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
Wham Bam Thank You Mam
Small Faces Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
String of young boys on each arm
She was good to those who took off all their clothes and played guitar
Love comes love goes anyway your mind blows
Wham, bam, thank you, mam
We'll boogie till the rooster crows
He lived alone, love for none
He said pain never hurt anyone
Consumption on the floor
Stretcher out the door and that was it
God forsaken empty shell forgotten in a bad smell
Wham, bam, look out, Sam
The devil claims his own to moan in hell
Shang-a-lang-a, Shang-a-do-lang, Shang-a-lang-a
Sa-i-di ma-moon, sa-i-di ma-moon, Sa-i-di gris gris
Just hold your breath, and close your eyes
Turn the corner of surprise, and there you are
Our lives are run by ego freaks
A walking book of rules who seems
To keep you in your pidgeon holes
And fuss when your soul steps out of line
The lyrics of Small Faces’ “Wham Bam Thank You Mam” might seem a little cryptic at first, but a closer look reveals a commentary on the fleeting nature of love, the dangers of addiction, and the limitations imposed by society.
The first verse describes a woman who is surrounded by young men and is willing to engage in casual sex, but at the same time is kind to those who are vulnerable and create music. The chorus of “Wham, bam, thank you, mam” seems to be a metaphor for the ephemeral nature of these encounters - they’re brief and passionate, but ultimately disposable, like a one-night stand.
The second verse describes a man who lives alone and claims that pain never hurts anyone. He, too, seems to be somewhat adrift, until he finally succumbs to addiction and dies with a “consumption on the floor.” The chorus this time is changed to “Wham, bam, look out, Sam,” implying that the devil (represented by Sam) is coming for him. “Shang-a-lang-a, Shang-a-do-lang, Shang-a-lang-a / Sa-i-di ma-moon, sa-i-di ma-moon, Sa-i-di gris gris” is a nonsensical refrain that adds to the surreal and ominous atmosphere.
Line by Line Meaning
She was a lady of charm
She had an enchanting personality
String of young boys on each arm
She had many young men vying for her attention
She was good to those who took off all their clothes and played guitar
She preferred the company of musicians who were willing to be vulnerable
Love comes love goes anyway your mind blows
Romantic love is fickle and unpredictable
Wham, bam, thank you, mam
A catchphrase used after a brief sexual encounter
We'll boogie till the rooster crows
We'll keep dancing until morning
He lived alone, love for none
He was a solitary figure who didn't allow himself to get close to anyone
He said pain never hurt anyone
He believed that emotional pain was insignificant
Surprise surprise
An expression of ironic disbelief
Consumption on the floor
People succumbing to addiction
Stretcher out the door and that was it
A person has died
God forsaken empty shell forgotten in a bad smell
A person has passed away and is now rotting
Wham, bam, look out, Sam
A warning that trouble is coming
The devil claims his own to moan in hell
Bad people will suffer in the afterlife
Shang-a-lang-a, Shang-a-do-lang, Shang-a-lang-a
Nonsense words
Sa-i-di ma-moon, sa-i-di ma-moon, Sa-i-di gris gris
More nonsense words
Just hold your breath, and close your eyes
Take a leap of faith
Turn the corner of surprise, and there you are
You never know what's around the corner
Our lives are run by ego freaks
Our society prioritizes individualism to an unhealthy degree
A walking book of rules who seems
People often appear to be rigidly adhering to social norms
To keep you in your pidgeon holes
To constrain people into narrow categories or roles
And fuss when your soul steps out of line
And criticize or shame individuals who don't conform to societal expectations
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RONNIE LANE, STEVE MARRIOTT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@harryroberts2403
Well she was a lady of charm
A prisoner of songs unsung
She was just a face that took
All her groovin' on his guitar
Hot cars, strange clothes, any ways your mind goes
Wham team, thank you mam
We'll boogie till the rooster crows
Oh yeah
We lived this way for so long
You said babe, never got it on
Oh no no no
Surprise surprise, I thought you ought to know
He chucked her out the door
Without a cent (cent, cent)
Papa said grab your share but don't give a bad smell
Wham team god damn the devil planks
And wants some more yeah yeah
Sha la la la Shang a dorang shang a lang lang
Shang a lang mama, Sing it mama
Say it yes yes
Close your breath and hold your eyes
Turn the corner, a surprise, and there you are
Well, Id like to know why those old freaks
While walkin' through their moves
He seeks to keep you in your stick hole
And bash away your soul, surprise
C'mon..!!!
@johnpaulharrison7816
Well she was a lady of charm
A string of young boys on each arm
She was good to those who took of all their clothes
Or played guitar
Love comes, days go, any ways your mind blows
Wham bam, thank you mam
We'll boogie till the rooster crows
Oh yeah
We lived this way for so long
You said pain never hurt anyone
Oh no no no
Surprise surprise, sunshine on the floor
Stretcher out the door
And that was it it it
God forsaken empty shell forgotten in a bad smell
Wham bam look out sam the devil claims his own to mourn in hell
Sha la la la Shang a dorang shang a lang lang
Shang a lang mama, Sing it mama
Say it yes yes
Close your breath and hold your eyes
Turn the corner, a surprise, and there you are
Well, our lives are run by ego freaks
A walking book of rules he seeks
To keep you in your pigeon hole
And bash you if your soul steps out of line
C'mon !!
@robjones2408
Stevie has been gone for thirty years now, but he will still remain the ultimate Mod. A fantastic song.
What a great, great vocalist. Gone, never to be forgotten.
@houmm08
The band were unreal. Kenny's drumming on this especially the last minute is unbelievable, marriots voice, the key parts and the and inventive bass bouncing around......just mental good
@carrerlluna66
It's like a hint of what was coming with Humble Pie. So heavy for 1968 and with that nasty slide too....ooh baby
@TheClarkey19
Vote up if you think Steve Marriott is a legend
@crazysanantonio
Steve Marriot is a legend in my book
@markmacdonald3260
They were all great. I think it was more than one person effort. I may be wrong. Playing the guitar I love the support and McLagan's organ (if you know what I mean)gave the sound and Ronnie Lane was a talented songwriter and Jones went on to play for The Who. But they were best as The Small Faces and they really seem to represent that change in society or the breakdown in the class system where being working class meant you where good at something. Whereas nowadays you get a zero hour contract or work through an agency. They have a confident optimism that created a wealth of genuinely great music. The other thing I think that when these guys were young there was no telly so learning how to play an instrument along with some music theory was a must. A lot of the bands at this time managed to improve and change very quickly were as bands more recently can play the exact same style for 20- 30yrs. This was a great time and the Small Faces could hold their own.
@livebass99
I do not Think he is , .... I KNOW HE IS.
@llwyde1104
@Mark Macdonald well said...there was working class confidence. I was WC, I had it, still do.
@oisinbyrne9155
this isnt reddit lad
@nigelwillmott6177
The incomparable Steve Marriott - Rock God! There was a synergy between Steve Marriott, Ronnie Lane, Kenney Jones & Ian McLagan. This is one of the greatest rock songs ever.