History
First incarnation
Formed in Newcastle-upon-Tyne during 1962 and 1963 when Burdon joined the existing Alan Price Rhythm and Blues Combo, the original line-up comprised Eric Burdon (vocals), Alan Price (organ and keyboards), Hilton Valentine (guitar), John Steel (drums), and Bryan "Chas" Chandler (bass). The Animals' moderate success in their hometown and a connection with The Yardbirds manager Giorgio Gomelsky motivated them to move to London in 1964, in time to be grouped with the British Invasion. They performed fiery versions of the staple rhythm and blues repertoire (Jimmy Reed, John Lee Hooker, Nina Simone, etc). Signed to the Columbia Graphophone subsidiary of EMI, a rocking version of the standard "Baby Let Me Follow You Down" (retitled Baby Let Me Take You Home) was their first UK hit single.
It was followed in June 1964 by the huge transatlantic hit "House of the Rising Sun". Burdon's howling vocals and the dramatic arrangement created arguably the first folk rock hit. Whether the arrangement was inspired by Bob Dylan's version of the song (which in turn was inspired by folk singer Dave Van Ronk) or by blues singer Josh White's (who recorded it twice in 1944 and 1949) or by singer/pianist Nina Simone (who recorded it in 1962 on At The Village Gate, predating Dylan's interpretation) remains a subject of dispute, as does whether all five Animals deserved credit for the arrangement and not just Price.
The Animals' two-year chart career, masterminded by producer Mickie Most, featured singles that were intense, gritty pop covers such as Sam Cooke's Bring It On Home To Me and the Nina Simone number Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood. In contrast their album tracks stayed with rhythm and blues, with Hooker's Boom Boom and Ray Charles' I Believe to My Soul being notable examples. Burdon's powerful, deep voice and the use of keyboards as much or more than guitars were two elements that made the Animals' sound stand out.
By May 1965 the group was starting to feel internal pressures. Price left due to personal and musical differences as well as a fear of flying on tour; he went on to a successful career as a solo artist and with the Alan Price Set. Mickey Gallagher filled in for him on keyboards for a spell, until Dave Rowberry replaced him and was on hand for the hit working-class anthems We Gotta Get Out of this Place and It's My Life. Around that time, an Animals Big Band even made a one-time appearance.
Many of The Animals' hits had come from Brill Building songwriters recruited by Most; the group, and Burdon in particular, felt this was too restrictive. As 1965 ended the group switched to Decca Records and producer Tom Wilson, who gave them more artistic freedom. In early 1966 MGM Records, their American label, collected their hits onto The Best of The Animals; it became their best-selling album in the U.S. In February 1966 Steel left and was replaced by Barry Jenkins; a leftover cover of Goffin-King's Don't Bring Me Down and the powerful hard rock tune See See Rider were the last hits as The Animals.
By this time their business affairs "were in a total shambles," according to Chandler (who would go on to manage Jimi Hendrix), and the group disbanded. Even by the standards of the day, when artists tended to be financially naïve, the Animals made very little money from their successes, eventually claiming mismanagement and theft on the part of their manager Mike Jeffery.
Second incarnation
A group with Burdon, Jenkins, and new sidemen John Weider (guitar/violin/bass), Vic Briggs alias Antion (guitar/piano), and Danny McCulloch (bass) was formed under the name Eric Burdon and the New Animals (or sometimes just Eric Burdon & the Animals) in October 1966, and changed direction. The hard-driving blues was transformed into Burdon's version of psychedelia, as the former heavy-drinking Geordie (who later said he could never get used to Newcastle, "where the rain comes at you sideways") relocated to California and became a spokesman for the Love Generation, but also a former heavy metal act and one of the upcoming stars of the genre such as Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple..
Some of this group's hits included "San Franciscan Nights", "Monterey" (a tribute to the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival), and the anti-war "Sky Pilot". There were further changes to this line-up: George Bruno (a/k/a Zoot Money, keyboards) was added in April 1968, and in July 1968 Andy Summers [sic] (guitar)—later of The Police—replaced Briggs and McCulloch.
By 1969 these Animals had dissolved, and Eric Burdon joined forces with a Latin group from Long Beach, California called War.
The first hit under Eric Burdon & War was the funky/chill-out song Spill the Wine. The Group with 8 members disbanded in July 1971.
Later incarnations
The original Animals line-up of Burdon, Price, Valentine, Chandler, and Steel briefly reunited for a benefit concert in Newcastle in 1968, for an album in 1977 and again for an album and tour (supplemented by Zoot Money on keyboards and Steve Grant on guitar) in 1983. Chandler died in 1996.
In the 2000s Burdon has toured with a new set of musicians under the name "Eric Burdon and the Animals". Periodically during the 1990s and 2000s Valentine, Steel, and Dave Rowberry toured under the name "(Hilton Valentine's) The Animals" and Valentine and Steel under the name "Animals II". Rowberry died in 2003. As of 2005 "Animals & Friends" was also active, consisting of Steel and Mickey Gallagher; this group frequently play gigs on a Color Line ship that travels between Scandinavia and Germany.
Legacy
The original Animals were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994. Their influence can be heard in artists as varied as The Doors, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Canned Heat, David Johansen, Joe Cocker, Fine Young Cannibals, Iggy Pop, Mando Diao and many, many more.
Cheating
The Animals Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Girl see, what you've done
Oh, oh, oh see see rider
See what you've done now
You've gone away and left me,
Lord, now and now the blues have come, oh yes, they do
Oh, well I'm goin', goin' away baby
And I won't be back till fall
And I won't be back till fall
If I get me a good lookin' woman
No, no, no, I won't be back at all, all right
And I see, see see rider, I love you, yes I do
And there isn't one thing darlin'
I would not do for you
You know I want you see see
I need you by my side
See see rider, ough, keep me satisfied
Oh see see rider, see see rider, see see rider
See see rider, see see rider, see see rider
You keep on ridin', keep on riding
Here I come baby, look out, beat it, all right
Don't lose it now, come one, come on, yeah
Here she comes, she's all right,
She's so fine, she's all mine
See see, come on, can we take a ride now, hey
Well, I'm goin, goin' away baby
And I won't be back till fall
Oh yes I'm goin', going away baby
And I won't be back till fall
If I find me a good lookin' woman
No, no, no, I won't be back at all
And that's the truth baby
Listen, I'm going, all right
Somebody told me, somebody told me
I'm Joe Jackson, I'm leavin'
All right, all right, ough!
The lyrics to The Animals' song Cheating paint a vivid picture of a relationship that has fallen apart due to the woman's infidelity. The singer, addressing the woman as "see see rider," expresses his hurt and disappointment at her actions, singing "see what you've done now" and "you've gone away and left me, Lord, now and now the blues have come." He also announces his intention to leave town for a while, stating "I'm goin', goin' away baby and I won't be back till fall" and "if I find me a good-lookin' woman, no, no, no, I won't be back at all." Despite the pain caused by the relationship, the singer also professes his love for the woman and his willingness to do anything for her, singing "I see see rider, I love you, yes I do" and "there isn't one thing darlin', I would not do for you." The song culminates in an energetic outro, with the singer singing "here I come baby, look out, beat it" and "she's so fine, she's all mine."
Line by Line Meaning
Oh see, see see rider
The singer is talking to a woman named Rider.
Girl see, what you've done
He demands the woman Rider to recognize the effect of her action.
Oh, oh, oh see see rider
The singer repeats Rider's name, wanting her to listen to him.
See what you've done now
He reiterates that she has caused something bad to happen.
You've gone away and left me,
Rider has left him alone.
Lord, now and now the blues have come, oh yes, they do
Because of her leaving him, he is feeling sad and depressed.
Oh, well I'm goin', goin' away baby
The singer decides to leave town for a while.
And I won't be back till fall
He won't return until autumn season.
If I get me a good lookin' woman
He plans on finding a good-looking woman while away.
No, no, no, I won't be back at all, all right
If he finds the right woman, he may not return at all.
And I see, see see rider, I love you, yes, I do
He may still love Rider despite what she did.
And there isn't one thing darlin'
She means the world to him.
I would not do for you
He's willing to do anything for her.
You know I want you see see
He wants Rider to know that he still wants her around.
I need you by my side
He desires her presence and comfort.
See see rider, ough, keep me satisfied
The singer wants Rider to fulfill him emotionally and physically.
You keep on ridin', keep on riding
The singer is referring to Rider's restless spirit that may lead her away.
Here I come baby, look out, beat it, all right
He's getting ready to leave.
Don't lose it now, come one, come on, yeah
Music is about to get intense and the singer urges the listener to keep up.
Here she comes, she's all right,
The singer is anticipating Rider's return and is looking forward to it.
She's so fine, she's all mine
He's possessive towards Rider because he loves her.
See see, come on, can we take a ride now, hey
He's excited and wants to spend time with Rider and leave town with her.
And that's the truth baby
He's being honest to Rider about his plans.
Listen, I'm going, all right
He's leaving now and wants Rider to listen to him.
Somebody told me, somebody told me
He's trying to express his feelings to Rider and hoping somebody will convey it.
I'm Joe Jackson, I'm leavin'
The singer identifies himself and announces his departure.
All right, all right, ough!
The song ends with upbeat music and excitement.
Lyrics © CARLIN AMERICA INC
Written by: ALAN LOMAX, BODIE CHANDLER, BRYAN JAMES CHANDLER, ERIC VICTOR BURDON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind