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.
Tell Me Mama
The Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Do you know
I can feel your touch
When you're not around
I can hear your voice
And you're laughing at me
I ain't tryin to fool you baby
I ain't tryin to mess around
You just got to put it down
You say you want it so you want it
But that don't mean you need it
Why you pullin my chain so long
Come on baby tell me you love me
Thats all i want to know
I see in your eyes now
Lookin so shy now
Why wont you ever let it show
Come on baby
Tell me you love me
Cause thats all that I want to know
I swear I love you
You know I do
I swear I love you
You know I do now
Come on baby tell me you love me
Thats all I want to know
I see in your eyes now
Lookin so shy
Why wont you ever let it show
Come on baby
Tell me you love me
You say you want it so you want it
Well if you need it come and get it
Come on baby
Tell me you love me
Cause thats all I want to hear
Thats all I want to hear
That all I wanna know
The lyrics of The Band's song "Tell Me Mama" describe the notion of secrecy and hidden desires. The opening verses suggest that no matter how one presents themselves, their true nature will always be revealed, and sometimes the person telling the lies may be better at deceiving others. The song continues to talk about secrets and the desire to keep certain things hidden from others, even though one's actions may suggest otherwise. The chorus seems to plead with the listener not to reveal any secrets they may hold and to acknowledge the singer's value- "Love me love me, Hey boy? Give me give me, Hey joy!".
As the song progresses, it implies that the singer and the person they're addressing have a connection that transcends the need for secrets; they "will seek each other out" and "always end up in the same place" ("円と円が重なった中心/itsu datte soko de aeru yo"). The fingerplay game "finger in the lips" is also mentioned, suggesting a sense of innocence and playfulness in the relationship.
Overall, "Tell Me Mama" speaks to the complexity of human relationships and the desire to balance truth and secrecy. The song suggests that despite our best efforts, our true desires and feelings will ultimately reveal themselves, but that in some cases, this may lead to a deeper connection with others.
Line by Line Meaning
綺麗だって 汚れてたって
Whether clean or dirty, beauty is only skin deep
皮をめくれば同じで
What lies beneath the surface looks the same
隠したって 顔に出てるよ
Even if you hide, your face reveals your secrets
私の方が
Me, in particular
嘘つくのが上手(じょうず)ね
I am good at telling lies
ここで聞いた話は top secret
What we discuss here is top secret
他言無用 wo wo wo
Don't tell anyone else
強い覚悟が持てたなら 耳元で
If you have the courage, whisper it in my ear
Don't you tell...
Don't reveal our secrets
約束できるかい?
Can you promise?
Love me love me
love me love me Hey boy?
Do you love me, boy?
Give me give me
give me give me Hey joy!
Give me, Joy!
wo wo wo wo wo
wo wo wo wo wo Dye for you
I would die for you
Kiss me kiss me
kiss me kiss me Hey boy?
Kiss me, boy?
Tell me tell me
tell me tell me secret!
Tell me your secrets
誰にだって 一つ二つや
Everyone has one or two secrets
隠していたい秘め事
Private matters that one wishes to keep hidden
視線だって 癖になるんだ
Even eye contact can become a habit
気づいてないとでも
思っているのかな
Do you think I don't realize?
もういいかい? まーだだよ
Are you finished? Not yet.
もういいかい? もういいよ
Are you finished? Yes, I am.
そんな駆け引きも
もうちょっと もうちょっと
楽しませて
Let's enjoy this kind of game just a little bit more
いつか
点と点が線になったように
何度だって何度だってきっと
二人は求め合うことになるでしょう
Someday, like the way points become lines, we will inevitably be drawn to each other no matter how many times
円と円が重なった中心
いつだってそこで会えるよ
Where two circles intersect is where we can always meet
唇に指あててみた
指切りしたなら戻れないよ 今更 So
I touched my lips with my finger, if we make a pinky promise, we can't go back now
Don't you tell...
Don't reveal our secrets
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Chris Ruben
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@cyrilmoulin9878
You thought you'd found a good girl
One to love you and give you the world
Now you find that you've been misused
Talk to me, I'll do what you choose, I want you to
Tell Mama, all about it
Tell Mama, what you need
Tell Mama, what you want
And I'll make everything alright
That girl you had didn't have no sense
She wasn't worth all the time that you spent
She had another man throw you outdoors
Now the same man is wearing your clothes, I want you to
Tell Mama, all about it
Tell Mama, what you need
Tell Mama, what you want
And I'll make everything alright
Tell me, tell me now
She would embarrass you anywhere
She'd let everybody know she didn't care
Give me a chance I've been beggin' you
And I just want to take care of you, I want you to
Tell Mama, all about it
Tell Mama, what you need
Tell Mama, what you want
Tell Mama, what you want right now
Tell me, tell your mom
I'm your Mama
Tell me what you want
@andrewlietz9822
I was at that concert at the Palms in the 2nd row. Not to many people knew about Sharon Jones before that night in Vegas but I was one that did. I knew about her endless fight with cancer, but that did not stop her Will, Determination, Passion and Love from reaching every single person in the Pearl Theater that night. She was amazing and every one on the stage knew how special she was and what she represented. RIP Sharon and Love and Light to all that still listen. The Music and its Magic live forever....
@TomTom-xp2jb
Thankyou for your kind words about Sharon Jones. It's people like you who restore my faith in humanity. 💖🙏✌️
@karlayoungblood4355
I love seeing Susan smile when she sings with other people. She is having FUN and giving it all she's got, every time.
@essesosaya4431
Way Cool Respect 2 ETTA JAMES SOUL POWER
@rolfr6662
Susan is amazed at Sharon’s’ energy and voice. What a combo! God Bless you Sharon⭐️
@mikemet1744
Miss you Sharon. Tedeschi Trucks is THE best band on the planet. Rock on.
@teresaweaver1012
Touring with Sharon Jones had to be a blast. Her stage energy was unstoppable. I believe she may have even known at this time that she was living in her "eleventh hour". I've always said as terrifying as it must be, it also would be so freeing. The world lost a joyful noise when she departed, but I bet Heaven got lit really quick and ain't been the same since.
@fly66ify
One of the best Bands of the world 👏 Greetings from Germany
@howlerhowler
Great song, originally recorded by Etta in Muscle Shoals, Sweet Home, Alabama. SAH-LOOT!!
@ryanhallwrites
Man, how sick was this!? This is magic! Sharon was a dynamite performer. I feel like she brought out a new level in Sue as well. Gotta say, that Strat that Doyle was using - that thing was well-loved.