Origins And Early Successes
----------------------------
Originally inspired by The Beatles, the Cowsills developed their musicianship and harmonized vocals in performances at school dances and churches in their hometown. They were encouraged by their parents, Barbara and Bud Cowsill, who drove them around to shows in the family's station wagon. Bud had retired from a long career in the US Navy to manage his children's career together with his wife.
The band drew increasing attention through the 1960's as their musical proficiency improved. In late 1965, the initial four members were hired as a regular act on Bannisters Wharf in Newport where they would sing "The Beatles" songs hour after hour. They also produced their first recordings, and released them on Mercury Records. Despite their appeal, the company passed on a record contract for reasons never specified. In 1966, the band was signed by MGM records, and shortly after Barbara - who would become known to their fans affectionately as "Mini-Mom" due to her diminutive stature - joined the group to record The Rain, The Park and Other Things. Shortly thereafter the band was expanded yet again to include siblings Susan and Paul.
With the success of "The Rain, The Park and Other Things" the band quickly became a popular act in the U.S., and achieved significant airplay in England and other parts of Europe. "The Rain, The Park and Other Things" wound up reaching #2 on the Billboard charts, and sold some three million copies in its first release.
Bob Cowsill is quoted as follows on the band's early days:
"Although Bill and I performed at a very young age, and Bill, myself, Barry and John did a lot of frat parties at Brown University and clubs in Newport ... the most memorable performance of what I would view as the precursor of what The Cowsills would be was at King's Park in Newport (right at the foot of Halidon Hall) at some carnival. The family angle just evolved ... first Bill and me, then Bill me and Barry, then Bill, me, Barry and John, then Bill, me, Barry, John and Mom, then Bill, me, Barry, John, Mom and Paul, then later, me, Paul, John, Barry, Mom and Susan, then back to Bill, me, Barry and John (very briefly in the end) and then to me, Paul, John and Susan. Our first real break came when we were playing the MK Hotel in Newport (in the basement there) and a guy from the Today show saw us and asked if we wanted to be on the Today show. We weren't famous or anything but we were young and we were related and we were quite good. So we went on the Today show (I doubt a tape exists of that but if it did it would be priceless to see) and someone from Mercury Records saw us which ultimately led to our signing with that label and putting out "Most Of All" (a great "school's out" song that should have been our first hit in my opinion) which led to Artie Kornfeld and Steve Duboff. Mercury dropped us, but Artie and Steve had written "The Rain, The Park and Other Things" and we went in and recorded that song at A&R studios in New York and took the whole package to MGM who decided wouldn't it just be terrific if their mother performed with them and, voila, the rest, as they say, is history. "
In 1969 they had another number two hit with their version of the title song from the musical Hair.
The Cowsills are often cited as the inspirtation for TV's "The Partridge Family."
Gotta Get Away From It All
The Cowsills Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Can't be late; Be on time
Same old thing I could cry
They clipped my wings and I can't fly
I gotta go get away from it all
Take the phone off the hook so no one can call me
Go, go get away from it all
I've got no time; no time to spend
Not even time to find a friend
My wheels spin; go round and round
But I can't win I just go down
It's time to fly, fly away anywhere
Leave the noise and the crowds
Get a breath of fresh air
Fly, fly, fly away anywhere
'Cause if I don't I think I'll lose my mind
People lost in a race
Have no names; have no faces
The more I look, the more I see
I look like them; they look like me
Oh, I gotta go get away anywhere
Leave the noise and the crowds
Get a breath of fresh air
Go, go get away from it all
'Cause if I don't I think I'll lose my mind
Go get away from it all
I better go get away from it all
I better go get away from it all
Now go get away from it all
I better go get away from it all
I better go go go go go ....
The Cowsills's song "Gotta Get Away From It All" is a commentary on the monotony and chaos of modern life. The singer emphasizes the daily grind, waking up early, and coming home late every day, feeling like a bird with clipped wings. The repetitiveness of the routine causes the singer to feel overwhelmed and trapped in a never-ending cycle, hence the need to escape. He wants to leave behind the phone and the constant distractions it brings, find some solace, and breathe fresh air.
The song also highlights the loneliness and isolation that comes with living in a busy world. The singer expresses how he has no time to find a friend, and the busier he gets, the more he feels like just another face in the crowd. He knows that he needs to leave behind the noise and the crowds to find himself again, or he'll lose his mind. The song encourages the listener to go away anywhere, fly, and escape from the race and the monotony of daily life.
Overall, the song is a protest against the degradation of the human spirit in a busy world. The Cowsills emphasize the importance of escaping from the daily routine, taking time for oneself, and finding a space to breathe and reflect.
Line by Line Meaning
Up at eight; Down at five
I wake up early in the morning and work until the evening.
Can't be late; Be on time
I cannot afford to be late for work and must always arrive on time.
Same old thing I could cry
My daily routine is monotonous and unchanging, which makes me feel unhappy.
They clipped my wings and I can't fly
My creativity and potential are being constrained and I feel trapped.
I gotta go get away from it all
I need to escape from my current situation and surroundings.
Take the phone off the hook so no one can call me
I want to disconnect from communication and not be bothered by anyone.
Cause if I don't I think I'll lose my mind
If I don't leave, I fear I will go insane from the stress and unhappiness of my current life.
I've got no time; no time to spend
I am too busy and overwhelmed to enjoy my life or socialize.
Not even time to find a friend
I don't even have time for a social life or to find companionship.
My wheels spin; go round and round
I feel like I am stuck in a cycle of the same routines and tasks.
But I can't win I just go down
I feel like my efforts are futile and I am just becoming more and more tired.
It's time to fly, fly away anywhere
It is time for me to escape my current surroundings and explore other parts of the world.
Leave the noise and the crowds
I want to escape from the hustle and bustle of city life and find some peace and quiet.
Get a breath of fresh air
I want to experience something new and invigorating.
People lost in a race
People are constantly competing with each other, but to what end?
Have no names; have no faces
People can become lost and anonymous without individuality or meaning in their lives.
The more I look, the more I see
The more I observe society, the more I become disillusioned with it.
I look like them; they look like me
I have become a part of a homogeneous society where everyone looks, acts and thinks the same.
Oh, I gotta go get away anywhere
I absolutely have to escape and explore new surroundings.
Go get away from it all
I need to leave my current life and surroundings and find something new and exciting.
I better go get away from it all
I feel a strong urgency to leave and find some new direction in my life.
Now go get away from it all
I cannot wait any longer, I need to escape now.
I better go go go go go ....
I need to hurry and take action before it is too late.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, AKBESTAL MUSIC INC
Written by: BILL COWSILL, BOB COWSILL, MARY DEAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind