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
If I Were A Carpenter
Small Faces Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And you were a lady,
Would you marry me anyway?
Would you have my baby?
If a tinker were my trade
would you still find me,
Carrying the pots I made,
Following behind me.
Save my love through loneliness,
Save my love for sorrow,
I'm given you my onliness,
Come give your tomorrow.
If I worked my hands in wood,
Would you still love me?
Answer me babe, "Yes I would,
I'll put you above me."
If I were a miller
at a mill wheel grinding,
would you miss your color box,
and your soft shoe shining?
If I were a carpenter
and you were a lady,
Would you marry me anyway?
Would you have my baby?
The lyrics of the Small Faces song "If I Were A Carpenter" speak about a man who poses questions to a woman he loves. He wonders if she would marry him and have his child if he were a carpenter and she were a lady. He also poses the same question if he were a tinker or a miller. He wonders if she would still love him and value him, despite the different trades he would be in. The lyrics suggest a deep sense of love and commitment, where the singer is willing to take up any occupation, as long as he can marry the woman he loves.
The song portrays the idea of commitment and the certainty of love, no matter what profession or station in life a person may hold. The singer asks if his love would still remain even if he were a carpenter or a tinker, or even a miller. The song suggests that the woman's love would stay strong, regardless of the singer's profession or financial status. The song's lyrics, therefore, appear to be a love song that speaks to the heart of the intense and unwavering love that can exist between two people.
Line by Line Meaning
If I were a carpenter
If I worked with wood as a carpenter
And you were a lady,
And if you were a woman
Would you marry me anyway?
Would you still marry me even if I were just a carpenter?
Would you have my baby?
Would you still have children with me?
If a tinker were my trade
If I worked as a tinker
would you still find me,
Would you still want to be with me
Carrying the pots I made,
Even if I was just carrying the pots I made as a tinker
Following behind me.
Would you still follow me?
Save my love through loneliness,
Keep my love for you during the lonely times
Save my love for sorrow,
Keep my love for you even during tough times
I'm given you my onliness,
I'm giving you all that I have
Come give your tomorrow.
Give me your future
If I worked my hands in wood,
If I made things out of wood
Would you still love me?
Would you still love me even if I were a carpenter?
Answer me babe, "Yes I would,
Tell me, darling, that you still would love and value me
I'll put you above me."
I will even honor and value you more highly than myself
If I were a miller
If I worked at a mill
at a mill wheel grinding,
If I was grinding flour at a mill
would you miss your color box,
Would you miss your makeup and beauty products?
and your soft shoe shining?
Or your fancy shoes?
Contributed by Muhammad Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
John Wihl
You can't fake passion and soul. Marriott may have been the best in the rock era at displaying that. Damn what a talent.
Dean Susec
this guy was amazing
Johnny_Cat_Fitz
Is he the last one in this photo, in the jacket?
Beverley R
@Johnny_Cat_Fitz Yes he is! From L-R it's Kenney Jones, Mac (Ian McLagan), Ronnie Lane and Steve Marriott!
Will Thiel
This is an absolutely soul stirring clip! Steve Marriot was the real deal! He belongs in the Hall of Fame as both a member of the Small Faces and Humble Pie!
steviecuz
This is the best cover version of any song ever - no argument!
colin tapp
Kenney a bit heavy for this song.
Ken Harrington
Mariott has this unmisstakable voice that gives a special magic to whatever he sings, and yes this is one of those tracks that hes made sound fantastic.
John Paul Harrison
Goosebumps.! Over thirty years I've loved this tune. Only the S.Faces version causes goosebumps.
iamrichrocker
never knew they covered this..wow..fantastic..once again Steve knocks it out..i love his range and rough edge...these guys were stellar...eff you HOF voters..