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.

Say Goodbye
The Deepest Blue Lyrics

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I know that you?re going to cry
I sorry I told you lies
The rumors you heard today
So sorry you learnt that way

Just give you poppy fields of dreams to
Rescue you from me
I hope someday you come to understand

Please don't try to wave goodbye
Don't throw us away
I need you to stay
Please don't try to say goodbye
Don't throw us away
I need you to stay

Lonely as I can be
Alone for the world to see
A room full of emptiness
Out there we're all embraced

You try
Try to be me
Look at all the things
I see

So take away
A life today
And be the one

Touch
Touch all you can
Try to be a better man
Hold away
Another day

I'll be, I'll be, I'll be, I'll be and I

I do
Let me hold you
Take it all away
Another hand won?t stay

Oh just take my hand
And don't be afraid
Spread a little love
Spread a little love

Spread a little love
Spread a little love

Overall Meaning

The Deepest Blue's song Say Goodbye is a heartfelt and emotional ballad about a relationship that is coming to an end due to lies and rumors. The song confronts the fear and pain of loss head-on, with the singer apologising for the lies and deceit that they have introduced into the relationship, leading to the partner wanting to move on. The singer pleads with the partner not to leave, expressing their need and desire for them to stay together and work through their problems. The lyrics then switch focus to the singer's own sense of loneliness and emptiness, expressing the idea that in the end, we are all alone. However, the final message is one of hope and a call to action - to touch, to love and to embrace the world around us.

Overall, the song feels like a lament for a relationship that might have been, with the singer expressing remorse and a sense of loss. However, there is also a clear motivation to move forward, to not let negativity and fear hold us back, and to spread love wherever we can.

Line by Line Meaning

I know that you're going to cry
I am aware that you will cry

I'm sorry I told you lies
I apologize for lying to you

The rumors you heard today
The rumors you heard recently

So sorry you learned that way
I regret you learning the truth that way

Just give you poppy fields of dreams to
I would like to provide you with soothing dreams

Rescue you from me
Relieve yourself from me

I hope someday you come to understand
I hope you eventually comprehend

Please don't try to wave goodbye
Please don't signal farewell

Don't throw us away
Do not discard our relationship

I need you to stay
I require your presence

Lonely as I can be
I am as solitary as possible