'Terry Knight and the Pack' was between 1965 and 1967 a band from Flint, Mi… Read Full Bio ↴'Terry Knight and the Pack' was between 1965 and 1967 a band from Flint, Michigan. The band was signed to the Lucky Eleven label throughout its short recording career.

Former DJ Terry Knight fronted the act as singer and songwriter. Don Brewer and Herm Jackson played drums and bass, respectively. Curt Johnson supplied fuzz guitar solos while Bobby Caldwell provided melodic keyboards. Mark Farner replaced Herm Jackson on bass for a few months in the spring of 1966. After his broken leg healed, Herm Jackson returned to the band. In January 1967 Terry fired Curt Johnson and replaced him with Mark Farner on guitar.

A quintessential garage band, TK&TP openly imitated best-selling rockers of the mid-1960s, especially the Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan. Due to the band's lack of refinement and Knight's compositional idiosyncrasies, much of their material transcends its inspiration to qualify as lost classics of the Nuggets era.

Six of their nine 45s made regional Top 40s throughout Michigan, Ohio and New York, with two of them - "Mister, You're A Better Man Than I" (originally by The Yardbirds) and I (Who Have Nothing) (a cover of a Ben E. King song) - reaching the national charts. I (Who Have Nothing) went to #46 and earned the band an appearance on Dick Clark's television program Where The Action Is.

Tracks by the band include: "This Precious Time" (composed and produced by P.F. Sloan), a version of "I Can't Get No Satisfaction" and several Knight originals: "Numbers," "A Change On The Way" and "Love, Love, Love, Love, Love" (later covered by Detroit roots rockers Brownsville Station). An interesting note is that The Music Explosion issued an almost identical version of "Love, Love, Love, Love, Love"--same instrumental backing track but a different vocal track; it's unclear whether The Pack or the Music Explosion recorded the "original".

TK&TP were mainstays on Cleveland's TV rock & roll showcase, Upbeat. In addition, they opened regional gigs for the Rolling Stones, the Dave Clark Five and The Yardbirds.

After their second LP, Reflections, Knight left the band to pursue a frustrated solo career as producer and singer. The Pack continued without Knight with even less success. The band was largely forgotten until Farner and Brewer formed the nucleus of Capitol Records' best-selling act of the early 1970s, Grand Funk Railroad, initially managed and produced by Knight.

All recordings by Terry Knight and the Pack have been out of print since 1973, except for I (Who Have Nothing) which is included in the Cameo Parkway 1957-1967 box set.

Only one "best of" compilation was released in late 1972 by ABKCO Records as the 2 LP set "Mark, Don & Terry 1966-67" (plain blue cover) inspired by the Grand Funk Railroad 2 LP set "Mark, Don & Mel: 1969–71" (plain black cover) released earlier that year on Capitol. The ABKCO-released album was later re-packaged in 1973 as "Funk-Off." Both albums are considered collectors items after being dropped from the ABKCO catalog. Another quasi-best-of compilation, Track On, was released on Lucky Eleven circa 1969-70, but the legality of this issue has been questioned.

In 2008, Terry Knight and The Pack were inducted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame.

See also: Terry Knight & The Pack

Young Hearts
Terry Knight And The Pack Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Fairy tales can come true
It can happen to you if you're young at heart
For it's hard, you will find
To be narrow of mind if you're young at heart

You can go to extremes with impossible schemes
You can laugh when your dreams fall apart at the seams
And life gets more exciting with each passing day

And love is either in your heart or on it's way

Don't you know that it's worth
Every treasure on earth to be young at heart
For as rich as you are
It's much better by far to be young at heart

And if you should survive to a hundred and five
Look at all you'll derive out of bein' alive
And here is the best part, you have a head start
If you are among the very young at heart

And if you should survive to a hundred and five
Look at all you'll derive out of bein' alive

And here is the best part, you have a head start
If you are among the very young at heart

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Young Hearts" by Terry Knight and The Pack convey a message of optimism, resilience, and the enduring power of youthful spirit. The song begins by suggesting that fairy tales can indeed come true, emphasizing that this magical possibility is more likely if one maintains a youthful outlook on life. Being young at heart is presented as a key to overcoming challenges and avoiding narrow-mindedness, suggesting that a spirit of openness and curiosity can lead to fulfilling experiences.

The lyrics further explore the idea that embracing a youthful mindset allows for daring and imaginative pursuits, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles. The ability to find humor and resilience in the face of disappointment or setbacks is highlighted, emphasizing the idea that life becomes more vibrant and fulfilling when approached with a sense of adventure and optimism. Love is also portrayed as a central theme, suggesting that being young at heart enables one to either feel the presence of love within them or look forward to its arrival.

The song then contrasts material wealth with the emotional richness that comes from being young at heart, suggesting that genuine fulfillment and happiness derive more from a youthful spirit than from material possessions. The lyrics emphasize that regardless of one's financial status, maintaining a youthful perspective leads to a more fulfilling and joyous existence. The prospect of living to a ripe old age is presented as an opportunity to reflect on a life well-lived, with the suggestion that those who have nurtured a youthful heart will derive the greatest satisfaction and fulfillment from their experiences.

In conclusion, the song celebrates the enduring value of being young at heart, suggesting that maintaining a sense of curiosity, imagination, and emotional openness can lead to a life rich in experiences and relationships. The repeated emphasis on the rewards of being among the very young at heart underscores the idea that age is not a barrier to living a fulfilling and exciting life – as long as one approaches each day with a youthful spirit and a willingness to embrace all that life has to offer.

Line by Line Meaning

Fairy tales can come true
Dreams and fantasies can become reality

It can happen to you if you're young at heart
If you maintain a youthful and optimistic perspective

For it's hard, you will find
It's difficult, but ultimately rewarding

To be narrow of mind if you're young at heart
To limit yourself by being closed-minded

You can go to extremes with impossible schemes
You can pursue ambitious and unlikely goals

You can laugh when your dreams fall apart at the seams
Find humor in the face of disappointment

And life gets more exciting with each passing day
Life becomes more thrilling over time

And love is either in your heart or on it's way
Love is either present or on the horizon

Don't you know that it's worth
Acknowledging the value

Every treasure on earth to be young at heart
Being youthful is more valuable than any material possession

For as rich as you are
Regardless of your wealth

It's much better by far to be young at heart
It's far superior to have a youthful spirit

And if you should survive to a hundred and five
If you live to an old age

Look at all you'll derive out of bein' alive
Consider all the experiences and memories you'll have

And here is the best part, you have a head start
The advantage of starting young

If you are among the very young at heart
If you maintain a youthful outlook

Lyrics © JUNE'S TUNES LTD. PARTNERSHIP, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Carolyn Leigh, Johnny Richards

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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