1. The Herd is a hip-ho… Read Full Bio ↴There is more than one band called The Herd.
1. The Herd is a hip-hop group from suburban Sydney.
2. The Herd were an English pop group, formed in the Beckenham area in 1965 and featuring Peter Frampton.
1. The Herd is a hip-hop group from suburban Sydney. They have released four full-length albums since 2001's self-titled debut. Unusually for a hip-hop outfit, The Herd's full band format permits dynamic live shows.
The Herd's members include MCs Ozi Batla, Urthboy and Berzerkatron, Unkle Ho (beats), Traksewt (piano accordion, clarinet and beats), Sulo (beats and guitar), Toe-fu (guitar), Rok Poshtya (bass) and singer Jane Tyrrell. Their songs often feature politically-oriented lyrics.
Their first single to attract Triple J airplay was the superficially humorous 'Scallops' in 2001. Later tracks included '77%' which featured the line "77% of Aussies are racist", referring to the number of Australians announced in a survey that agreed with the Australian federal government's response to the MV Tampa incident, and 'Burn Down the Parliament', which was to be interpreted metaphorically, but unfortunately was released the same week as the January 2003 Canberra bushfires.
77% scored well on the Triple J Hottest 100 of 2003, coming in at number 46.
The Herd released their third album "The Sun Never Sets" in 2005, featuring the single 'We Can't Hear You'. Their subjects ranged from their well-known anti-war stance and anti-corporatism to more personal topics like divorce and slow death of the Australian outback/country.
In October 2005, The Herd featured on Triple J's 'Like a Version' (acoustic covers) segment. They performed their own version of the famous Australian song 'A Walk in the Light Green' by Redgum (better known as 'I Was Only 19'). The song was so well received by fans that it entered regular Triple J rotation, and was voted eighteenth in the 2005 Triple J Hottest 100 countdown.
2. The Herd were an English pop group, formed in the Beckenham area in 1965.
The record label Parlophone dropped them after several unsuccessful singles, and they subsequently signed to Fontana Here songwriters Ken Howard and Alan Blaikley, who had been largely responsible for a string of hits by Dave, Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich, orchestrated for them a unique blend of pop and flower power. After a UK singles chart near-miss with "I Can Fly" (1967), the haunting "From The Underworld" reached number six, with help from copious plays on pirate radio later that year. This was followed by "Paradise Lost", which made it up to number fifteen in 1968.
Their greatest success came with "I Don't Want Our Loving to Die", a number-five hit (also in 1968).
With his boyish photogenic looks, guitarist Peter Frampton was dubbed 'The Face of '68' by teen magazine "Rave". Steele then left the group, to be replaced by Henry Spinetti. Dissatisfied with mere teen idol status, and disappointed with the failure of their next single "Sunshine Cottage", Frampton left to form Humble Pie with Steve Marriott.
The remaining Bown and Spinetti made another flop single "The Game", then formed the short-lived Judas Jump with Mike Smith and Allen Jones, saxophonists from Amen Corner, and Welsh vocalist Adrian Williams. Taylor, who became a disc jockey, and Steele, reunited briefly for a one-off single "You Got Me Hangin' From Your Lovin' Tree" in 1971, to almost universal lack of interest..
According to sleeve notes on their 1967 album Paradise Lost, drummer Andrew Steele was the first man in Britain to successfully boomerang a banana. Gary Taylor's distinctive bass voice can also be heard on Fox's S-S-S-Single Bed single from 1976.
By the late 1970s, Andy Bown had become a member of the legendary UK rockers, Status Quo.
Black & Blue
The Herd Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ohh, what did you mean when you said that I, ohhh, I could be, be anyone.
Ohh, what did you mean when you said that I, ohhh, I could be, be anyone.
I don't wanna go today, I don't care.
Ohh the punishment you're teaching me,
Your methods are not reaching me.
I'll disappear
I don't wanna go today, I don't care.
Ohh the punishment you're teaching me,
Your methods are not reaching me.
I'll disappear
This place is gone for me
I don't wanna go today, I don't care.
Ohh the punishment you're teaching me,
Your methods are not reaching me.
I'll disappear
This place is gone for me
If you say it enough times
I'll start to believe it
That I don't wanna learn
And you don't wanna learn either
The reasons for my silence
You say I'm a problem because I'm defiant
But I'm not lying that you're not trying
If I wasn't the class clown I might be crying
I can see clear that the systems dying
But I haven't learnt the words yet to define it
But yes so fine I'll step in line
And write I'm a distraction 500 times
People know that my minds the real weapon
Can't see past my staunch expression
I don't wanna go today,
I don't care for the punishment you're teaching me
Your methods are not reaching me
I'll disappear
This place is gone for me
I don't wanna go today, I don't care (Ooohh, what did you mean when you said that I,)
Ohh the punishment you're teaching me (Oo-ooaahh I could be, be anyone?)
Your methods are not reaching me.
I'll disappear
This place is gone for me
This place is wrong for me,
Am I the only one?
This place is dark for me,
Something has gone astray
I shout out loud but no one hears me
[Previous three verses sung layered over one another]
The be all and end all
Well that's what they'll tell you
The cracks so wide weren't that many fell through
You don't need the school to sell you
But it'll be propped up by the all boys club
Get a bit of big business love
The uniform doesn't need to be cut
It doesn't matter who your dad goes to the gym with
Or the person that your mum gets with the face lift
All of the private tuition won't help the one that won't listen
No one can buy the rights to wisdom
You retain control over the ignition
Ooohh, what did you mean when you said that I,
Oo-ooaahh I could be, be anyone?
Ooohh, what did you mean when you said that I,
Oo-ooaahh I could be, be anyone?
This place is wrong for me,
Am I the only one?
This place is dark for me,
Something has gone astray
I shout out loud but no one hears me
This place is wrong for me,
Am I the only one?
This place is dark for me,
Something has gone astray
I shout out loud but no one hears me
I don't wanna go today
I don't care for the punishment you're teaching me
Your methods are not reaching me
I'll disappear
This place is gone for me
I don't wanna go today, I don't care.
Ohh the punishment you're teaching me,
Your methods are not reaching me.
I'll disappear
This place is gone for me
I don't wanna go today, I don't care.
Ohh the punishment you're teaching me,
Your methods are not reaching me.
I'll disappear
This place is gone for me
The Herd’s song “Black & Blue” is a powerful critique of the educational system, specifically the way it stifles individuality and creativity in favor of conformity. The repeated lines of “what did you mean when you said that I could be anyone?” suggest a frustration with being limited by the expectations and standards set by others. The singer of the song is resisting the “punishment” and “methods” of teaching that aren’t working for them, and instead show a desire to escape, to “disappear” from this system entirely. They feel unheard and unseen, as emphasized by the repetition of the line “I shout out loud but no one hears me.” The final verse suggests that the system is propped up by an “all boys club” and “big business,” and that those who don’t conform are left behind. Despite this, the singer retains control over their own “ignition” and expression of individuality.
The lyrics of “Black & Blue” provide a striking commentary on conformity and resistance, but the song also highlights the power of music in expressing these frustrations. The first half of the song is built around a repeating, hypnotic beat that emphasizes the repetition of the lyrics. However, in the final section of the song, the repeating beat is replaced by a more complex and layered vocal track, with each repetition building on top of the previous ones. This mirrors the way that the singer’s resistance and desire for individuality builds throughout the song, eventually culminating in a powerful expression of frustration and desire for change.
Overall, “Black & Blue” is a thought-provoking and impactful song that raises important questions about individuality and conformity within the educational system.
Line by Line Meaning
Ohh, what did you mean when you said that I, ohhh, I could be, be anyone.
Expressing confusion about someone's comment suggesting that the singer could be anyone.
I don't wanna go today, I don't care.
Lacking motivation and willingness to attend school.
Ohh the punishment you're teaching me, Your methods are not reaching me.
Feeling unaffected by the disciplinary actions taken by the school.
I'll disappear This place is gone for me
Desiring to distance oneself from the school and its environment.
If you say it enough times I'll start to believe it That I don't wanna learn And you don't wanna learn either
Suggesting that repeated criticism of the student's behavior may lead them to believe they are not capable of learning, and questioning the educator's own motivation and dedication to teaching.
The reasons for my silence You say I'm a problem because I'm defiant But I'm not lying that you're not trying If I wasn't the class clown I might be crying
Reflecting on the sources of tension between the student and their teachers, acknowledging their own troublemaking tendencies and emotional struggles, while also asserting that the school is not doing enough to support their success.
I can see clear that the systems dying But I haven't learnt the words yet to define it But yes so fine I'll step in line And write I'm a distraction 500 times
Recognizing that the educational system is failing, but not yet having the language to articulate what is wrong with it. Still, rather than questioning the value of the punishment, the singer agrees to complete the task assigned to them.
People know that my minds the real weapon Can't see past my staunch expression
Asserting that their intellect and thinking are their greatest tools, but acknowledging that others may not recognize this because of the artist's stoic demeanor.
This place is wrong for me, Am I the only one? This place is dark for me, Something has gone astray I shout out loud but no one hears me
Feeling isolated and unsupported in the school environment, and questioning whether others share the same negative experiences.
The be all and end all Well that's what they'll tell you The cracks so wide weren't that many fell through
Criticizing the claim that school is the ultimate determinant of one's success, pointing out that many people fall through the cracks in the system.
You don't need the school to sell you But it'll be propped up by the all boys club Get a bit of big business love The uniform doesn't need to be cut It doesn't matter who your dad goes to the gym with Or the person that your mum gets with the face lift
Suggesting that the education system is being sustained by powerful and privileged interests, and that one's success in school is not based on merit or effort, but rather on factors like social connections and appearance.
All of the private tuition won't help the one that won't listen No one can buy the rights to wisdom You retain control over the ignition
Asserting that even the best educational resources are useless if a student is not engaged and interested, and reminding the listener that true wisdom and learning cannot be bought or sold, and ultimately it is up to oneself to take initiative in the educational journey.
Contributed by Layla C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.