The Amboy Dukes released a number of albums with Mainstream Records. Having run their course with Mainstream Records, they signed with Polydor Records around 1970. At this time Amboy Dukes song titles would display such period flavor as "Why Is a Carrot More Orange Than an Orange" and "The Inexhaustible Quest for the Cosmic Cabbage"; the latter number was a multi-part epic that incorporated both Béla Bartók and The Beach Boys.
The band quickly grew tired of Polydor Records and signed with Frank Zappa's DisCreet (Warner Brothers) label. They released two more albums and then broke up.
While the other Amboy Dukes receded into obscurity, Nugent, as the "Motor City Madman", became a very successful and quite visible solo musician, hunter, and political controversialist.
The disparity in career outcomes has led to differing recollections among the former Dukes about what happened during the band's lifetime. Nugent claims to have been the leader of the band, and at times the "babysitter" for the rest of the band, and that when he took a few months off the band fell apart. And despite the apparent drug references of many of their songs, Nugent fervently denies significant drug use.
The other members of the band, such as Steve Farmer, viewed the band differently. They say guitarist Farmer and singer Drake were the main songwriters and the de facto leaders of the Amboy Dukes; Nugent was not the "leadman". In an interview , Farmer deprecated Nugent's creative role in the Amboy Dukes, and mentioned some rather embarrassing personal details about Nugent. From Farmer's point of view, Nugent was the one who needed babysitting - he was a spoiled brat and none too intelligent. Farmer did emphasize that Nugent was the only member not involved in drug activity and promiscuous sex with groupies, so on that matter everyone is in agreement.
Gimme Love
The Amboy Dukes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You better listen (?)
You got to hear what I call
You better pay close attention
Or you don't know me (long?)
You better listen in the evening
Yeah, listen to me, baby
For I ain't stayin' around
So give me love (you got to give me love)
(?) (you got to give me love)
That I want
You know I gave you
More than I could
I trust you up in diamonds
Give up my money if I could
So listen, baby
I (?)
Come a little bit closer
To what you mean to me
So give me love (you got to give me love)
Well, (?) (you got to give me love)
That I want
Yeah!
You know that I love you
But what can I say?
The words that would narrow your mind, now
You know that I love you
But what can I say?
I know the day will come you will realize
That I need your love
Now, after all I gave you
I expected (?)
For just you in diamonds
I trust you in class
Went to the big time
With your name in lines
So hold me close, baby
Let me claim what is mine
So give me love (you got to give me love)
(?) what I want (you got to give me love)
The Amboy Dukes's song Gimme Love is a love song that describes a man who is in love with a woman but does not feel that he is being loved in return. The song has a playful and upbeat tone, but the lyrics express a sense of frustration and longing for affection from the woman he loves. The singer is asking for love and attention, and he is willing to give everything he has to show how much he cares. The lyrics convey the feelings of a man who is committed to a relationship despite the challenges and obstacles that he faces.
The first verse indicates that the singer is struggling to get his message across to the woman he loves. He is urging her to listen carefully to the words he is about to say. He tells her that she needs to pay close attention to what he is saying, or she won't really know him. He then goes on to say that she should listen to him in the evening when the sun goes down. This suggests that he wants her to relax and really hear his message without any distractions. He is telling her that he wants her to give him love and affection, and he is willing to do anything to get it.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "give me love" several times. The singer is telling the woman that he needs her love, and he feels he deserves it. He has already given her everything he has, and he wants her to reciprocate by giving him love in return. The song's upbeat tempo and catchy melody suggest that the singer is optimistic about receiving the love he desires.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey!
Introducing the start of the song with a booming exclamation to grab the listener's attention.
You better listen (?)
Urging the listener to pay attention to something important that the singer wants to convey.
You got to hear what I call
Reinforcing the importance of listening and taking in what the singer has to say.
You better pay close attention
Stressing the need for the listener to focus and concentrate on the message being conveyed.
Or you don't know me (long?)
Implying that the listener needs to understand the singer in order to have a deeper, longer-lasting relationship with them.
You better listen in the evening
Suggesting a specific time of day for the listener to really tune in and hear the message.
When the sun goes down
Further emphasizing the timing of the message and how it stands out during a specific time of day.
Yeah, listen to me, baby
Reiterating the importance of paying attention and taking in the singer's words, now adding the term of endearment 'baby.'
For I ain't stayin' around
Suggesting that the message being conveyed is perhaps a final or fleeting one, implying a sense of urgency for the listener.
So give me love (you got to give me love)
Imploring the listener to show affection and adoration towards the singer.
(?) (you got to give me love)
Repeating the phrase for emphasis and to reinforce the need for the listener to give love.
That I want
Clarifying that the desired form of affection is love.
You know I gave you
Asserting that the singer has already shown love to the listener.
More than I could
Suggesting that the singer has gone above and beyond in expressing their affection.
I trust you up in diamonds
Implying that the singer has given expensive gifts to the listener as part of their displays of affection.
Give up my money if I could
Imagining scenarios where the singer would go to great lengths to show love, including sacrificing financially.
So listen, baby
Once again emphasizing the importance of the listener's attention, now adding another term of endearment.
I (?)
Unclear lyrics, suggesting the singer is speaking or singing too quickly and may be hard to understand without active focus.
Come a little bit closer
Inviting the listener to pay closer attention to the details of the message being conveyed.
To what you mean to me
Revealing that the message being conveyed is about the depth of the singer's feelings about the listener.
Well, (?) (you got to give me love)
Repeating the earlier phrase for added emphasis and clarity on the desired form of affection.
That I want
Restating that the desire is for love.
You know that I love you
Reaffirming the previous statement that the singer has strong feelings for the listener.
But what can I say?
Expressing a sense of frustration or helplessness around not being able to fully articulate the depth of the love being felt.
The words that would narrow your mind, now
Imagining that expressing certain thoughts or emotions might constrict the listener's thinking or distract from the message being conveyed.
I know the day will come you will realize
Asserting that the listener may have trouble understanding now, but will eventually come to recognize the singer's depth of feeling.
That I need your love
Putting aside the earlier request for love and instead expressing that the singer needs the listener's affection.
Now, after all I gave you
Reminding the listener of the previous displays of affection and emotional openness from the singer.
I expected (?)
Unclear lyrics, possibly indicating a sense of confusion or frustration from the singer about the listener's reaction or lack of action.
For just you in diamonds
Once again referencing the expensive gifts the singer previously gave to the listener to show affection.
I trust you in class
Continuing to highlight the many sacrifices the singer has made to show love to the listener.
Went to the big time
Suggesting that the singer's displays of affection were grand gestures, perhaps on a public or widely recognizable level.
With your name in lines
Possibly referring to media coverage or celebrity status of the listener in relation to the grand gestures or displays of affection from the singer.
So hold me close, baby
Returning to the earlier terms of endearment, now adding a physicality to the request for affection.
Let me claim what is mine
Asserting that the singer wants to be recognized as the rightful recipient of the listener's love and affection.
Contributed by Michael P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.