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.
Roadrunner
The Animals Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm a roadrunner baby,
Can't keep up with me, oh, oh
I'm a roadrunning mad,
You can't keep up with me, yeah
Come on and lets have a race
And baby, baby you will see
Yeah, Yeah, take my hand baby
I want to prove to you,
That I'm a roadrunning man, yeah
I want to tell you something
I'm the fastest in the land
Oh, Come one take my hand baby, yeah
Now listen to me baby
Oh Oh, why don't you move up a bit slowly
Let this man by, let me by
I want to give my love to you
To put some dirt in your eye
Oh, Oh baby, come over baby
Can't keep up with me, oh, oh
I'm a roadrunning man,
You can't keep up with me, ah
Come on and let's have a race,
And baby, baby, baby, baby.
Oh, oh yeah, come on baby
Yes, I'm a roadrunning man,
Can't keep up with me
Yeah, come on and lets have a race
And baby, baby you will see
Oh, I'll say it one more time now
Oh, oh, bye bye baby
I've got to put you down
Oh yeah, I've got to put you down
I'll see you baby
I'll see you somewhere hanging around, oh
The Animals' song "Roadrunner" is a fast-paced energetic tune that starts off with the lyrics "Yeah, baby, come one baby, Oh, oh". This line immediately sets the tone for the rest of the song, as the singer seems to be addressing a romantic partner, urging them to keep up with him. He then goes on to say "I'm a roadrunner baby, Can't keep up with me, oh, oh". The use of the term "roadrunner" is interesting, as it refers to the bird known for its high speed and agility, which fits perfectly with the song's theme. The singer describes himself as a roadrunning mad, and that his partner cannot keep up with him, which only reinforces his adventurous and free-spirited nature.
The singer goes on to invite his partner to have a race with him, saying that he wants to prove to her that he is the "fastest in the land". He urges her to take his hand and promises to give his love to her if she moves up a bit slowly to let him by. The song then picks up the pace with the chorus, with the singer repeating the lines "I'm a roadrunning man, you can't keep up with me". The song then ends with the singer saying "Oh, oh, bye bye baby, I've got to put you down, I'll see you somewhere hanging around", conveying a sense of freedom and detachment from his partner.
Overall, "Roadrunner" is a fun, energetic song that showcases The Animals' ability to deliver a fast-paced rock tune with catchy lyrics that stay with you for a long time.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah, baby, come one baby, Oh, oh
The singer is calling out to someone, expressing excitement and urging them to come over.
I'm a roadrunner baby,
The singer is comparing themselves to a roadrunner, implying that they are very fast and hard to keep up with.
Can't keep up with me, oh, oh
The singer is boasting about their speed, claiming that no one can keep up with them.
I'm a roadrunning mad,
The artist is emphasizing their speed by calling themselves a "roadrunning mad."
You can't keep up with me, yeah
The artist reiterates that no one can keep up with their speed.
Come on and lets have a race
The singer challenges someone to a race, likely to prove their speed and skill.
And baby, baby you will see
The singer is telling their challenger that they will see just how fast the singer is in the upcoming race.
Oh, take my hand baby
The artist is inviting their challenger to take their hand and join them for the race.
I want to prove to you,
The artist wants to demonstrate to their challenger just how fast they are and why they are comparable to a roadrunner.
That I'm a roadrunning man, yeah
The artist reminds their challenger once again that they are indeed like a roadrunner, fast and agile.
I want to tell you something
The singer is about to reveal something important, perhaps about their speed or some other skill.
I'm the fastest in the land
The artist is claiming that they are the fastest person around.
Now listen to me baby
The singer is taking charge of the situation, asking their challenger to listen to them.
Oh Oh, why don't you move up a bit slowly
The singer is suggesting that their challenger move a bit slower so that the singer can pass them more easily.
Let this man by, let me by
The singer is asking their challenger to let them pass by, using the metaphor of a "man" and a "roadrunner."
I want to give my love to you
The artist is expressing some desire or affection for their challenger, possibly as a result of the competition or adrenaline.
To put some dirt in your eye
The artist is using a common phrase to imply that they want to surpass their challenger and "leave them in the dust."
Oh, Oh baby, come over baby
The singer is once again calling out to their challenger, urging them to keep up or come closer.
You can't keep up with me, oh, oh
The singer is repeating their earlier claim that no one can keep up with them.
Yes, I'm a roadrunning man,
The artist is again emphasizing that they are like a roadrunner, fast and unstoppable.
And baby, baby you will see
The artist is repeating their previous promise to show their challenger just how fast they are.
Oh, I'll say it one more time now
The artist is reminding their challenger of their earlier promises and boasts.
Oh, oh, bye bye baby
The singer is saying goodbye to their challenger, implying that the competition or interaction is over.
I've got to put you down
The artist is using a colloquial phrase to imply that they are done with the situation or relationship.
Oh yeah, I've got to put you down
The singer repeats their earlier phrase for emphasis.
I'll see you baby
The singer is acknowledging their challenger and acknowledging their ability to compete, but is also saying goodbye.
I'll see you somewhere hanging around, oh
The singer is suggesting that they will see their challenger again in the future, but also implying that they will continue to be separate and independent.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Ellas McDaniel
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
José Benito Martínez Jr.
One of the best pure Rock N Roll voices of all time! Greetings from Hollywood California.
Sally Dickinson
Great memories of their music. Talented musicians, and Eric puts his heart and soul into his singing😍
oldrvr
I listen, or watch Eric Burdon’s music daily. I like all of the groups that he’s ever sang with. I’ve been a fan since I was 20, and I’m only 2 years younger than Eric , so that’s a VERY long time.
Gary Tomes
Such a great song! Well done here by the Animals!!
Lloyd Smith
Eric Burdon a true rock n roll legend
esther mendoza
Tremenda banda
Jeff Bogue
Eric burden had such an awesome voice... It's a bummer that a lot of those bands got ripped off by management... Michael Jeffries was their manager And he screwed over Jimi Hendrix big time too
howard bianchi
Hendrix was always a fool. Easy too exploit. Everyone tried to help. Eric. Gonger, Jack etc. Very overated musically. EB has always gotten respect and has had commercial success as well.
Martina Manecke
Guess you're no fool? But what is a man to be called if he's that arrogant?
ABSDEFRD
I love this version so much the animals are amazing