Afterwards, he was briefly a member of Blues Incorporated, a group led by Alexis Korner, before forming the Graham Bond Quartet. With a lineup of Bond on vocals and organ, Ginger Baker on drums, Jack Bruce on double bass, and, briefly, John McLaughlin on guitar, who was replaced by Dick Heckstall-Smith on sax and the name changed to the Graham Bond Organization (GBO), they generally stayed close to their jazz and R&B roots. Bond was the primary songwriter, and he also produced the group's two studio albums, The Sound of '65 and There's a Bond Between Us.
The GBO is notable in popular music history for jump-starting the careers of two future Cream members, bassist/singer Jack Bruce and drummer Ginger Baker. One song Bruce and Baker originally recorded with Bond, "Train Time," later wound up in the repertoire of Cream.
Later when blues and R&B scenes erupted on the British gig circuit, the Graham Bond Organization became known for playing the most evil-sounding and dirty R&B heard in England. When Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker left the band, Jon Hiseman joined the GBO. In a sense, Bond was a catalyst in the formation of British groups Cream and Colosseum, as members of those groups came from Bond's group.
Although highly influential within English music circles, the GBO never experienced the popular chart success of their peers. One factor for this could have been Bond's rough, growling singing voice, which was an acquired taste. Another was the decided lack of conventional star appeal of the four members: Bond, Bruce, Baker, and saxophonist Dick Heckstall-Smith. In addition, the group's studio albums were never released in the United States. Bruce, then Baker left the band to form Cream in July 1966.
Amid internal band struggles and Bond's worsening problems with substance abuse, the GBO disbanded in 1967.
Don't Let Go
The Graham Bond Organisation Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't let go, Don't let go.
Come on, baby, it's time to rock,
Don't let go, Don't let go.
I'm so happy I got you here,
Don't let go, Don't let go.
Keeps me grinnin' from ear to ear.
Don't let go, Don't let go.
Ah shucks, I wouldn't stop for a million bucks.
I love you so, Just hold me tight.
Don't let go!
Thunder, lightening, wind and rain,
Don't let go, Don't let go.
Love is stormin' inside my brain,
Don't let go, Don't let go.
I'm so eager, I'm nearly dyin',
Don't let go, Don't let go.
You've been keepin' your lips from mine.
Oo-wee, This feelin's killin' me;
Ah shucks, I wouldn't stop for a million bucks.
I love you so, Just hold me tight.
Don't let go!
Hound dog barkin' up side the hill,
Don't let go, Don't let go.
Love is draggin' him thru the mill,
Don't let go, Don't let go.
If it wasn't for havin' you,
Don't let go, Don't let go.
I'd be barkin' and howlin' too.
Oo-wee, This feelin's killin' me;
Ah shucks, I wouldn't stop for a million bucks.
I love you so, Just hold me tight.
Don't let go!
One day, baby, you'll quit me yet,
Don't let go, Don't let go.
I'll be cryin' and soakin' wet,
Don't let go, Don't let go.
One thing, baby, I'll never stand,
Don't let go, Don't let go.
Your lips kissin' some other man.
Oo-wee, This feelin's killin' me;
Ah shucks, I wouldn't stop for a million bucks.
I love you so, Just hold me tight.
Don't let go!
Just hold me tight, Don't let go!
The Graham Bond Organization's song "Don't Let Go" is a classic rock and roll tune with a strong rhythm and blues influence. The lyrics of the song express a passionate desire to hold onto love, perfectly matched by the driving beat of the music. The song begins with the sound of a train whistle, signaling that it’s time to rock.
As the song unfolds, the singer tells his lover not to let go of him, reminding her of how much he loves her and how much he needs her. He describes how he is so happy that she’s there with him, and that she keeps him grinning from ear to ear. The singer’s emotions are further conveyed through vivid imagery of thunder, lightning, wind, and rain – all manifestations of the storm of love that rages within him.
The singer fears losing his lover to another man and even envisions a future in which she’s no longer with him, and he’s left alone and heartbroken. But the song ends on a hopeful note with the plea to hold him tight and never let go.
Overall, "Don't Let Go" is an anthem of love and passion, urging the singer’s lover to never let go of him and offering a powerful message of hope and commitment.
Line by Line Meaning
Hear that whistle, it's ten o'clock.
The night is young and it's time to enjoy it to its fullest.
Come on, baby, it's time to rock,
Let's have fun and enjoy the music together.
I'm so happy I got you here,
I am grateful and excited that you are spending this time with me.
Keeps me grinnin' from ear to ear.
You always bring a smile to my face and make me happy.
Oo-wee, This feelin's killin' me;
The intensity of my emotions is overwhelming me.
Ah shucks, I wouldn't stop for a million bucks.
I wouldn't give up this feeling for anything in the world.
Thunder, lightening, wind and rain,
Even in the midst of a storm, my love for you remains strong.
Love is stormin' inside my brain,
My love for you is intense and all-consuming.
I'm so eager, I'm nearly dyin',
I am eager and excited to be with you, I cannot wait any longer.
You've been keepin' your lips from mine.
I want to kiss you and feel your warmth, but you're holding back.
Hound dog barkin' up side the hill,
The dog's barking represents my own internal struggles, but my love for you is helping me overcome them.
Love is draggin' him thru the mill,
My emotions are causing me pain and turmoil,
If it wasn't for havin' you,
Without you, life would be much harder and more painful.
I'd be barkin' and howlin' too.
I would be just like the dog, lost and angry, without you by my side.
One day, baby, you'll quit me yet,
I am afraid that one day you will leave me, and it scares me more than anything.
I'll be cryin' and soakin' wet,
I will be devastated and heartbroken if I lose you.
Your lips kissin' some other man.
The thought of you being with someone else is unbearable for me.
Just hold me tight, Don't let go!
Please stay with me and never let me go, I need you.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JESSE ALBERT STONE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind