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.
Remedy
The Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That makes my heart sing
Been looking for a melody
That makes the church bells ring
Not looking for the fame
Or the fortune it might bring
In love, in music, in life
Buddha taught it too
Gandhi said eye for an eye
Makes the whole world go blind
With a little understanding
We can break these chains
That we've been handed
I've got the medication
Love is the remedy
Pray to be stronger and wiser
Know you get what you give
Love one another
Amen (amen), amen
I've been thinking about the mark
That I'll be leaving
Been looking for a truth
I can believe in
I got everything I need
Let this heart be my guide
In love, in music, in life
I'm not saying I'm a wise man
Heaven knows there's much that I'm still finding
Making my way down this winding road
Holding on to what I love
Yeah, and leaving the rest behind
For love, for music, for life
Pray to be stronger and wiser
Know you get what you give
Love one another
(Love is the remedy)
We're all in this world together
Life's a gift that we have to treasure
Happiness, now that is the measure
Love is the remedy
(Love is the remedy)
Everyone can be forgiven
One love and one religion
Open up your heart and listen
Love is the remedy
Pray to be stronger and wiser
And know you get what you give
God is love one another
Amen (amen), amen, amen (amen)
The Band's song Remedy is an uplifting and soulful tune that speaks to the power of love as a cure for the many ills that plague society. The lyrical content is simple yet profound, as the song calls for people to embrace the idea of living harmoniously with one another, regardless of background or creed.
The opening lines of the song set the tone for what is to come, as the singer explains that they are searching for a sound and a melody that will evoke a visceral response from them. They are not interested in material gain or recognition; what they are seeking is something deeper and more meaningful. As the song progresses, the singer references a number of spiritual leaders, from Jesus to Buddha to Gandhi, as evidence that the golden rule of treating others as you would like to be treated transcends any one religion or philosophy. They urge listeners to break the chains of hate and intolerance that bind us and embrace love as the ultimate remedy for what ails society.
The final verses of the song take a more personal turn, as the singer reflects on their own journey through life. They acknowledge that they are not perfect, but that they are striving to live a life that is guided by love and compassion. They encourage listeners to do the same, to leave behind the negative forces that hold us back and embrace the things that truly matter - love, music, and a commitment to living life to the fullest.
Overall, The Band's Remedy is a powerful testament to the transformative power of love. The lyrics are universal in nature, appealing to people of all backgrounds and cultures. The song is a call to action, urging us to break down the barriers that separate us and embrace the things that unite us as human beings.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been looking for a sound
I've been seeking a rhythm that resonates with my soul
That makes my heart sing
A melody that uplifts me and stirs my emotions
Been looking for a melody
I've been searching for a tune that sticks with me
That makes the church bells ring
A melody that has the power to move others to a higher state
Not looking for the fame
I'm not in search of celebrity
Or the fortune it might bring
Nor am I in pursuit of wealth
In love, in music, in life
I'm seeking fulfillment through these three elements
Jesus preached the golden rule
Christ taught us to treat others how we want to be treated
Buddha taught it too
The Buddha also provided us with this wisdom
Gandhi said eye for an eye
Mahatma Gandhi warned us that revenge begets more violence
Makes the whole world go blind
Everyone may lose their way when blinded by hate
With a little understanding
However, if we try to empathize with one another
We can break these chains
We can disrupt these cycles of violence
That we've been handed
That we may have inherited through generations
I've got the medication
I have found the solution
Love is the remedy
Love is the panacea for all that divides us
Pray to be stronger and wiser
We should strive to be better through spiritual practice
Know you get what you give
We reap what we sow
Love one another
We should show compassion to all our fellow humans
Amen (amen), amen
So be it, so be it
I've been thinking about the mark
I've been considering the legacy I'll leave behind
That I'll be leaving
The impact I'll have on the world
Been looking for a truth
I've been searching for a universal truth
I can believe in
A set of beliefs that resonates with me and gives me purpose
I got everything I need
I realize I have all I need to achieve fulfillment
Let this heart be my guide
I will follow my intuition and emotions
I'm not saying I'm a wise man
I am not claiming to have all the answers
Heaven knows there's much that I'm still finding
I still have much more to learn
Making my way down this winding road
I'm navigating a path that is not always clear or easy
Holding on to what I love
I'm focusing on what truly matters to me
Yeah, and leaving the rest behind
And setting aside what does not serve my higher purpose
For love, for music, for life
For the things that bring me joy and meaning
We're all in this world together
We are all interconnected
Life's a gift that we have to treasure
We should recognize the value of every moment we have
Happiness, now that is the measure
The ultimate test of a life well-lived is our joy and peace
Love is the remedy
Love is the antidote to every problem
(Love is the remedy)
(Love is the remedy)
Everyone can be forgiven
We are all deserving of grace and mercy
One love and one religion
We all share a common faith in a higher power that unites us
Open up your heart and listen
We should be receptive to the needs and feelings of others
Pray to be stronger and wiser
We should continue our spiritual quest to become better people
And know you get what you give
We should always act with kindness and compassion
God is love one another
Love is the essence of divine nature, and we should emulate that love
Amen (amen), amen, amen (amen)
So be it, so be it, over and over again
Lyrics © BLACKSTONE ENTERTAINMENT, BMG Rights Management, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Kevin R. Moore, Niko Moon, Wyatt Durrette, Zac Brown
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
ArboristP's
Never gets old!!!! 🕺 💃
Tess Jones
Positive energizing spirit lifting music!!
Dean Libey
Damn sweet sound. Thanks for the post.
David Christy
love the band why am I not familar with this album
Nate Herman
Recorded after Robbie ('Mud') Robertson left. Some years later the surviving members put out this and a second album, both terrific. Saw them at the N.O. Jazz Fest just after this came out. They were, of course, great.
MrWolfSnack
It came out in 1993. 20-25 years after their heyday in the late 60's and early 70's.
Robert Sloan
Robbie left in 76' and Richard died in 85'. With those two gone the sound changed and Rick and Levon kind of got older and deeper into the dope. Garth was always a steady force but tradegy just plagued these guys. Ricks teenage son died in the late 80s from a horrific drinking accident his freshman year in college. That had to have taken a heavy toll on poor Rick. They were still great musicians with a lot to offer but they were past their prime and down two members from the original lineup. They were just going thru the motions to survive. Jericho is a great fucking album though and im here listening to this amazing song again.
Creaulx
Now I get the Colin Linden / Blackie and the Rodeo Kings connection. Colin wrote this song, and BARK "covered" it. Knew it was familiar - this tune actually got some airplay in the midst of the early 90s alt rock tidal wave.
Raffaele innella maroscia
WOWWWWWWWW
Pickin6
Ya mon!