The band, from London, UK, started out as The Dave Clark Quintet in 1957, with Dave Clark on drums, Dave Sanford on lead guitar, Chris Walls on bass, Don Vale on piano (and arranger) and a saxophone player. By 1962, the band had changed its name to The Dave Clark Five and settled on the line-up that continued until the band called it a day in 1970: Dave Clark (drums, vocals; born December 15, 1939), Lenny Davidson (guitar; born May 30, 1944), Rick Huxley (bass; born August 5, 1942; died February 11, 2013), Denis Payton (saxes, harmonica, vocals; born August 11, 1943, died December 17, 2006), Mike Smith (keyboards, vocals; born December 6, 1943, died February 28, 2008).
Between 1964 and 1967, the band had 17 records in the US Billboard Top 40, with 12 Top 40 United Kingdom hits.
The DC5 disbanded in 1970, having placed three singles on the UK chart that year, two of which reached the Top Ten. That same year, Davidson, Huxley and Payton left and Alan Parker and Eric Ford joined on lead guitar and bass; this line-up, renamed "Dave Clark & Friends", lasted until 1973.
The Red Balloon
The Dave Clark Five Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Marry the farmers daughter
Sleepy heads in the afternoon
Callow la, callow la Vita... Oh!
In and out of the Red Balloon
Marry the farmers daughter, yeah
Sleepy heads in the afternoon
Well the old man passed me by
And he didn't hear me cry
I didn't know his name
And he didn't come again
The sun was coming out
And the kids began to shout
The dogs began to bark
In that lovely Paris park... Oh!
In and out of the Red Balloon
Marry the farmers daughter
Sleepy heads in the afternoon
Callow la, callow la Vita
Bon Jour Madame. Bon Jour Monseiur
Je vous vois dans le parc main a main tous les jours
Il fait beaux temps au'jorurd'hui et les fleurs sont si
Belles
J'es pere qu'il ne pleut pas et vous a ves tou jours
L'a mour... Oh!
In and out of the Red Balloon
Marry the farmers daughter
Sleepy heads in the afternoon
Callow la, callow la Vita... Oh!
Oh!
In and out of the Red Balloon
Marry the farmers daughter
Sleepy heads in the afternoon
Callow la, callow la Vita... Oh!
Ha ha ha
Aaarrrhhh
The Dave Clark Five's song The Red Balloon is a whimsical, dreamlike tune that is open to interpretation. The lyrics seem to follow a free-flowing narrative, as the singer speaks of going in and out of a red balloon and marrying the farmer's daughter. The sleepy heads in the afternoon suggest that this is all happening in a dream or maybe a place where time stands still. The refrain of "Callow la, callow la Vita" lends to the dreamy atmosphere, as it is unclear what it means or where it comes from, but it reinforces the surreal nature of the song.
The second verse takes a darker turn as the singer encounters an old man who ignores their cries for help or attention. The sun is coming out, and the kids and dogs are playing, but the singer's encounter seems to imply that not everyone is happy or cared for. The final verse, spoken in French, adds to the dreamlike quality of the song, as the singer talks about seeing the couple in the park every day and hoping that they will always have love, amidst the beauty of the flowers and sunshine.
Overall, The Red Balloon seems to be a song about the power of imagination and dreaming, but it also touches on the harshness of reality and the fleeting nature of happiness.
Line by Line Meaning
In and out of the Red Balloon
Moving in and out of an imaginary world or fantasy
Marry the farmers daughter
Settle down with someone simple and naive
Sleepy heads in the afternoon
Dozing off during idle hours
Callow la, callow la Vita... Oh!
Expressing joyful sounds without any significant meaning
Well the old man passed me by
An unknown person is not helpful when in trouble
And he didn't hear me cry
People ignore when someone is in distress
I didn't know his name
Encountering people without them introducing themselves first
And he didn't come again
No hope should be placed on those who don't return
The sun was coming out
The weather became good
And the kids began to shout
Children get excited easily
The dogs began to bark
Dogs get excited easily
In that lovely Paris park... Oh!
Enjoying the beauty of the place
Bon Jour Madame. Bon Jour Monseiur
Greetings in French
Je vous vois dans le parc main a main tous les jours
I see you walking hand in hand in the park every day
Il fait beaux temps au'jorurd'hui et les fleurs sont si Belles
The weather is lovely today, and the flowers are so beautiful
J'es pere qu'il ne pleut pas et vous a ves tou jours L'a mour... Oh!
I hope it doesn't rain, and you always have love... oh!
Oh!
Sudden exclamation with no particular meaning attached to it
Ha ha ha
Laughter with no context
Aaarrrhhh
Incomprehensible sound made for fun
Contributed by Callie E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Tyrone De Silva
What a fabulous group. Loved them. Kept my toes tapping all the way through school. Am 65 and still in 60s. Together with the Hermon Hermits with Peter Noon. I'd say life was complete.
Billy Weir
Fantastic song from a superb group, thank you
Brian Harbut
Great song! Wonderful memories 🙏
Mick Ayres
Great song as a child of the sixties I’m afraid I don’t remember it but I have recently downloaded it from iTunes now can’t stop playing it
EBERHARD G.
My first 45Rpm record. Love it. Good memories.
Simon Mears
Got to be one of the most underrated DC5 songs but such a great, great song.
Grant
This Was a hit in France sang by Marie Laforet
Alex Nesrallah
Mike Barooshian Dave Clark owns the rights to their records and closely controls the availability of DC5 songs.
Heiner Golißa
Damals in einem privatem Partyclub gehört. Dies war zu dieser Zeit der absolute Partyknüller. Oh Gott, wie alt bin ich heute? Immer wieder schön heute noch zu hören.
DayDreem
Two things I remember watching live on my grandmother's TV; the moon landing and this on Ed Sullivan, both equally as memorable.