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.
Inside Looking Out
The Animals Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Servin' my time an' doin' the best I can
A walls and bars they're surroundin' me
But I don't want your sympathy, yeah
Oh baby, oh baby, I just need your tender lovin'
To keep me sane in this burnin' oven
When my time is up be my rebirth
My rebirth, my rebirth
Baby, yeah, I mean it's my rebirth, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, baby, come on
Ice cold waters runnin' in my brain
Then they drag me back to work again
Pains and blisters on my minds and my hands
From livin' daily with those canvas bands
Folks that feed 'em, they're drivin' me wild
And I'll be happy like a newborn child
We'll be together, girl, you wait and see
No more walls keep your love from me
Yeah, can't you feel my love, baby - baby
Baby - baby - I need you - baby - squeeze you - baby
I love no - baby - body but - baby - nobody but - baby - you girl baby
I love you - baby - I need you, alright
I said, everything's gonna be alright
And if you don't believe what I say
Just listen, baby, I tell you
Can't you feel my love and can't you see my sweet love
Can't you hear my love, it's getting louder
It's getting louder, a little closer, yeah
I said baby - baby - I need you - baby - oh - baby
Squeeze - baby - please - baby - love - baby
I love you - baby - I need you - baby - yeah, yeah, right by my side
I need you here by my side
But I can't have you, baby
But I'll be home soon, I'll be home soon, yeah
Alright, woooh
The Animals’ song “Inside Looking Out” conveys the struggles of a prisoner, feeling trapped and alone, desperately craving love and affection. The song’s opening lines describe the singer’s loneliness and despair, indicating that he is serving his sentence and doing his best within his confines. The guards and prison walls encircle him, and he seeks comfort from his lover, not sympathy. He just wants her affection to keep him sane-like a rebirth on Earth.
In the second verse, the imagery of ice-cold water running through his brain is used to represent the monotony and drudgery of his work, which entails daily hauling heavy canvas bands. The thoughts of the injustice of it all make him furious, and the only thing that brings him happiness is the thought of being reunited with his lover after his punishment is over. He can’t wait to hold her again and be together forever.
The chorus conveys the pain and anguish of the singer and his desperate yearning for love. The repetitive “baby, baby” shows his desperation for a connection to the outside world. He asks his lover to feel his love and hear his sweet words, reminding her that he needs her by his side. The song ends on a note of hope, with the singer claiming everything will be alright despite his current struggles.
Line by Line Meaning
Sittin' here lonely like a broken man
Feeling lonely and helpless like someone who has lost everything
Servin' my time an' doin' the best I can
Serving the punishment for a crime and doing the best one can to get through it
A walls and bars they're surroundin' me
Being confined in a place with walls and bars all around
But I don't want your sympathy, yeah
Not wanting anyone's sympathy or pity for the situation
Oh baby, oh baby, I just need your tender lovin'
Craving affection and love from a loved one
To keep me sane in this burnin' oven
To help cope with the difficult conditions and environment
When my time is up be my rebirth
Seeing the end of the punishment as a new beginning or a fresh start
Like I was worth on God's green earth
Wanting to be valued and appreciated, just like everyone else on earth
My rebirth, my rebirth
Seeing the end of the punishment as an opportunity to start anew
Baby, yeah, I mean it's my rebirth, yeah
Reiterating the importance and significance of the fresh start
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, baby, come on
Expressing excitement and eagerness to start anew with a loved one
Ice cold waters runnin' in my brain
Feeling numb or emotionless due to the harsh conditions
Then they drag me back to work again
Being forced to work again after enduring the punishment
Pains and blisters on my minds and my hands
Suffering both physically and mentally from the harsh conditions and work
From livin' daily with those canvas bands
Referring to the common practice of prisoners wearing canvas clothing
Folks that feed 'em, they're drivin' me wild
Feeling frustrated and angry towards those who are in charge and responsible for the punishment
And I'll be happy like a newborn child
Desiring happiness and freedom, just like a newborn baby
We'll be together, girl, you wait and see
Looking forward to being reunited with a loved one
No more walls keep your love from me
Expressing a desire to be with a loved one without any obstacles or restrictions
Yeah, can't you feel my love, baby - baby
Reassuring the loved one that the feelings of love are genuine and strong
Baby - baby - I need you - baby - squeeze you - baby
Expressing a strong need and desire for physical affection and closeness
I love no - baby - body but - baby - nobody but - baby - you girl baby
Stating that there is no one else in the world that is loved more than the loved one
I love you - baby - I need you, alright
Reiterating the strong emotional attachment to the loved one
I said, everything's gonna be alright
Having hope that everything will turn out fine eventually
And if you don't believe what I say
Reassuring that everything will indeed be alright, even if it's hard to believe
Just listen, baby, I tell you
Urging the loved one to listen and trust the words being said
Can't you feel my love and can't you see my sweet love
Reiterating the strength and sincerity of the feelings of love
Can't you hear my love, it's getting louder
Expressing that the feelings of love are becoming stronger and more apparent
It's getting louder, a little closer, yeah
Feeling that the reunion with the loved one is getting closer and closer
I said baby - baby - I need you - baby - oh - baby
Reiterating the strong need and desire for the loved one
Squeeze - baby - please - baby - love - baby
Desiring physical affection and closeness from the loved one
I love you - baby - I need you - baby - yeah, yeah, right by my side
Stating that being with the loved one is the ultimate goal and desire
I need you here by my side
Expressing a desire and urgency to be with the loved one
But I can't have you, baby
Expressing the painful reality that being with the loved one is not possible at the moment
But I'll be home soon, I'll be home soon, yeah
Having hope and faith that the reunion with the loved one will happen soon
Alright, woooh
Expressing excitement and positivity about the future reunion
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ALAN LOMAX, BODIE CHANDLER, BRYAN JAMES CHANDLER, ERIC VICTOR BURDON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@nothingisrealnothingtogeth6833
Eric Burdon had to be the best vocalist/front man of any 60's British invasion band. He could hit those high notes, and low notes, all with grit in his voice, without sounding like he's just screaming or growling instead of singing. He belts it out masterfully. Eric Burdon and The Animals did the blues more justice than Mick Jagger and The Rolling Stones could ever do.
@gerardcubizolles2744
You're right
@soilmanted
I think the Stones were good while they had Brian Jones.
@lizifer34
I hate you
@brendawilliams4675
Oh, Yeah, Baby!!!
@TD.snowmoblies
In some songs of the stones they were good, but Eric compared to Mick's voice, Eric would win because how he can hit high and low notes perfectly
@dusterbassstaff
60 years...That kind of music is the best ever made !!!Thank you Animals, you're awsome !!!
@cherichaisson903
We Americans [ such as I ] just worship your voice, Eric!... My relatives are great musicians of all kinds of music!!!! Like Country's father of Country George Jones, Mark Chestnutt who Got his first gig in my Uncle's Band. Then They opened at Jone's Country before George started.!
Where the Winter Brothers, .... Janis Joplin were born!
WOW "ERIC BURDON" THE BEST FROM U.K.!
@stefansurowinski2307
I was 16 in 1966. A big Animals, Spencer Davis, Small Faces, Who and Stones fan. We took these groups for granted not really realising we were in the golden age of music. I now realise how lucky I was.
@chasbodaniels1744
When you’re that young, you have very little frame of reference to compare current vs. older music. We just knew that it was an amazing time, with fresh, inventive material being released each month. Other bands watched the Beatles’ evolve, and branched off from there. I’m forever grateful I grew up then!