The Count Five were a garage rock outfit from San José, California, United … Read Full Bio ↴The Count Five were a garage rock outfit from San José, California, United States.

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.

The Morning After
The Count Five Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Some nights I'm alone
I sit here on my own
Then in the room I hear laughter
I must take a walk
We'll get together and talk

Oh, the morning after
Oh, the morning after

I'm on my way
I'll find something to say
When I get there to your room

People might stare
But I really don't care

Oh, the morning after
Oh, the morning after

I'm no longer alone
I don't sit on my own
Still there's the echo of laughter

I'll take a walk
We'll be together we'll talk

Oh, the morning after
Oh, the morning after

Overall Meaning

The Count Five's song The Morning After is a poignant and introspective piece about loneliness and the desire for connection that arises in its wake. The lyrics depict a narrator who is often alone, sitting in his room listening to the sounds of laughter coming from some other place. The laughter serves as a reminder of his solitude and accentuates his feeling of isolation. However, as the song progresses, we see a definitive shift in tone as the singer takes it upon himself to leave his room and seek out human connection. He resolves to join the laughter and find common ground with those who share his struggles. When he does, he finds that he is no longer alone and that there is a sense of belonging and intimacy that comes from being part of a group.

The song is a reflection on the human condition and our inherent need for social interaction. It speaks to the universality of loneliness and the human desire for companionship. Moreover, it suggests that even when we are at our lowest, there is always hope for connection.

Line by Line Meaning

Some nights I'm alone
There are times when I am by myself

I sit here on my own
During those periods, I usually stay put

Then in the room I hear laughter
But occasionally, I hear sounds of merriment from elsewhere

I must take a walk
When that happens, I am compelled to leave my spot

We'll get together and talk
In order to quench my curiosity, I will look for company

Oh, the morning after
The following day, I may regret my decision

I'm on my way
Now, I am setting out to see people

I'll find something to say
I am confident that I can think of things to discuss

When I get there to your room
Once I arrive at the designated location

People might stare
I am aware that other individuals may observe me

But I really don't care
Despite that fact, it does not bother me