Spanky and Our Gang was an American 1960s folk-rock band led by Elaine "Spa… Read Full Bio ↴Spanky and Our Gang was an American 1960s folk-rock band led by Elaine "Spanky" McFarlane. The band derives its name from Hal Roach's popular Our Gang comedies of the 1930s (known to modern audiences as The Little Rascals). McFarlane was nicknamed "Spanky" because one of the band members, perhaps influenced by her last name, said that she resembled Our Gang star George "Spanky" McFarland. The group was known for its vocal harmonies.

MEMBERS

Elaine "Spanky" McFarlane (born 19 June 1942, Peoria, Illinois) - vocals
Nigel Pickering (born 15 June 1929, Pontiac, Missouri) - rhythm guitar, vocals
Paul "Oz" Bach (24 June 1939 - 21 September 1998, Asheville, North Carolina) - bass guitar, vocals (1966-67)
Malcolm Hale (17 May 1941, Butte, Montana - 30 October 1968, Chicago, IL) - lead guitar, trombone, vocals (died of carbon monoxide poisoning).
John "The Chief" Seiter (born 17 August 1944, St Louis, Missouri) - drums, vocals (1967-69)
Kenny Hodges (born 3 August 1936, Jacksonville, Florida) - bass, vocals (1968-69)
Lefty Baker (born 7 January 1939, Roanoke, Virginia - 11 August 1971, California) - lead guitar, banjo, vocals (1968-69)

HISTORY

The group's first album, simply titled Spanky and Our Gang, was released by Mercury Records on August 1, 1967, and included three popular songs that were released as 45 singles - "Sunday Will Never Be The Same" (their biggest hit, which reached number #9 on Billboard in the summer of 1967) followed by "Making Every Minute Count" and "Lazy Day" (both of which made the Top 30 that fall).

Their second album, Like To Get To Know You, was released in April of 1968. Two singles were released: "Sunday Mornin'" in the spring, which reached #30, and "Like To Get To Know You", which reached #17 in the summer of 1968. The album version of "Like To Get To Know You" begins with a humorous conversation. The single's B-side, "Three Ways From Tomorrow", also received considerable airplay. The album also included their rendition of the classic "Stardust" and a version of "Everybody's Talkin'", best known as a hit single for Harry Nilsson and the theme song for the movie Midnight Cowboy.

In October 1968 the group suffered a tragedy when at age 27 their lead guitarist Malcolm Hale died of carbon monoxide poisoning due to a faulty space heater (Hale's death has also been ascribed to bronchopneumonia). The group disbanded shortly afterwards. Mercury released a third album, Anything You Choose, in January 1969. It contained two popular songs, "Give a Damn" and "Yesterday's Rain".

"Give a Damn" was released as a single in the summer of 1968. In spite of being banned in several states because of the profanity in its title - and in some cases due to the fact that it was a comment on racial equality that became the theme song for the New York Urban Coalition - the song became a regional hit where released and overall made #43. It was also performed live on an episode of The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, resulting in CBS Standards and Practices division receiving numerous complaints about the song's title being used during 'family viewing hours'. One such complaint reportedly came from Richard Nixon (Tom Smothers, 'Geraldo' Interview, 1987). Ironically, "Give A Damn" would become John Lindsay's campaign song during his successful run for Mayor of New York.

After the band's break-up, "Spanky" enjoyed some success as a solo artist. She also toured for years with the Mamas and the Papas, singing primarily the parts previously performed by the late Cass Elliot.

Leaving on a Jet Plane
Spanky & Our Gang Lyrics

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All my bags are packed
I'm ready to go
I'm standin' here outside your door
I hate to wake you up to say goodbye
But the dawn is breakin'
It's early morn
The taxi's waitin'
He's blowin' his horn

Already I'm so lonesome
I could die

So kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Hold me like you'll never let me go
'Cause I'm leavin' on a jet plane
Don't know when I'll be back again
Oh babe, I hate to go

There's so many times I've let you down
So many times I've played around
I tell you now, they don't mean a thing
Ev'ry place I go, I'll think of you
Ev'ry song I sing, I'll sing for you
When I come back, I'll bring your wedding ring

So kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Hold me like you'll never let me go
'Cause I'm leavin' on a jet plane
Don't know when I'll be back again
Oh babe, I hate to go

Now the time has come to leave you
One more time
Let me kiss you
Then close your eyes
I'll be on my way
Dream about the days to come
When I won't have to leave alone
About the times, I won't have to say

Oh, kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Hold me like you'll never let me go
'Cause I'm leavin' on a jet plane
Don't know when I'll be back again
Oh babe, I hate to go

But, I'm leavin' on a jet plane

Don't know when I'll be back again
Oh babe, I hate to go

Overall Meaning

The song "Come And Open Your Eyes" by the band Spanky & Our Gang is a melancholic piece about a person's departure from a loved one. The verses allude to the singer's sadness and regret about leaving, demonstrated by lines like "Already I'm so lonesome I could die," and "I hate to wake you up to say goodbye." The chorus, however, is slightly more upbeat, with the singer urging their loved one to "kiss me and smile for me" and "hold me like you'll never let me go." The singer is uncertain about when they'll be back and is worried about how long they'll be gone, but they promise to bring back a wedding ring and make up for the times they've let their partner down.

The song is both romantic and sad, reflecting the difficulties of long-distance relationships and the pain of separation. The singer is optimistic about their return, but the uncertainty of the situation and the knowledge that their partner will be waiting for them only adds to the bittersweet nature of the song. The melody is simple and almost childlike, adding to the nostalgic and wistful quality of the piece.

Leaving on a Jet PlaneSpanky & Our Gang Lyrics

Leaving on a Jet Plane
Spanky & Our Gang Lyrics