When keyboardist Jon Lord and guitarist Derek Griffiths joined from Red Bludd's Bluesicians they re-christened themselves the Artwoods. Keef Hartley, formerly with Rory Storm & The Hurricanes, joined on drums in '64 and the band turned professional, secured a residency at London's 100 Club and gained a recording contract with Decca Records.
The intended debut single, a cover of Muddy Waters' "Hoochie Coochie Man" was shelved in favour of a version of an old Leadbelly song, Sweet Mary". Although it didn't reach the Charts it got sufficient airplay to bring them a lot of live work, including an appearance on the first live edition of Ready Steady Go! The second record, "Oh My Love", was another blues cover. Like its predecessor, and subsequent releases, it failed to chart.
The Artwoods were dropped by Decca at the end of 1966 and signed a one record deal with Parlophone, but "What Shall I Do" also flopped. Later in 1967 a final "one-off" single appeared on Fontana under the name "St. Valentine's Day Massacre" but by the time of its release the Artwoods had effectively ceased to exist.
The Artwoods' early records today stand up well against the work of more successful groups such as the Rolling Stones, the Yardbirds or ironically, the Birds, who included Art's younger brother Ron. But at the time they came out, despite appearances on programs like Ready, Steady, Go! their singles never seemed to connect with the record-buying public. In live performance, on the other hand, it was a different matter. They had a virtuoso lineup, Lord's piano and organ sound was a great complement to Wood's singing, Griffith's guitar work was tastefully flashy, and Keef Hartley was animated as well as powerful, with a big sound on the drums. Club audiences always knew they were good for a great show and the band loved playing live. Ultimately, in fact, the group's success in touring and their love of playing live may have hurt them.
The group broke up in mid '67 with Hartley going on to play with John Mayall's Bluesbreakers,Malcolm Pool played with Colosseum and Lord becoming a founder member of Deep Purple.
Things Get Better
The Artwoods Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Come on, everybody.
Hey hey, hey hey hey, hey hey hey, hey.
You can bring joy
I never had.
I'm going to be right here
As long as it lasts.
And that's why
Things get better, baby,
When I'm with you, yeah.
Things get better, baby,
When I'm with you, yeah.
I can be lonely
If you can't be found, oh yeah,
But I'm not a lonely baby, baby.
You always surround.
Chorus
Never in doubt about you,
I know that you're mine.
I can't lose this feeling.
You stay on my mind.
Chorus
Chorus
Get a little better.
Get, get a little better.
The lyrics of The Artwoods' song Things Get Better are an ode to the transformative power of love. The song starts with a call to action, inviting everybody to come together, setting a cheerful tone for the rest of the song. The opening lines suggest that the subject of the singer's affection brings joy and happiness that he has never experienced before. The singer then promises to stick around as long as the good times last, indicating that the relationship is still in its early stages.
The chorus, which repeats three times throughout the song, is the core and provides the central message of the song. It declares that things get better when the singer is with his lover. These simple lyrics capture the theme of the song's optimism and serve as a reminder that love has the power to make everything better.
The second verse shows the singer acknowledging that he might feel lonely without his lover, but when they're together, he always surrounded. The final lines of the song, "Get a little better, get, get a little better," reinforce the message of the song, emphasizing that things can always improve, particularly when two people come together in love.
Overall, The Artwoods' Things Get Better is a love song that provides a positive and cheerful message, reminding us that things can get better when we have the right person by our side.
Line by Line Meaning
Come on, everybody.
Invitation to join in and listen to the song.
You can bring joy
The person being addressed has the ability to bring happiness to the singer.
I never had.
The singer has not experienced this happiness before.
I'm going to be right here
The singer plans on staying with this person.
As long as it lasts.
The singer hopes this happiness lasts a long time.
And that's why
Explanation for why things are improving.
Things get better, baby,
The singer's situation improves.
When I'm with you, yeah.
This improvement is attributed to being with the person being addressed.
I can be lonely
The singer is capable of feeling lonely.
If you can't be found, oh yeah,
If the person being addressed is not around, the singer may feel lonely.
But I'm not a lonely baby, baby.
However, the singer is not currently feeling lonely because the person is present.
You always surround.
The person being addressed is always nearby and present.
Never in doubt about you,
The singer has complete confidence in the person being addressed.
I know that you're mine.
The singer is in a committed relationship with the person being addressed.
I can't lose this feeling.
The singer does not want to lose the happiness being felt.
You stay on my mind.
Thoughts of the person being addressed are constantly on the singer's mind.
Get a little better.
The situation is improving.
Get, get a little better.
The situation continues to improve incrementally.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: STEVE CROPPER, EDDIE FLOYD, AL JACKSON, JR.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ashnoyatrushanyan6599
The Artwoods has become a well-known band!
@gillesbertacco
I always liked that one...1st song on the CD. Great!!!
@punchbowl1000
Never heard of them,but good to hear something new ,alan bown would blow them away!-----------------------
@natfletcher1445
they had a real good drummer for that time. Does anybody knows his name
@donbrogan3158
Keef Hartley.
@tieukhavu8832
Celebrating Jon Lord brought me here. Miss you Jon, RIP. Better than the original from Eddie Floyd
@thepeacefulpoet
Booked The Artwoods a couple of times in the mid 1960's, originally the did not have the 'The" they were just 'Artwoods Rhythm and blues band " as for The Art Gallery saw one on E Bay for £650 a few weeks ago
@TheKitkatgold
Thank you!!
@Retroscoop
So, I learned today it was a band in which Purple's own Jon Lord (keyboards) started his career. Frankly, without his walrus mustache, I don't reckognize him on the picture, I assume it is the guy with the sunglasses ?
@pit2ryan3
Dr. Feelgood covered this song in 1978...