Influenced by his Uncle Herman's mandolin playing, Spencer Davis began learning to play harmonica and accordion at the age of six. He moved to London when he was sixteen, and began working in the civil service. In 1960, he moved to Birmingham, to read German at the University of Birmingham. While in Birmingham, he dated Christine Perfect (who later married Fleetwood Mac's John McVie). They busked and played in folk clubs with the Ian Campbell Trio.
In 1963, Davis went to a Birmingham public house, the Golden Eagle, to see Muff Woody, a traditional jazz band featuring brothers Muff and Steve Winwood. Davis persuaded the brothers to join him and drummer Pete York as the Rhythm and Blues Quartet. Davis performed on guitar, vocals and harmonica, Steve Winwood on guitar, organ and vocals, Muff Winwood on bass, and Pete York on drums. Playing mainly R&B covers, the band performed first at the Golden Eagle, but within a year they had landed a regular gig at The Marquee in London, and by 1964 had adopted the name The Spencer Davis Group. The group had No 1 hits in the UK with consecutive single releases in 1966 ("Keep On Running" and "Somebody Help Me"). Steve Winwood sang lead vocals on all the Spencer Davis Group's hits up to "I'm A Man" in 1967.
The Spencer Davis Group continued after Winwood left to form Traffic in April 1967. The group split in 1969.
After the group broke up, Davis moved to California and recorded an acoustic album with Peter Jameson, It's Been So Long for Mediarts in mid-1971. He followed it up with a solo album Mousetrap for United Artists, produced by and featuring Sneaky Pete Kleinow.
Another version of the group with Davis and York appeared in 1973 and disbanded in late 1974. Various incarnations of the band toured in subsequent years, under Davis' direction.
In later life, Davis lived in Avalon on Catalina Island, a small island in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of southern California.
In 2014, Davis was invited by producer Gerry Gallagher to record with Latin rock band El Chicano.
I'M A MAN
Spencer Davis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And there's whiskers on my chin
And I'm all hung up on music
And I always play to win
I ain't got no time for lovin'
'Cause my time is all used up
Just to sit around creatin'
But I'm a man, yes I am
And I can't help
But love you so
But I'm a man, yes I am
And I can't help
But love you so
Well, if I had my choice of matter
I would rather be with cats
All engrossed in mental chatter
Movin' where our minds are at
And relatin' to each other
Just how strong our wills can be
I'm resisting all involvement
With each groovy chick we see
Well, I'm a man, yes I am
And I can't help
But love you so
But I'm a man, yes I am
And I can't help
But love you so
I got to keep my image
While suspended from a throne
That looks out upon a kingdom
Full of people all unknown
Who imagine I'm not human
And my heart is made of stone
I never had no problems
And my toilet's trimmed with chrome
I'm a man, yes I am
And I can't help
But love you so, no no
I'm a man, yes I am
And I can't help
But love you so
The lyrics in the song "I'm a Man" by Spencer Davis reflect the complex dualities of the male persona back in the 1960s. At first glance, the lyrics may seem shallow, but a deeper look into the song reveals themes of love, power, and vulnerability. The first verse talks about the way the singer lives his life; he is messy, unshaven and loves playing music. He takes pride in his music career and plays to win, implying that he has a competitive side. However, he admits he has no time for love, although he loves someone, demonstrating a conflict between his professional and personal life.
The second verse discusses the singer's preference for mental engagement over physical intimacy. He'd favour being around thinkers, people who share his love for music and intellect. The singer resists getting involved with women he sees as groovy, portraying a man confident in his identity and unwilling to bend to societal pressures.
In the last verse, the singer talks about keeping up appearances and maintaining his image, even when it is lonely on his throne with unknown people imagining he's not human. He admits he has no problems, and the line "my toilet's trimmed with chrome" is a tongue-in-cheek reference to his privilege.
Overall, while the song's chorus might sound assertive, the verses present the complexities of identity and humanity for men, which were especially relevant in a time where men were expected to be tough and unemotional.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, my pad is very messy
My living space is disorganized and cluttered.
And there's whiskers on my chin
I haven't shaved recently.
And I'm all hung up on music
I am obsessed with music, it consumes most of my thoughts.
And I always play to win
I always strive for success and aim to be the best I can be.
I ain't got no time for lovin'
I don't have any time to devote to romantic relationships.
'Cause my time is all used up
All my time is spent on creating music and pursuing my passion.
Just to sit around creatin'
My main focus is on creating new and innovative music.
All that groovy kind of stuff
I am committed to producing music that is of a high quality and 'groovy' nature.
But I'm a man, yes I am
Although I spend most of my time on music, I am still a man and have emotional needs.
And I can't help
But love you so
I am attracted to you and cannot help but feel love for you.
Well, if I had my choice of matter
Given the opportunity, I would choose to be with like-minded people.
I would rather be with cats
I would prefer to be around other musicians or 'cats' like myself.
All engrossed in mental chatter
We would be absorbed in deep and meaningful conversations.
Movin' where our minds are at
We would move together in the same direction towards our goals and aspirations.
And relatin' to each other
We would connect with each other and understand one another's experiences.
Just how strong our wills can be
We would discuss the strength of our willpower and determination to succeed.
I'm resisting all involvement
I am actively avoiding any romantic involvements with women that could distract me from my goals.
With each groovy chick we see
I am avoiding getting involved with any women who might distract me from my music.
I got to keep my image
I need to maintain my public persona and reputation.
While suspended from a throne
As a successful musician, I am placed on a pedestal by my fans and admirers.
That looks out upon a kingdom
My status as a successful musician gives me an elevated position of power.
Full of people all unknown
Despite my fame and success, I am surrounded by strangers who do not truly know me.
Who imagine I'm not human
Some of my fans may view me as superhuman or not capable of feeling emotions like everyone else.
And my heart is made of stone
Many people may perceive me as cold and unfeeling.
I never had no problems
My public image does not reveal the problems and struggles that I have faced in my personal life.
And my toilet's trimmed with chrome
My success has allowed me to indulge in luxury items, such as a toilet trimmed with chrome.
And I can't help
But love you so, no no
Despite my busy schedule and dedication to music, I cannot help but feel love for you.
Lyrics Β© BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Jimmy Miller, Steve Winwood
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@lordmordor4582
Umbrella Academy leads me to really fabulous songs.
@Pyrotf2_a
Ohhh good I'm not the only one then
@matthewkraemer3265
Me too! Canβt believe I missed this growing up...
@chharleywan3698
I just commented that βπ»
@juulie806
Yes, season oneβs soundtrack is breathtaking
@dondestalabiblioteca
I am also here for the same reason! TUA has a great sound track.
@pashadwantara
One of the rarest sounds of the 60s. I often hear the Chicago's version on the radio, but this one... it's goated AF. I love the original version more.
@jamesaron1967
Not to say that it is always the case, but originals tend to be better because the originating artists' intent manifested with purest form in the creation. Everything else that follows may be viewed as adulterations of the source for better or for worse..
@ghostmanscores1666
@James Aron= BOT CHANNEL
@chinto50
That opening still really hits me, that beat was truly unique . I felt that the day it came out and still feel it today.