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.
I Believe to My Soul
The Animals Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're gonna search for me and down the road I'm gone
'Cause I believe
Oh yes, I believe
I believe to my soul
You're tryin' to mess around with me babe
You keep complainin, my progression is slow
You aught to know
'Cause I believe
Oh yes sir I believe
I believe to my soul
You're tryin to make a fool of me
Once you told me you loved me I found out it was a lie
You should be ashamed baby hang your head and cry
'Cause I believe
Oh yes, I believe
I believe to my soul
You're tryin' to make a fool of me
I believe it
The lyrics to The Animals' song "I Believe to My Soul" are about a man who is being mistreated by his lover. The song's protagonist sings about how he knows that his lover is trying to make a fool of him and that she will eventually come looking for him when he is gone. He believes to his core that she is lying to him and that she is only trying to manipulate him.
In the first verse, the singer sings about how one day his lover will come looking for him, but he won't be there. This line is an expression of his belief that his lover will eventually realize her mistake and come looking for him, but by then, it will be too late. The phrase "I believe to my soul" is a reference to the singer's unwavering conviction that he is being mistreated.
In the second verse, the singer sings about how his lover criticizes his progress and is trying to make a fool of him. He tells her that she shouldn't be complaining, but she should understand that he knows what she is doing. He once again reiterates his belief that he is being manipulated and that he believes it with every fiber of his being.
In the third verse, the singer talks about how his lover told him she loved him, but he later found out that it was a lie. He tells her that she should be ashamed and hang her head and cry for what she has done to him. He once again expresses his belief that she is trying to make a fool of him.
Overall, the lyrics to "I Believe to My Soul" are a poignant and heart-wrenching exploration of love, betrayal, and the pain that comes from being mistreated by someone you care about.
Line by Line Meaning
One of these days and it won't be long
In the future, you will regret not valuing me.
You're gonna search for me and down the road I'm gone
When you finally come to your senses, I won't be available anymore.
'Cause I believe
I have confidence in my worth.
Oh yes, I believe
My belief in myself is unwavering.
I believe to my soul
My conviction is at the core of who I am.
You're tryin' to mess around with me babe
You're trying to play games with me.
You keep complainin, my progression is slow
You're unhappy with my pace.
You shouldn't complain baby
You should support me and not criticize me.
You aught to know
You should understand.
You're tryin to make a fool of me
You're trying to humiliate me.
Once you told me you loved me I found out it was a lie
When you said you loved me, it was not true.
You should be ashamed baby hang your head and cry
You should feel guilty and remorseful for your actions.
I believe it
I am absolutely confident in my beliefs and convictions.
Lyrics © Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RAY CHARLES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Eugene Cotes
One of these days and it won't be long
You're gonna search for me and down the road I'm gone
'Cause I believe
Oh yes, I believe
I believe to my soul
You're tryin' to mess around with me babe
You keep complainin, my progression is slow
You shouldn't complain baby
You aught to know
'Cause I believe
Oh yes sir I believe
I believe to my soul
You're tryin to make a fool of me
Once you told me you loved me I found out it was a lie
You should be ashamed baby hang your head and cry
'Cause I believe
Oh yes, I believe
I believe to my soul
You're tryin' to make a fool of me
I believe it
黃子昂
One of these days and it won't be long
Youre gonna search for me and down the road I'm gone
'Cause I believe
Oh yes, I believe
I believe to my soul
You're tryin' to mess around with me babe
You keep complainin, my progression is slow
You shouldn't complain baby
You aught to know
'Cause I believe
Oh yes sir I believe
I believe to my soul
You're tryin to make a fool of me
Once you told me you loved me I found out it was a lie
You should be ashamed baby hang your head and cry
'Cause I believe
Oh yes, I believe
I believe to my soul
You're tryin' to make a fool of me
I believe it
guatemalantomcat
Easily one of the greatest yet most underrated bands to ever exist
Elisabeth Axelsson
Erics voice so emotionell so great love it
Dimitri Heemskerk
I think his voice is far better than Lennon’s for example.
Darth Vader
eric burdon's voice is just unbelievable on this song. an animal
Lynn Boneham
Eric's voice!!! So soulful, I love it more every time I hear it
Elisabeth Axelsson
Me too
Louis Yahraus
No false pretenses with Eric Burdon & The Animals ! I waste my time listening, to any of the R & R they play on the radio now ! This is real down to earth and to the very nerves of your soul ! You really do feel,what he is singing !
Elisabeth Axelsson
So True
James Kee
The Animals are unparalleled still today.
Dark Priest
The Doors can compete.