The members of The Band first worked together as The Hawks, the backing band of rockabilly singer Ronnie Hawkins from 1959 until 1963. Afterwards, Bob Dylan recruited the quintet for his history-making 1965/1966 world tour and they joined him on the informal recordings that became the acclaimed Basement Tapes.
Dubbed "The Band" by their peers, the group left the comfort of their communal home in Saugerties, NY to begin recording as a group unto themselves. The Band recorded two of the most important albums of the late 1960s: their 1968 debut Music from Big Pink (featuring the hit single "The Weight") and 1969's The Band. These critically praised albums helped conceive country rock as something more than a genre, but rather as a celebration of "Americana." As such, throughout their career they would repopularize traditional American musical forms during the psychedelic era. The Band dissolved in 1976; Martin Scorcese's landmark concert film "The Last Waltz" documented their final performance. They reformed in 1983 without founding guitarist and main songwriter Robbie Robertson.
Although always more popular with music journalists and fellow musicians than the general public, The Band has remained an admired and influential group. They have been inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Their music fused many elements: primarily old country music and early rock and roll, though the rhythm section often had a bouncy, funky punch reminiscent of Stax or Motown, and Robertson cites Curtis Mayfield and the Staple Singers as major influences. At its best, however, The Band's music was an organic synthesis of many musical genres which became more than the sum of its parts. The group's songwriting was also remarkable as, unlike much earlier rock and roll, and following upon the example set previously by The Byrds, very few of their early compositions were based on conventional blues and doo-wop chord changes.
The Band comprised Robbie Robertson (guitar); Richard Manuel (piano, harmonica, drums, saxophone); Garth Hudson (organ, piano, clavinet, accordion, synthesizer, saxophone); Rick Danko (bass guitar, violin, trombone); and Levon Helm (drums, mandolin, guitar, bass guitar) Excepting Robertson, all were multi-instrumentalists; each person's primary instrument is listed first. There was little instrument-switching when they played live, but when recording, the musicians could offer all manner of subtle aural colors and textures to enhance songs. Hudson in particular was able to coax an impressive range of timbres from his Lowrey electronic organ; on the choruses of "Tears of Rage", for example, it sounds startlingly like a mellotron. Helm's drumming was rarely flashy, but he was often praised for his subtlety and funkiness. Critic Jon Carroll famously declared that Helm was "the only drummer who can make you cry," while prolific session drummer Jim Keltner admits to appropriating several of Helm's techniques.
Singers Manuel, Danko, and Helm each brought a distinctive voice to The Band: Helm's gritty, southern voice had more than a hint of country, Danko sang in a soaring, unfettered tenor, and Manuel alternated between fragile falsetto and a wounded baritone. The singers regularly blended in unorthodox, but uncommonly effective harmonies. Though the singing was more or less evenly shared between the three men, both Danko and Helm have stated that they saw Manuel as the Band's "lead" singer.
Robertson was the unit's chief songwriter (though he sang lead vocals on only three or four songs in The Band's career). This role, and Robertson's resulting claim to the copyright of most of the compositions, would become a point of much antipathy between the group's members, especially between Robertson and Helm.
Producer John Simon is cited as a "sixth member" of The Band for producing and playing on Music from Big Pink, co-producing and playing on The Band, and playing on other songs up through The Band's 1993 reunion album Jericho.
On 10 December 1999 is when Rick Danko died in his sleep at age 56. He had been a long-time drug user. In 1997 he had been found guilty of trying to smuggle heroin into Japan. He told the presiding judge that he had begun using the drug (together with prescription morphine) to fight life-long pain resulting from a 1968 auto accident. No drugs were found in his system at the time of his death. Following the death of Rick Danko, The Band broke up for good.
Levon Helm died on 19 April 2012 from complications of throat cancer.
Greensleeves
The Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To cast me off discourteously;
And I have loved you oh so long
Delighting in your company.
Greensleeves was my delight,
Greensleeves my heart of gold
Greensleeves was my heart of joy
And who but my lady Greensleeves.
To grant whatever thou would'st crave;
I have waged both life and land
Your love and goodwill for to have.
Greensleeves was my delight,
Greensleeves my heart of gold
Greensleeves was my heart of joy
And who but my lady Greensleeves.
Thy petticoat of slender white
With gold embroidered gorgeously;
Thy petticoat of silk and white
And these I bought gladly.
Greensleeves was my delight,
Greensleeves my heart of gold
Greensleeves was my heart of joy
And who but my lady Greensleeves.
The lyrics to The Band's version of Greensleeves tell the story of a love affair gone wrong. The singer is lamenting the actions of their beloved, expressing feelings of betrayal and hurt. They address their love, expressing how they have been devoted and in love for a long time, finding joy in their company.
The mention of Greensleeves throughout the song serves as a symbol of the singer's love and devotion. Greensleeves represents the singer's heart of gold and joy, highlighting the value they place on their relationship. The repetition of the line "And who but my lady Greensleeves" emphasizes the deep connection the singer feels towards their beloved.
In the second verse, the singer expresses their readiness to fulfill any desires their lover may have had. They claim to have sacrificed their own life and possessions, even waging battles, all in the name of gaining the love and favor of their beloved.
The final verse introduces imagery of the beloved's clothing, specifically their petticoat. The description of the petticoat being embroidered with gold and made of silk suggests the opulence and beauty that the singer admires. They mention gladly purchasing these items, indicating their willingness to provide material comforts and luxuries to their beloved.
Overall, the lyrics to Greensleeves convey a tale of unrequited love, with the singer expressing their deep devotion and the pain they feel after being discarded by their beloved.
Line by Line Meaning
Alas my love you do me wrong
Oh, my beloved, you are mistreating me
To cast me off discourteously;
By rejecting me without courtesy;
And I have loved you oh so long
I have cherished my love for you for a very long time
Delighting in your company.
Finding immense pleasure in being with you.
Greensleeves was my delight,
The song 'Greensleeves' brought me great joy,
Greensleeves my heart of gold
It held a special place in my heart,
Greensleeves was my heart of joy
As it brought me immense happiness,
And who but my lady Greensleeves.
And who else but you, my lady Greensleeves.
I have been ready at your hand
I have always been available to you,
To grant whatever thou would'st crave;
To fulfill any of your wishes or desires,
I have waged both life and land
I have fought battles and sacrificed everything,
Your love and goodwill for to have.
In order to have your love and affection.
Thy petticoat of slender white
Your beautiful white skirt,
With gold embroidered gorgeously;
Adorned magnificently with gold embroidery;
Thy petticoat of silk and white
Your silk and white skirt,
And these I bought gladly.
And I happily bought these for you.
And who but my lady Greensleeves.
And who else but you, my lady Greensleeves.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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