The Hollies are a well-respected British beat and pop band that formed in t… Read Full Bio ↴The Hollies are a well-respected British beat and pop band that formed in the early 60s. Initially they had a squeaky-clean image and were famous for their rich vocal harmonies, rivaling those of The Beach Boys. Between 1964 and 1969, only two Hollies songs failed to reach the UK Top 10. Their most famous member was Graham Nash, who left in 1968 to form the folk supergroup Crosby, Stills & Nash. Two of the core members, drummer Bobby Elliott and lead guitarist Tony Hicks, still perform with The Hollies into the new millennium.

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 Get Nowhere With You
The Hollies Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I can't get nowhere with

I can't get nowhere with

Talk to me

Say things to me

Make me understand you love me

I can't get nowhere with you

I'm saying

You're playing with my feelings

I'm just praying

I can't get nowhere with you

I put my trust in you

But how you let me down

I tried to treat you right

But you made me look like a clown

I'm showing that you're going

Tears me up

My tears are flowing

I can't get nowhere with you

I'm showing that you're going

Tears me up

My tears are flowing

I can't get nowhere with

I can't get nowhere with

I can't get nowhere with you

Overall Meaning

The Hollies's song "I Can't Get Nowhere With You" is a powerful ballad that explores the emotional distress of a man who is unable to connect with the person he loves. The song is a heartrending expression of frustration and disappointment, as the singer struggles to communicate with his lover and feels like he is constantly hitting a brick wall.

The lyrics of the song are simple yet poignant, as the singer pleads with his lover to talk to him and help him understand her feelings. He confesses that he has put his trust in her, but she has let him down, making him feel like a fool. The sadness and resignation in his voice are palpable, as he admits that he can't make any headway with this person he cares so deeply for.

The final lines of the song are particularly heart-wrenching, as the singer conveys his sense of isolation and despair. He realizes that he is alone in his feelings, and that the person he loves is beyond his reach. The repetitive refrain of "I can't get nowhere with you" emphasizes the sense of frustration and helplessness that the singer is experiencing, and underscores the central theme of the song - the difficulty of connecting with another person on an emotional level.

Line by Line Meaning

I can't get nowhere with
I'm not making any progress in our relationship

Talk to me
Communicate with me openly and honestly

Say things to me
Express your thoughts and feelings to me

Make me understand you love me
Prove your love and commitment to me

I'm saying
I'm expressing my frustration

You're playing with my feelings
You're manipulating my emotions for your own benefit

I'm just praying
I'm hoping things will improve

I put my trust in you
I relied on you to be dependable

But how you let me down
But you betrayed my trust

I tried to treat you right
I attempted to be kind and respectful towards you

But you made me look like a clown
But you embarrassed and humiliated me