They first started rehearsing on a council estate at Hornsey Rise, North London in 1965. In 1966 the group released the "Hold Me Closer" / "Baby Come Back" single, which initially did not capture much attention in the United Kingdom. However, in Germany and The Netherlands it went to #1 - a position its re-issue would later reach in the UK in 1968. Thus, the racially mixed London group gave President Records their only number one hit. A gold disc was presented to the group in June 1968 for a combined one million sales of the record [1]. The year 1968 saw the release of "I Get So Excited" which appeared in the Top 50 of the UK Singles Chart. It was reported in September 1969 that all five members of the group had been injured in Germany, when their car ran off an autobahn in a gale[3].
A string of single releases followed up to 1970, all of which charted in the UK. The group also attracted attention as one of the few racially integrated bands of the 1960s, which was reflected in the group's name: The Equals.
In 1971, Grant went home to Guyana, following a collapsed lung and heart infection which put him out of action at the beginning of that year. He promptly left The Equals to pursue his solo career. He would have eventually release several Top 40 singles in the late 1970s and early 1980s; among them, "Living On The Front Line", "Electric Avenue", and "Romancing the Stone". Grant also topped the UK Singles Chart in 1982 with "I Don't Wanna Dance". Although the band never charted again after Grant's departure, they remained a popular live act, performing into the late 1970s and beyond.
Black Skin Blue Eyed Boys
The Equals Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What's black ain't clover
Together we'll be
When the war is over.
You see the Black Skin Blue Eyed Boys
They ain't gonna fight no wars
now.
Cool is school
But the teachers beat yer
When they see
That they can't reach yer.
You see the Black Skin Blue Eyed Boys
They ain't gonna fight no wars
Oh
now.
They ain't got no country
They ain't got no creed
People won't be black or white
The world will be half-breed.
The world will be half-breed.
The world will be half-breed.
You see the Black Skin Blue Eyed Boys
they ain't gonna fight no doggone wars.
They ain't got no country...
It's a brand new day
With brand new people
In one big world
We're just one people.
You see the Black Skin Blue Eyed Boys
They ain't gonna fight no wars. Oh
now.
Baby
you know that we hate fighting.
The Equals's song Black Skin Blue Eyed Boys is a song that reflects on the racial division that has been prevalent for decades. The lyrics of the song are straightforward and unambiguous, highlighting that Black Skin Blue Eyed Boys won't fight any wars. The phrase Black Skin Blue Eyed Boys signifies a mix of African and European ancestry. The lead singer of The Equals, Dervin Gordon, came from a mixed-race background, which is evident in the lyrics of the song.
The song starts with "People: white is white, what's black ain’t clover." These lyrics express that people see things as black or white, rather than considering the middle ground. The song then conveys the message that once the war is over, we can live together in harmony, and the Black Skin Blue Eyed Boys won't have to fight any wars. The following verse, "Cool is school, but the teachers beat yer, when they see that they can't reach yer," addresses school segregation and how it leads to discrimination.
In the final verse, the song speaks of the end of racial division, and when people will live side by side irrespective of their color, creed, or country. The song highlights that one day, the world will be half-breed, meaning all races will be united, and there won't be black or white anymore. The song has a positive message and addresses the universal need for equality and unity.
Line by Line Meaning
People: white is white
People might see white people as pure and uniform.
What's black ain't clover
Being black is a unique identity that can't be hidden or replaced.
Together we'll be
When the war is over.
Once the war is over, we can come together as one.
You see the Black Skin Blue Eyed Boys
They ain't gonna fight no wars
Oh
now.
People with black skin and blue eyes are tired of war and won't fight anymore.
Cool is school
But the teachers beat yer
When they see
That they can't reach yer.
School is seen as cool but some teachers will harm students that they can't understand.
They ain't got no country
They ain't got no creed
People won't be black or white
The world will be half-breed.
The world will be half-breed.
The world will be half-breed.
Those with black skin and blue eyes don't identify with a specific country or belief. The world will become a mix of races.
It's a brand new day
With brand new people
In one big world
We're just one people.
A new era begins where everyone is united in a big world as one people.
Baby
you know that we hate fighting.
The singer expresses their desire to avoid conflict and embrace peace.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Darren Allen
I'm gonna play this right out loud now! Because it should be shown we know we love our music and our unity from our past proves our future! We ain't gonna fight no wars! God bless
Lloyd Morris
I will NEVER forget this song...They played it while I was at my Prom at I.S. 131...Those very fond memories..Peace and Love!
cas3003
That's funk! That's music! That's memories! That's classic!
Cockney Red
and thats that!
philip norris
Too right.
Dj Randy B The Classics Master
1972 Classic 45rpm
Ann Mcevoy
That's a fact!
Cathy Hagen
A truly great song that will be remembered 100 years from now
Gerardo P
The Equals sonando como James Brown en Sex Machine,un grupo a reivindicar!
Allen Blasco
Si