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
Just Passing
Small Faces Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This feeling of spring like the wing of a bird that is flying,
The nights they go cold as my mind does go old and I'm looked at,
A Inspected, hated, accepted
The wise men they wrangle, their minds look for angles and meaning (meaning!),
But the ceiling is light as I glide through the night and I'm leaving,
Living, being, mmm - mmm - mmm
The opening line of the song, "This feeling of spring like the wing of a bird that is flying," sets the tone and mood for the entire song. The analogy used here is a beautiful representation of the hope and optimism that comes with the season of spring. However, as the song progresses, we see the contrast between the joy of spring and the deep, bleak thoughts of the singer. As the night goes on, and his mind grows old, he is being looked at, inspected, hated, and accepted by those around him. The wise men in search of meaning provide a sharp contrast to the singer's thoughts, which are instead lost and aimless. The chorus "Living, being, mmm-mmm-mmm" is an almost hypnotic statement of acceptance and resignation.
Through the lyrics of "Just Passing," Small Faces created a song that explores the conflicting thoughts and emotions that we all experience at some point in our lives. It is a reflective and introspective song that encourages us to embrace the moments of happiness and joy while understanding the darker moments that we all face.
Line by Line Meaning
One and-a two and-a three and-a four and-a
The song begins with a count-in for the band to start playing.
This feeling of spring like the wing of a bird that is flying
The singer expresses a feeling of newness and freedom, like the season of spring and a bird flying.
The nights they go cold as my mind does go old and I'm looked at
As time passes, the singer's mind and body age, and they feel watched and judged by others.
Inspected, hated, accepted
The artist feels scrutinized, disliked, and maybe even embraced by those who judge them.
The wise men they wrangle, their minds look for angles and meaning (meaning!)
The artist observes others trying to decipher life's meaning and purpose through deep thought and debate.
But the ceiling is light as I glide through the night and I'm leaving
Despite others' search for answers, the singer feels light and carefree, gliding through life and perhaps leaving their worries behind.
Living, being, mmm - mmm - mmm
Ultimately, the singer embraces the simple experience of living and being, expressing this joy with nonspecific sounds of contentment.
Contributed by Lucy J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.