The band evolved out of "Chad Allan and the Expressions" (often shortened to The Expressions), which was a pop rock group with a British Invasion feel fronted by Chad Allan and featuring guitarist Randy Bachman. Both of them had great potential as singer-songwriters. After their cover of "Shakin' All Over" sold well as a single, their record label released the band's album with "Guess Who?" written on the cover, hoping to mislead unsuspecting buyers into thinking it was a British group. The name stuck, however, and from then on they were 'The Guess Who'. The Who musician Pete Townshend later jokingly said that he allowed the Canadian group to take both their style and name, calling himself a fan.
Singer and keyboardist Burton Cummings joined upon Allan's departure in 1966, and the band's classic line-up was born. The guys mixed some jazz-inspired sounds such as flute and electric piano playing into their sound, and they scored hits in Canada with tracks such as "These Eyes", "Undun", and "Laughing". Yet it was when they turned to psychedelic-influenced rock and rock with 'American Woman' (the third album with the Bachman/Cummings line-up) that they broke through in the U.S. The anti-war title cut (a song ironically embraced by some Americans as a patriotic anthem despite the cynical lyrics, though the band didn't complain as the record royalties came in) has received airplay on classic rock radio for years and years now. The Guess Who's success after that album came out proved to be hit and miss, however, and they would have members go in and out.
After the release of 'Share the Land', their second album of 1970, Bachman left to form Bachman-Turner Overdrive, leaving Cummings as the band's leader and main songwriter. Though Bachman and his band-mates had achieved huge commercial success, the singer-songwriter felt like he wanted to go off into a whole other muscial direction. Afterwards, the Guess Who experimented in various styles through the 70s, including blues, down-home bluegrass, jazz fusion, and Cummings's trademark piano-based rock ballads. The novelty pop single "Clap for the Wolfman", a 1974 track made for the popular DJ Wolfman Jack that the band members were fans of, ended up being the Guess Who's last chart appearance.
Various combinations of former members of the band have reunited at various times since their breakup in 1975. The Guess Who's classic songs remain radio staples, even into the new millennium. Various greatest hits and multi-artist collections featuring their music have also been released.
See Guess Who for the Romanian rapper Laurentiu Mocanu.
Hang On to Your Life
The Guess Who Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Screaming that I don't want to die
Well you can push your head
But don't you push it too far
Thinking 'bout it's here and it's real
Wondering how I really should feel
Well you can sell your soul
Hang on to your life, oh life, oh life, oh life, oh life
Hang on to your life
Thinking 'bout betraying a friend
Thinking 'bout delaying the end
Well you can ride the wind
But don't you ride it too high
Hang on to your life
Hang on to your life
Hang on to your life, life, life, life, life,
Hang on to your life
Hang on to your life, life, life, life, life
Hang on to your life
Hang on to your life, life, life, life, life
Hang on to your life
Hang on to your life, life, life, life, life
Hang on to your life
Hang on to your life, your life, your life, your life, your life, your life
Your life, your life, your life, your life, your life, your life, your life
They gaped upon me with their mouths
As a ravening and a roaring lion
I am poured out like water
And all my bones are out of joint
My heart is like wax
It is melted in the midst of my bowels
My strength is dried up like a potsherd
And my tongue cleaveth to my jaws
And thou has brought me into the dust of death
The Guess Who's Hang On to Your Life is a song that emphasizes the importance of life and staying alive. The song begins with the singer thinking about those who have passed away, and expressing his desire to avoid death. He urges the listener to hang on to their lives and not give up. The next verse discusses the reality of the situation and the uncertainty and confusion that can come with it. The listener is warned not to sell their soul too cheap or ride too high, but rather to find a balance in life that keeps them alive.
As the song progresses, the tone becomes more urgent, and the singer becomes more insistent. The repetition of the phrase "Hang on to your life" drives the message home, while the final segment of the song, with its biblical references and apocalyptic imagery, suggests that the stakes are high and that the struggle for survival is a matter of life and death.
Line by Line Meaning
Thinking 'bout the people gone by
Reflecting on the people who have passed away
Screaming that I don't want to die
Expressing fear and apprehension about dying
Well you can push your head
You can take risks
But don't you push it too far
But be careful not to go too far
Thinking 'bout it's here and it's real
Acknowledging the reality of a situation
Wondering how I really should feel
Feeling uncertain about how to respond to the situation
Well you can sell your soul
You can compromise yourself
But don't you sell it too cheap
But don't sell yourself short
Hang on to your life, oh life, oh life, oh life, oh life
Valuing and fighting for your own life
Hang on to your life
Hold onto your life
Thinking 'bout betraying a friend
Contemplating betrayal of a friend
Thinking 'bout delaying the end
Considering prolonging a difficult situation
Well you can ride the wind
You can take advantage of an opportunity
But don't you ride it too high
But don't go too far or take too much risk
They gaped upon me with their mouths
Being ridiculed or judged by others
As a ravening and a roaring lion
Being attacked or threatened by someone or something powerful
I am poured out like water
Feeling emotionally drained and exhausted
And all my bones are out of joint
Experiencing physical or emotional pain
My heart is like wax
Feeling weak and vulnerable
It is melted in the midst of my bowels
Feeling deep emotional pain
My strength is dried up like a potsherd
Feeling drained and powerless
And my tongue cleaveth to my jaws
Feeling unable to speak
And thou has brought me into the dust of death
Feeling like death is near or imminent
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Burton Cummings, Kurt Winter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jasonnewby
love this song and this album!
@raysmith-ministryofangels
Their best album.
@cheryllaredo7771
1 of the 3 best voices ever to hit rock n roll air waves? I think so.
@jawoody9745
Burton is AWESOME!
@api9727
I freaking love this song.
@malcolmmaclean1468
Almost Sabbath level heavy. Underrated gem.
@Oldscudder64
Im wondering why aren't there more comments? This was one of the best groups around during this era. I loved everything they played. Its even better when your tripping. Peace from Orange sunshine Florida!!!
@user-zl7ee2ux7r
so legendary a killer album there is an interview he did around 3 years ago it is amazing, i'll try and find it
@robertquintal1362
One great canadian album
@GerryK3517
Winnipeg rocks!