They started out as a straight pop group, and spent a couple of years touring and playing in English dance halls before making their way to Hamburg, Germany. In 1963, at the invitation of Brian Epstein, they were one of the support acts on The Beatles' Christmas shows at the Finsbury Park Astoria in London. They became one of the few acts to tour with both The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.
They first came to fame in 1964 with the number "Call Up the Groups". It overcame copyright restrictions and parodied a number of the leading pop groups of the time including The Searchers, Freddie and the Dreamers, The Dave Clark Five, The Bachelors, The Rolling Stones, and The Beatles. The song imagined the various artists singing about being conscripted, or "called up" into the British Army, although actual conscription had ended in 1960. The single climbed to number 3 in the UK Singles Chart. As an example, the song "Bits and Pieces" by the The Dave Clark Five was parodied as "Boots and Blisters".
In 1967 the group released the single "Lazy Fat People", a satirical song written by Pete Townshend of The Who. In 1974 they toured South Africa with Petula Clark. By 1977 CBS Records signed the group and "Live in Trouble" reached number 7 in the UK Singles Chart. It was their first hit for over nine years. "Angelo" was just one song parodied on "Live in Trouble". 1978's "A Taste of Aggro" became the group's biggest hit with sales of over one million records.
They achieved four other hit singles in the 1960s and 1970s but their only U.S. Billboard Hot 100 charted single, "The Topical Song", was another comedic parody written by the American poet, Robert Spring White. Based upon Supertramp's "The Logical Song", White, who also took the 1980 American Song Festival award in the folk category for "Where Does The River Go", confined his humorous lyric compositions for The Barron Knights.
As of 2008 the group continued to perform for a worldwide audience.
Original lead singer Duke D'Mond died 9 April 2009.
Original band member details
Duke D'Mond (born Richard Edward Palmer, 25 February 1943, Dunstable, Bedfordshire, England, died 9 April 2009, Oxford) - Vocalist
Barron Anthony (born Anthony John Osmond, 15 June 1934, RAF Abingdon, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, England) - Guitarist / Vocalist
Butch Baker (born Leslie John Baker, 16 July 1941, Amersham, Buckinghamshire, England) - Guitarist / Vocalist replaced Juj Hopkins.
Peter Langford (born 10 April 1943, Durham, County Durham, England) - Bassist / Vocalist
Dave Ballinger (born David Alan Ballinger, 17 January 1939, Slough, Buckinghamshire, England) - Drummer
As of 2007, only Langford remains from the original line-up. Fellow founding member, Butch Baker, retired in January 2007, and was replaced by Len Crawley.
Skin
The Barron Knights Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've got you deep in the heart of me.
So deep in my heart that you're really a part of me.
I've got you under my skin.
I'd tried so not to give in.
I said to myself: this affair never will go so well.
But why should I try to resist when, baby, I know down well
I've got you under my skin?
I'd sacrifice anything come what might
For the sake of havin' you near
In spite of a warnin' voice that comes in the night
And repeats, repeats in my ear:
Don't you know, you fool, you never can win?
Use your mentality, wake up to reality.
But each time that I do just the thought of you
Makes me stop before I begin
Cause I've got you under my skin.
I would sacrifice anything come what might
For the sake of havin' you near
In spite of the warning voice that comes in the night
And repeats, how it yells in my ear:
Don't you know, you fool, ain't no chance to win
Why not use your mentality, get up, wake up to reality?
And each time I do just the thought of you
Makes me stop just before I begin
Cause I've got you under my skin.
And I like you under my skin.
The Barron Knights's song "I've Got You Under My Skin" is a classic love song that talks about the deep emotional connection between two individuals. The lyrics express a powerful desire for the loved one which the singer cannot resist. The singer seems to have tried to resist the feelings but fails to do so because of the strong connection they share. The phrase "I've got you under my skin" symbolizes the depth of the connection and the feeling that the loved one is a part of them.
The lyrics also talk about the internal battle that the singer faces - the "warning voice that comes in the night" represents their conscience telling them to be practical and not let the emotions cloud their judgement. However, the singer cannot help but feel that being close to the loved one is worth sacrificing anything for.
The song's message is timeless and can resonate with anyone who has ever been in love. It speaks about the depth of human emotion and how love can take over one's mind and heart.
Line by Line Meaning
I've got you under my skin.
The singer is deeply and emotionally attached to someone and cannot stop thinking about them.
I've got you deep in the heart of me.
The person is so much a part of the singer that they are a part of their heart.
So deep in my heart that you're really a part of me.
The person has become such an integral part of the singer's life that they feel complete with them.
I'd tried so not to give in.
The singer has tried to hold back their feelings for this person, but cannot any longer.
I said to myself: this affair never will go so well.
The singer is aware that this relationship may not be successful, but still wants to pursue it.
But why should I try to resist when, baby, I know down well
I've got you under my skin?
The singer is unable to resist their strong feelings for this person, even though they know it may not end well.
I'd sacrifice anything come what might
For the sake of havin' you near
The singer is willing to do anything to have this person close to them.
In spite of a warnin' voice that comes in the night
And repeats, repeats in my ear:
The singer hears warning voices telling them that this relationship is not a good idea.
Don't you know, you fool, you never can win?
Use your mentality, wake up to reality.
The warning voice is telling the singer to be rational and think about the outcome of this relationship.
But each time that I do just the thought of you
Makes me stop before I begin
Despite the warning, the singer cannot stop thinking about this person.
Cause I've got you under my skin.
The deep attachment and feelings for this person cannot be shaken.
And I like you under my skin.
The singer is happy to have this person embedded in their being, despite the risks and challenges of the relationship.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Cole Porter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@alexabel2423
Superb saw them perform this early 1970s in Bailey's night club in hull , stunned the audience into silence nobody thought they were capable of this just a comedy group, two or three seconds of silence then standing ovation.
@andybunyan452
I'm nearly 54 now and the Barron Knights were an occasional feature on the telly with their comedy slants on music of the day.
I heard this just yesterday for the first time and it is truly stunning - they really smash it out of the park. Can't help but think that Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons would mightily approve.
@spencerwelchii573
1st Bay-Bay
NIce version, very very 70s.