They started off in 1964, founded by John "Mouse" Michalski and Kenn Ellner, two high school friends who had previously played in several short-lived outfits. After going shortly under the name of The Squires and several line-up changes later, the Count Five were born, with Roy Chaney taking over vocal duties, Irish-born John "Sean" Byrne on rhythm guitar and Craig "Butch" Atkinson on drums.
Almost from the start, they had a trademark song with "Psychotic Reaction" which was to become their one and only top-10 hit ever. The song was initially devised by Byrne, with the group refining it over the next time and turning it into the highlight of their live sets. Regarded from today's point of view, "Psychotic Reaction" is now a bonafide garage-rock classic, unashamedly borrowing on the style of contemporary bands and artists like The Standells and The Yardbirds.
Looking for a contract, the band found themselves rejected by several record companies before they finally got signed to the Los Angeles-based Double Shot Records. "Psychotic Reaction" was released as a single and found immediate popularity with the proto-punk movement that started in these days, peaking at #5 in the U.S. charts late 1966. The Count Five also gained some fair publicity for their habit of wearing Dracula-style capes when playing live. However, subsequent issues sold disappointingly. The band got along for about another year but dropped out of view altogether when their one and only hit had fallen from public memory. Another setback to a potential career in music business was the decision of the five members (the age of whom, at the time of their '15 minutes of fame', still ranged between 17 and 19 years) to pursue a college degree.
By 1969, the Count Five were history. Even after many had dismissed them as a one hit wonder, the band had one major supporter, legendary music critic Lester Bangs, who loved the single "Psychotic Reation" and wrote a famous essay called "Psychotic Reactions and Carburetor Dung" about an alternate universe where the Count Five made four more albums to lukewarm sales but critical acclaim. The essay's name was used for a posthumous collection of Bangs' writings in 1987.
Peace Of Mind
The Count Five Lyrics
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What are you supposed to do
Go for a walk and you will
Find one to talk to
You will help in your peace of mind
When you find someone new
What are you supposed to do
Give what you can give her
Pray that she will be true
When you lose the one you love
What are you supposed to do
Go for a walk and you will
Find one to talk to
You will help in your peace of mind
The Count Five's song "Peace Of Mind" is a melancholic reflection on the heartbreak and confusion that follows a breakup. The lyrics address the fundamental question of what to do when you lose the one you love. The singer suggests going for a walk and finding someone to talk to as a means of getting help in achieving peace of mind. The song suggests that finding solace in human connection and communing with others can be a way to cope with the pain of heartbreak.
The second verse goes on to suggest that, after finding someone new, you must learn to love her and give what you can. The singer advises that in order to find the peace of mind you crave, you must pray that your new love will be true. Ultimately, the song offers a message of hope in the face of heartbreak, suggesting that we can find solace in the love of others and in the hope that we will one day find true love again.
Line by Line Meaning
When you lose the one you love
When you suffer the heartbreaking loss of someone dear to you
What are you supposed to do
What actions are expected of you to move on and heal?
Go for a walk and you will
Take a stroll and eventually you'll encounter someone willing to listen
Find one to talk to
Find someone receptive to having a conversation with you
You will help in your peace of mind
You will find solace and comfort by having someone to confide in
When you find someone new
If you come across a new romantic interest
What are you supposed to do
What actions are expected of you to pursue this new relationship?
Love her and live with her
Express your affection and commitment, and coexist with her
Give what you can give her
Offer her what you can, to the best of your ability
Pray that she will be true
Hope and wish that she will remain honest and faithful to you
Contributed by Carter A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.