The Deepest Blue formed in Pomona, a town about halfway between Los Angeles… Read Full Bio ↴The Deepest Blue formed in Pomona, a town about halfway between Los Angeles and San Bernadino further inland. Members were Earl Shackelford on vocals, Russell Johnson on lead guitar and vocals, Ken Zabel organ, Rick Edwards rhythm guitar, Bruce Lavoie bass, and Russ 'Soupy' Morrow on drums. The band was actually known as the Doves, they only changed their name when releasing their 45, because they thought it sounded more commercial.

They played teen clubs in the area like the Oasis and Discoteen, and a couple shows on the Hollywood strip with the Leaves and the Seeds. Their repertoire was all covers, mostly influenced by the Stones and other English groups.

Russ Johnson and Earl Shackelford wrote two songs just for the recording session, the first originals the band had ever played. They recorded at 9th Street studio in LA in August of 1966, with Richard Delvy, drummer for the Challengers engineering. Vic Gargano financed the record - he also produced the Tomorrows' La Do Da Da / Need Only You on Condor. Without the band's knowledge Gargano had a studio musician add guitar parts to enliven the sound. Although this upset the group, the resulting single is fantastic.

Pretty Little Thing features Bruce's sliding bass line, precise drumming from Soupy, and a raging organ solo by Ken Zabel. Earl's vocal has elements of Jagger's inflections but his voice is stronger. Somebody's Girl is more subdued but also powerful. Despite the quality of the record, it received little airplay.

The band returned to the studio to record more tracks for an album which was never finished. Soupy Morrow had an acetate of the sessions, but it has not surfaced since. These tracks are probably more psychedelic in nature, reflecting the influence of Earl's friend Chris Darrow on his songwriting. Earl had met Chris at the Forum Club in Montclair when Chris was with the Floggs. Earl would write three fine songs for Chris Darrow's next band, Kaleidoscope: I Found Out, Egyptian Candy, and Love Games.

Lacking success and headed in different musical directions, the band split up. Soupy died in a motorcycle accident in 1967, and Rick Edwards was killed in a car crash the following year while on tour. Earl stayed in music, notably forming Wheels with Chris Darrow and Walter Egan, and arranging vocal harmonies on Iggy Pop's New Values album.

Is It A Sin
The Deepest Blue Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Is it a sin to love again?
I cannot win, this pain's not fair

And yes, so I've to cross the highest mountain
And yes, I painted you a pretty sky
Now you say it's over

Forgot to tell you I am sorry

Never had the time to lie
And now it's like a sad old story
Why do lovers always cry?

I never had the time to worry
I never had the time to try
And now you say it's over

Is it a sin to love again?
You broke me in
This won't repair

And yes, I fell for you so madly, deeply
And yes, I want to hold you by my side
And now you say it's over

Forgot to tell you I am sorry
I never had the time to lie
And now it's like a sad old story
Why do lovers always cry?

I never had the time to worry
I never had the time to try
Now you say it's over
And now you say it's over

And yes, I need to tell you why I'm angry
And yes, I need to look you in the eye
Because you said it's over

Forgot to tell you I am sorry
Never had the time to lie
And now it's like a sad old story
Why do lovers always cry?

I never had the time to worry
I never had the time to try
Now you say it's over

Now you say it's over

Now you say it's over
Is it a sin to love again?

Overall Meaning

The Deepest Blue's song "Is It A Sin" is a ballad about the fallout of a failed relationship. The singer is grappling with the realization that their partner is leaving them for good, despite their own efforts to mend the situation. The lyrics begin with a question, "Is it a sin to love again?" which sets the tone for the emotional turmoil that follows. The singer feels helpless and unable to shake off the pain of the breakup. They express regret for not having had more time to mend the relationship or try harder to make it work. In the chorus, the singer recounts the beauty of their love story and how desperately they want to hold on to it. However, they are met with the reality that the relationship has ended and they are left to deal with the consequences of being heartbroken.

The verses also demonstrate the inner conflict of the singer. They are angry, hurt, and confused but also express their need to apologize for their end of the relationship coming apart. The song highlights the universal truth that love sometimes ends, people can hurt each other unintentionally or unknowingly, and it is common to question if they will love again after their previous love story fell apart.

Line by Line Meaning

Is it a sin to love again?
Questioning if it's wrong to feel love once more after experiencing heartbreak.

I cannot win, this pain's not fair
Expressing the unfairness of the pain caused by lost love and the feeling of giving up.

And yes, so I've to cross the highest mountain
Metaphorically explaining the journey of overcoming the struggles of love and heartbreak.

And yes, I painted you a pretty sky
Artistically creating a beautiful image for the one they love, only to have it end in heartbreak.

Now you say it's over
Acknowledging the end of the relationship and the pain that comes with it.

Forgot to tell you I am sorry
Regretting not apologizing for any mistakes made during the relationship.

Never had the time to lie
Being true to oneself and never pretending or lying about who they are.

And now it's like a sad old story
Comparing the end of the relationship to a common and tragic tale of love ending in heartbreak.

Why do lovers always cry?
Questioning the sorrow that comes with lost love and why it affects people so deeply.

I never had the time to worry
Not having the opportunity or capability to stress or fret over the relationship.

I never had the time to try
Not attempting to change or fix the problems in the relationship.

You broke me in
Acknowledging the emotional pain and damage caused by the end of the relationship.

This won't repair
Feeling hopeless and unable to mend the broken heart.

And yes, I fell for you so madly, deeply
Explaining the immense feelings of love and adoration for the other person in the relationship.

And yes, I want to hold you by my side
Desperately desiring to be close to and cherish the love once shared.

And now you say it's over
Continuing to express the finality and pain of the end of the relationship.

Now you say it's over
Repeating the heartbreaking truth of the end of the relationship.

And yes, I need to tell you why I'm angry
Explaining the rightful feelings of anger and frustration towards the end of the relationship.

And yes, I need to look you in the eye
Directly confronting and communicating with the other person involved in the relationship.

Now you say it's over
Concluding the song with the repetition of the painful reality of the end of the relationship.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Chemistry Music, LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOEL EDWARDS, MATT SCHWARTZ

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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