Frequent releases during the mid-60s included many cover versions of popular songs, as well as a few group-penned hits and many songs written especially for them by professional songwriters.
The Hollies were formed in 1962 in Lancashire, England. By 1965,the group had been established as one of Britain's pre-eminent singles bands. As part of the British Invasion, they enjoyed huge chart success in many countries in the mid-Sixties, releasing a string of classic harmony-pop hits including Bus Stop I'm Alive, a UK No. 1, I Can't Let Go, Stop Stop Stop, Carrie Anne, On A Carousel, Look Through Any Window, and Jennifer Eccles.
In 1972, the hit Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress reached #2 in the US. Their last mega hit was He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother, hitting #1 in the UK in 1988 (albeit 19 years after its first release).
The band are noted for their longevity, with their 2006 tour chalking up 45 years. Despite numerous changes in line-up, Tony Hicks & Bobby Elliott have been with the band almost from its inception.
Lead singer Allan Clarke left The Hollies in 1971, though he rejoined the band at later times. He was eventually replaced by Carl Wayne, ex lead singer of The Move, who passed away in 2004. Wayne was replaced by Peter Howarth. The 2007 line up is, Ian Parker on keyboards, Ray Stiles (Ex Mud, remember 'Tiger Feet') on bass guitar and Alan Coates on guitar and vocals by Steve Lauri.
Original bass player Eric Haydock died in January 2018.
The Hollies were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 15, 2010.
Allan Clarke (vocals, 1962-71, 1973-99), Graham Nash (guitar, vocals, 1962-68, 1983), Eric Haydock (bass, 1962-66), Vick Farrell (guitar, 1962), Don Rathbone (drums, 1962-63), Tony Hicks (guitar, banjo, mandolin, electric sitar, vocals, 1963-present), Bobby Elliott (drums, percussion, 1963-present), Bernie Calvert (bass, 1966-81), Terry Sylvester (guitar, vocals, 1969-81), Mikael Rickfors (vocals, 1971-73), Denis Haines (bass, 1981-86), Alan Coates (guitar, 1981-2004), Ray Stiles (bass, vocals, 1986-present), Ian Parker (keyboards, vocals, 1991-present), Carl Wayne (vocals, 2000-04), Peter Howarth (vocals, acoustic guitar, 2004-present), Steve Lauri (guitar, vocals, 2004-present)
I Can'T Tell The Bottom From The Top
The Hollies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With every thought of you, I wanna shout aloud
And then I think about the love I had inside me
How you brought what's inside out
So now love's made it to the outside
I wanna tell the world of everything I've found
Somehow your love released a spring wound up inside me
And I can't tell the bottom from the top
Am I standing on my head or on my heels
Is it cloudy is it bright
Is it day or is it night
Am I wrong or am I right
And is it real
Tell me where you learned the magic
The spell you used the day you made me fall
Baby, now I know that love is no illusion
I'm upside down but ten feet tall
And I can't tell the bottom from the top
Am I standing on my head or on my heels
Is it cloudy is it bright
Is it day or is it night
Am I wrong or am I right
And is it real
On and on I drifted with the tide
I didn't know that love could move me so
You filled my life with love and much more besides
And you showed me which way to go
And I can't tell the bottom from the top
Am I standing on my head or on my heels
Is it cloudy is it bright
Is it day or is it night
Am I wrong or am I right
And is it real
And I can't tell the bottom from the top
Am I standing on my head or on my heels
Is it cloudy is it bright
Is it day or is it night
Am I wrong or am I right
And is it real
The Hollies' song "I Can't Tell the Bottom from the Top" is a classic love song about being completely engulfed by love to the point where it is hard to distinguish which way is up. The lyrics suggest that the singer is so in love with their partner that they feel like they are standing on their head, and they can't distinguish reality from illusion. The first verse talks about how the singer feels like shouting about their love because they have been able to express their innermost feelings openly, thanks to their partner. It seems that their partner has given them a sense of liberation which has released a spring wound up inside them. The chorus repeats the idea of confusion, with the singer unsure about whether they are standing on their head or heels or whether it is day or night.
The second verse explores the idea of magic and the spell woven by their partner that has led them to fall in love. The singer realizes that love is not an illusion and that they are upside down but ten feet tall. The third verse talks about the transformative power of love, where the singer has been moved metaphorically by the tide of love. They didn't know that love could fill their life so much and show them the way to go.
Overall, "I Can't Tell the Bottom from the Top" is a joyful celebration of love which captures the experience of being completely engulfed by love to the point where one's perception of reality becomes blurred.
Line by Line Meaning
And every time I get to thinkin'
Whenever I contemplate
With every thought of you, I wanna shout aloud
Every thought of you fills me with joy I can't contain
And then I think about the love I had inside me
And I remember the passion I had kept locked away
How you brought what's inside out
How you helped me express and experience my love
So now love's made it to the outside
Now my love is evident and visible
I wanna tell the world of everything I've found
I want to share my newfound love and happiness with everyone
Somehow your love released a spring wound up inside me
Your love caused me to express my pent-up feelings
You've turned my living upside down
You've completely changed my life
And I can't tell the bottom from the top
I'm so disoriented by the strength of my feelings that I don't know what's real or not
Am I standing on my head or on my heels
I don't know which direction I'm facing
Is it cloudy is it bright
I don't know what the weather is like
Is it day or is it night
I don't know what time of day it is
Am I wrong or am I right
I don't know if my feelings are justified or not
And is it real
I don't know if what I'm experiencing is truly happening or not
Tell me where you learned the magic
Please share with me how you made me feel this way
The spell you used the day you made me fall
The method you used to make me fall in love
Baby, now I know that love is no illusion
Now I realize that my feelings of love are genuine
I'm upside down but ten feet tall
I'm disoriented, but also euphoric and self-assured
On and on I drifted with the tide
Before you, I was aimless and adrift
I didn't know that love could move me so
I had no idea that love could have such a powerful effect on me
You filled my life with love and much more besides
You have given me so much more than just love
And you showed me which way to go
You've given me direction and purpose
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
n00se
And every time I get to thinkin'
With every thought of you, I wanna shout aloud
And then I think about the love I had inside me
How you brought what's inside out
So now love's made it to the outside
I wanna tell the world of everything I've found
Somehow your love released a spring wound up inside me
You've turned my living upside-down
And I can't tell the bottom from the top
Am I standing on my head or on my heels?
Is it cloudy is it bright?
Is it day or is it night?
Am I wrong or am I right?
And is it real?
Tell me where you learned the magic
The spell you used the day you made me fall
Baby, now I know that love is no illusion
I'm upside-down but ten feet tall
And I can't tell the bottom from the top
Am I standing on my head or on my heels?
Is it cloudy is it bright?
Is it day or is it night?
Am I wrong or am I right?
And is it real?
On and on I drifted with the tide
I didn't know that love could move me so
You filled my life with love and much more besides
And you showed me which way to go
[2x:]
And I can't tell the bottom from the top
Am I standing on my head or on my heels?
Is it cloudy is it bright?
Is it day or is it night?
Am I wrong or am I right?
And is it real?
Bazza Riley
Allan Clarke was SO under-rated - what a great singer!
jane oughton
bazza riley he was so good looking as well ..the harmonies wernt bad either xx
Marcel Audubon
underrated? what the hell are you talking about??
Susan Howard
I just love The Hollies.This song is one of my favourite Hollies songs of all time.I also love listening to most 60's Songs.I just love that era.
Dennis Marsh
The Hollies harmonies were so magical. Could listen to them all day.
flyawaytodie
I LOVE this song. The Hollies never get the credit they deserve.
veraluciasc
I love this song! ALLAN's voice makes it even more beautiful! Thanks for the video.
NoseyParker66
Once again.......nobody seems to have noticed how brilliant their bass player is.......Bernie Calvert is spectacular.
Aroldo Bacchi
Totally agree!!
willowhead69
Live Bernie Calvert would play the piano for this track and Tony would switch to Bass...... excellent musicians........ my favourite Hollies lineup. Terry Sylvester was a beautiful singer