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
Mad John
Small Faces Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nobody knew him or what he had done
But mothers would say to their children, beware of mad John
John would sing with the birds in the morning
Laugh with the wind in the cold end of night
But people from behind their curtains, said he's not quite right
Yes, his bed was the cold and the damp but the sun was his friend
He was free
So here was a wise one who loved all the haters
He loved them so much that their hate turned to fear
And shaking from behind their curtains the loved ones would hear
Day-di-di-di-di, day-di-di-di-di
Day-di-di-di-di, ooh
Day-di-di-di-di, day-di-di-di-di
Day-di-di-di-di, ooh
The song "Mad John" by Small Faces tells the story of an old man who lived in the greenwood, and it is a cautionary tale for children. Nobody could tell what the man had done, but the mothers warn their children to beware of him. John was a happy-go-lucky man who loved to sing with the birds and laugh with the wind at night. Despite his free-spirited nature, he was often judged by people who hid behind their curtains and watched him from afar, claiming that he was not quite right.
However, John was content with his life as a tramp, and the sun was his friend. He was not confined by societal norms or material possessions. He loved all the haters so much that their hate turned to fear, and they would tremble behind their curtains as they heard him sing through the trees. The song is a reminder that one should not judge others for their way of living or be too quick to dismiss those who live differently. Everyone should be free to live the life they choose, as long as it is not harmful to others.
Line by Line Meaning
There was an old man who lived in the greenwood
In the greenwood, there was an old man living alone, secluded from others
Nobody knew him or what he had done
Since he kept to himself, no one knew anything about him or his past
But mothers would say to their children, beware of mad John
Mothers warned their children to be cautious of the old man in the woods, known as Mad John
John would sing with the birds in the morning
Mad John enjoyed singing alongside the birds early in the morning
Laugh with the wind in the cold end of night
He found joy in laughing with the wind during cold nights
But people from behind their curtains, said he's not quite right
Despite his harmless behavior, people observed him from their homes and questioned his mental state
John had it sussed, he was living the life of a tramp
Mad John had his life figured out and was content living as a vagabond
Yes, his bed was the cold and the damp but the sun was his friend
Although he slept in uncomfortable conditions, he appreciated the warmth and light of the sun
He was free
Mad John was liberated from society, free to live as he pleased
So here was a wise one who loved all the haters
Despite being an outcast, Mad John possessed great wisdom and even had love for those who despised him
He loved them so much that their hate turned to fear
His love for those who hated him was so powerful that it transformed their hatred into fear
And shaking from behind their curtains the loved ones would hear
Those who were apprehensive of Mad John's presence would tremble behind their curtains as they listened intently
Day-di-di-di-di, day-di-di-di-di
Nonsensical vocalizations
Day-di-di-di-di, ooh
Nonsensical vocalizations
Day-di-di-di-di, day-di-di-di-di
Nonsensical vocalizations
Day-di-di-di-di, ooh
Nonsensical vocalizations
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: RONNIE LANE, STEVE MARRIOTT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind