fill the melody
(Shoop-shoop-doo-weddy-weddy)
More vocables to fill the melody
(Shoop-shoop-doo-weddy-weddy) slowly
The pace is slowing down
(Shoop-shoop-doo-weddy-weddy) slowly feeling
The feeling is slowly setting in
(Shoop-shoop-doo-weddy-weddy) slowly feeling
The feeling is slowly becoming stronger
(Shoop-shoop-doo-weddy-weddy) slowly feeling
The feeling is slowly taking over
Oh yeah, come on, now, ooh
Expressing excitement and encouragement
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: IAN MCLAGAN, RONNIE LANE, STEVE MARRIOTT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@robinndjavera5625
Over bridge of sighs
To rest my eyes in shades of green
Under dreaming spires
To Itchycoo Park, that's where I've been
I got high
(What did you feel there?) well, I cried
(But why the tears there?) tell you why
It's all too beautiful, it's all too beautiful
It's all too beautiful, it's all too beautiful
I feel inclined to blow my mind
Get hung up, feed the ducks with a bun
They all come out to groove about
Be nice and have fun in the sun
I'll tell you what I'll do (what will you do?) I'd like to go there now with you
You can miss out school (won't that be cool?) why go to learn the words of fools?
we'll get high
(What will we touch there?) we'll touch the sky
(But why the tears there?) I'll tell you why
It's all too beautiful, it's all too beautiful
It's all too beautiful, it's all too beautiful
I feel inclined to blow my mind
Get hung up, feed the ducks with a bun
They all come out to groove about
Be nice and have fun in the sun
It's all too beautiful, it's all too beautiful
It's all too beautiful, hah
It's all too beautiful, it's all too beautiful
It's all too beautiful, it's all too beautiful
It's all too beautiful, it's all too beautiful
@louisemusiclover
Lyrics
Over bridge of sighs
To rest my eyes in shades of green
Under dreaming spires
To Itchycoo Park, that's where I've been
I got high
(What did you feel there?) well, I cried
(But why the tears there?) tell you why
It's all too beautiful, it's all too beautiful
It's all too beautiful, it's all too beautiful
I feel inclined to blow my mind
Get hung up, feed the ducks with a bun
They all come out to groove about
Be nice and have fun in the sun
I'll tell you what I'll do (what will you do?) I'd like to go there now with you
You can miss out school (won't that be cool?) why go to learn the words of fools?
we'll get high
(What will we touch there?) we'll touch the sky
(But why the tears there?) I'll tell you why
It's all too beautiful, it's all too beautiful
It's all too beautiful, it's all too beautiful
I feel inclined to blow my mind
Get hung up, feed the ducks with a bun
They all come out to groove about
Be nice and have fun in the sun
It's all too beautiful, it's all too beautiful
It's all too beautiful, hah
It's all too beautiful, it's all too beautiful
It's all too beautiful, it's all too beautiful
It's all too beautiful, it's all too beautiful
@PROFESSOR-I.C.
I'm 69 years old and still listening to this song. The '60's and '70's was definitely the Golden era of music.
@kevinhardy8263
and the 80 s my freind i am 63
@whitebirchtarot
I agree. I’m 67.
@andreworshonsky7435
When music had meaning not like the crap kids listen to now. Anyone can swear and sing get them bitches in line and give me the money my hoes.
@frankboyd.
I agree. We were lucky.
Here's some new musicians to explore.
Larkin Poe
Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway
Tyler Bryant and Shakedown
Madison Cunningham
Have fun.
@HD-J.R.
60's and 70's, spot on. Shame this was lip synked though. They weren't able to do the flanging sound effect live in those days. One of the best songs ever recorded!
@normaburke2750
70 years old and still loving this song. Makes me feel young. 😊
@ld3511
Right! 😀 It's all too beautiful!
@burkhardraum1956
I am 70 too and feel young
@dianapalmer3538
Don't make this music anymore