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)
If I Needed Someone
The Hollies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're the one that I'd be thinking of
If I needed someone
Then I'd guess I'd be with you my friend
If I needed someone
Had you come some other day then
It might not have been like this
Can't you see how I'm too much in love
Carve your number on my wall
And maybe you will get a call from me
If I needed someone
If I had some more time to spend
Then I'd guess I'd be with you my friend
If I needed someone
Had you come some other day then
It might not have been like this
Can't you see how I'm too much in love
Carve your number on my wall
And maybe you will get a call from me
If I needed someone
If I needed someone
The Hollies's song If I Needed Someone is a love song that conveys a message of longing, contemplation, and love. The lyrics are straight forward, as they express the singer's desire for companionship and love. The first verse primarily discusses how the singer would think of their special someone if they needed somebody to love. The second verse then goes on to mention how they would spend more time with their friend if they had it.
The song's chorus is particularly poignant, emphasizing the singer's need for a loving relationship with another person. The lyrics "Had you come some other day then, It might not have been like this" suggest that perhaps fate brought the two individuals together, and the timing was perfect.
Overall, the song explores the idea of missed opportunities and the importance of seizing those moments when they present themselves. It shows a sense of vulnerability and honesty in expressing one's feelings for another person.
Line by Line Meaning
If I needed someone to love
If I were looking for someone to love, you are the first person who comes to my mind.
You're the one that I'd be thinking of
Out of everyone, you would be the primary person I would think of if I needed someone to love.
If I needed someone
This line is repeated throughout the song as a chorus, emphasizing the importance of needing someone to love in the singer's life.
If I had some more time to spend
If I had more free time in my life, I would spend it with you.
Then I'd guess I'd be with you my friend
If I had more free time in my life, I would consider you as a friend and spend time with you.
Had you come some other day then
If you had come to me on a different day, things may have been different between us.
It might not have been like this
The situation we are currently in may have turned out differently if our circumstances were different.
Can't you see how I'm too much in love
The artist is deeply and unequivocally in love with the recipient of these words.
Carve your number on my wall
Write your phone number on my wall as a way for us to stay connected.
And maybe you will get a call from me
If you write your number and I need someone to love, I might call you.
If I needed someone
This line is repeated as a chorus, highlighting the importance of needing someone to love.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Thetrackrecords
I can't see anything wrong with this version I think it's great. It has that very distinctive Hollies sound with great harmonies.
Matthew Snyder
@Rodrigo Serrano Probably because it's a near-carbon copy of the original arrangement. They liked covers of their work if the artist developed their own take on the material.
Rodrigo Serrano
There´s nothing wrong with it. It'a nice cover! Why was George so upset?
ranabir gahir
They Were TramenDous,LUVLI Harmonic
wise1
I read George Harrison hated it, but I love it. Who am I ?
Osvaldo Justiniano
Agree 100%.
The Netherlands & Dutch Culture
Great version, what a sound
VanillaExtract
The boys are smash on with harmony, arrangement, and sixties groove.
COTR - Christmas On The Rocks
Alan Clarke was simply THE voice of the Hollies, the recognition value was always 200 percent. The Hollies could have replayed any song, it would always have sounded typical of the Hollies just from the lead vocals alone.
And although they have largely adopted the arrangement of the Beatles, this is a very beautiful and interesting version.
And although I'm very fond of Ringo and his drumming (it always went perfectly with the Beatles' songs), Bobby Elliot played Ringo against the wall.
Pablo Lopez
Without disrespecting The Beatles, my favorite band but this version is my favorite.